Professor Sir Jonathan Montgomery has been appointed as the new chair of the Board of the Oxford Academic Health Partners (OAHP).
Sir Jonathan took up the post from 01 September 2024. He succeeds Professor Sir John Bell, who stepped down as chair earlier this year following ten years in the role.
Sir Jonathan will lead the OAHP Board in developing internal and external partnerships and collaborations to deliver the best possible health care, education, training and research outcomes for the region and beyond.
He brings extensive experience to the role, including over twenty-five years of non-executive chair experience in the NHS and national bodies, covering issues such as the bioethical dimensions of life science policy and research governance. He has understanding of working and building trust with a range of stakeholders, from government ministers to members of the public, health professionals and academics.
Sir Jonathan is Professor of Health Care Law at University College London and has an international reputation in the field of bioethics. He is Chair of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which hosts the OAHP. Since 2023, he has also chaired the Ethics Advisory Committee at Genomics England.
The OAHP Board consists of leaders from all five partners of OAHP: the Chief Executive Officers of Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Health Innovation Oxford and Thames Valley (HIN); the Pro Vice Chancellor, Health and Life Sciences at Oxford Brookes University; and the Head of the Medical Sciences Division at the University of Oxford. Additional members include the Directors of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and the NIHR Oxford Health BRC, the NIHR Oxford and Thames Valley Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) and the Director of the Oxford Institute of Applied Health Research (OxinAHR).
The recruitment process, involving all Board members, was led by Professor Alistair Fitt, Vice Chancellor of Oxford Brookes.
Professor Keith Channon, OAHP Director, said: “Sir Jonathan brings a great range of skills and experience to this role, across many disciplines in the NHS and academia, both locally and across the wider region. I am delighted to work with him as Chair of OAHP to make a significant contribution to realising our shared objectives for OAHP in the coming years.”
Sir Jonathan said: “The Oxford health and life sciences system has rich resources which provide the OAHP with a unique opportunity to drive excellence in research, education and service delivery in a way that can lead the world and also enhance the services local people receive. I am looking forward to playing a greater role in that mission as Chair of the Health Partnership.”