Exploring preventative investment in Wales

Eleanor started her career in academia, completing a PhD and postdoctoral research in immunology and microbiology. In 2007, seeking a new challenge she joined the Welsh Parliament (then the National Assembly for Wales), applying her scientific rigour to the scrutiny of public finance and the evidence-base behind all aspects of government finance policy.

In 2014, she joined CIPFA on secondment as research consultant, focusing on public finance policy across the devolved nations, in the run up to the Scottish independence referendum. On returning to the Welsh Parliament she focused on constitutional change, primarily related to the devolution of finance and taxation powers. Given her biomedical background, Eleanor has maintained an interest in health and care, and in 2018, she returned to CIFPA to finally combine this with her experience of public finance policy, taking on the role of Health and Social Care Policy Manager. She leads on CIPFA’s policy work in this area, with particular interest in investment in prevention, social care funding reform and integration of health and care.

Zachary joined CIPFA in 2023 and is currently working on the Exploring Preventative Investment in Local Government in England project, supported by the Health Foundation. Previously, he was working as a Program Specialist at the Tokyo-based Health and Global Policy Institute where he was involved in projects related to global health, universal health coverage, and biobanking. Zachary also served as a member of the UHC Expert Review Panel for the Parliamentarian Guide on UHC which provides lawmakers with tools to facilitate affordable, quality health services. He holds an MSc in Medical Anthropology from the University of Oxford and an LLB in International Public Policy from Osaka University.

Amy is a Research Fellow at the Wales Centre for Public Policy, Cardiff University and Research and Evidence Lead for Rhondda Cynon Taf Health Determinants Research Collaboration (RCT HDRC). Her role involves supporting the development of infrastructure between universities, RCT Council, and other partner organisations to help Council staff to access, interpret and use the best available evidence. Amy has worked closely with decision makers in Welsh Government and public services to identify and respond to evidence needs, and to strengthen the routes between evidence generation and use in policy and practice. In her previous role as Implementation Research Fellow at the Centre for Trials Research, Amy focused on generating evidence that could inform policy and practice in healthcare. She collaborated with healthcare professionals and managers, and across disciplines within academia to develop, implement and evaluate innovative solutions to recognised problems in healthcare. She was also the deputy lead of the qualitative research group. Amy has a background in sociology (BA Hons), public health (MPH), and health services delivery (PhD).

Catryn is an Audit Manager at Audit Wales. She is responsible for designing and overseeing work to deliver on the Auditor General for Wales’s responsibilities under the Well-being of Future Generations Act. Catryn previously delivered programmes of audit work across local government. Prior to joining Audit Wales, she worked on local government policy and improvement at a local and national. Catryn has worked on a wide variety of issues, including local strategic partnerships, redesigning public services and equalities.

Zoe has over 30 years experience of delivering and managing services for children, young people and families in the public, private and voluntary sectors. Living and working in the South Wales Valleys, Zoe has a keen interest in the role of early intervention and prevention in reducing barriers to education, engagement and opportunity faced by individuals and communities and redressing health inequalities. To her role as the Head of the Rhondda Cynon Taf Health Determinants Research Collaboration, Zoe brings a proven track record of strong strategic leadership, partnership working, delivering multi-million pound change programmes across local government services and public and third sector partners and transforming traditional Council services within both Education and Social Care spheres to deliver measurable outcomes for children, young people and families.