Fiona Carragher

Fiona Carragher joined Alzheimer’s Society in January 2019. As Director of Research and Influencing and a member of our Executive Leadership Team, Fiona plays a pivotal role in the Society vision to create a world without dementia. Fiona has overall responsibility for our Research and Influencing strategy; leading our growing and ambitious world-class research programme and portfolio and our work to strengthen our position as the national charity leader on dementia health, social care policy and societal change. Fiona has also recently joined the board of Kent and Medway Health and Social Care Partnership NHS Trust as a Non-Executive Director bringing her expertise to support improved care for those with mental health issues and dementia across her home county.

Prior to joining Alzheimer’s Society, Fiona was the Deputy Chief Scientific Officer for NHS England, providing leadership for the 50,000 healthcare science professionals in the NHS and expert advice to the health system on science, innovation, and diagnostics. She led a broad portfolio of policy responsibilities including establishing the UK Antimicrobial Resistance Diagnostics programme and the system wide Action Plan on Hearing Loss. She is a passionate advocate for women in health and led the establishment of the first Women in Science and Engineering fellowship programme in the NHS.

Fiona is a Consultant Clinical Biochemist by background and a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists. She has worked in multi-professional teams for two decades at Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospital, the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, and Kings College Hospital London, with a focus on providing high quality, innovative services.

Fiona is committed to ensuring that we reach every person who has a dementia diagnosis and wants our help. She wants to change the conversation on dementia, mainstream the rights of people affected by dementia and drive the research agenda, working tirelessly to improve care and find a cure.