James Friend is Director of Digital Strategy within NHS England’s London Region having joined from St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust where he was Chief Transformation Officer, prior to that being an adviser to the Secretary of State for Health. James is an experienced NHS and commercial Executive Director, having held roles in NHS commissioning, as well as at a number of provider organisations across London and the South of England. James is chairman of the Good Shepherd Trust a growing Multi-Academy Trust of 20 schools across Surrey and Hampshire, a past Local Authority Leader, a member of the Data for London Advisory Board for the Greater London Authority and a Board Member at the Health Innovation Network the Academic Health Science Network for south London.