Claire has been Chief Executive of CNWL NHS Foundation Trust since January 2007 and is also a registered Nurse. Over the past 35, plus years she has held a series of positions working in community/mental health, substance misuse and learning disabilities services. Claire joined CNWL as Director of Nursing and Operations in 1999. She has a keen interest in social policy and holds a first-class honours degree in this area.

In June 2016 she was appointed as National Mental Health Director at NHS England and has been working with the Mental Health team to deliver the 5 Year Forward View for Mental Health and more recently NHS England’s Long-Term Plan.

In July 2019 she took on responsibility as the Director with oversight of NHS England’s Learning Disability and Autism programme.

She was awarded a CBE in the 2019 New Year Honours list for Services to the NHS.

In December 2019 she was awarded an Honorary Degree by Middlesex University to mark 35 years working in nursing.