Nicola Easey is Head of Health Improvement for Learning Disability and Autism at NHS England.

Doing work experience on a long-stay hospital ward as a 16-year-old student encouraged Nicola’s interest in this area of disability. Since then, she has worked with the voluntary sector, local authorities, families and people with a learning disability to set up individual, supported living homes in the community, closed down old long-stay hospitals, commissioned learning disability services and developed community services for people living in rural communities.

Nicola is an accountant and programme director by background and has worked in primary care, secondary care and health authorities across Yorkshire and in London throughout her career. Now working at national level in NHS England, Nicola has worked in the NHS for 33 years and is passionate about improving the health of people with a learning disability and autistic people. Outside of work, Nicola is a Mum, a keen photographer, and a magistrate.