Gillian Leng, CBE, MBChB, MD, is a professor of public health with a wealth of experience in healthcare and the life sciences sector. She was on the Board of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for over 20 years (2001-2021) most recently as its Chief Executive. As NICE’s Chief Executive, Gillian was responsible for delivering a new 5 year strategy to put NICE at the forefront of global evaluation of new technologies. This was underpinned by a vision for creating dynamic living guidelines for frontline healthcare staff. Prior to this, Gillian was instrumental in establishing the original clinical guideline programme at NICE, followed by setting up an implementation work programme to ensure the recommendations changed practice. She also developed many of NICE’s new initiatives including indicators for the Quality and Outcomes Framework and for the online portal NICE Evidence. With a passion for using evidence to improve healthcare, Gillian is a trustee of the Guidelines International Network and a member of the Global Evidence Commission. She is a visiting professor at King’s College London, an affiliate professor at the University of Singapore and a healthcare adviser. Gillian read medicine at the University of Leeds, and is a fellow of the Royal Colleges of Physicians in London and Edinburgh. She was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Science by the University of Leeds in 2022, and a CBE in 2012 for services to healthcare.
Elaine Harrow, the CEO of the Guidelines International Network has been at the helm of the organisation since 2012, during which time she has overseen the strategic development and professionalisation of the business management, as well as the growth of the role of the secretariat, in supporting the Board.
An experienced manager and qualified project manager, Elaine previously ran her own consultancy and interim management business for ten years, during which time she worked extensively with the National Health Service (NHS) in Scotland in senior roles. Prior to setting up her own business, Elaine was a member of the management team for an American hi-tech multinational, where she was head of HR.
