NHS IMAS is made up of Partners and pool members from the NHS. They are supported by:
- a small core team who manage the programme and assignments
- a hand-picked selection of independent consultants who NHS organisations rate
NHS IMAS Core Team
Karen Robinson
Karen joined NHS IMAS in 2019 as Head of NHS IMAS. She has worked within the NHS since 2014, operating at a national level alongside Senior Executives and National Directors in NHS England. Karen previously held roles as Change and Impact Senior Programme Manager and Operating Model Lead on the Joint Working Programme for NHS England and NHS Improvement, driving large-scale transformation and organisational change. Prior to her NHS career, Karen worked in local government in a range of advisory and management roles, specialising in change and delivery programmes, business management, human resources, and event management.
Daniel Wood
Daniel is a Senior Manager and has been part of the NHS IMAS team since 2015. Before joining NHS IMAS, he worked at NHS Improving Quality (NHS IQ) as Business Management Team Lead, where he coordinated key business activities including planning, reporting, and financial management. Prior to moving into national roles, Daniel worked within a Mental Health Trust, providing performance management and assurance across the organisation. His extensive experience in governance and operational delivery underpins his leadership within NHS IMAS.
Alison Davies
Alison is one of our Resourcing Leads and originally joined NHS IMAS in March 2020 to support the Covid-19 Flexible Resourcing project. Since 2019, she has worked within the NHS as a Project Manager at the NHS Leadership Academy, gaining experience in leadership development and programme delivery. Prior to her NHS career, Alison held roles in higher education and local government, specialising in improvement initiatives across programme and project management, strategy and business planning, service development, customer service, and event management. In addition to her resourcing responsibilities, Alison is the NHS IMAS ISO Lead, ensuring compliance with quality and environmental standards.
Andrew Aitken
Andrew joined NHS IMAS in 2020 as Resourcing Lead. He has worked within the NHS since 2015, gaining experience in the National Incident and Special Projects team and the Policy Development and Implementation team at NHS England. Prior to joining the NHS, Andrew worked for the Home Office in the UK Visas and Immigration department, bringing valuable expertise in policy and operational delivery. His diverse background supports his role in managing complex resourcing requirements and fostering strong stakeholder relationships.
Jan Pearce
Jan returned to NHS IMAS permanently in 2020 as Resourcing Lead, following a previous secondment in 2018 and her contribution to the NHS IMAS Covid-19 Flexible Resourcing project. She has worked for NHS England since 2013 in governance, project, and programme management roles, bringing extensive experience in delivering complex initiatives. Jan is a qualified coach and mentor, passionate about supporting professional development. Prior to joining NHS England, she held roles across a wide range of educational settings, including higher and further education, and served as an Education Officer within a local authority.
Ellie Sproston
Ellie joined NHS IMAS in 2024 as Resourcing Lead. She brings extensive experience from her previous roles within the NHS South West Leadership and Talent team and the South West Leadership Academy. With a professional background in learning and development, leadership, and talent management, Ellie also brings valuable insight from her time in the private sector. She is an ILM Level 5 qualified coach and mentor and serves as the lead for NHS IMAS communications, combining her expertise in talent development with a passion for effective engagement and collaboration.
Rachel Haigh
Rachel joined the team in 2017 and is NHS IMAS' Business Manager. She brings extensive experience in NHS programme and business operations management. Rachel leads on corporate reporting, risk management, and system development, driving improvements that enhance compliance and operational efficiency. Rachel has successfully delivered national projects, including streamlining interim workforce processes to support cost reduction targets. Her expertise spans strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and data analytics, underpinned by a commitment to fostering positive workplace culture and continuous improvement.
Amrana Yasmin
Amrana joined NHS IMAS in 2024 as Business Operations Officer. She brings a wealth of experience from her NHS career, which began in 2015. Amrana has a strong background in business administration and project support, having worked in a variety of teams including Private Office, Overseas Visitor Cost Recovery, Commercial Income, People Delivery, and Resources Operations. Her diverse experience has equipped her with a broad understanding of NHS operations and a commitment to delivering high-quality support across complex programmes.
Partners
Our Partners are experienced NHS Chief Executives and Directors with a proven track record of delivery. They, where appropriate, will dedicate time to lead the assignment and will take responsibility for managing and coaching the assignment team.
They have access to the skilled members of our pools, to powerful problem-solving tools, and also receive personal coaching and learning opportunities.
The Partners also benefit from the NHS IMAS programme by having the opportunity to use their skills to support the wider NHS. They also, where appropriate, monitor the progress of pool members who are on assignment and act as mentors to help develop talent for the future.
Pool Members
Our pools consist of a variety of highly skilled professionals from across the NHS and wider professional backgrounds. NHS IMAS pool members assist NHS organisations in a variety of ways including operational, financial or strategic support.
Members of our NHS pool are highly competent individuals and functional experts who add value through specific skill sets or professional expertise. These experts include nurses, doctors, analysts, financial and operational specialists.
The pool members benefit from being able to access real work opportunities to develop their skills and exposure to broader experiences and networks. They also get training and development when on assignments by receiving personal support and coaching from our Partners, where appropriate.
Our second pool consists of independent candidates are carefully select individuals who have left the NHS but have significant and valuable expertise. Independent pools members utilise their wealth of NHS experience and continue to use this to give back and contribute to supporting the NHS.