After 12 years working in the private healthcare sector, Sarah Ellis joined the NHS to be part of the wider team working to future proof the system, with the end goal of improving patient care. Originally working at Aintree University Hospital NHS Trust, then spending two years on the North West Streamlining programme team working with trusts to improve a wide range of HR practices, Sarah joined Health Education England in April 2019.

In addition to her substantive role (Lead Employer Programme & Contract Manager), in June 2020, Sarah took on the role of Programme Lead for the setup of the North West Advancing Practice faculty. Sarah led the multi-functional Advancing Practice Working Group which included representatives from key specialties, education transformation, commissioning, quality, and finance. Together the group have made great progress in setting up the faculty with key roles recruited to. an Advancing Practice Strategic Oversight Group has also been set up to make important decisions about how to take Advancing Practice forward in the North West.