Ageing Well judges

Chair - Halima Khan Director of the Public Services Lab at Nesta

Halima is a Director of the Public Services Lab at Nesta where she oversees the design and delivery of programmes that test new ways of solving social challenges. Halima's role is to develop, test and scale new ideas, products and services which have a social purpose. Her work focuses on 'people powered' solutions across public services, civil society and social business, which achieve better outcomes for less by fostering collaboration between frontline practitioners and users.

Halima's recent Nesta programmes include Neighbourhood Challenge, which explored new methods of community-led innovation including micro challenge prizes; Age Unlimited, which supported older social entrepreneurs to set up a venture for the first time; and People Powered Health, which is exploring how people with long term conditions can live better by combining clinical and patient expertise with strong social networks. She is currently scoping a new programme on ageing and innovation and is a Policy Fellow focusing on ageing at Cambridge University's Centre for Science and Policy.

Vicki Purewal Head of Challenge Prizes at Nesta

Vicki joined Nesta in 2003 and was most recently responsible for the development and launch of the Centre for Challenge Prizes.  Vicki is an expert in programme design and on challenge prizes. Since joining Nesta she has been responsible for designing and delivering several major programmes to encourage, support and reward innovation. These programmes have covered a broad range of topics including creativity in learning, community innovation, the environment and public services.

From 2007-09 she led the design and delivery of the Big Green Challenge, a £1 million prize to incentivise and support community-led innovation in response to climate change. This challenge prize was one of the first for social innovation and has received international recognition for its programme design and success.

Other programmes Vicki has worked on include the Learning programme, Innovation Challenges, Neighbourhood Challenge, Transforming Early Years and Creative Councils. Her work at Nesta has also covered cross-programme evaluation and reporting, and the set-up of new programme teams and processes.

Prior to Nesta, Vicki worked for four years in the performing arts sector as a fundraiser, manager and writer, as well as performing in and supporting dance projects in the UK and Europe. She has a first class honours degree in Dance Theatre and an MA covering aesthetics, visual design for dance, and cultural politics. 

Almudena Lara Head of the Social Action team in Cabinet Office

Almudena Lara heads the social action team in Cabinet Office, leading on government's work to promote the giving of both time and money.  Her remit includes the Social Action Fund, the Innovation in Giving Fund and Challenge Prizes.  She also works on the delivery of two programmes aiming at increasing social capital in deprived areas, the Community Organisers and Community First programmes.  She also leads the work on the social action legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic games.

Prior to taking her current role, Almudena was part of the Prime Miniter's strategy unit and worked in labour markets and welfare reform.  She has also advised government on social finance, including work with four local authorities in the design of social impact bonds for troubled families.  Before joining the civil service, Almudena worked as an economic consultant, on competition policy and regulatory issues.

Angela Geer Director of Older People's Services at WRVS

Angela joined WRVS in July 2009 as the first Director of Older People's Services. She leads the integration of current services and the development of new work across Britain to ensure the charity can meet the varying needs of older people, making sure there are consistently high quality services across Britain.

Angela has considerable experience of the public, private, charitable and not-for-profit sectors. Her previous roles include: director of business development and marketing at Craegmoor Healthcare, director of corporate services and development with the Sedgemoor Group and development director for Care UK Children's Services division. She worked with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Hong Kong and with International Social Services in South Africa developing post apartheid social care services.

Kevin Waudby Founder and Director of Good Innovation.

As Head of Innovation at Cancer Research UK Kevin established the charity's innovation program and managed it for over 5 years, leading several business development teams to deliver millions in future income. In 2011 he established a specialist consultancy called Good Innovation to help charities and other civil society organisations innovate successfully to deliver new sources of income. His clients include WWF, Barnardo's, RSPCA and UNICEF UK.

Dr Mark Winwood CPsychol CSci AFBPsS

Mark is clinical director for psychological health for AXA PPP healthcare's specialist Health Services division. He holds associate fellowship and chartership with the British Psychological Society and is also accredited by the Health Professional Council and a Chartered Scientist. Mark joined the medical services of AXA PPP healthcare in June 2008 and has focused on developing clinical and operational frameworks to allow the joint delivery of evidence based psychological care across its wellbeing and medical services. 

Prior to this Mark was clinical director for AXA PPP healthcare Employee Support service for over 10 years, responsible for the day-to-day running of the employee assistance programme, supervision of clinical staff, developing and overseeing the case management, production of client reports, account management liaison and corporate consultancy; he was also responsible for the development of bespoke programs for key corporate clients. Prior to joining AXA, Mark worked as a senior psychologist in the NHS and has many years of clinical experience and research expertise. His academic interests include the development and application of evidence based interventions in the workplace with groups of employees/managers. Mark's doctoral research centered on the development of novel methods of delivering therapy and so is keen to pilot services using new technologies. He has extensive experience in mental health and developing interventions to address this in the workplace. Mark is also an active member of the Employee Assistance Professionals Association, British Psychological Society and British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (Workplace) and maintains a private practice as a psychologist in London.

John Coxon Head of Stakeholder Engagement & Delivery Partner Relationship Management at Department for Work and Pensions.

John Coxon,. During the past 6 years, he has held a number of Ageing policy roles. He was responsible for: delivering the LinkAge Plus programme; overseeing the review of engagement for older people 'Empowering Engagement - a stronger voice for older people' and implementing the Governments response, and; working across government to deliver the Ageing Society programme. John developed the concept for, and oversaw the delivery of the Ageing Well programme in collaboration with the Local Government Association. He currently covers policy for the employers aspect of Extending Working Lives, DWP's engagement with key Private and State Pensions stakeholders and taking forward the legacy of Ageing Well.

He was previously responsible for the operations of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate, producing around 350 public reports a year. As a Chartered Marketer he has a varied background in press, publicity and communications working in DWP and its predecessors. 

Sam Haskell Policy Manager at Department of Health

Sam is a Policy Manager at the Department of Health, working on policies that improve the health and care of older people. The role is his first on the Civil Service Fast Stream Programme, after joining the scheme in November 2011. Prior to this, Sam has held a number of different positions at the Department, including working on voluntary sector policy. In addition to his work in the Civil Service, Sam is also involved in a local health inequalities charity - Zest: Health for Life - near his home in Leeds, where he sits as a non-executive board member. 

Emma Soames Editor at Large for Saga Magazine

Emma Soames is Editor at Large for Saga Magazine, which she joined in 2002 as Editor and Editorial Director. She also represents Saga as the "Voice of the Over 50s"and has been a Director of the Saga Charitable Trust since 2003.  Emma was formerly Editor of the Saturday Telegraph Magazine for seven years and before that Editor of ES Magazine (Evening Standard),  Tatler and the Literary Review. Emma also contributes articles to the Daily Telegraph, the Guardian and Vogue. She has won a number of awards including BSME Editor of the Year (Colour Magazines) in 1995 and 1997, and BSME Editor of the Year (General Interest and Current Affairs magazines) in 2003 and 2004.