Ed Jones Keynote Speaker

Ed Jones served as Chief of Staff to the UK Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt MP, from 2018-2019. Prior to this he was Special Adviser on policy to Mr Hunt as the UK’s longest serving Health Secretary at the Department of Health for over five years.

Ed spent the early part of his career in consultancy, before being appointed into the government by David Cameron. He served two Prime Ministers, through the Coalition and subsequent Conservative majority government, followed by Theresa May’s administration. Ed co-wrote the health chapters of the Conservative Party’s manifestos for the 2015 and 2017 elections.

At the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Ed worked directly alongside the then Foreign Secretary, handling a range of foreign policy matters including the relationships with China and the United States, responses to global healthcare challenges, as well as crisis points and conflicts in Burma, Iran and Yemen. Ed was also closely involved in UK Brexit policy and the government’s related diplomatic efforts, as well as no-deal preparedness.

As the longest ever serving Special Adviser at the UK Department of Health, Ed had a unique position driving change at the apex of policy, politics and practice in this high profile, complex and fast-moving context. He played a key role in the negotiation of the NHS’s 2015 Spending Review settlement and the NHS long-term funding settlement and long term plan in 2018. As well as being responsible for ongoing political and financial decisions, Ed worked with Ministers and Downing Street on long term reforms such as the UK Life Sciences Strategy in 2018, the Health and Care Workforce Strategy of 2017 and the Ageing Society Grand Challenge. Passionate about the role of technology and innovation in healthcare, Ed retains a role mentoring with the NHS National Innovation Accelerator.

Ed played a leading role in Jeremy Hunt’s campaign for the Conservative Party leadership in 2019 before leaving government and returning to the private sector.

Speaking topics:

• Current context and trends in UK politics
• Whitehall and government administration
• Public policy and political communications
• Healthcare and life sciences policy and reform
• Global healthcare challenges
• NHS performance and administration
• Technology and innovation in healthcare
• Social care funding and reform
• UK and its international relations
• Brexit and the future of the UK’s relationship with the European Union