Emma Walker

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT EMMA WALKER

With over 30 years in the public sector, including 15+ years in senior leadership and consultancy roles, I bring deep expertise in service transformation, programme delivery, and system redesign. I have a strong track record of leading complex, evidence-based change across health, and care. Known for building trusted relationships, communicating complex ideas clearly, and developing high-performing teams. I combine coaching skills, quality improvement (QI), personalised care experience, and sound people and financial management to drive impactful, sustainable outcomes.My experience has provided me with experience of working with organisations undergoing exceptional periods of change and I have have strong track record in:Motivating people and teams through changeDeveloping and maintaining partner relationshipsDeveloping complex strategies, policies and plansEstablishing new ways of working across different organisations and partnersAs an Associate Director at Aqua, I led a team who deliver on an extensive portfolio of programmes including quality improvement, patient safety and personalised care. I led on Aqua’s work in the area of Personalised Care, focusing on shared decision making and self-management support over the past 10 years embedding it into practice with teams across the North West and beyond, linking with colleagues nationally and internationally. In 2018, I led the Aqua study tour to the Hague to look at Buurtzorg nursing models in the Netherlands and how to embed this learning locally.Previously a National Head of Service Development at NHS Direct, I led on innovation, long term conditions and Shared Decision Making. Here I developed online decision aids for the National Right Care Programme and attended the Dartmouth Summer School in the USA on Shared Decision Making.Prior to NHS Direct, I have had extensive NHS experience in both primary and secondary care, in the provision and commissioning of services as well as working with academic institutions.