The NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA) is pleased to announce that Ed Jones, Special Adviser to the Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), will join its pool of Mentors, offering support to NIA Fellows.

Having served as Special Adviser to Jeremy Hunt MP since April 2013, Ed will support Fellows seeking advice on current and future government priorities, developing policies, connecting with DHSC and navigating Whitehall.

Ed joins an expert, high-profile group, offering bespoke guidance to Fellows. Current Mentors include Professor the Lord Ara Darzi; Judge Business School Fellow, Pam Garside; Chairman of NHS Digital, Noel Gordon; and National Clinical Director for Innovation, Professor Tony Young.The pool of Mentors providing support to the NIA is regularly expanded according to the experiences and identified needs of the Fellows. Representing a broad skills base, Mentor support includes advice, guidance and networking.

In his role as Special Adviser, Ed oversees DHSC’s strategy and policy development, working directly to the Secretary of State and to Number 10 Downing Street.

Ed’s role covers all aspects of the DHSC’s work, advising the Health Secretary and the Ministerial team on issues from social care funding reform to quality improvement, technology, life sciences and workforce reform, and he co-authored the healthcare sections of two general election manifestos.

Ed is currently completing the Strategic Leadership Programme with the Yale University School of Public Health and since 2014 he has guest lectured on the MSc in Health Policy at the Imperial College Institute of Global Health Innovation. Prior to joining government, Ed worked at public affairs consultancy, Hanover Communications, and previously in the management consulting practice at Deloitte.

For more information about the Mentors supporting the NIA, visit www.nhsaccelerator.com/mentors