Nuffield Trust announces new Chief Executive

Thea Stein has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of the Nuffield Trust think tank.

Thea is currently Chief Executive at Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust and a trustee of the Nuffield Trust. She will take over from Nigel Edwards in September 2023. Nigel has led the organisation since 2014 and will remain in post until Thea assumes her role.

Thea Stein has worked at a senior level in the public sector across England and Scotland over the past 20 years, having been Chief Executive at Leeds Community Healthcare since 2014.  Prior to her current role, Thea was Chief Executive of the Carers Trust and before that Chief Executive of Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency for the Yorkshire and the Humber region. She started her career as a clinical psychologist working in homelessness and drug and alcohol services.

Commenting on Thea Stein’s appointment, Professor Martin Marshall CBE, Chair of the Nuffield Trust said:

“We are really excited to have appointed Thea Stein as the next Chief Executive of the Nuffield Trust. She is a creative, compassionate and thoughtful senior leader and brings with her a deep understanding of the health and care sector and a strong commitment to the use of research and evidence in policymaking. Her experience in community health care and social care will bring much-needed visibility to these vitally important and often overlooked elements of health and care.

“Under Nigel Edwards’ leadership, the Nuffield Trust has grown to become a pre-eminent independent voice in both health and care, offering incisive analysis on some of the biggest policy issues facing the country. I am looking forward to seeing it flourish yet further as Thea works with our superb staff to grapple with the huge policy challenges ahead.”

Thea Stein said:

“I’m delighted to be joining the Nuffield Trust and am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the organisation. It is a critical time for the NHS and social care, and I am looking forward to working with the Nuffield Trust’s excellent team to influence and change policy and practice in the UK.”

Nigel Edwards said:

“This is a fantastic appointment for the Nuffield Trust. Thea brings with her a wealth of experience in leading organisations at the cutting edge of service delivery. She is a talented and original thinker and I am greatly looking forward to seeing the organisation develop under her leadership.”