Wales’ top government official to join Alzheimer’s Society as new chair

Dame Gill Morgan, who retired from her post as Permanent Secretary of the Welsh Government last year, is to become the new chair of the Alzheimer’s Society.

Dame Gill, who was the most senior civil servant in Wales, retired after four years in the post. Prior to that she was chief executive of the NHS Confederation for six years, which followed two years as chief executive of the North & East Devon Health Authority.

She began her career in healthcare as a doctor working in hospitals and general practice before she moved into management.

Dame Gill said: “I have a common sense approach and everything I do is done with passion. I am committed to bringing that passion to my role as Chair of Alzheimer’s Society and look forward to meeting more of the charity’s dedicated staff and volunteers. I have personally had experience of patients with Alzheimer’s in my working life. Ultimately, the biggest challenge will be to ensure that what we offer makes the biggest difference to people affected by dementia.”

Alzheimer’s Society chief executive, Jeremy Hughes believes her “invaluable insight will help inform Alzheimer’s Society as we propel the issue of dementia to centre stage in health and society as a whole”.

He added: “Gill has exceptional experience of working in healthcare, both in medicine and management, and of working with government at the highest level. I look forward to welcoming Gill to help us in the fight against dementia.”

Dame Gill is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and the Faculty of Public Health and is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners. She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in June 2004 and awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science by The City University, London in May 2006.

She will take up the position as chair on 8 October after the current chair Alastair Balls’ term of office comes to an end.

Mr Balls welcomed her appointment and said: “We’re immensely proud to have been able to appoint such an eminent individual who will take the Society to new and even greater achievements.”

Alzheimer’s Society research shows that 800,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia, more than half have Alzheimer’s disease. In less than ten years a million people will be living with dementia. This will soar to 1.7 million people by 2051