James Sanderson is currently Chief Executive of the national palliative care and bereavement support charity Sue Ryder.

Previously, he was the National Director of Community Health Services, Personalised Care, and Palliative and End of Life Care at NHS England, leading efforts to deliver tailored healthcare services that meet patients’ individual needs and preferences. His work included leading the development and roll out of social prescribing, personal health budgets and community-based support, alongside leading on several National COVID response initiatives. He was the founding CEO of the National Academy for Social Prescribing, and a co-founding member of the Global Social Prescribing Alliance, of which he is currently its Chair.

He has previous been an Arm’s Length Body CEO, having led the Independent Living Fund until 2015, following a previous career in the motor industry.

James holds a BA (Hons) in Performing arts having studied community performance, dance, music and drama and is passionate about the role that creativity can play in maintaining health and wellbeing.