GS1 UK has appointed Professor Sir Terence Stephenson, chair of the health research authority for England, as its new president. Sir Terence succeeds The Right Honourable Philip Hunt, Baron Hunt of Kings Heath.
A leading healthcare figure, Sir Terence was knighted in 2018 for services to healthcare and children’s health services and has dedicated much of his career to improving patient safety. He has previously served as chair of the UK General Medical Council, chair of the UK Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and as president of the UK Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Sir Terence is currently Nuffield Professor of Child Health at the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London and chair of the Health Research Authority for England.
In 2014, he led the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s review on medical devices and, in April 2022, was selected as a National Institute of Health Research Senior Investigator. In these roles, he has worked with five Secretaries of State for Health and Westminster governments of three different parties and has published over 330 peer reviewed papers, commentaries and book chapters.
Sir Terence said, ‘Having witnessed the power of GS1 standards first hand, I look forward to working with the GS1 UK team to build on their recent successes. Collaboration and trusted data are essential for powering progress, driving efficiencies and improving safety, not only within healthcare but in many industries from retail to construction.’
Reflecting on his term as president, Lord Hunt added, ‘I am incredibly proud of the role I have played in helping GS1 UK engage with industry at a new level, both within healthcare and beyond. Our collaboration with government and industry on pioneering initiatives such as Scan4Safety is driving lasting generational change and a clear pathway for the future. It has been incredibly rewarding to see how our work has supported the successes of our members and driven positive change in the real world.
‘I am grateful to both Anne and Sir Terence for their all support and am pleased that our work together will continue as I advise GS1 UK as a member of the UK healthcare advisory board.’
Chair of GS1 UK, Chris Tyas OBE, said, ‘I would like to thank Lord Hunt for all he has done to champion GS1 UK and the adoption of standards. Over the course of his nine-year term, our membership has grown by 100 per cent, expanding to reflect the diverse challenges and success of UK plc. Lord Hunt’s guidance, stewardship and a mentoring have played a defining role in the evolution of our organisation as we developed our proposition beyond procurement and supply chain management, using trusted data to transform the way people work and live.’
