After a public sector career across Public Health, Forensic Mental Health, and Criminal Justice, I am undertaking a PhD; the title is 'A study of elite interviews concerning the emergence of the substance misuse recovery movement and mutual aid community in the North West UK.' I am examining the role of recovery in public health as part of my PhD and the individuals leading this social movement, to assess it's significance and future direction. Beyond the PhD I am interested in future teaching / research fellowship opportunities and writing a book on recovery. I am also interested in policy and service design consultancy work. I was recently appointed as an inspector and specialist advisor to the Care Quality Commission across their three areas of activity: adult social care, mental health and community services. I was recently invited to join the board of a new Community Interest Company in Wythenshawe - The Big Ask - which seeks to improve life chances for local residents. I have been invited onto the evaluation advisory group at the Centre for Public Health of a Comic Relief and Russell Brand funded project across 4 sites in the UK - the evaluation will assess the impact of the funding on local social capital. I have 25 years’ experience as a drugs, alcohol, mental health and public health commissioner. I recently completed a citywide drug and alcohol system redesign prior to a major procurement exercise. My work was recognised with a regional public health award in 2012 and the hospital based alcohol service I jointly designed is cited in a jointly authored BMJ publication referenced below. I previously worked at a national level designing treatment systems. I was formerly a member of the London Drug and Alcohol Policy Forum.