Sheffield Children’s welcomes new Commercial Director to drive innovation in child health technology

We’re delighted to welcome Dr Nicole Samuel as the new Commercial Director for Sheffield Children’s National Centre for Child Health Technology (NCCHT), a pioneering initiative set to transform healthcare for children and young people. 

Jointly hosted by Sheffield Children’s and Legacy Park Ltd, Nicole will lead the development of the commercial strategy for the National Centre for Child Health Technology (NCCHT), to support the Trust’s ambition to become a national hub to create, test and spread child health technologies. 

With over a decade of experience across academia, industry, and the NHS, including as a practising doctor, Nicole brings a rare and valuable blend of clinical insight and commercial expertise. Her career has spanned international consultancy, strategic partnerships, the development of institutes of excellence, and new hospital builds, all with a consistent focus: improving health at scale. 

Nicole said: “As a trained medical professional, I’ve always cared about people’s health. Joining Sheffield Children’s felt like a miraculous opportunity which brings together everything I’ve worked on so far — clinical care, innovation, and system-wide collaboration — all with the goal of improving health for children and young people.” 

Nicole’s appointment marks a significant milestone for Sheffield Children’s as we work to reimagine healthcare to provide children with the best healthcare now and in the future. 

The NCCHT will open in 2026 at the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, during Sheffield Children’s 150th anniversary year.

It will bring together care, research and innovation to transform healthcare delivery and act as a beacon of excellence for the NHS in developing and adopting new healthcare technologies for children.

Nicole said: “Across the NHS, academia, industry and system partners there’s a shared understanding of the biggest health challenges and many of the right ideas to address them. The NCCHT will create an opportunity where those ideas and people can come together in new ways to turn innovation into practice, improving healthcare and lives on a wide scale. 

“With a forward-looking policy landscape and ambitious initiatives like the NCCHT, we have a real opportunity to look beyond our norm, share expertise and be bold in our approach to deliver change and support the best possible future for children and young people. I’m looking forward to meeting more people who are excited to be part of this.” 

John Williams, Chief Finance Officer and Deputy Chief Executive at Sheffield Children’s, said: “We are ambitious about the future of healthcare for children and young people, and Nicole’s appointment is another exciting step for Sheffield Children’s as we develop strategic partnerships across sectors to reimagine healthcare. Nicole’s unique experience, her passion for collaboration, and her mission to improve health for children and young people make her an exciting addition to our team.” 

Chris Low, Chief Executive at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park and Legacy Park Ltd said: “Nicole’s appointment is fantastic news, she will be a real game-changer for Sheffield Children’s National Centre for Child Health Technology and the wider Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park. What really came across during the recruitment process was Nicole’s talent, humility, and the determination to succeed – qualities that are vital to making major developments a success. Legacy Park Ltd is delighted to welcome her to the team.” 

We’ll be sharing more about commercial opportunities and strategic partnerships in the coming months, as excitement builds towards the NCCHT’s launch. 

Find out more about the NCCHT and take a virtual tour.