Nick Wills

Head of IT Services & Information Governance

I have a dual role at Smile Together.

I’m responsible for all aspects of Information Communications Technology (ICT) delivery for our business and for developing, implementing and maintaining our ICT strategy. I manage our ICT team and our IT systems and telephony infrastructure, to ensure the provision and availability of core services in line with agreed service levels, working with our managed service provider ITEC Group UK.

As Head of Information Governance I’m responsible for providing specialist expert advice supporting the Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO), Caldicott Guardian and senior management colleagues to meet their own obligations, and for working with internal and external stakeholders to ensure they operate within legal and ethical parameters. I also hold the registered and qualified role of Data Protection Officer for Smile Together, promoting and ensuring GDPR compliance across all aspects of our business.

I support our clinical, operational and strategic objectives by meeting rapidly growing ICT services and information governance needs right across the business. I regularly engage with both clinical and professional services colleagues in all our locations to ensure their voice is heard, and that they feel supported, confident and enabled to deliver in their roles from both an IT and governance perspective. It’s a hugely rewarding role, being able to make a difference every day and very often empowering others to progress and effect real change to benefit our business, our patients and our community.

Prior to joining Smile Together I spent 20 years as a Royal Naval Communications Officer supporting the UK’s strategic naval activities across the globe in numerous operational theatres. When I retired from the Royal Navy with a skill set acquired from numerous communications roles, I found this was easily transferable to an ICT career. This is something I have particularly enjoyed and my roles prior to joining Smile Together have included being Head of IT for Newquay Academy where I oversaw the school’s digital transformation utilising technology to deliver outstanding education for over 600 pupils.

It’s an inspiring environment at Smile Together, being able to work alongside and learn from other professionals, constantly encouraged to take on new and challenging opportunities. This included successfully coordinating our B Corporation assessment process towards certification in 2022. Being an employee-owned organisation, where team members are given a say in the running of the company, is both rewarding and enjoyable. This, combined with putting the patient journey at the heart of all that we do, ensures they receive effective care from caring, compassionate and committed colleagues working within a common culture and shared values.

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my young family and supporting my local community including as chair of the Helston Flora Day Association.