Phil Gleeson, Public Representative

Philip Christopher Gleeson is my full name but I wish to be known as Phil.

After becoming ill in the 90’s and enforced retirement, I decided to give back to those who have helped me. Thus, I have volunteered within many areas of the third sector for over 27 years, which provided me with wealth of knowledge within health, social care and the NHS.

As a qualified patternmaker in Engineering, I feel I can greatly contribute to any group needing people with lived experience and use my problem solving skills. After I had to leave engineering I worked my way through a logistics career, finishing by running as a director of the northern distribution centre for an electrical company. My real passion is to ensure that research involves the patient and therefore becoming grounded and true. Without research we have no innovation or forward thinking.

I am a member of Yorkshire and Humber National Institute for Health Research and I chair the Better Lives Board for Adults and Health. I am also involved in Leeds Involving People, Advonet and Touchstone as a trustee, I am a member of the critical friends network within Yorkshire Ambulance Service. Finally, I believe that my lived experience means I can ensure Patient and Public Involvement is true and coproduction is co not faux.

Finally I dislike with a passion, ACRONYMS.