Jacqueline Parkes – Professor of Applied Mental Health, Dementia Research and Innovation Centre, University of Northampton.

Jackie is an experienced mental health nurse, and has worked in a broad range of mental health and learning disability settings prior to moving into Higher Education. She is the the Lead for the University of Northampton Dementia Research and Innovation Centre, Chair of the Northamptonshire Dementia Action Forum, and lead for Public and Patient Involvement. Her subject specialisms are nursing and mental health research, with a particular focus on developing and implementing person-centred care pathways.

Jackie works extensively with local organisations to evaluate their provision of health and social care services, including community-based interventions for people living with dementia. She has a particular interest in young onset dementia; and is currently the Deputy Chair of the Young Dementia Network Research Workstream and a member of the pan European Group InterDEM.

She has established three community-based social groups for people with dementia; the Forget-me-nots Social Young Onset Dementia Group and Qualified by Experience (QBE) for former carers in Northamptonshire and the Lutterworth Share & Care Group for people with dementia and their carers in South Leicestershire. Jackie is passionate about horse riding, dog walking, and being with her family.