Introducing Ellie Walsh – Senior project manager, Live more dementia programme

We asked Ellie about her background, what brought her to Shared Lives Plus, and what she’ll be working on.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into this sector?
After spending two years teaching in China, I came back to the UK in 2018 and moved into the education programme sector. I knew I didn’t want to teach long-term, but I wanted to stay connected to learning and development.

That led me to Health Education England, where I worked on the UK Foundation Programme for trainee doctors, and later on global health projects in the Global Health Partnerships team. While I was there, I completed a master’s in project management, which really shaped my next steps.

Most recently, I was a Project Manager in Public Health at Manchester City Council. I managed a large substance misuse grant and worked closely with local services and partners. This role at Shared Lives Plus felt like the perfect opportunity to manage a project in a new area of adult social care – and one I feel passionate about.

What will you be doing in your new role?
I’ll be working with Ewan King, CEO of Shared Lives Plus, and Neil Crowther, an independent social change consultant, on the Live more dementia programme. My role focuses on monitoring, evaluation, and supporting schemes with onboarding, start-up and delivery.

What are you most excited about working on?
I’m really excited about the evaluation side of the project. We’re taking a test-and-learn approach, and I truly believe in the benefits of the Shared Lives model – so I’m keen to see what the evaluation shows.

Even the areas for improvement will be valuable to explore. We’re also working with some great external evaluators, so I’m looking forward to that partnership too.

How do your past experiences help in this job?
I’ve worked with a wide range of partners – from doctors and medical students to global health teams, frontline drug and alcohol services, and local authorities. That background will really help with the Live more dementia programme, where engagement is key.

We’ll be working with local authorities, dementia services, and people with lived experience, and my previous roles have given me a good understanding of how to tailor approaches and build relationships across different sectors.

What’s important to you in the way you work with people?
Building strong relationships is at the heart of how I work. Taking time to understand people as individuals – not just roles or stakeholders – builds trust, and that makes collaboration more effective.

When people feel listened to and valued, they’re more open and engaged. It creates a better working environment and helps us reach our goals more effectively.

What do you hope to achieve in your role?
I’d love to help build a strong evidence base for the Live more dementia programme so it can grow and continue beyond the pilot. It’s important to me that the work leads to meaningful, lasting change for people living with dementia and those who support them.

I also hope to strengthen local partnerships and contribute to a culture of shared learning across Shared Lives Plus.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?
I’m really into CrossFit – I compete quite regularly – and I also enjoy running, which takes up most of my spare time. I love travelling too, and I’m heading off to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam in October!

Is there a piece of advice or saying that’s stuck with you?
Yes – something I was taught for CrossFit competitions, but it applies to everything, including work. It’s the 10-minute rule: you get 10 minutes to either celebrate or be frustrated when something happens. Then it’s about learning from it and moving on.

It helps you avoid dwelling on things that didn’t go to plan, and if something goes well, you enjoy it – but don’t let it distract you or make you complacent.

Find out more about the Live more dementia programme.