Career and education
Maria is Director of Transformation for a health and social care integrated care system, working to deliver the benefits of a joined-up system for the public as well as those who work within it. She has worked in the NHS for over six years in various strategy, transformation and partnership roles, spending much of this time within one of the largest hospital trusts. As one example of her varied NHS career, Maria designed and led a partnership between hospitals in London and Kent which led, amongst other improvements, to more rapid and resilient radiology services and a new paediatric epilepsy service for Kent. During wave 1 of COVID, Maria volunteered for a secondment to the Chief Nurse's Office, working on the data modelling of staffing levels and freeing up clinician time.
Maria recently completed an MSc in Translational Health Sciences, returning to her alma mater of Oxford University. The course focuses on the barriers to innovation within health and care; it recognises that changing our healthcare service isn't simply about digital solutions but changing the way clinicians, organisations and systems fit together around patients. Her most recent project tackling this has been to establish a course for those with tried-and-tested ideas to spread their improvements across a health and care system, giving colleagues the tools to break down organisational barriers.
Prior to joining the NHS, Maria spent over four years working for FTSE 250 firms as a strategy consultancy, based in London and Dubai. This work focused predominantly on helping companies to grow either through the entry of new markets or by considering acquisition options. For example, whilst working in Dubai, Maria helped to develop a flexible data model for the growth of the facilities management market within the context of increasing environmental concerns and the potential for higher energy prices.
She graduated with an MEng Engineering Science from Oxford University, specialising in civil and biomedical engineering, and spent a year working as a student engineer in the Halcrow Group Manchester office working on flood defences in the nearby area.
Politics
Maria is honoured to be the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for East Ham in the 2024 General Election.
Following her own hard-fought election, this time with the Liberal Democrats as the main opposition, Maria represented the ward of Hampstead Town on Camden Council from 2018-2022. Examples of her successful campaigns in areas such as debt clinics, protection against harassment, and traffic management can be seen on the 'Media' page.
Having met her Hampshire-based future husband, Maria decided not to re-stand in Camden and instead stood in May 2022 for the seat of Tadley North, Kingsclere and Baughurst on Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council. Although unsuccessful, Maria fought for greater control of development and a renewed commitment to Neighbourhood Planning in this semi-rural area.
In March 2023 Maria became a Parish Councillor for Baughurst, enabling her to continue the fight for localised planning within the Neighbourhood Plan working group where she leads on community engagement.
Maria has previously served as the CWO Area Chair for North Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and is currently Deputy Chair of the North West Hampshire CWO. Throughout her political career Maria has pro-actively supported other women to get involved, and is grateful for the support she has received.
Voluntary work
Maria's other name is 'Akela'; that's the name her Cubs know her as when she's volunteering as a Cub Scout Leader. Every week Maria is proud of what her Cubs achieve, not just learning life skills but demonstrating the teamwork, compassion and leadership that the Scouting movement embodies. Working with three other adult Leaders, the Cub Pack has expanded in the past 18 months from seven children to 16, and it continues to grow, providing opportunities to more young people.
When living in London, Maria volunteered in two homeless shelters, taking either overnight or breakfast shifts depending on the need of the shelter. Prior to COVID she was also supporting a weekly Contact Club in which vulnerable people could spend a warm evening in a local church provided with food and hot drinks.
Personal life
Maria lives on the Hampshire/ Berkshire border with her husband, son, and their working cocker spaniel Isla and their two cats. She sails a Laser dinghy and is a keen runner and hiker.