Priyantha Jayawardane - Deputy Director

Priyantha Jayawardane Deputy Director

With over 30 years of experience across digital strategy, service transformation, IT management, academic leadership, and research, Priyantha is a highly accomplished specialist in Digital and Technology Service Design and Management. His career spans a wide range of sectors, with a particular focus on healthcare, where he has spent over two decades delivering strategic digital leadership within the NHS.

Priyantha has an outstanding track record in leading complex consultancy and transformation programmes for high-profile international clients. His expertise includes service re-design, digital strategy development, IT service management, and the delivery of digitally enabled transformation initiatives that drive operational efficiency and improved outcomes.

During his 21 years in the NHS, Priyantha has held several senior roles, contributing to national and regional programmes that support:

  • High-quality patient care
  • The strategic adoption of digital technologies to support new models of care
  • Enhanced efficiency and cost savings through "Digital First" approaches

Digitally Enabled Service Transformation

Priyantha is known for fostering innovation and leading the implementation of cutting-edge digital health solutions. Recent projects include:

  • Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to streamline repetitive tasks and free up staff for value-added patient care
  • Chatbot technologies to enhance user communication and improve service efficiency
  • Personalised Video Messaging to support behavioural change and patient engagement

Strategic Digital Leadership

His leadership has been instrumental in several nationally recognised initiatives, such as:

  • Providing technological vision and governance for the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme Hub, designed in line with Government Digital Service (GDS) principles
  • Leading the development and rollout of a Patient Waiting List Validation tool using automated call technology, which was a finalist for Best Elective Care Recovery Initiative at the 2023 HSJ Partnership Awards
  • Managing the successful delivery of digital transformation programmes at national scale

IT Service Management & Performance Monitoring

Priyantha has extensive experience in overseeing multi-million-pound IT service contracts for GP Primary Care, PCTs, and CCGs. His focus on SLA management and performance monitoring has led to:

  • Improved service quality and responsiveness
  • Timely infrastructure upgrades
  • Considerable cost efficiencies

Academic & International Experience

In addition to his NHS and consultancy work, [Name] has served as a Senior Lecturer and Head of Computer Centre, with academic roles in the UK, Brunei, and Sri Lanka. His background brings a valuable blend of practical experience and theoretical insight to his leadership.

Qualifications:

  • PhD in Computer Science
  • BSc in Industrial Management and IT
  • MSP & PRINCE2 Practitioner Certification

Training:

  • CISSP (Cyber Security)
  • ITIL® Foundation Certificate in IT Service Management
  • ITIL® Intermediate Certificate in Service Design

Key Previous Roles:

  • Head of IT – Staffordshire and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit (CSU)
  • Head of IT/Information – Stoke PCT and Staffordshire Cluster of PCTs
  • Senior Lecturer and Head of Computer Centre – Academic posts in the UK, Brunei, and Sri Lanka