John Palmer is the executive director of primary care, community and mental health for the Cwm Taf University Health Board; and co-chair of the National Board for the PCMH Directors Peer Group. John was previously the lead director of Welsh Health Specialised Services, the joint committee that is delegated to manage specialised and tertiary services on behalf of NHS Wales. Prior to this appointment, he was Cwm Taf Health Board's turnaround director. John joined Cwm Taf from the Welsh Government where he was the director of public services improvement, responsible for Local Service Boards and Wales Spatial Plan; Audit, Regulation and Inspection; and the Public Services Summits and Efficiency and Innovation Board which responded to UK Government austerity policies. John was previously the assistant head for the Department of Health and Social Services where he covered the corporate management and special projects portfolio. He worked directly to the Minister for Health and Social Services and the Chief Executive of NHS Wales on NHS Wales' structural reforms; the 5-year service, workforce and financial strategic framework; the development of the National Shared Services body; and non-emergency patient transport. John's first role in Wales was as assistant chief executive at Monmouthshire County Council. Before this he worked for the Cabinet Office (Office of Public Services Reform) in Whitehall; North Hertfordshire District Council; and the Royal Brompton Hospital and Harefield NHS Trust in London. John has honours degrees in English literature and language and law; is a Warwick University MPA; and is currently studying for an M.Sc. in evidence based medicine. He has broad research interests in public value, local - central relations and improvement and intervention.