CW+ Premium Content/Computer Weekly

It might sound trite when IT leaders claim their jobs are critical, but in the case of Aaron Powell, chief digital officer (CDO) at NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), the work he does can help make the difference between life and death. It is a high-pressure role that he relishes. “I love it,” says Powell. “A lot of what we do is about matching allocation – we match organs and blood from donors to patients who need a transplant or blood transfusion. There are very few jobs where you can go to work every day and know that what you’re doing is having a direct impact on people’s lives.” Powell says it should be emphasised that three people, on average, still die in the UK every day waiting for a transplant. Technology can play a crucial role in producing new efficiencies for NHSBT and its patients. To this end, Powell has spent the past two years pushing a digital transformation agenda. He says the work being undertaken, as in other businesses, is helping change existing processes for the better. “I don’t think Uber set out with a ...