Navigating the turbulent data ocean of the cradle to grave records in NI

Dr Margaret O’Brien, Assistant Director of Primary Care / Head of General Medical Services, SPPG and Dr Brendan O’Brien, Former CCIO NHS National Services Scotland and before that CCIO for the HSCB

Both obtained medical degrees from Queen’s University Belfast in 1994 and master’s degrees in healthcare informatics from University College Dublin in 2008.

Margaret completed her GP vocational training in general practice in Cornwall in 1999. She had a portfolio career, including multiple leadership roles, until taking up her current role in 2010. She led the development of MDTs in primary care and primary care elective initiatives.

Brendan trained in public health medicine and worked as a consultant in public health at the Institute of Public Health before taking up the role of Chief Clinical Informatics Officer (CCIO) at the Health and Social Care Board in 2013. He joined NHS National Services Scotland as CCIO in 2020. In late 2024 he took early retirement from the NHS to establish his own company.