Sam has 15 years of experience working in and with the NHS across the UK, developing and delivering new community-led service models to aid collaboration and innovation.  In 2019 she was invited to share her work in the NHS in Wales by TEDx Aberystwyth.

As co-founder and MD of Yma, her role is to bring alive our purpose – to create the conditions where primary care in Wales can thrive now, and for future generations.

Sam is also a passionate advocate for renewable technology and an electric vehicle enthusiast, seeking ways to accelerate progress in this area at a local and national level.

Sarah’s focus is on connecting the journey of Yma to the wider world, ensuring we support people to live better lives.

She looks to develop new partnerships, collaborations and opportunities to further our purpose.

Julia is a Programme Manager at Yma,having joined in November 2020. As a post-doctoral chemist, Julia has previous experience working independently in teaching, outreach and research roles. At Yma, Julia manages a portfolio of projects ranging from service design to evaluation, as well as managing a small team. Julia’s previous work as a materials scientist and in academia helps her to plan and evaluate projects, while her work as a mentor for the RSC and in mentoring students contributes to her line management role. Joining Yma has allowed Julia to use her extensive skill set in a new arena where she is able to connect with the social benefit of the work. Julia enjoys the aspects of projects where there is opportunity for flow such as building elaborate maps and spreadsheets or writing reports. Outside of work Julia spends time illustrating and is currently working on a popular science book.

Matthew is the Data Protection Officer ‘DPO’ for Yma. This means that he works with the team at Yma around all aspects of information governance and data security. It is easy to just see this as a security role: Matthew thinks it is more about using information in a way that creates a learning culture and supports innovation, whilst at the same time keeping the promise that we make to our staff, partners, customers and patients to keep it safe. Matthew has a long-standing connection with Yma, having worked with Sam Horwill when ‘Here’ was founded in Brighton, in 2008, where he is still a Non-executive director and Chief Information Officer.

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Kari has a background working with children with developmental delays or disabilities and their families as both a Teacher of the Deaf and a Developmental Specialist in the United States. Following relocation to Wales and a long career break, Kari hit the ground running with Yma. Having first joined our team as an Office Administrator in September 2022, by March 2023 she became a Project Support Officer and in September 2023 she was promoted to Pathway Sharing Facilitator on the Health Pathways Programme. Yma’s core values align well with her experience of collaboration within a multi-disciplinary team and a passion for helping underserved and vulnerable communities. This role allows her to connect with people and teams across the system and to bring efficiency and consistency to a complex national programme.  Outside of work, Kari enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, yoga, and DIY.

Mathew, a seasoned Programme Manager, brings diverse expertise from healthcare, events management, and operations. His career highlights a variety of essential skills, including a natural aptitude for connecting with people, a strategic mindset, and a proven ability to drive success through innovative ideas. Transitioning to Yma in September 2023, Mathew's prior roles in health boards across NHS Wales showcased his adeptness in project management, working as part of Mental Health Services and corporate transformation. Skilled in risk assessment and stakeholder engagement, he drives strategic initiatives, advocating for sustainability. His collaborative spirit contribute to Yma's mission of enhancing primary care in Wales and beyond.

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Ewan joined the Yma team in October 2023 as Project Support Officer.Ewan is currently completing a PhD at Aberystwyth University, which gives him a good grounding in data collection, analysis and management, as well as writing reports, engaging with stakeholders and conducting interviews. Ewan’s openness and ability to talk to people has made a success of the interviews, whilst his proficiency for administrative support work and data handling has helped with the delivery of Yma’s project work. Ewan enjoys the variety of people he gets to work with at Yma, and the opportunity to see the positive impact of his work on the Welsh health landscape. Outside of work Ewan is ordinarily a bookworm,but also enjoys karaoke and being busy in local organizations such as Holy Trinity Church as secretary and the Aberystwyth branch of the Royal British Legion.

Sarah joined the Yma team in April 2024 as a Project Support Officer. She enjoys the diversity of her role, providing administrative, research, writing and engagement support to several projects at a time. She has 12 years of clinical background in diagnostic ultrasound. Sarah is originally from Toronto, Canada where she spent most of her career working in a hospital setting where her patients were at the heart of her work. Her clinical experience has sparked an interest in exploring how care experiences and health outcomes can be improved in health and social care systems. Joining Yma has provided her an opportunity to use her knowledge of healthcare systems along with her research and writing skills to create meaningful change in this sector.  Sarah is currently completing a Master of Health Informatics. Outside of Yma Sarah is a professional barista and aspires to become a latte artist.

Carren has a strong background in managing projects. In her previous roles she managed several innovation projects based in Kenya that catered to various tea markets. After relocating to the UK to join her family, she became part of the Yma team in April 2024 as a Project Support Officer. Her goal is to continue doing the work she loves while delivering impactful solutions that improve people’s lives. Yma’s dedication to enhancing the health and social care system to better serve the public deeply resonates with her. Carren’s project management, stakeholder management, and communication skills enable her to effectively support the planning and delivery of complex projects at Yma. Outside of work, she enjoys running outdoors and reading a wide range of books.

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Lisa joined Yma in May 2024 as a Project Coordinator, bringing with her a wealth of experience in Human Resources, Customer Services and Purchasing and Planning. Lisa’s varied range of skills developed in previous roles enables her to look at the bigger picture, explore alternative ways of working and to challenge what can be changed for a positive impact. At Yma, Lisa is instrumental in implementing strategies for complex health and social care issues. Her ability to translate vision into actionable plans ensures that Yma’s goals are met with efficiency and creativity. Lisa’s desire for making a meaningful impact on Wales and the local community played a role in her decision to join Yma. Outside of work Lisa enjoys coastal walking, which allows were to unwind and connect with nature. She is also an active participant and volunteer at her local park run each Saturday.

As a Project Support Officer at Yma, Elin is currently revitalising Yma’s marketing plan and social media strategy, and supporting projects such as Marie Curie and HealthPathways. Her role involves managing the social media accounts for Yma, improving outreach with potential partners and spreading awareness of what Yma does and contributing to better health and social care in Wales. With a BSc in Psychology, Elin effectively applies her unique understanding of human behaviour to her role. Having grown up as a Young Carer, Elin has subsequently seen and experienced the necessity for supportive systems being in place which motivates her in her role at Yma to make a difference. Joining Yma has allowed her to become part of a team that actively helps and finds solutions within health and social care, whilst developing her professional skills and being part of a welcoming team. Outside of work Elin is a Volunteer RNLI Crew member in Aberystwyth and an Offshore Sailor.