Mr Chris Sleight MSc BSc FIBMS

Chris is a dynamic and motivational executive leader, inspirational speaker, and renowned experienced chair of national and international conferences.

With almost 40 years’ experience in the NHS, starting in Pathology in 1988, Chris is renowned for progressing from a basic grade Biomedical Scientist to a Clinical Director within 5 years (along the M62 corridor from Hull to Harrogate to York, with a brief detour to Sherwood Forest NHS Foundation Trust) before moving to the North West in 2008 to senior Trust management.

In his 27 years in senior NHS leadership, Chris undertook major senior leadership and management roles in operations and strategy in two of the largest complex multi-site NHS Trusts in England, including divisional director roles in Diagnostics and Clinical Support Services, Anaesthetics and Critical Care, and Women and Children’s divisions, Director of Transformation and Strategy, and Chief Officer roles in Clinical Support Services. From 2019 he led the design, creation, implementation and maturation of the Imaging and Pathology Networks across Greater Manchester (GM), and provided senior leadership for the other Diagnostic Networks. This included taking the Imaging Network from conception to a “thriving” network within his tenure.

As Chief Officer of the GM Diagnostics Network his responsibilities also included leadership of all the Digital Diagnostics programmes, including Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) and leading on the procurement and implementation of a single digital diagnostics enterprize solution across all the GM Trusts. This solution included a single PACS for Radiology and the transformational move to digital pathology for GM, and moving towards AI adoption. Chris in addition was Senior Responsible Officer for the GM Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) Programme, participating on the initial national steering group for the CDC programme. Chris was also the Programme Director of system wide Pharmacy Transformation Programmes across GM. During his career he played a leading role in responding to several critical incidents including the Covid-19 pandemic and the Manchester Arena bombing, and was Pathology Incident Director for North 5.  

Chris is now a renowned national speaker and celebrated chair at many events particularly Diagnostics, NHS workforce, and NHS Digital events and conferences. He has presented at numerous national conferences and professional meetings as a subject matter expert on his areas of interest and expertise including;

• Imaging and Pathology.
• Reducing Health Inequalities.
• Using digital technology and Artificial Intelligence to improve patient outcomes.
• Creating sustainable workforce models for the future.

As a father of 4 boys, Chris has developed a keen interest in research of generational stereotypes, and now presents regularly on generational theory and its application to advise on how we may create sustainable workforce models for the future.

He was bestowed a Lifetime achievement in Healthcare Science Award from NHSE in the North West Healthcare Science Awards 2025, for his lifetime commitments and successes in introducing improvements for patients and staff by delivering transformation across diagnostics.

In October 2025 following early retirement from the NHS, he founded Sleight Insights Limited, providing consultation, training course design and delivery, conference chairing, professional speaking, and inspirational insights into how to ensure sustainable health services for patients.