Second in our “Meet the Chair’s” series we have Sameena Ali-Khan, ITV presenter and event host. Sameena has spent her career providing a platform for vital issues, from social justice to mental health. Now, as chair of the Future of Care stream at the Care Innovation Summit, she brings her trademark empathy, clarity and curiosity to one of society’s biggest challenges: how we care for our ageing population. Drawing on personal experience and a global perspective, Sameena reflects on what motivates her, why open dialogue leads to change, and how fresh voices can help the sector move forward. We spoke with her ahead of the event to learn more.
You’ve spent your career giving a voice to important issues and hosting complex discussions. What motivates you to keep doing that work?
Sameena: I enjoy hosting events because I learn so much about the industry I’m working for. This inevitably benefits me and informs my thinking not just while I’m at the event but also afterwards in my newsroom. Education is key and being in the heart of an industry event with a variety of speakers allows me to gain a better understanding about the real issues and more importantly how it is affecting them. I hope I can then influence the way we report stories about that industry and do this in a fair and informed way.
Having grown up across different countries and cultures, how has that global perspective shaped your view on community, care and connection?
Sameena: Community, care and connection is vital if we want our older members of society to have a dignified life particularly when they need support. Having lived in different countries and met people from all over the world, I think we can definitely learn from each other. Attitudes towards getting older and more importantly how we care for elders varies greatly and I know it depends on many things, but we have to find a way to allow people to do what they feel is right for their loved one. I think we need to care more as a community and to do that we need to connect.
You’ve chaired events for organisations tackling everything from mental health to social justice. What have you learned about how we talk about – and lead – change?
Sameena: Having hosted many discussions about all sorts of subjects, the main thing I have learned is that open and honest conversation does lead to change. Like most industries, there is often a lot of good practice going on but it needs a platform to be shared and discussed. Equally, bad practice is often revealed at these conferences and it allows everyone to learn what is effective and what direction the industry is moving in. By bringing the leaders in specific fields together, we can educate and really begin to change attitudes which in turn will bring about change in the long term.
Why do you think it’s important to bring a fresh, external voice like yours into the care conversation right now?
Sameena: I always start my introduction by saying I am not an expert in the topic being discussed. However I am like so many others right now in that we are children of a growing elderly population who are living longer. Some need care to live independently, others may have to move into a care home, but when it happens to you (as it did in my case) you are often left bewildered and confused about whether you are doing the right thing. I hope an external voice like mine brings the “users” experience to the table. My job is all about research and fact finding and if I’m struggling to source help then there is an issue which needs to be addressed, and my experience highlights it.
As chair of the Future of Care stream, how do you plan to help speakers and delegates explore where the sector is heading next?
Sameena: Care is in the news more often than it isn’t! Therefore as chair I hope we can reflect some of the recent developments like the change in Immigration rules which will massively impact recruitment in the care sector. Assisted Dying is also very much in the news and is a very divisive subject. Panellists and speakers may refer to how this impacts certain aspects of care and it would be interesting to hear from those who are often closest to those in this situation. The speakers at the Future of Care events have often influenced the direction the sector moves in and I’ll do my best to facilitate the discussions so we get that again!
What do you hope people take away from the Future of Care stream – not just in terms of knowledge, but mindset?
Sameena: Finally I hope people will take away both knowledge and hope, that this incredibly important sector which will impact us all in some way is very much moving forward and aware of how science, technology and politics is changing how we care in our communities.
Join Sameena at Care Innovation Summit, 19th June 2025 at Business Design Centre, London, to drive change for the future of care. To find out more information and book tickets head to our website.
