Zena’s career in health and social care has spanned across four decades, initially in domiciliary care and as a nursing auxiliary in acute and community settings, before qualifying as a mental health nurse in 2003. She has relished the challenge of less traditional roles throughout her career but always with a keen focus on improving the outcomes and experiences of care for older people, people living with dementia, their families and carers. 

Zena completed her master’s degree in Mental Health at UEA School of Social Work and Psychology in 2013. and completed PhD studies at De Montfort University with her thesis “Relationships, morality and emotion: Their impact and influence on nursing home staff decision-making when a resident with advanced dementia deteriorates” in 2022.  

Zena’s specialist interest includes the care of older people, dementia care, palliative and end of life care, continence management, case management, biopsychosocial care as well service integration and quality improvement. Zena is a published author of multiple journal articles and contributor to three books.  

Given her various areas of interest, skills and experience Zena holds a portfolio of roles including, Social Care Nurse Fellow NIHR Nursing and Midwifery Office, NICHE Leeds Research Fellow University of Leeds, Regional Clinical Lead (dementia) NHS England, Consultant Editor Nursing Older People RCNi.