Alison Williams

I bring social enterprise targeted insights to Smile Together helping to shape our strategic direction and ensuring we always prioritise our people and our mission as a community interest company. Smile Together has been a member of Social Enterprise UK (SEUK) since 2016 and reinvests 100% of its profits back into patient facilities, our community and environment – over £7 million to date!

As a Non-Executive Director, I focus on governance, supporting Smile Together to stay aligned with its strategic objectives, manage risk effectively, and meet its performance goals. In this non-operational role, I review board papers and recommendations, attend board meetings to collaborate with the executive team, and, when possible, visit teams and see their work in action. This helps me maintain an objective perspective and stay connected to the impact we’re making.

Meeting interesting people is one of the best parts of my role. I truly value the opportunity to learn from others and contribute to meaningful conversations that drive our mission forward. I see every challenge as an opportunity to innovate and grow, both personally and professionally. There are some big strategic decisions ahead, and I’m excited to be part of shaping the future and delivering real impact in the local communities.

Before joining Smile Together, I spent the last decade in Executive NHS commercial roles and have run my own business as well as many NHS spin out organisations, which I’ve always turned into social enterprises. My journey into healthcare started early—I was inspired by novels about nurses and even built hospitals out of Lego as a child!

What inspires me most about Smile Together is everyone’s passion, ambition, focus on delivering high-quality care, and determination to close the gap on oral health inequality. There’s a real sense of community spirit here. If you’re considering joining Smile Together, my advice is simple—don’t hesitate!

Outside of work, I enjoy walking, paddleboarding, baking, spending time with friends, exploring good restaurants, and travelling.