Introducing Ilona Blue

Ilona Blue is an experienced non-executive director and executive leader with a successful track record in finance, governance and programme delivery in central government and the NHS. Her career path is driven by an inherent commitment to delivering better outcomes and value for money.

She is a lay council member at the General Dental Council, the UK-wide statutory regulator of around 114,000 members of the dental team; a non-executive member designate for Frimley NHS Integrated Care Board, where she will also chair the Audit Committee; and a non-executive member of the Audit Risk and Assurance Committee at Defence Equipment and Support (part of the Ministry of Defence). Ilona was previously a NED and Senior Independent Director at South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.

Her executive career began in academia where she undertook public health research. She then joined the Civil Service where she spent over twenty years in four departments (HM Treasury, Department for Work and Pensions, Home Office and Department for Transport). Her most recent role is Group Finance Director at the Department for Transport.

She is a Chartered Public Finance Accountant and holds a PhD in International Public Health, a Post Graduate Diploma in Medical Statistics & Epidemiology and a BA (Hons) in Geography. She completed the Financial Times Non-Executive Director Diploma in 2020.

When asked why she wanted to join Accent, Ilona said “I am committed to supporting people to achieve the best possible outcomes in life and I have a strong appreciation of how safe and affordable housing can enable this.”