Nick Partridge

Partridge was born in Rickmansworth to Miles and Patricia Partridge. He attended West Somerset School in Minehead. He studied international relations at Keele University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1978.{{Cite web|title=Partridge, Sir Nicholas (Wyndham), (Sir Nick), (born 28 Aug. 1955), Chief Executive, Terrence Higgins Trust, 1991–2013|url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-249515|access-date=2021-08-28|website=WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO|year=2009|language=en|doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U249515|isbn=978-0-19-954088-4}}

Partridge joined the Terrence Higgins Trust in 1985 as the office manager, one of only two full-time paid posts, and became its chief executive in 1991, a role he held for over two decades. Under his leadership, the trust expanded significantly, becoming a national leader in sexual health services, education, advocacy, and policy development. He was instrumental in shifting public attitudes toward HIV and improving services for those affected.{{Cite web|title=Partridge, Sir Nicholas (Wyndham), (Sir Nick), (born 28 Aug. 1955), Chief Executive, Terrence Higgins Trust, 1991–2013|url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-249515|access-date=2021-08-28|website=WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO|year=2009|language=en|doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U249515|isbn=978-0-19-954088-4}}

Beyond the Terrence Higgins Trust, Partridge held several influential roles in healthcare governance and research:

• European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG) – founder member (1992). EATG is a patient-led NGO that advocates for the rights and interests of people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS and related co-infections within Europe.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eatg.org|title=European AIDS Treatment Group|access-date=2021-08-28}}
• Commission for Health Improvement – commissioner and deputy chair (1999 to 2004). CHI was responsible for assessing the performance of NHS organizations in England and ensuring the quality of clinical services.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/commission-for-health-improvement|title=Commission for Health Improvement|access-date=2021-08-28}}
• Healthcare Commission – commissioner and deputy chair (2004–2009). The successor to CHI, the Healthcare Commission was the independent regulator of healthcare in England, responsible for assessing and reporting on the quality and safety of care provided by NHS and private healthcare services.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/healthcare-commission|title=Healthcare Commission|access-date=2021-08-28}}
• INVOLVE – chair (1998–2011). INVOLVE promoted and supported public involvement in health and social care research, aiming to ensure that research is conducted with or by the public rather than to, about, or for them.{{Cite web|url=https://www.invo.org.uk|title=INVOLVE - Public involvement in research|access-date=2021-08-28}}
• James Lind Alliance – co-founder (2004) with Sir Iain Chalmers and John Scadding. The alliance facilitates the identification of research priorities shared by patients, carers, and clinicians.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jla.nihr.ac.uk|title=James Lind Alliance|access-date=2021-08-28}}
• UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) – deputy chair (2004–2021). UKCRC worked to establish a more coordinated approach to clinical research and infrastructure development, aiming to make the UK a world leader in health research.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukcrc.org|title=UK Clinical Research Collaboration|access-date=2021-08-28}}
• Clinical Priorities Advisory Group (CPAG) of NHS England – chair (2013–2022). CPAG advises NHS England on which specialized treatments and services should be prioritized for national commissioning.{{Cite web|url=https://www.england.nhs.uk/clinical-priorities-advisory-group|title=Clinical Priorities Advisory Group (CPAG)|access-date=2021-08-28}}
• Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) – non-executive director (2013–2016). The HSCIC was the national information and technology delivery organization for health, public health, and social care. In 2016, HSCIC changed its name to NHS Digital.{{Cite web|url=https://digital.nhs.uk|title=NHS Digital|access-date=2021-08-28}}

These roles reflect his broader commitment to evidence-based healthcare, public and patient involvement, and ethical policy development within the NHS and research institutions.

Partridge was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1999 for services to people with HIV and AIDS. He was knighted in the 2009 New Year Honours for his outstanding contributions to healthcare.{{London Gazette|issue=58929|date=31 December 2008|page=1|supp=y}}

He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters (DLitt) from Keele University in 2008 and an honorary Doctor of Science (DSc) from De Montfort University in 2011.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-249515|title=Partridge, Sir Nicholas (Wyndham), (Sir Nick), (born 28 Aug. 1955), Chief Executive, Terrence Higgins Trust, 1991–2013|access-date=2021-08-28}}

In 2006, he was declared one of the 100 most influential gay and lesbian people in Britain by The Independent;{{citation|periodical=The Independent |date=2 July 2006 |url=http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article1153578.ece |title=Gay Power: The pink list |accessdate=1 December 2008}} and in 2010 was ranked 75th (rising from 89th the previous year) in the same list.{{citation|title=The IoS Pink List 2010 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/the-iiosi-pink-list-2010-2040472.html |newspaper=The Independent on Sunday |publisher=Independent Print Limited |location=London |date=1 August 2010 |accessdate=11 September 2011}}

Since stepping down from the Terrence Higgins Trust in 2013, Partridge has continued his involvement in public health, research strategy, and non-profit leadership. His advisory roles have helped shape healthcare policy and research direction, particularly in areas of inclusivity, patient engagement, and sexual health.

He lives in Peckham, London, with his partner, Simon Vearnals, who is a psychologist. They entered into a civil partnership in 2008.{{cite web |title=Partridge, Sir Nicholas (Wyndham), (Sir Nick), (born 28 Aug. 1955), Chief Executive, Terrence Higgins Trust, 1991–2013 |url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U249515 |website=Who's Who 2020 |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=22 July 2022 |language=en |date=1 December 2019}}

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Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of Keele University

Category:English gay men

Category:English LGBTQ rights activists

Category:Knights Bachelor

Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire

Category:Alumni of the London School of Economics

Category:1955 births