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Dr Toby Williamson
Name:
Dr Toby Williamson
Job title:
Editor – Journal of Dementia Care
Place of work / study:
Dementia Community / Journal of Dementia Care
Area of Research:
Values, rights, lived experience, inclusion and dementia
How is your work funded:
N/A
Tell us a little about yourself:
I am an independent health and social care consultant working in adult and older people’s mental health, dementia, and mental capacity.
I have over 30 years’ experience working in and managing frontline services, as well as undertaking social research and evaluation projects, training and education, including teaching on the University of West London’s MSc in dementia, service development, and national policy work.
From 2002 to 2016, I worked at the Mental Health Foundation, a UK social research, development, policy and public affairs charity, where I led its programme of work on mental health in later life, dementia and mental capacity.
I have extensive experience of equality, diversity and inclusion work, including being part of Dementia Community’s EDI advisory group, the involvement of people with lived experience, human rights and legal frameworks, and arts, heritage and wellbeing initiatives.
I am a published author, with over 60 articles and book chapters. In 2019, I co authored The Dementia Manifesto, a book about values based practice and dementia care, published by Cambridge University Press. In 2025, I was awarded a PhD by Publication for my thesis on dementia and values based practice. In the same year, I also became editor of the Journal of Dementia Care.
I live in London and have personal experience as a carer for my Mum, who has dementia and mental health issues.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself:
Apart from my PhD, the other significant qualification I hold is a lorry driver’s licence.
Why did you choose to work in dementia?
As a result of leading the successful campaign in support of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Decision-making is a fundamental part of who we are and the campaign gave me much more insight, and interest, into how dementia affects people. Having previously worked with people with severe and enduring mental health problems, being interested in how they perceived the world but also were affected by social injustice, it seemed a very natural step to move into the field of dementia and consider it in a similar light
What single piece of advise would you give to an early career researcher?
Research into conditions like dementia is a messy activity involving human beings. Try and embrace the untidiness and uncertainty that this brings, especially the opportunity to interact with people living with dementia.
What book are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?
Collected short stories by William Trevor. Maybe a bit dated, but a master of pathos, dry humour, frustrated human desire, and interactions involving class, gender, and religion.
Favourite film of all time?
Festen (The Celebration) – Thomas Vinterberg (1998).
Favourite ways to unplug and unwind?
In addition to reading and films, listening to music, walking, non-expert gardening, and the occasional drink
What’s the best decision you’ve ever made?
Asking my wife to marry me
What’s the best vacation spot?
Pretty much anywhere in Italy, or Dorset’s Isle of Purbeck
Do you collect anything?
Old communist bric-a-brac from eastern European countries
