Chris Dzikiti appointed as new NMC Executive Director of Professional Practice

Chris – a registered nurse for almost 25 years – joins the NMC from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). He has served most recently as Interim Chief Inspector of Mental Health, accountable for how the CQC regulates, inspects and oversees mental health services in England.

During his time at the Commission, Chris has held the positions of Interim Chief Inspector of Healthcare and Executive Director of Operations.

Prior to the CQC, Chris held senior roles at NHS England and NHS Improvement, leading a national retention programme for NHS professionals, and working on the delivery of Government Manifesto commitments.

He has also worked at Integrated Care System (ICS) level, and at Health Education England – the national body that was responsible for planning, recruiting and educating the NHS workforce.

Earlier in his career, Chris was Senior Nurse Manager at East London NHS Foundation Trust.

In his new role at the NMC, Chris will lead the Professional Practice directorate, the area responsible for setting and upholding high standards of nursing and midwifery education and practice, including the regulator’s safeguarding, education quality assurance, employer outreach, and registration and revalidation teams.

He joins at a crucial time, as the regulator continues work to deliver its popular roadmap for improving education and standards, with plans to publish:

• A practice learning review in autumn 2026
• A new Code and Revalidation process in autumn 2027, and
• Standards for Advanced Practitioners by March 2028.

He will also take accountability for the ongoing delivery of the NMC’s Midwifery Action Plan – to help midwives deliver the highest standards of care.

Chris succeeds Professor Donna O’Boyle MBE, who will retire in June, having served as Acting Executive Director of Professional Practice since April last year.

Under Donna’s leadership, the Professional Practice Directorate has taken major steps forward including:

• Launching new principles for Advanced Practice
• Publishing a Midwifery Action Plan, to help midwives deliver high standards of care
• Getting the landmark reviews of the Code and Revalidation under way
• Launching work to deliver anti-racism principles for the education of nursing and midwifery students, to help tackle the Black maternal health crisis and many other issues driven by discrimination within healthcare
• Improving the NMC’s approach to safeguarding – with the Safeguarding Hub now assessing all new Fitness to Practise referrals through a safeguarding lens
• Developing a new strategy to recognise the unique contribution of registrant NMC employees
• Leading the expansion and redesign of the Education Quality Assurance team and improvement plan
• Delivering an Employer Link Service (ELS) of which employers speak highly, with positive feedback about the advice line provided to discuss potential regulatory issues.

Chris Dzikiti, incoming Executive Director of Professional Practice, said:

“I am really pleased to be joining the Nursing and Midwifery Council as Executive Director of Professional Practice.

“As a nurse, I have always believed strongly in the importance of professional standards, learning and reflective practice in delivering safe, compassionate and high quality care.

“The NMC plays a vital role in supporting these values and in protecting the public, and I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to this important work at a critical time for the professions.

“I am particularly motivated by the chance to work alongside nurses, midwives, nursing associates and colleagues across the system to strengthen professional practice, promote inclusive and compassionate care, and ensure regulation supports safe, effective and equitable services for everyone.

“As I prepare to leave the Care Quality Commission, I do so with enormous gratitude for the colleagues and partners I have worked with and for everything I have learned. I now take on this new role with a strong sense of purpose and optimism about what we can achieve together at the NMC, and I am looking forward to listening, learning and building strong partnerships across health and care.”

Professor Donna O’Boyle MBE, outgoing Acting Executive Director of Professional Practice, said:

“It has been a privilege and a pleasure to have supported the NMC as Acting Executive Director of Professional Practice. As a very proud professional nurse, and at this culmination of my career it has been an honour to have acted as the most senior registrant in the NMC and to have played a part in its recent history.

“As retirement approaches, I reflect on the challenges, priorities and successes that the role has provided, and the mainstay of the organisation is of course its people. I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with many amazing colleagues, full of resilience and who work hard to ensure the NMC, as an independent regulator, protects the public and promotes the professionalism of its registrants through the vital work of our professional standards, and of course celebrates its people through our values and behaviours.

“I leave at an exciting time for the professions, as the Code and Revalidation reviews are well underway, and these will help registrants to rise to the challenge of working within rapidly evolving societal changes and an increasingly technological world. Progress never stops and the NMC is well equipped to continue to exemplify the best approach to supporting professionalism.

“Chris joins the organisation at an exciting time in the NMC’s neogenesis, and I know that the very many wonderful colleagues who have supported me will welcome and support Chris too. I certainly wish him all the best for the future as he takes on the mantle of Executive Director of the Professional Practice Directorate.

“I’ve had the time of my life at the NMC, and I leave knowing that the next chapter for the NMC will be an exciting one under the leadership of Paul, Ron Barclay-Smith and my Executive colleagues, as well as the many magnificent staff who go above and beyond every day.

“I shall miss you all.”

Paul Rees MBE, Chief Executive and Registrar, said:

“I’m delighted to welcome Chris at a crucial time – as we work to review and enhance our regulatory tools, and become the strong and independent regulator that everyone wants to see – better protecting the public, and inspiring renewed confidence in the nursing and midwifery professions.

“Chris comes highly recommended from the CQC, where he has held a number of very senior positions. He is highly thought of across the regulatory and nursing sector, and having him join us at the NMC is a real coup.

“As a registered nurse, Chris will also become our most senior registrant – ensuring that the voice of nursing and midwifery is heard at the top table of the NMC, and playing a broader leadership role for the professions.

“As we get ready to welcome Chris, I want to thank and pay tribute to Professor Donna O’Boyle.

“It has been a real privilege to work alongside Donna, who has brought so much to the role.

“She has provided me, the rest of Executive Board and Council with wise counsel about what it is like to be on the frontline in a registrant capacity and also about the specific challenges faced by the professions in the devolved nations.

“On top of that Donna is a fantastic colleague to work with and a great team player, as well as being a real champion of our values-based approach.

“I wish Donna all the very best with her retirement, which is richly deserved. She will be greatly missed.”

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