NMC appoints Interim Chief Executive and Registrar

We have appointed Dawn Brodrick CB as the Interim Chief Executive and Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). She will lead the organisation while we seek a permanent successor to Andrea Sutcliffe, who will step down on 4 July due to ill health.

Dawn is currently the Chief People Officer and Lead Director at the Crown Prosecution Service. Before this, she spent several years as Chief People Officer at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Previous roles also include Director of People and Change for the Department of Communities and Local Government, and senior roles at HM Revenue and Customs and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Dawn joins us at a crucial and challenging time for the NMC as we work to improve our regulatory and fitness to practise processes, including the need to make decisions in a more timely and fair way. We're also awaiting the findings of an independent review of our culture, and investigations into our handling of whistleblowing concerns and some fitness to practise cases raised within those concerns.

We will use these learnings to make important and meaningful step changes as an organisation for the benefit of our colleagues, the professionals on our register and the public.

Commenting on her appointment, Dawn Brodrick CB, said:

“I’m excited to be joining the NMC as Interim Chief Executive and Registrar. I look forward to supporting my new colleagues, and collaborating with the NMC’s partners and stakeholders to ensure a high standard of nursing and midwifery care for everyone.

“I understand that I will be joining the NMC at a challenging time. I'm passionate about working with people to create positive cultural change, and supporting organisations through improvements. I hope that my 30 years of experience will help to impact NMC colleagues, nursing and midwifery colleagues, stakeholders and the public for the better.”

Sir David Warren, Chair of the NMC Council, said:

“On behalf of the Council, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to Dawn as our Interim Chief Executive and Registrar. I’m confident that her distinguished career in public service and leadership will prove invaluable as we reflect on the findings and recommendations of independent scrutiny of our work, and continue the process of change.

“I’d also like to reiterate my thanks to Andrea Sutcliffe for her five years of dedicated service to the NMC, to the regulation of our professions, and to the safety of the public. We wish Andrea a full recovery from the operation she is about to have, and all our best wishes for the future.”

Further information:

• Now that we have appointed an Interim Chief Executive and Registrar, we will begin the process of advertising for a permanent successor to Andrea Sutcliffe.

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