NMC celebrates those recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours
Published on 13 June 2026
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is delighted to congratulate the nursing and midwifery professionals deservedly recognised in today’s King’s Birthday Honours.
Those honoured include Sue Tranka, Chief Nursing Officer for Wales – with whom the NMC works particularly closely – who has been awarded Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to nursing.
Other nursing and midwifery professionals honoured include:
Dame Commander
- Dr Crystal Oldman, CBE, Former Queen's Institute of Community Nursing CEO.
OBE
- Dr Hilda Hayo, Chief Admiral Nurse and Chief Executive, Dementia UK
- Rachel Hollis, Former RCN Professional Nursing Committee Chair
- Prof Jamie Waterall, Deputy Chief Public Health Nurse at Department of Health and Social Care.
MBE
- Sara Barr-Frost, Deputy Chief Nursing and Allied Health Professionals Officer, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
- Helen Whyley, Executive Director, Royal College of Nursing Wales
- Nafiza Aktar Anwar, Co-Founder and Director, Association of South Asian Midwives
- Sundas Khalid, Co-Founder and Director, Association of South Asian Midwives
- Benash Nazmeen, Co-Founder and Director, Association of South Asian Midwives
- Corinne Galletly, Former Macmillan Team Lead, NHS Grampian
- Kiera Jones, Lead Nurse, Skanda Vale Hospice
- Dr Diane Laverty, Former Macmillan Nurse Consultant in Palliative and End of Life Care, London Ambulance Service NHS Trust
- Anne Moylan, Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Lecturer and Programme Leader in Neonatal Nursing
- Evelyn Smyth, Medicines Management Specialist Nurse, Southern Health and Social Care Trust
- Paul Trevatt, Nursing Leader
- Dr Karen Whittaker, Senior Education Lead, Institute of
Health Visiting.
BEM
- Frances Blackburne, North West Regional Manager, Newbloom Healthcare Limited
- Leanne Howlett, Expert by Experience and Specialist Perinatal Psychiatric Nurse, Institute of Health Visiting.
Royal Red Cross
RRC
- Chief Petty Officer Laura Fallon, A.R.R.C., Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service.
ARRC
- Lieutenant Megan Muirhead, Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service.
Paul Rees MBE, Chief Executive and Registrar, said:
“I’d like to congratulate all the nursing and midwifery professionals whose exceptional service has been deservedly recognised with such high honours. They are an inspiration to us all.
“I would particularly like to warmly congratulate Sue Tranka, with whom we work closely, on this well-deserved recognition of her outstanding contribution to nursing.
“As a key partner for the NMC, we value the close collaboration that she brings on behalf of the profession and public in Wales.”
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