NMC Chief Executive named among health and care’s most influential Black, Asian and minority ethnic leaders

This recognises the progress made at the NMC since Paul took up the role of substantive Chief Executive and Registrar in July 2025, having previously been appointed as the interim post-holder in January 2025, in the aftermath of the highly critical Independent Culture Review (ICR).

The ICR, which was published in July 2024, found that we had deep-seated problems with bullying, harassment and racism, as well as failures of systems.

Since joining the NMC, Paul has led work to turn around our culture and regulatory performance, including rolling out a three-year Culture Transformation Plan, new NMC values – Integrity, Fairness, Respect, Equity and Effectiveness – and a behaviour framework for colleagues.

Under Paul’s leadership, we have implemented 30 out of the Independent Culture Review recommendations, with another three set to be implemented by the end of the year.

We have also signed the UNISON Anti-Racism Charter, and set ambitious new equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) targets to eliminate bias from our regulatory processes and drive fairness for staff, as well as publishing anti-racism principles for midwifery and nursing education and practice.

We have also started to robustly deal with those members of staff who still exhibit poor behaviours – with 20 people being ‘exited’ from the organisation over the last two years for bullying, harassment and racism.

Meanwhile, Paul has also overseen regulatory improvements that ensure we focus on our core purpose of protecting the public – with a programme of health checks currently being rolled out, which are checking how well policies and procedures are followed in each regulatory function, as well as assessing the standard of quality assurance being followed.

Paul Rees MBE, Chief Executive and Registrar, said:

“As the first Black Chief Executive of a UK healthcare professional regulator, I feel honoured and privileged to have been recognised by the HSJ as one of the most influential Black, Asian and minority ethnic leaders in health and care in England.

“However, the substantial progress we have made since 2025 is all down to the hard work of our dedicated staff team and the support and challenge they get from our Council.

“Together, we’ve made real progress in transforming our culture and improving our performance, and that has only been possible because of the commitment and hard work of people across the organisation.

“There’s still much more for us to do, to improve fitness to practise and other aspects of our regulatory work, but I’m proud of what have achieved so far and I look forward to our continuing to build the new NMC, which will be the strong and independent regulator that everyone wants to see.”

Read the full HSJ list: HSJ | Health Service Journal - for healthcare leaders

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