NMC welcomes two new Council members

Deborah joined as a lay member of our Council on 1 May 2024. She will also chair the Audit Committee - one of five committees that support our Council to make strategic decisions. Deborah is a chartered accountant and has been an independent member of the Audit Committee of the Crown Prosecution Service since January 2022. She is also an active member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and the founder and President of Lean In UK, which is a network that promotes women’s empowerment.

Rhiannon will join as our designated registrant Council member for Wales on 1 June 2024. She is a registered nurse and has 40 years’ experience within health and care, currently serving as a Non-Executive Director at Dorset Integrated Care Board. Previous roles include being Executive Director of Quality Nursing and Allied Health Professionals at Public Health Wales, and Chair of the Wales Maternity and Neonatal Collaborative and the Nursing Now Cymru/Wales campaign.

As we welcome our newest Council members, we say farewell and thank you to Derek Pretty and Ruth Walker who completed their terms of office at the end of April.

Sir David Warren, Chair of the Council, said:

“It’s a pleasure to welcome Deborah and Rhiannon as our newest lay and registrant members for Council. Their knowledge and experience will prove extremely valuable in helping the NMC to achieve its strategic goals, and its main purpose of protecting the public. I look forward to working with them going forward.

“I’m also extremely grateful to Derek and Ruth for their contributions as Council members over the last few years. Their expertise and input have been invaluable and on behalf of the NMC, I’d like to say thank you.”

Deborah Harris-Ugbomah FCA, NMC lay Council member, said:

“I am so pleased to be appointed to the NMC Council and as Chair of the Audit Committee. I look forward to building strong working relationships with fellow colleagues and registrants, all committed professionals critical to the fabric of quality healthcare delivery.”

Rhiannon Beaumont-Wood, NMC designated registrant Council member for Wales, said:

“I am delighted to have been given this opportunity to serve on the NMC Council as a registrant member, designated for Wales. I am hugely respectful of the important role and vision of the NMC and am very much looking forward to contributing alongside other Council members to realise the organisation’s future strategic direction.”

Further information

Council member appointments are made by the Privy Council, following an open, competitive selection process.

Council is made up of six professionals on our register and six lay members.

More information about our Council is available on our website.

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