Ron Barclay-Smith becomes new NMC Chair

Ron assumes his position from tomorrow (1 April), succeeding Sir David Warren, who demits office having completed the full term for which he was appointed by the Privy Council, in June 2021.

Ron is currently Chair of the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA), in which role he has served since 2018. He was also Chief Executive of Lincolnshire Health Authority, and prior to his retirement in 2017 was Chief Executive of South Square, a business law chambers set in Gray’s Inn.

These roles followed a successful career in the Royal Air Force (RAF), from which Ron retired as a wing commander.

As the NMC’s new Chair, Ron will lead the governing Council in setting the organisation’s strategic direction to realise our vision of safe, effective and kind nursing and midwifery practice, improving everyone’s health and wellbeing. He will guide, challenge and support the NMC executive as it implements its corporate plan for 2025–26 and beyond.

The key priorities in the plan for 2025–26 are:

• Culture transformation – building a positive, empowering and inclusive culture for NMC colleagues and everyone involved in our regulatory processes
• Strengthening leadership at the NMC to drive change – equipping our managers to be great leaders
• Improving fitness to practise – aiming to resolve concerns as early as possible while not overburdening our colleagues
• Maintaining the NMC’s other core regulatory functions – setting and evolving our standards to ensure they remain fit for the future
• Addressing the NMC’s most significant challenges – managing our financial position, the integrity of our register, safeguarding and education quality assurance.

Ron was appointed through an open and transparent recruitment process which was scrutinised by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) to ensure it met the PSA’s principles of a good appointment process: merit, fairness, transparency and openness, and inspiring confidence. The appointment of the Chair, as with all Council members, was made by the Privy Council.

Commenting on his appointment, Ron Barclay-Smith, the new Chair of the Council, said:

“I am delighted to have been appointed to this challenging role. I am aware that the NMC is undergoing a comprehensive programme of reform and development, and I look forward to working with Council colleagues and stakeholders both within and outside the NMC to help ensure that the NMC is fully fit for purpose and meets its commitments with skill and professionalism. We all need to work at pace to develop and improve the NMC, and I look forward to playing my part in that process.”

Paul Rees MBE, NMC Interim Chief Executive and Registrar, said:

“I would like to extend a very warm welcome to Ron, as he joins the NMC, and we start to turn the organisation around. I look forward to working with him and the rest of Council as we roll out meaningful change and deliver regulatory processes that are faster, fairer and more effective.

“Ron’s wealth of leadership experience will be critical at this stage, as we go through a period of extensive transformation and modernisation.

“I would also like to thank Sir David for his key role in laying the groundwork for change at the NMC, and for the kind and generous support he has shown in my first two months as the Interim Chief Executive and Registrar.”

Sir David Warren, outgoing Chair of Council, said:

“It has been a privilege to lead the NMC’s Council over the last three years and nine months, and I have been very grateful for the support and assistance of my Council colleagues and so many members of the NMC’s staff. I wish Ron well as he takes up the important task of leading the NMC’s Council through the next phase of its strategic plan, and ensuring that it continues to deliver its main aim of protecting the public.”

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