Judges

I am a globally educated nurse working in in UK since 2000 and worked at different levels developing myself to the current level of Divisional Director of Nursing, surgery and Peri-op care through continuous personal and professional development. I have worked with multiple NHS organisations managing and leading multidisciplinary team. Have experience of managing major organisational change where two big hospitals merged to form one of the biggest NHS organisations in UK. I am experienced in undertaking establishment review and introducing new roles to address the changing service demands of the service. I undertake and lead on Patient Safety Investigation Framework investigations to address the patient and staff safety concerns. I am also interested in development of workforce and train and support upcoming leaders. Quality, Governance, Patient and staff safety and experience is my passion and always thrive to ‘get it right for the first time’. My passion is to create a work culture where just culture in nurtured taking human factors taken in to consideration when untoward incident happen.

Nafiza Anwar is a nurse midwife and senior maternity leader and inequalities change agent with 40 years’ experience across nursing , maternity, neonatal, and public health systems. She is currently a Project Manager at North East London Integrated Care Board (NEL ICB), where she leads system-wide programmes focused on equity, equality, postnatal care, snd public health. She has a focus on workforce transformation across maternity services and her interest lies in staff trauma and retention and care delivered . Her work centres on reducing unwarranted variation, strengthening quality and safety, and ensuring services better reflect the needs of diverse communities. Nafiza is Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Association of South Asian Midwives (ASAM), established to address persistent inequities affecting South Asian women and the maternity workforce. She is a panel member for MBRRACE-UK, serves on multiple national equity and equality advisory groups, and has supported international midwifery leadership development in Bangladesh. She is a Florence Nightingale Leadership Scholar, an RCM Fellow, and has recently been awarded a Chancellor’s Scholarship to undertake a PhD focused on inequality, workforce experience, and system change in maternity care.

I am the milk bank lead at the Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust, and have a passion for compassionate, family-centred care. I am the founder of the award winning Memory Milk Gift initiative, supporting bereaved families to make informed, meaningful choices about lactation after loss, working nationally to improve education, policy and multidisciplinary collaboration around bereavement care, donor milk and lactation support. I believe in championing dignity, choice and equity for families experiencing loss, while strengthening pathways between maternity and neonatal services, milk banks and bereavement teams to ensure every family receives sensitive, evidence-based support at the most vulnerable time.

Anne Biggs is a children’s nurse with a strong background in community nursing and paediatric allergy. She qualified in 2005 and has worked across acute, community and charity sectors. Anne successfully established two new services following competitive funding bids: a nurse-led children’s allergy service and a Babies, Children and Young People Hospital at Home service. Her work in paediatric allergy was recognised with two Nursing Times Awards in 2022. During her time as Director of Care at a children’s hospice, Anne increased activity across three services by 25% and led the implementation of new quality improvement initiatives. Across her last three senior leadership roles, she has demonstrated significant experience in patient safety, quality improvement and governance assurance, while consistently improving staff wellbeing and retention. Anne is now Deputy Head of Clinical Services at Allergy UK. She completed a Florence Nightingale Leadership Scholarship in 2022 and was awarded the title of Queen’s Nurse in 2023. Anne is committed to creating environments that enable teams to perform at their best.

Chris joined North Central London Integrated Care Board (ICB) as Chief Nurse in May 2022 from Tavistock & Portman NHS FT where she was Executive Director of Nursing, Director of System Workforce Development and Director for Patient Experience. For the 18 months prior to her move to the ICB Chris combined her role in the Trust with the role of Interim Chief Nurse for NCL Integrated Care System. During the first wave of the covid-19 pandemic in 2020 Chris was seconded to Health Education England (HEE) as Director of Nursing for HEE’s covid response across London. Chris was previously Programme Director for the CapitalNurse Programme, working across London for HEE, NHS England and NHS Improvement on a programme of collective action to build and sustain high quality nursing workforce across London. Prior to that she was Dean for Healthcare Professions at HEE. Other past roles include Assistant Director of Nursing, Education and Organisational Development at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London as well as a range of roles in education, clinical practice and policy at local and national level. Chris is a Visiting Professor at Middlesex University. Chris is a registered nurse in adult and children’s nursing and a registered nurse teacher. She has postgraduate degrees in Health Psychology and Nurse Education and gained her Doctorate from Ashridge Business School focusing on organisational change. Chris is passionate about applying relational and creative approaches to system leadership to achieve sustainable transformation through collective action systems leadership and integrated working to drive improvements in health and care to reduce inequalities and improve population health.

My name is Lisa Canade and I have been a School Nurse in Hammersmith & Fulham for the past eight years, and I truly love what I do. A couple of years ago, I was honoured to become a Queen's Nurse, and last year, I was thrilled to win the Children’s Category at the Nursing Times Awards—two achievements that still feel quite surreal but fill me with immense pride. My journey into School Nursing began straight after qualifying as a Paediatric Nurse. During my training, I spent time with School Nurses on placement and immediately knew this was where I belonged. I believe our role is fundamental within community nursing, acting as both advocates for children and champions of public health. I have recently embarked on a project to create innovative animations that teach children about medical conditions-using only children's voices, images and their lived experiences. So far these have been very successful, so my plan is to continue to create a whole package of them along with lesson plans and get them into the National Curriculum! Before becoming a nurse, I had a background in languages and a completely different career. This shift has only deepened my passion for my profession, inspiring me every day to make the most of every opportunity and strive for excellence.

Dr Peter Carter OBE Peter Carter was CEO of the RCN from 2007 to 2015. Prior to that he was CEO of the CNWL NHS Trust for 12 years. Peter is a Fellow of the RCN, an Hon fellow of the RCGP, an Ad Eundem of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland. In 2011 he was awarded the inaugural Presidents medal of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. During his time at the RCN the College achieved recognition in the Sunday Times top 100 companies to work for and achieved the gold award for Investors in people. He was a member of the ‘Crown Commission’ that led to the implementation of Non-Medical prescribing. He has recently had a book published, My Asylum Days. He has appeared in TV documentaries and has been interviewed many times on TV and radio. He has twice been the subject of the BBC TV programme Hardtalk.

Michael Cervantes is an Internationally Educated Registered Nurse from the Philippines with a strong background as both a clinician and an improver in the NHS for the last 10 years. He has over 5 years of clinical experience in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) nursing as an IBD Clinical Nurse Specialist. In this role, and also as a Non-Medical Prescriber, he was able to make a significant impact in the lives of patients with IBD through specialised nursing care, health education, and proactive support. Michael recently completed a 13-month career development secondment as a Transformation Fellow followed by a 6-month dual clinical and project manager role. During this time, he helped drive and implement innovative changes in his trust. Currently, he works as a Project Manager of the Digital Patient Pathway Management (DPPM) Programme team with a specific focus in the implementation and adoption of digital solutions from the NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP). Michael believes that his nursing experience provides depth to his project management role as he helps bring impactful changes in his trust through the successful deployment of digital tools as enablers to enhance patient outcomes, staff experience, and better use of resources.

"Rachael is the Group Chief Nursing Officer at Barts Health NHS Trust, one of the largest NHS Trusts in England where they serve the population of 2.5 million people in east northeast London, from five hospitals. Prior to this, she has worked in executive nursing leadership roles in complex and varied healthcare organisations including integrated care, commissioning, acute and community services. Rachael is passionate about delivering innovative, inclusive healthcare, combining her love of quality improvement, academia and research to improve outcomes for our patients. Committed to patient-centred care, Rachael has led large-scale clinical transformation initiatives, workforce development programs, and champions nursing, midwife and AHP excellence at local, regional, and national levels. Rachael is a Trustee for the Burdett Nursing Trust, a Florence Nightingale Foundation Scholar, a Visiting Senior Clinical Fellow and has published in the nursing literature."

Julie is a qualified adult nurse and Specialist Community Public Health Nurse,School Nurse.Julie is one of SAPHNA's Professional Officers ,SAPHNA aims to achieve equity and excellence in school nursing practice,being a voice for the profession and advocating for children and young people.We do this by working collaboratively with a wide range of organisations and partners

Olivia Crossing is a Registered Nurse, Professional Nurse Advocate, and Founder of Worksights LTD, where she created RateMyShift — a digital feedback tool capturing real-time experiences from frontline healthcare staff to improve culture, well-being, and psychological safety in the NHS. With nine years’ experience in surgery, Olivia currently works as Sister on an acute surgical unit, sits on her Trust’s Innovation Working Group, and is committed to supporting, celebrating, and inspiring nursing innovation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she developed RateMyShift to give staff a voice, strengthen team trust, and support morale and retention. Her hands-on clinical experience ensures the platform reflects the realities of bedside care while enabling leaders to act on meaningful feedback. Olivia’s work has been recognised with awards including the 2025 Nursing Times Technology & Data Award, and she was shortlisted for the 2024 Nursing Times Digital Award. She brings a nurse’s ethos of empathy, safety, and going above and beyond to transform healthcare workplaces.

Kath Evans is a registered general and children’s nurse with a distinguished career spanning clinical practice, education, management and system leadership. She is Director of Children’s Nursing at Barts Health and Clinical Lead for Babies, Children and Young People (BCYP) for the North East London Integrated Care Board, where she leads service improvement and champions integrated, family-centred care across the 0–25 pathway. Kath is an Honorary Visiting Professor at City St Georges, University of London and BCYP Participation Champion for NHS England (London), ensuring the voices of children, young people and families shape healthcare policy and delivery. She is Deputy Chair of the Association of British Paediatric Nurses, a Trustee of Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity, and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. A Nye Bevan NHS Leadership Academy graduate, ILM-accredited coach and recipient of the Cavell Star and NHS England CNO Gold Award, Kath is committed to collaborative leadership, workforce development and improving outcomes for babies, children and young people.

Cliff Evans is a highly experienced nurse consultant specialising in emergency care. He also serves as an Expert Nursing Adviser for NHS England's Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) UEC Programme. In 2021, Cliff was awarded the Nursing Times 'Nurse Leader of the Year', having been nominated for this esteemed recognition. His team received the Nursing Times Workforce Award in 2020 in recognition of their workforce strategy. Cliff has an extensive record of publications related to emergency care.

With six years as Infection Lead at Nuffield Health, I have developed a strong, practice‑based understanding of infection prevention across secondary care, primary care and nursery settings. Leading the organisation through the pandemic sharpened my ability to recognise innovation, resilience and high‑quality clinical practice under intense pressure. I am driven by a commitment to patient safety, and I see infection prevention as one of the most powerful levers for protecting people and improving outcomes. My specialist interest in sustainability and the built environment adds a systems perspective that strengthens my judgement. As an active member of the Infection Prevention Society, I have contributed to several committees, including the Scientific Programme Committee, assessing national conference submissions. Winning the Nursing Times Award in 2017 for the Director of Infection Prevention Programme gives me first‑hand insight into what exceptional work looks like. These experiences equip me to judge entries with fairness, insight and passion.

Digital Lead Midwife at Hampshire Hospitals since 2022, Heather is focused on finding ways to enable the teams to centre their care on people with technology providing support. Data quality and documentation transparency are two of Heather's main focuses as Digital Lead as they exist to protect and inform practitioners and patients alike.

Currently National head of workforce transformation for research, HEIW, leading implementation of the Strategic research action plan for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals in Wales. Jayne has significant leadership experience promoting and directing research NMAHPs, both their professional development and the development of the services they are providing to ensure excellence in clinical research delivery. As Registered General Nurse working in the NHS, Jayne has a wealth of clinical experience and knowledge and has completed postgraduate studies in Professional Practice and Health and Social Care Leadership. Jayne has held honorary lecturer roles alongside working within the clinical research delivery setting since 2000. Her various management and leadership roles have supported the continuous development and improvement of multi- professional research capability and capacity building in Wales.

Joanna has a wide-ranging background in both the NHS and the Independent sector. She has worked in schools, community nursing and Continuing Care. Joanna is currently a Director of Nursing for a homecare company and was previously a Chief Nurse in a large corporation providing homecare across the UK. She has also worked as a consultant advisor to those working with children, young people and adults in the places they live and work, including hospices, residential homes/schools/colleges, assisted living, secure settings and family houses. Joanna is passionate about supporting people to achieve their chosen goals whilst remaining in their preferred environment; She is a supporter of nurse-led care, especially for those with complex needs and is an advocate for those people who need care at home and for the nurses and carers that provide this.

Jesca Gudza is the founder of the Zimbabwe Midwives and Nurses Association (ZIMNA-UK), supporting Zimbabwean healthcare professionals in the UK and connecting them with the global nursing diaspora. Her leadership has assisted hundreds of internationally trained nurses to integrate into the UK healthcare system while fostering identity and pride. With expertise in nursing and public health, Jesca leads initiatives in education, leadership, and cultural competence, building a diverse support network. She also promotes maternal health and women’s empowerment in both the UK and Zimbabwe. Jesca's commitment aligns with the NouZetwals Health and Social Care Excellence Awards, which she actively supports.

"Hannah Hague has worked at Primary Care 24 since July 2022 as the Deputy Director of Business Development, Partnerships and Strategy. She has over 30 years experience working across the NHS and primary care system, with a strong track record in strategic development, partnership working and service transformation. At PC24, Hannah is responsible for leading and coordinating award submissions and organisational storytelling. She was the author of two award nominations that achieved back-to-back wins last year, demonstrating her ability to articulate excellence in nursing practice, innovation and patient impact at a national level. Hannah brings a deep understanding of what constitutes outstanding nursing leadership, quality improvement and system collaboration. She is passionate about recognising and celebrating nursing excellence and is delighted to contribute to the Nursing Times Awards as a member of the judging panel."

Stella is currently the Lead Nurse Therapies- having recently retired from her post as Head of Quality and Patient Safety Improvement (Deputy Chief Nurse) for Halton Place, Cheshire and Merseyside ICB. Stella has significant experience in patient safety, quality improvement and governance assurance. Having graduated from Kings College Hospital in 1991, Stella has worked globally, nationally and locally both as a clinician and strategist within the specialisms of offender health, substance misuse and personality disorder - gaining academic recognition within the fields of addiction, mental health and toxicology. Stella is a Queens Nurse, who has previously won the NT Nurse Leader of the Year 2019 for leadership in offender healthcare - recognised further with MBE Honours for Transformation of Prison Health and Social Care. Stella has been participating in the Nursing Times Judging Panel for several years now actively supporting various networks, championing the development of nursing and practice innovation.

Sarah Hayes joined East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust, as Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer on 18 September 2023. She has more than 18 years’ senior management and leadership experience in the NHS. She is experienced in both hospital and community settings. Sarah was Chief Nurse at North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust. She had held this post since December 2019. In that time, she worked on initiatives to improve patient care and experience. Sarah also championed and strengthened nursing, midwifery, allied health professionals and leadership. In 2019, Sarah was awarded the title of Queen’s Nurse. This was in recognition of her commitment to patient care and nursing practice. Previously, Sarah was deputy chief nurse at Epsom and St Helier University Hospital NHS Trust.

Blerta Ilazi is a multi-award-winning nurse and Queen’s Nurse dedicated to reducing health inequalities and advancing health equity. A Health Inclusion Specialist, her work spans clinical practice, education, and leadership. Drawing on her lived experience of forced migration, Blerta founded and leads ReSTORE, a programme supporting refugee nurses, midwives, and allied healthcare professionals to regain professional registration and integrate into the NHS workforce. She has also served as Clinical Fellow for Refugee Nursing with NHS England North East and Yorkshire. A national and international keynote speaker, Blerta is a leading advocate for refugee integration and a diverse, inclusive healthcare workforce that improves lives, strengthens communities, and addresses health inequalities.

I am a globally educated nurse with over two decades of experience in UK mental health services, spanning inpatient and community care since 2003. I have held a range of senior and strategic clinical leadership roles, including Ward Manager, Crisis First Responder, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, and currently Nurse Consultant in Older Adult Community Services. My clinical and academic expertise lies in nurse-led dementia assessment and treatment, with a particular focus on service development and improving equitable access to timely dementia diagnosis for Global Majority communities. I have worked across multiple NHS organisations, providing clinical leadership and managing multidisciplinary teams, and I contribute to system-wide improvement through active involvement in community engagement initiatives, trust volunteer recruitment programmes, equity and inclusion leadership boards, and multi-organisational dementia networks and task groups.

Nursing is a career for dedicated, reliable, trusting people who are able to develop relationships with patients quickly. I have these skills and have genuinely utilised these to make a difference in people’s lives. The role of nursing has evolved and is continually changing. As an Advanced nurse practitioner, nursing is far more involved than just in the welfare of patients; placing advanced professional accountability, competence and responsibility in the recognition, response and evaluation of patient treatment and management. I have confidently embraced this challenge and continue to take advantage of upcoming changes and opportunities to further my knowledge, skills and career, while supporting the well-being of patients, colleagues and others.

Dr Helen Jones has spent much of her nursing career working as a Clinical Research Nurse (CRN) and is currently the Lead Nurse for the Clinical Research Workforce across Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Helen has a national presence within research nursing. This includes links with the NIHR and she is currently Chair of the RCN Research Nurse subcommittee and previous chair of the Association of UK Lead Research Nurses (AUKLRN). She is a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee overseeing the RCN International Nursing Research Conference and the UK Clinical Research Delivery Advisory group. Helen has published and presented on aspects of the CRN role and workforce.

Marsha Jones is a dually qualified senior clinical leader that has worked in all parts of the system. Marsha is committed to supporting the development of nursing and midwifery leaders.

A qualified midwife with 16 years experience. Over the years, I’ve gained experience across the NHS, higher education and the private sector. I was awarded Midwife of the Year 2025 by the Nursing Times for outstanding contribution to inclusive perinatal care and exceptional and impactful transformational leadership. In 2025, I was awarded a pre-application fellowship with NIHR ARC East Midlands, supporting my ongoing development in health research. I’m a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Midwives and I am honoured to be a Core20PLUS Ambassador; working to address healthcare inequalities. My academic contributions include successful publications in a range of midwifery journals and co-authoring a textbook chapter on supervising students in clinical practice. I was also an active panel member in the 2023 MBRRACE-UK confidential enquiry, which examined disparities in the care of women from different ethnic backgrounds who experienced stillbirth or neonatal loss.

Olesya Kovyzhenko is a Lead Urology Advanced Nurse Practitioner at Guy’s and St Thomas’s Hospital NHS Trust, since September 2018. With 20 years of clinical experience, Olesya has built a reputation for delivering exceptional patient care and advancing clinical practice in complex healthcare settings. Prior to her current position, Olesya served as an ANP in General Surgery at Northwick Park Hospital. Her extensive background includes eight years as a critical care nurse at London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust. Additionally, she was a member of the Critical Care Outreach Team, providing life-saving interventions and supporting patients across various departments. Olesya's dedication to advanced clinical practice led her to earn a Master of Science in Advanced Clinical Practice from King’s College London. Outside of her professional role, Olesya is passionate about fostering innovation in nursing practice and contributing to the continuous improvement of patient care in urology and beyond.

Susie Lagrata work as Advanced Headache Nurse Practitioner and Lead Nurse at UCLH NHS FT. She's undergone numerous post-graduate courses including the Master of Headache Disorders at the University of Copenhagen in 2018 and registered independent non-medical prescriber. She won the 2022 RCN Awards in view of the pioneering nurse-led services she established in the UK and was awarded the Best Scientific presentation in Belgium in 2024. She was a topic specific member in the NICE guidelines (2015 review). She is Education Committee member of International Headache Society and Member of the Board of International Forum for Headache Nurses. She is the secretary of British Association for the Study of Headache. She is co-project lead of the RCN Headache Nurses Competency and Education Framework. Susie has presented at national and international meetings. She has authored scientific papers in the past 18 years. She is a guest lecturer at the London Southbank University.

Anna Liza Ferrer is the Head of Nursing for Surgery, Theatres and Anaesthetics at King’s College Hospitals. In this role, she provides senior leadership across perioperative services, supporting the development and management of nursing teams while contributing to the operational and strategic planning of the care group. Anna Liza is committed to delivering safe, high-quality, and patient-centred care, with a strong focus on workforce development, clinical excellence, and collaborative working. She brings extensive experience in leading complex surgical and theatre environments and values innovation that improves outcomes for both patients and staff. Anna strongly upholds the Trust’s values of being Kind, Respectful, and Working as a team, which underpin her leadership approach.

Working as a nurse for 35 years across all sectors in social care and health. Her roles have included setting up and managing a set down unit during covid-19, Care Quality Commission inspector (CQC), service manager in a local authority, lead educator for ASC staff in North Central London and Co- chair for London Social Care Nursing Advisory council (SCNAC) London. Champion the use of digital technology in adult social care. Increasing student nurse placements, improving health outcome for ASC staff and ensuring all ASC nurses and care staff have access to high quality education and training that has been co-produced by ASC staff and residents. Advocate for research in ASC, encouraging ASC nurses to become involved. Winning numerous awards for digital technology, education and health and well-being. Proud to be a Queens nurses and recipient of an ASC chief nurse award for outstanding contributions to nursing in ASC.

I am a registered Adult Nurse with over 16 years experience in the perioperative setting, including gynaecology, obstetrics, oncology, and urology. I am skilled in both scrub and anaesthetic practice and have previously undertaken leadership responsibilities in my role as a Theatre Sister. Following completion of my MSc in Surgical Care Practice (Urology) in 2022 and the Non-Medical Prescribing course in 2023, I now work closely with the urology oncology team, specialising in bedside assistance for robotic-assisted surgery. I am a former Secretary of the Association of Surgical Care Practitioners and have a strong interest in Human Factors and non-technical skills within the perioperative environment. I am highly honoured to once again be invited to serve as a judge for the Nursing Times Awards and am very much looking forward to participating in this inspiring experience

I am currently working as a Senior Clinical Site Manager at Barts Health NHS Trust. I was formerly a Clinical Site Practitioner at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and Junior Charge Nurse at the Royal Brompton Hospital. Since the pandemic started, I devoted myself to serving through leadership and management roles in the NHS. I am on the verge of finishing my Master of Science in Cardiorespiratory Nursing programme (Buckinghamshire New University / Royal Brompton Hospital) as well as Master of International Health programme (University of the Philippines - Open University). I gained my Master of Arts in Nursing degree from University of the Philippines specializing in Maternal and Child Health and in 2011, I graduated as Magna Cum Laude at the Far Eastern University – Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation (FEU-NRMF) for my nursing baccalaureate. My early years in the field of nursing were spent in Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital (DJFMH) and St. Luke’s Medical Center – Quezon City (SLMC-QC) in the Philippines as a maternal and child nurse and emergency care nurse respectively. Eventually, I ventured into a managerial role in the Emergency Department in Medcor Pasig Hospital and Medical Center (MPHMC) before I left my home country to work abroad.

Gail Mills is the Lead Nurse for Research and Development for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, with management, leadership and professional responsibility for all clinical research nurses and non-medical research delivery staff across the Trust including within the NIHR Sheffield Clinical Research Facility. Gail is also Health and Care Director (NMAHPs) for the NIHR Yorkshire and Humber Regional Research Delivery Network. Since qualifying as a Nurse, Gail gained broad clinical experience within Spinal Injuries, Emergency Admissions, Critical Care, and in the Community setting prior to developing her career within Clinical Research. Gail represents Clinical Research Nursing Nationally as Deputy Chair and Secretary for the Royal College of Nursing Clinical Research Nurse sub-committee and Workforce Development Deputy Lead for the NIHR UK Clinical Research Facility Network.

Alison is the CEO and a Fellow of the Institute of Health Visiting - the centre of excellence for the profession in the UK, established to strengthen the quality and consistency of health visiting for the benefit of all babies, children, families and communities.  She is driven to ensure that every child has the best life from the start and to reduce health inequalities. Alison has an extensive background in health visiting practice, with a career that spans clinical leadership, teaching, research and policy.

Gwen has extensive experience of person-centred working with people who have learning disabilities, families, advocates, health professionals and others to improve the quality of health experiences and outcomes. She has worked with a wide range of health needs and complexity across inpatient and community care and been influential in changing and developing services. She developed pain profiles designed to help professionals identify the likely presence of pain in people with complex communication needs. Gwen co-created the Health Equalities Framework (HEF and CYP HEF); and the Moulster & Griffiths Learning Disability Nursing Model (2012) with Tom Griffiths (latest revision 2021). She works with a range of health organisations to support implementation of the model in practice, enabling it to be embedded in electronic patient records. Gwen was awarded an OBE in Queen Elizabeth 2nd's 90th birthday honours in 2016, for services to people with learning disabilities and nursing.

Maritess finished her nursing degree in the Philippines, before moving to the UK to work in an acute hospital. She completed her District Nursing qualification at Kings College London and became a qualified District Nurse. Eventually, Maritess transferred to East London, became a community matron, and achieved her Non-Medical Prescribing Qualification. She worked in a nursing home for older people and subsequently joined North Central London CCG as a Quality Assurance nurse for care homes. In 2020, Maritess completed her MSc in Global Issues in Ageing and Gerontology at the University of Stirling. She was a recipient of the RCN Foundation Mona Grey Award 2022 for an outstanding achievement in professional development. Additionally, Maritess is a Queen’s Nursing Institute Elsie Wagg Innovation Scholar (2022) and a Queen’s Nurse. She is currently working as a Quality Assurance Nurse with the NHS North Central London Integrated Care Board.

Benash Nazmeen is a midwife, educator and research-active professional working to address health inequalities and improve maternity services. She is Co-Founder and Director of the Association of South Asian Midwives, supporting racially minoritised midwives and strengthening culturally safe maternity care. Benash is a Fellow of the Royal College of Midwives and co-leads nationally recognised Cultural Competency and Safety workshops for maternity professionals. She has served on the MBRRACE-UK Perinatal Confidential Enquiry Review Panel, been a Specialist Advisor to the Care Quality Commission, she contributes to national policy and practice through advisory and governance roles. Her work bridges clinical practice, research evidence and lived experience, with a focus on equity-led quality improvement and workforce development.

Caroline Nyawira is the Head of Maternity and Neonatal Transformation and a Core20PLUS Ambassador, committed to driving improvements in maternity and neonatal care across the UK. With over 10 years of neonatal clinical experience and a strong background in leadership and quality improvement, Caroline specialises in leveraging digital tools and data to enhance patient safety and outcomes. She is passionate about initiatives that streamline care pathways, optimise workforce development, and improve access to care for diverse communities. Caroline’s expertise includes integrating digital platforms to improve service delivery and using data to inform policy and practice.

Teresa O’Nwere-Tan is a dedicated nurse with over 15 years of experience, specialising in advanced clinical practice and cardiovascular health. Her journey began as a young carer for her brother with severe autism, igniting her passion for advocacy within the disabled and neurodiverse communities. Teresa completed her MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice at City St George’s University and currently works part-time as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner while running Tan&Co, a beauty and wellbeing clinic in Fitzrovia. Her commitment to continuous learning has led to collaborations with health organisations, enhancing community awareness of heart health. Recognised for her achievements, Teresa has been featured in Tatler and Glamour, with papers in European Society of Cardiology, and has received the Queen’s Nursing Award and Daisy Award. Most recently 2025 Nurse of The Year Award. Passionate about inclusivity, she aims to inspire the next generation of nurses and establish a holistic wellness centre in the future.

I am a Paediatric Sister working within the Emergency Department with extensive experience caring for acutely unwell children and supporting their families. I have a strong interest in patient safety and quality improvement and have led a quality improvement project focused on safe sleep practices. This project was developed in response to an observed increase in sudden infant deaths in babies under one year of age, with evidence highlighting a direct link to unsafe sleep environments. Through this work, I am committed to improving education, awareness and outcomes for infants and their families. We now ask all under 1year olds that present to the emergency department about where they sleep.

Dr Ruth Oshikanlu MBE is the CEO of Goal Mind and Abule CIC. She is a multiple award-winning expert nursing, midwifery and health visiting leader and social entrepreneur with almost three decades experience in delivering secondary and community healthcare services in the public, independent and voluntary sectors. Ruth is passionate about equity, social justice, trauma-informed approaches to care and spent most of her career working with marginalised communities to reduce health inequalities and improve life outcomes. She continues working to reduce the disparity in health outcomes. Ruth is a Queen’s Nurse, Churchill Fellow and Florence Nightingale Senior Leadership Scholar. She holds fellowships of the Institute of Health Visiting, Royal College of Nursing, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, Royal Society of Arts, Royal Society for Public Health and the American Academy of Nursing. Ruth was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the New Year 2019 Honours List for being an ambassador for the health visiting profession and for services to community nursing, children and families.

Rachel Perry is the Research Nurse at Marie Curie Hospice West Midlands. Her role involves day-to-day management of studies conducted within the Marie Curie West Midlands Place Base Team; raising awareness of research; and, supporting staff and students to undertake research and disseminate their work. Rachel is passionate about offering opportunities for patients, families, carers, volunteers and staff to share their experiences and participate in research, which is essential to improve palliative care for all. Rachel’s commitment to widening opportunities and building research capacity has been recognised in several awards, including the Marie Curie Susie Wilkinson award in 2014, the NIHR and Charities Consortium for Hospice and Community Care Research award in 2018, and as part of Marie Curie’s national research nurse team winning the Nursing Times Clinical Research Nursing category award (2024).

Catherine trained in Glasgow and qualified in 1985. She has worked within a variety of critical care settings since 1987 and was a Consultant Nurse in Critical Care until 2017. She then worked as a Consultant Nurse in Acute Care until 2021 in the South East of England. She has presented at many conferences, has published numerous papers and she has been a member of the Scientific Committee for the British Association of Critical Care Nurses (BACCN) conference since 2013. She is a peer reviewer for numerous journals, including Nursing Times and Nursing in Critical Care and she is on the Editorial Board for Nursing in Critical Care. Catherine was on the National Board of BACCN as a Professional Advisor until September 2023. Since 2021 she has worked in a virtual ward team in Staffordshire. Catherine has a BACCN Honorary Fellowship and joined ICUSteps in 2023 as a volunteer.

Stefano Pochetti is a registered nurse working as Head of Clinical Programmes in the Professional and System Development team at NHS England – South East Region, where he leads a broad portfolio including palliative and end of life care (PEoLC) and the Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA) programme. His work focuses on driving transformation through clinical leadership, digital innovation, and system collaboration. He graduated in Nursing from San Raffaele University in Milan and began his career working clinically in acute surgical and emergency care settings, both in Italy and later in NHS hospitals across the South East and South West of England. Following his clinical practice, Stefano progressed into senior management roles within NHS provider organisations, focusing on quality improvement, patient safety, digital transformation, and clinical leadership. He later led workforce programmes across the South East region as part of the Government’s 50,000 nurses initiative, promoting strategic collaboration and the sharing of best practice across systems. He holds a Master’s in International Healthcare Management, with a focus on strategy, leadership, and quality improvement within global healthcare systems. Stefano is passionate about the intelligent use of data and technology to raise standards, promote equity, and improve patient experience. His work is grounded in ethical leadership and the delivery of public value.

Karen qualified in 1996 as Registered Learning Disability Nurse. In 1998 she joined Lifeways, a large social care provider where she has remained for the last 27 years. Her diverse role sees her provide Health and Clinical support and guidance to her Lifeways colleagues who in turn support over 4,000 people. Whilst she supports people with their existing health conditions, a large part is also around preventative care and health and wellbeing - both physical and mental. Karen is a keen advocate of seeing the person as an individual rather than a label and supporting them to achieve their full potential. Karen was proud to become a Queens Nurse in 2017. She also received the Queens Nursing Institutes (QNI) long service award in 2020 and the Chief Nurse for Adult Social care Gold Award in 2024. Karen is also the co-chair of the Northeast and Yorkshire Social Care Nursing Advisory Council (SCANCs)

Shella is a registered nurse with over 30 years of experience, having completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in the Philippines. She holds an MSc in Healthcare Leadership from the University of Birmingham through the NHS Leadership Academy’s Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Programme and is the first Filipino to receive the Executive Healthcare Leadership Award after completing the Nye Bevan Programme. Her career spans clinical practice, leadership, and innovation. Shella has co authored several peer reviewed publications and previously served as a faculty member of the Vascular Access Society of Britain and Ireland (VASBI). As Chief Nursing Information Officer and Clinical Safety Officer at East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, she works at the intersection of clinical expertise and digital transformation. Shella is also a specialist advisor for the Care Quality Commission, contributing to a range of inspections, and serves on the Digital Health CNIO Advisory Panel, championing nursing informatics and the safe adoption of digital technologies.

Jane is a Registered Nurse and Senior Diversity & Inclusion Specialist at University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN). With a rich and diverse nursing background, she plays a pivotal role in shaping organisational culture, advancing Health Inequalities work, and strengthening leadership across the NHS. She also serves as an Executive Lead for the East Midlands British Indian Nurses Association (BINA) UK and contributes to community representation as a dedicated School Governor. Passionate about people, Jane focuses on empowering staff groups, fostering psychological safety, and deepening understanding of cultural diversity and its impact on patient care. She is a proud recipient of the NHS England MIDAS Award, recognising her commitment to equity and inclusion. Jane is also involved in national and regional initiatives that champion diverse voices and professional growth within the NHS workforce. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her two children, binge‑watching Netflix, and listening to podcasts.

I am a senior leader with extensive experience across health and social care in provider, commissioner and regulatory roles. I bring significant experience of working at a system and local level to deliver change to improve services for patients, staff and families.

Kam Singh is a Nurse Consultant specialising in Gestational Trophoblastic Disease (GTD), with extensive experience in the care of individuals affected by rare trophoblastic conditions. Based within the Northern specialist GTD service in Sheffield, she provides expert clinical leadership across diagnosis, treatment pathways, and surveillance, ensuring evidence-based, patient-centred care. In addition to advanced clinical practice, Kam plays a key role in service development, multidisciplinary collaboration, education, and research, supporting both patients and healthcare professionals nationally and internationally. Her work is focused on improving outcomes, enhancing patient experience, and advancing best practice for GTD management within the specialism.

Marcia is a strong and credible Senior Professional Health Care Manager with extensive experience gained working in the NHS. Marcia is currently Head of Safeguarding Children Services at an East London NHS Integrated Trust, and a member of the Local Safeguarding Children Partnership. Marcia is a visiting lecturer at City University London, safeguarding supervisor and trainer.

Infection control clinical educator in a large NHS trust. Winner of 2025 IPC category.

I am an internationally educated nurse who moved from the Philippines to the UK in 1998 to work in the NHS. Over a long career, I have worked in many areas of nursing including mental health, older adult care, eating disorders, perinatal services, crisis services and community care. I held senior leadership roles, including Associate Director of Nursing at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and later Chief Nursing Officer at Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, a major senior nurse leadership position in the NHS. I am actively involved with nursing professional organisations — for example, as President of the Philippine Nurses Association UK (PNAUK) and involvement with the Royal College of Nursing. My career reflects strong advocacy for high-quality, holistic patient care, leadership development, and support for internationally educated and Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) nurses in the NHS

My current role focuses on implementing the Culture of Care programme across LSCFT, with a strong emphasis on autism-informed, trauma-informed, and culturally competent care. This work is delivered through quality improvement initiatives alongside direct coaching and support for staff. Last year, I was incredibly honoured to receive the Rising Star Award in recognition of my contributions within this role and for my ongoing advocacy for neurodiversity. It was a privilege to have this work acknowledged. I would be honoured to support the next round of applicants and to be part of the selection process, having the opportunity to witness and celebrate the outstanding work being carried out by nurses across the UK. Travel Details as Requested: I would be coming from Preston in the north west of England, via train which would be 3/4 hour journey each way, due to the full day and dependent on start time, may travel night before and stay overnight to avoid any risk of delays / cancellation / non attendance due to these

Sharon Sundersingh is currently an Advanced Critical Care Practitioner, with over 20 years of clinical experience across critical care, high-dependency, and respiratory services. She currently works at Luton and Dunstable University Hospital, providing advanced assessment, prescribing, and management of Level 2 and Level 3 patients, alongside senior leadership within the multidisciplinary team. She has extensive experience in clinical governance, workforce leadership, quality improvement, and education. Sharon is Chair of the Advanced Critical Care Practitioner group for the East of England Critical Care Network and Joint Executive Lead for the British Indian Nurses Association in the East of England. She previously served as a judge for the Nursing Times Awards (Critical Care and Emergency Nursing category) and was a finalist for the BAME Nurse of the Year Award 2022. She is committed to recognising and promoting excellence in nursing practice.

Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

I am an NHS nurse leader and Clinical Lead for Vaccination Services across North Central London (NCL) and University College London Hospitals (UCLH), with many years of nursing experience. My career spans frontline practice, system leadership, and service development, with a strong focus on patient safety and high-quality care. I have supported large-scale, complex programmes and work closely with multidisciplinary teams to improve both patient outcomes and staff experience. My career has included roles in Emergency, ICU, Surgical, Orthopaedic, and Paediatric ICU/HDU, equipping me with the skills to lead teams safely through complex, high-pressure environments. I have led vaccination programmes during the pandemic, ensuring safe, effective delivery while supporting multidisciplinary teams and promoting staff wellbeing. I also teach nursing and midwifery students, fostering clinical competence and patient centered care. I am passionate about supporting, developing, nurturing, and celebrating excellence, and fostering inclusive cultures where nurses can thrive. As a Nursing Times Award winner (2025), I understand the impact of recognising nursing achievements and celebrating innovation, dedication, and leadership across the profession. I look forward to celebrating the remarkable achievements and outstanding contributions of nurses across this inspiring and vital profession.

Annie is a Registered Nurse with over 36 years’ NHS experience, co-founder of Worksights Ltd, and co-lead developer of RateMyShift. Annie is an advocate for patient safety through workforce development, and healthcare innovation. Annie and her co-founder, Olivia, created the RateMyShift app, translating frontline insight into sustainable change and shaping RateMyShift into a practical digital tool rooted in the lived experience of NHS staff. With a deep understanding of day-to-day clinical pressures, Annie supports and coaches teams to align frontline realities with system-wide goals, ensuring feedback leads to meaningful action that improves morale, retention, and patient care. RateMyShift has received national recognition, including winning the 2021 HSJ Patient Safety Poster Competition and being shortlisted for the 2024 Nursing Times Digital Award. In 2025, Annie and Olivia won the Nursing Times Award for Technology and Data in Nursing.

Jay Trondillo is a senior nurse leader in adult social care, known for turning services into places where safety, dignity and leadership can actually thrive. He holds postgraduate management, leadership and research degrees, and uses them in a very grounded way, rebuilding culture and governance on the floor, and designing development programmes that prepare new leaders for the real pressures of regulation, risk and workforce strain. Jay led an award winning, AI supported night time safety and falls prevention programme that cut falls by 65% and won the 2025 Nursing Times Award for Nursing in Social Care, showing how nurse led innovation can change both outcomes and mindsets. He is co-founder of Filipinos in Care and architect of Project CHARM, a free, CPD accredited and Chartered Management Institute recognised leadership programme for aspiring care home managers with a strong quality and equity focus. He also writes regularly for renowned nursing journals, using his platform to reposition social care as a serious, specialist career for nurses and a place where diverse leaders can rise.

Professor Waterall has had a varied career, working across local, regional, national and global positions within the health and care sector. He has led several high-profile areas such as the NHS Health Check, Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Healthy Child Programme. He currently serves as England’s Deputy Chief Public Health Nurse in the Department of Health and Social Care’s Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. He has published on a wide range of subjects and continues to hold several honorary appointments, such as his Honorary Professorial positions at the University of Nottingham and the University of Hull. Jamie strongly believes that the 2020’s need to be a decade of global transformation, which sees health and care systems placing a stronger focus on preventing illness, promoting health and wellbeing and protecting the public’s health.

Lynne has over 39 years of experience in the NHS, working across a variety of clinical and leadership roles in both hospital and community settings. She currently works as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner for Derbyshire Community Health Services, providing care to older people with diverse and complex needs across different care environments. With a particular interest in frailty, Lynne works across all pillars of advanced practice, contributing to service improvement and policy development. She has also acted as a peer reviewer and authored articles for a national nursing journal. Passionate about the nursing profession and delivering high-quality patient care, Lynne holds a Master’s degree in Advanced Practice and is a Queen’s Nurse.

Amanda qualified at the London Hospital in 1987 and has a varied career including a year in Canada, before focussing on becoming a District Nurse and Community Practice Teacher in Newham, East London. This was followed by an academic career at London Southbank University teaching adult nurses running a community nursing module prior to focusing on end of life care and moving to NELFT in East London to become the Lead Palliative Care nurse, a strategic role. Amanda then undertook her PhD in palliative care at Lancaster university specialising in end of life care in care homes, graduating in 2016 and moved back into nurse education at Anglia Ruskin University to teach Adult nursing with an emphasis on long term conditions, Advance Practice and Palliative Care. Amanda has worked at the Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing since 2021 focusing on Innovation and professional development programmes including sustainability.