Member Symposium

Professor Sharon Arkell MBE is the Director of Strategic Health Partnerships at the University of Wolverhampton and the Independent Chair of the steering group for the review of the NMC Code and revalidation. Sharon is widely recognised for her ability to build high impact collaborations across the health, education, and policy sectors.

Sharon began her career as a registered nurse in the NHS before moving into higher education in 1998. Since then, she has held a range of senior leadership positions, most recently serving as Dean of the Faculty of Education, Health & Wellbeing at the University of Wolverhampton. A skilled and forward thinking strategic leader, Sharon cultivates partnerships that strengthen organisational capability, improve system-wide outcomes, and drive innovation in health education.

She has led transformative initiatives that have widened participation and enhanced access to graduate employment across the West Midlands, delivering impact within a highly challenged higher education landscape. Throughout her career, Sharon has been widely respected for her calm, assured leadership, particularly in steering organisations through complex challenges and high-profile priorities. She has a well established track record of uniting diverse stakeholders around shared goals, ensuring that academic expertise, clinical practice, and organisational strategy come together to achieve meaningful, sustainable results.

Her work is grounded in a commitment to excellence, integrity, and the development of others. Sharon is valued for her ability to inspire teams, lead with clarity during periods of uncertainty, and champion initiatives that advance both institutional ambitions and the broader healthcare ecosystem. Her leadership continues to shape strategic direction, strengthen partnerships, and support the next generation of education leaders.

Gwendolen is Professor in Health Service Education at the University of Bradford where until 2018, she was Pro-Vice Chancellor responsible for the strategic development, implementation and evaluation of the University’s framework for academic standards, academic quality and enhancement. Gwendolen has taken a keen interest regionally, nationally and internationally in quality assurance methods and activities. She has undertaken the role of both Subject Reviewer and Institutional Auditor for the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) undertaking 16 institutional reviews across a diverse range of institutions including both home and overseas collaborative provision using a range of methodologies.

As a nurse and midwife with a long clinical and teaching career, she worked previously as Dean of the University’s Faculty of Health Studies. Her leadership of teaching, research and scholarship in the faculty focused especially on the involvement of service users in all aspects of student learning and assessment, a salient feature of her earlier Doctoral thesis that examined the role of women in the formative assessment of student midwives. She was appointed as a Supervisor of Midwives in 1995 and continued in this statutory role maintaining a modest case load until its demise in 2017.

Moreover, as a representative of the Nursing and Midwifery Regulatory Body, Gwendolen has acted as a Specialist Registry/ Visitor member on a number of professional accreditation events. This has been in addition to acting as external specialist for a number of midwifery programme validation and periodic review events. These institutions have included the Universities of Birmingham, Kings College London, York, Northumbria, Coventry and De Montfort.

Her external examining experience of midwifery programmes in England and Ireland has included undergraduate and post graduate programmes at the University of Manchester; the University of Sheffield; the University of Cardiff, the Universities of Teesside, Trinity College Dublin, the National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway and Central Lancashire. Additionally, she has undertaken the role of Faculty Chief External Examiner at the University of Gloucestershire.  Examinations for Midwifery Doctoral and MRes awards have been undertaken at the Universities of Sheffield; Cardiff; Central Lancashire; Salford; Huddersfield; Staffordshire and Trinity College Dublin. Gwendolen has acted as Peer Reviewer for journals that include The Journal of Advanced Nursing, Clinical Effectiveness in Nursing and The Royal College of Midwives Journal.

Gwendolen’s standing across the midwifery profession is further evidenced through the breadth of published work and conference presentations ranging from her exploration of risk management within the curriculum to a co-authored a book for NHS students on health service policy and most recently, through an invited contribution to the latest edition of the renowned Mayes Midwifery in 2023.

She has been a keen and frequent contributor to policy formation throughout the United Kingdom over almost two decades. Beginning in 2001 she acted as an independent contributor to Education in Focus: Guidelines for Pre-registration Midwifery Programmes for the English National Board for Nursing Midwifery and Health Visiting. She had an active committee role in the conception and production of Delivering High Quality Midwifery Care: the priorities, opportunities and challenges for midwives for the Department of Health in 2009. Additionally, she participated in and led the Education and Career Progression Workstream in the creation of Midwifery 2020: Delivering Expectations for the four home nations also or the Department of Health in 2010.

During her career she has also been a member of the Council of Deans of Health, and the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) Lead Midwife Educator Strategic Reference Group. She participated in the NMC Subject Matter Expert Group responsible for drafting the requirements of the UK wide Education Framework for Nursing and Midwifery and subsequently chaired the Review of the Pre-registration Midwifery Programme Standards Reference Group whilst also participating as a member of the Thought Leadership Group concerned with the Future Midwife Standards. In addition, she chaired the NMC review of the Standards for Post-registration programmes.

She has wide ranging committee experience, was a member of the University’s Senate, Executive Board and Senior Management Committee. In her capacity as Pro-Vice Chancellor for Learning, Teaching and Quality she chaired the University’s Learning and Teaching Committee.

Access and widening participation have been among Gwendolen’s key interests and she led the development, implementation and evaluation of her University’s Access and Participation Plan thus furthering Bradford’s mission to recruit and support a high proportion of its undergraduate students from under-represented groups, something for which it has a long-established renown within the sector.

Gwendolen maintains her professional registration and continues to contribute nationally. She recently served on the Expert Advisory Group for the Northern Ireland maternity services review (2024) and is currently a member of the NMC Midwifery Strategic Advisory Group, the NMC Advanced Practice Steering Group and the UK Network of Professors of Midwifery and Maternal and Newborn Health.

Professor Melaine Coward trained as a Registered General Nurse at King’s College Hospital, London in the 1980’s.  Upon qualifying she settled into a post in haematology, looking after patients with haemoglobinopathies and malignant blood disorders.  Due to the changes within the profession at that time, she realised the need for further professional education and went to the Royal Marsden Hospital where she completed a bachelor’s degree in Cancer Nursing. 

Melaine specialised in pre-menopausal and male breast cancers, an area of great interest to her due to the specific yet often unmet needs of these patient groups.  An opportunity arose for Melaine to relocate to Brighton where she became the Senior Nurse Manager for the Sussex Oncology Centre.  This post enabled her to underpin clinical practice with evidence but also to develop nurse led clinics within the speciality.  Her interest in education began when she realised that there was a deficit in specialist professional cancer education locally.  She became a Lecturer Practitioner in Oncology, establishing post registration qualifications for the South Coast Cancer workforce.  Melaine appreciated her passion for education and sought a full-time post, which she gained at the University of Surrey.  Melaine became the Pathway Lead for Cancer Education at the University of Surrey; later she moved into senior leadership roles, enjoying developing a team of educators and researchers.  The School of Health Sciences gained many national accolades and rose to top 5 for Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedic Science education under her leadership. For the past 8 years Melaine has been the Head of School for Health Sciences at Surrey, also leading on strategic development projects expanding the portfolio of provision within education and research in health and medical sciences.  Melaine often is invited to Chair national conferences, support the development of health care policy at a national level and works closely with the Professional Regulatory and Statutory Bodies.  More recently, Melaine has further developed her long history of mentoring to become an Executive Coach which she provides for a variety of leaders in different employment sectors. 

Melaine is a Professor of Reflective Practice, publishing and advising nationally and internationally in this area.  She continues to teach and advise on the application of reflective theories within healthcare professions.  She is also Visiting Professor at the University of Highlands and Islands which has enabled her to see the contrast of nurse education across the nations of the UK. 

Recently Melaine moved jobs to work with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a Specialist Advisor for Education and Quality Assurance.  This new challenging role is enabling her to utilise her skills set nationally supporting education providers in the delivery of high quality professional education. 

On a personal note, Melaine is an avid collector of all things penguin and holds in depth knowledge on all 17 species!  

Dr Anne Felton is the Head of the Institute of Health and Allied Professions at Nottingham Trent University.  She founded NTU’s new department, driving the development of an ambitious and expanding portfolio of health education, research, and innovation within the University. Anne champions student-centred pedagogy and has led projects on the participation of people with health conditions in professional education, simulation, and student mental health. Much of her work has adopted a co-production approach with effective and inclusive partnerships.  Anne undertakes qualitative research and has expertise in critical perspectives in mental health practice and risk, work which has been widely disseminated.

Hayley Flavell is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience across clinical, operational and executive leadership roles in the NHS. She is currently Chief Nurse at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (WAHT) and has also worked recently as a Strategic Advisor at the Florence Nightingale Foundation, supporting organisational strategy, quality assurance and leadership development. 

Previously, Hayley was Executive Director of Nursing, Midwifery and AHPs at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust for four years, here she led significant improvements in quality, safety, and governance. This resulted in significant improvements in the overall CQC ratings in several core services and the removal of existing enforcement notices.  

As Executive Lead for Maternity, she oversaw the Trust’s response to the Independent Maternity Review chaired by Donna Ockenden, the maternity transformation programme that followed the publication of the reports delivered substantial safety, workforce and governance improvements. This work contributed to improved Care Quality Commission ratings, including a rating of ‘Good’  in all five domains for maternity services, delivery of the Maternity Incentive Scheme three years consecutively and strengthened trust and confidence with women, families, and local communities.  

Hayley is a values-driven, compassionate, and transformational leader, committed to improving patient safety, experience and outcomes through inclusive leadership, strong clinical governance and fostering psychological safety. 

Carolyn’s nursing career stretches over 39 years, during which she has dedicated herself to improving patient care and advancing the education and development of nurses and midwives across the country.  Carolyn’s personal career highlights include, being the first in the UK to lead and gain credential with the American Nurses Credentialing Centre, Pathway to Excellence, an internationally recognised program for nursing and midwifery standards. She is also incredibly proud of becoming a clinical nurse specialist in 1996, a role which helped to inspire her career journey. 

Before joining the Chief Nursing Officer’s National Team (England) Carolyn was Chief Nurse at University Hospitals of Leicester and Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Patient Services at Northampton General Hospital and interim Director of Nursing and Quality at Aintree University Hospital Liverpool. As well as Assistant Director of Nursing at Salford Royal Foundation Trust in Greater Manchester and Program Lead Quality Improvement Scotland. 

She has been actively engaged in many national committees and authored a number of guidelines relating to clinical practice in the reduction of pressure ulcers.  Carolyn is currently Chair of NAME UK (Nursing and Midwifery Excellence UK) and is the DAISY Foundation Representative to Europe and the United Kingdom. 

Carolyn believes the recognition and appreciation of nurses and midwives has a huge role to play in improving standards of patient care as well as increasing morale amongst the nursing and midwifery community.  Creating and leading a culture where nurses and midwives feel valued and inspired to deliver excellent standards of care for patients. 

Details will be available soon

Richard Hughes serves as the Executive Director of Nursing, Midwifery, and Patient Care at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board. In this role, he provides professional leadership and strategic direction for over 4,500 nursing and midwifery staff, ensuring the highest standards of care and regulatory compliance throughout the organisation. 

With more than twenty-five years of clinical and senior leadership experience in the NHS, Richard has held various roles, including Deputy Executive Director of Nursing, Director of Nursing for Medicine and Urgent Care, and Head of Nursing for Acute and Emergency Care. He has successfully led major service improvement programs, developed patient-centred clinical pathways, and managed large-scale operational budgets. Richard is passionate about delivering high-quality healthcare, driving systemic change, and enhancing outcomes and experiences for both patients and staff. 

As a Florence Nightingale Senior Leaders Scholar and an accredited executive leadership coach, Richard is committed to cultivating a culture of continuous improvement, compassionate leadership, and equitable access for all. He currently serves as the chair of the Welsh Nursing and Midwifery Committee. He co-chairs the Strategic Nursing Workforce Programme Board for Wales, hosted by Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW). Additionally, he actively participates in national advisory groups and strategic initiatives that influence the future of nursing and midwifery throughout Wales. 

Driven by his values and a commitment to excellence, Richard sets out to ensure that nursing and midwifery services are designed to meet the needs of the population, advocating for innovation, patient safety, and meaningful outcomes for the communities served by the Health Board. 

Diane Hull is a registered mental health nurse with over 40 years of experience in both clinical, operational and executive leadership roles in the NHS.   She has worked in a variety of healthcare settings including primary care, inpatient and forensic services, bringing a wealth of knowledge which includes over 8 years’ experience at Board level.  She has been the Chief Nursing Officer at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundations Trust since July 2023 and was appointed to this role from the Chief Nurse for Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundations Trust.   Prior to this, Diane was the Chief Nurse for Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Deputy Chief Nurse for East London NHS Foundation Trust.  

Working in the Deputy Chief Nurse role in East London NHS Foundation Trust and as Chief Nurse in Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Diane led advancements in quality, safety and governance which resulted in significant improvements resulting in Excellent and Good CQC ratings.

Diane has an absolute commitment to patients and families, tackling inequalities particularly those who are care experienced.  This has led to her speaking at multiple national conferences, specifically sharing her personal reflections of growing up in care. She has demonstrable track record of developing services in partnership with staff, and alongside patients and families, embracing co-production of systems, care and treatment.

Evonne Hunt has been Chief Nursing Officer at Medway NHS Foundation Trust since October 2021. She was appointed to this role from Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, where she served as Deputy Chief Nurse. Prior to that, she was a Chief Nurse in the private sector. With over 28 years of nursing experience, she has held director and senior leadership roles in nursing, quality governance, patient safety, infection control, and risk management across acute care, mental health, and commissioning organisations within the NHS and private sector. She has also worked nationally in the Department of Health as part of the Healthcare-Associated Infection Control Improvement Team, which achieved a 50 per cent reduction in MRSA and a 30 per cent reduction in C. difficile nationwide. Evonne also serves as the Trust’s Director of Infection Prevention and Control.

Roger Kline OBE FRSA is Research Fellow at Middlesex University Business School.

Roger has authored several reports on race equality in the NHS including “The Snowy White Peaks of the NHS” (2014) and Fair to Refer (GMC 2019) with Dr Doyin Atewologun on disproportionality in GMC referrals.

He designed the NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) and was joint national director of the WRES team 2015-17.

He is co-author of Being Fair (2019) on disciplinary action in the context of patient safety and human factors, if Investigating the Investigators (2025) on how NHS investigation are conducted – and should be. He is co-author of a forthcoming report on what good Chief People Officers are doing to improve the use of disciplinary processes.

He is co-author with Prof Duncan Lewis of The Price of Fear (2018) – the authoritative estimate of the financial cost of bullying in the NHS. He is currently researching good practice in disciplinary and investigation processes within NHS organisations.

Roger is author of No More Tick Boxes (September 2021) a review of the research evidence on fair recruitment and career progression.

Roger was co-author of Difference Matters (National Guardian Office 2021) on raising concerns and BME staff and co-author of the report Too Hot to Handle (2024) on lessons for the NHS from recent Tribunal cases on race discrimination. He has recently completed a review of speaking up in the NHS to be published in March 2026.

Roger works with leaderships in a range of NHS organisations around workforce culture.

Roger was voted as one of the top 30 Most Influential UK HR thinkers by HR Magazine in 2021, 2022 and again in 2024.

Since leaving the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC) as a Full Colonel in June 2017, Andrea Lewis RRC has had a privileged career within the NHS. Following undertaking operational roles in planned and unplanned care, she became the Deputy Chief Nurse and subsequently the Chief Nurse at Ashford and St Peters NHS Foundation Trust and since August 2023 has been the Regional Chief Nurse for South East England, NHS England.

Andrea joined the QARANC in January 1994 as a newly qualified Nurse and Private Soldier. She then commissioned in Oct 1996 and during her Army career has undertaken various Clinical and Command and Staff roles. She has deployed with Field Hospitals to Bosnia, Iraq and latterly was Commanding Officer of the UK Military Hospital in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. It was from her tour in Afghanistan that she was awarded the Royal Red Cross for inspirational leadership. Andrea is now the Deputy Colonel Commandant for the Royal Army Medical Service and was previously the Colonel Commandant for the Queen Alexandra’s Army Nursing Corps.

Andrea lives in Camberley and is married to Russell Lewis MC (Grenadier Guards). Russell is an Ex-Regular Officer and now a Reservist. Andrea has a 16 year old daughter Sophie who attends Farnborough Hill School for Girls. Andrea has a BSc in Infection Control and MSc in Healthcare Management and Policy and completed the NHS Leadership Academy Director’s Programme on leaving the Army.n

Alison Machin is Chair of the Council of Deans of Health. She is also a Professor of Nursing and Interprofessional Education and Head of the School of Healthcare and Nursing Sciences at Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne. She is a Visiting Professor at Ulster University and a Principal Fellow of the HEA. Previous posts include Dean of the School of Health and Social Care at Edinburgh Napier University and Deputy Faculty Pro Vice-Chancellor at Northumbria University. She is a registered nurse and health visitor.

Alison has also been the strategic lead for a high profile, international nurse education collaborative venture in Malta in partnership with Malta College of Arts Science and Technology. She has worked in higher education since 1999, is an active researcher, an experienced PhD supervisor and examiner. Her research interests include: interprofessional education; nursing and healthcare collaborative workforce development; professional identity; health visiting; and public health; using qualitative methodologies including grounded theory.

Wellington Makala is the Executive Chief Nursing Officer / Executive Director of Nursing and Director for Inflection Prevention Control at North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT) he took up his role from April 2021. At the time of the appointment, he became the only male BME Chief Nurse working in an NHS Trust and the first African male Chief Nurse ever in NHS.

In 2018, Wellington was proud to be invited to No.10 by Prime Minister Theresa May, to talk about the work he had led in NELFT on inclusion in the workforce and his support for the BME agenda. In 2020, Wellington made the HSJ near miss for the top 50 most influential BME leaders.

Details will be added soon.

Dame Yvonne Moores qualified as a nurse and midwife in Southampton prior to ward sister appointments in Winchester and London.

Whilst in Winchester, she attended a King’s Fund nurse leadership programme which impacted on her expectations and subsequent career.

She held nurse leadership positions in London and Manchester before her appointment as Chief Nursing Officer for Wales. After six years in the Principality, she moved to Scotland to take up the corresponding position north of the border. In both positions, her focus and that of her team was on increasing the influence of nurses and the development of clinical practice through nurse strategies agreed with both Governments. Her move back to England coincided with the Chief Nursing Officer post and that of the Director of Nursing for the NHS falling vacant and she was appointed to both posts, the former being based in London and the latter in Leeds. She also held the added brief for Quality in the NHS.

As Chief Nursing Officer, she kept in touch with clinical developments through her Practice Advisory Group which comprised nurses drawn from a variety of clinical settings. She also continued her practice of working as a staff nurse for a week each year in a hospital or community setting. Much was achieved for nursing and midwifery during her seven year tenure at the Department of Health but she also secured ministerial commitment to the first ever Quality Framework for the NHS. The resultant First Class Service white paper led directly to the introduction of Clinical Governance, NICE and the Commission for Health Improvement subsequently renamed as the Care Quality Commission. With strong ministerial backing she was able to extend the role of nurses including Nurse Prescribing and the creation of NHS Direct. Upon her retirement, Yvonne was appointed as Pro-Chancellor and Chair of the Council of the University of Southampton.

During her six year term of office, she held the position of Deputy Chair of the Committee of University Chairs and was also a member of the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education which was tasked with ensuring the future leadership capacity in Higher Education. She subsequently served as a Pro-Chancellor at Bournemouth University for eight years.

Honorary degrees were conferred on her by Southampton, Bournemouth, Bradford, Huddersfield, Central England, Portsmouth, Northumbria and De Montfort Universities along with honorary fellowships from the University of Wales College of Medicine, the Queen’s Nursing Institute and the Faculty of Public Health.

She is a Companion of the Institute of Management. Appointed in 2004 as the first female Non-Executive Director of the National House Building Council, Yvonne eventually served for eleven years as Chair of the Trustees of the Company’s Pension Fund.

Dame Yvonne has a longstanding commitment to Global Health. Whilst chair of WHO’s Global Advisory Group on Nursing in Geneva, she helped ensure that strong nursing resolutions were passed by the World Health Assembly. From 2004 to 2014, she was a Non-Executive Director and eventually Vice Chair of Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and was in a position to assist in the creation of the Poole Africa Link which fosters health care and education initiatives in South Sudan and Uganda. Since its inception in 2001, Dame Yvonne has travelled to Thailand each year in her capacity as an international advisor to the Princess Srinagarindra Foundation which selects the “World Nurse of the Year”.

She is currently the Chair of the Interim Steering Committee of the Wessex Global Health Network which aims to assist academics and NHS professionals in the region to impact maximally on the health of the world’s population. In 2017 she was the sixth recipient in 25 years of Sigma Theta Tau’s International lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her “extraordinary contribution to the health and wellbeing of world citizens”.

Visiting Professor | National Maternity Lead for Equality | Founder | Health Equity Strategist

Wendy Olayiwola values personal development, philanthropy, and mentoring just as passionately as she promotes and advocates for equality and equity, which are integral to her core values and beliefs.

Wendy Olayiwola is an influential midwifery leader, health equity strategist, and tireless advocate for inclusive healthcare. Wendy is a registered nurse and practising midwife with over two and half decades of clinical practice, policy, and leadership experience in community, acute, and public health settings. The recognition of her ability and impact in the UK and internationally is evident through her charitable work and contributions, as well as her publications and international speaking engagements.

She currently serves as the National Maternity Lead for Equality at NHS England, where she drives the national agenda to reduce disparities and improve outcomes in maternity and neonatal services across England.

A bold and visionary leader, Wendy is the founder of SoAC (Society of African Caribbean Midwives), a pioneering platform that empowers midwives of Black heritage and promotes culturally safe, inclusive, and anti-racist maternity and neonatal care. She is also the President of the Nigerian Nurses Charitable Association UK (NNCAUK) and plays a key leadership role in international collaboration.

Wendy’s leadership extends into national recognition and influence platforms. She is a founder of the National Health and Care Black Asian Minority Ethnic Awards, celebrating excellence among Black, Asian and minority ethnic healthcare professionals, and an annual workforce BIDE (Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity in Equity) Summit, where she champions and strategically contribute to the carer development and empowerment of workforce and leadership in health and care. She is very passionate about supporting and empowering nurses and midwives to provide culturally sensitive and holistic care for women and their families.

Wendy has co-authored articles in professional midwifery journals, including Talking to Men about FGM. Reducing the incidence of Stillbirths in Black women and sustaining quality education and practice learning in a pandemic and beyond: ‘I have never learnt as much in my life, as quickly, ever’. Significant blogs include Caring for the Carers – RCN midwifery forum, promoting cultural safety and cultural intelligence – dismantling racism in maternity care -UNICEF.

Wendy is a member of the Nursing and Midwifery Council Advanced Practice Steering Group.  Research EDI Advisory Group and Midwifery Panel. She is the National Lead Midwife for Chief Nursing Officer, and Chief Midwifery Officer, Black Minority Ethnic Strategic Advisory Group, NHS England, and a member of the Race Health Observatory (RHO) maternity sub-group. Wendy co-chaired the Government Maternity Disparities Taskforce with the Minister for Patient Safety and Primary Care, Maria Caulfield.

Wendy was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for service to the NHS and Equality during the COVID-19 response in the 2021 New Year’s Honours List. In May 2025 and March 2022, she was awarded fellowships by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). In 2025, Wendy was appointed Visiting Professorial fellow at Aston University, Birmingham, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to healthcare leadership, equity, in maternity and neonatal. Wendy was named in the 2025 HSJ The 50 Most influential Black, Asian and minority ethnic UK and was also awarded the Top 50 Professional & Career Women UK Award 2025, honouring her for ‘Leadership in Nursing, Midwifery & Healthcare Inclusion.’

She was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) in 2020. She was listed in the 2020 Year of the Nurse and Midwife Global WHO/UN/WGH 100 Outstanding Nurse and Midwifery Leader. She is the winner of the NHS@70 Women Leaders Award 2018.

A sought-after speaker, mentor, and author, Wendy brings both professional rigour and lived experience to her work — using her voice and influence to drive structural change and ensure that maternity services serve all families with compassion, dignity, and fairness.

Professor Martin Powell is Emeritus Professor of Health and Social Policy at the Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham. He has published a number of articles on Public Inquiries and on whistleblowing. His most recent publication is ‘The New Politics of the National Health Service’, 8th edition (with Rudolf Klein).  

Professor Arlene Wellman MBE, has 27 years of NHS experience, joining FNF as Strategic Adviser in September 2025.

An FNF Scholar alumna, Arlene was most recently the Group Chief Nursing Officer at St George’s, Epsom & St Helier (GESH). She served as GESH’s most senior nursing leader since 2018, initially as Chief Nurse at Epsom and St Helier, and later as Group Chief Nurse.

Arlene played a pivotal role in safeguarding staff and patients as Director of Infection Prevention and Control there, while also leading the nursing, midwifery, and allied health professional workforce. Her leadership was especially impactful during the COVID-19 pandemic, guiding the NHS through unprecedented challenges. In recognition of her outstanding contributions to nursing, Arlene was awarded an MBE in 2021.

A passionate advocate for innovation and inclusion, Arlene spearheaded the development of the award-winning Ask Aunty app, designed to warmly welcome international nurses and midwives arriving in the UK.