New chair and vice chair elected to RCN Council

The new chair and vice chair of the Royal College of Nursing’s governing body have been announced.

Paul Vaughan, a nurse for over 35 years, has been elected chair of the RCN Council and will take on the role from January. He is currently vice chair of Council and has been acting chair for parts of this year.

Paul began his career as a staff nurse working in ear, nose and throat services and is now a deputy director for NHS England. Paul has also served as RCN regional director for the West Midlands and, further back, as an RCN officer in the South West.

He said: “I’m honoured to lead RCN Council from January 2024.

“I’m committed to championing nursing excellence, advocating for health care equity, and amplifying the RCN as the voice of nursing for a brighter, healthier future together.”

Theresa Porrett has been elected vice chair and has a background as a specialist stoma nurse and has led many governance bodies including the Royal College of Surgeons Association of Coloproctology and East London Bowel Cancer Network Board.

Theresa said: “Respecting the past and taking the learnings from recent governance reviews into the future, I’ll work with Council to build on the RCN’s reputation as a representative voice and a trusted education and development resource of what’s best in modern nursing.”

RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Pat Cullen congratulated the pair, saying: “I look forward to working together to continue to build upon the stability and clear vision we set out in 2023 for our organisation and as we drive forward our twin central campaigns for safe staffing and fair pay.”

Paul succeeds Carol Popplestone as the outgoing chair of RCN Council.

The RCN Council has 17 members across the UK leading the direction of the RCN and advocating for its members. Find out more about RCN Council.