RCN Wales Nurse of the Year Awards 2026

NOMINATIONS ARE CLOSED FOR THE 2026 SEASON!

Following the completion of our showcase sessions, we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all nominees for sharing their inspiring stories, achievements and contributions to nursing. The standard was exceptional, and we are delighted to confirm that our finalists have now been selected.

We are delighted that the RCN Wales Nurse of the Year 2026 Awards Ceremony will return to The Cardiff Holland House Hotel & Spa by Sunday on Thursday, 19 November 2026, celebrating the 13th anniversary of the awards with our incredible sponsors and partners.

On the night, we will celebrate and announce the finalists across all award categories before revealing this year's category winners. The evening will then culminate with the Overall Nurse of the Year Award, the pinnacle of our awards ceremony. Chosen from the registered nurse winners across all categories (excluding the Lifetime Achievement Award, which is a unique honour in its own right), this prestigious award recognises an individual who has demonstrated truly outstanding excellence, impact and dedication to nursing.

Find out more about our 2025 winners and runners-up.

"We have the most amazing nursing staff doing extraordinary things. Every day across Wales, registered nurses, health care support workers, midwives and nursing students are making tangible differences in peoples lives - often quietly and without recognition. These awards are a chance to change that. If someone has made a difference to you, your family or your community, please take a moment to nominate them. If you have a colleague who consistently goes above and beyond their duty or has improved the lives of their patients, please put their name and story forward. Your voice can ensure their impact is seen, valued and celebrated. Just being nominated for a Nurse of the Year award will mean so much, our winners describe winning as life changing."

Nicola Williams, Executive Director RCN Wales

Should you have any queries about this years event or want to talk to us about 2026, please do not hesitate to contact us via NurseoftheYearAwards@rcn.org.uk or on 02920 680746.

RCN Wales Nurse of the Year Flyer graphic snippet 2026

Click here to download our bilingual 2026 flyer to share with your colleagues, friends and family.

Chief Nursing Officer for Wales Award

Your 2026 judging panel for this category are:

CHAIR - Sue Tranka:

Chief Nursing Officer for Wales

Arniel Bautista Hernando:

RCN Wales Board Member

Sandy Harding:

Associate Director, RCN Wales

Kirsty John:

Quality and Outcomes Business Partner, WJCC, RCN Wales Nurse of the Year Alumni

Simon Newman:

RCN Wales Fellow

Improving Individual and Population Health Award

Your 2026 judging panel for this category are:

CHAIR - Claire Birchall:

Executive Director of Nursing, Quality and Integrated Governance - Public Health Wales

Rhian Smith:

RCN Wales Board Member

Richard Desir:

Nursing Officer, Welsh Government

Frances Baverstock:

RCN General Practice Nursing Forum Committee Member

Pam Penman:

Independent Sector and Community Adviser, RCN Wales

Nurse Education Award

Your 2026 judging panel for this category are:

CHAIR - Iwan Dowie:

Head of Nursing & Allied Health, University of South Wales

Sue Bale:

RCN Wales Fellow

Denise Llewellyn:

RCN Wales Fellow

Diana De:

Reader Adult Nursing, Cardiff University

Rachel Hadland:

Education and Lifelong Learning Adviser, RCN Wales

Registered Nurse - Child Award

Your 2026 judging panel for this category are:

CHAIR:

TO BE CONFIRMED

Abigail Swindail:

RCN Digital Nursing Forum Committee Member

Suma John:

RCN Wales Board Member

Dulcie Thomas:

Pay Delivery Officer, RCN Wales

Research, Innovation and Digitalisation in Nursing Award

Your 2026 judging panel for this category are:

CHAIR - Fran Beadle:

Chief Nursing Information Officer – Digital Health Care Wales

Jill Evans:

RCN Wales Fellow

Nelson Selvaraj:

Lecturer (Adult Nursing) & Numeracy Lead (Nursing), Cardiff University, RCN Wales Nurse of the Year Alumni

Nia Boughton:

Consultant Nurse, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, RCN Wales Nurse of the Year Alumni

Community & Primary Care Nursing Award

Your 2026 judging panel for this category are:

CHAIR - Sharon Daniel:
Executive Director of Nursing, Quality and Patient Experience - Hywel Dda University Health Board

Chiquita Cusens:
National Lead Nurse for Primary and Community Care, Strategic Programme for Primary Care, NHS Wales Performance and Improvement

Lynne Puckett:
RCN Wales Board Member

Tracy Valade:
Community Nurse, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board

Aimee Williams:
Senior Officer, RCN Wales

Independent Sector Nursing Award

Your 2026 judging panel for this category are:

CHAIR - Louise Giles:

Head of Learning and Development- ivolve Care and Support

Jonathan Morgan:

RCN Wales Board Member

Abigail Katsande:

Director, Salutem Care and Education

Keira Jones:

Lead Nurse, Skanda Vale Hospice, RCN Wales Nurse of the Year Alumni

Nursing Student Award

Your 2026 judging panel for this category are:

CHAIR - Sam Donohue:

Director of Nursing, Health Professionals and Quality - HEIW

Anne Stevenson:

RCN Wales Board Member

Gleasy Sedurifa:

Practice Educator, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Billy Nicholls:

RCN Stewards Committee

Rachel Hadland:

Education and Lifelong Learning Adviser, RCN Wales

Registered Nurse - Learning Disabilities Award

Your 2026 judging panel for this category are:

CHAIR - Elizabeth Rix:

Director of Nursing and Patient Experience – Swansea Bay University Health Board

Ruth Northway:

RCN Wales Fellow

Catherine Jones:

RCN Wales Board Member

Maria Cruz:

Practice Educator, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Specialist Nursing Award

Your 2026 judging panel for this category are:

CHAIR - Jason Roberts:

Executive Director of Nursing - Cardiff & Vale University Health Board

Julie Green:

RCN Wales Board Member

Derek Browne:

Senior Officer, RCN Wales

Star Moyo:

Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Health Care Support Worker Award

Your 2026 judging panel for this category are:

CHAIR - Carole Bell:

Head of Nursing and Quality -

WJCC

Omobola Akinade:

RCN Wales Board Member

David Parry:

Nursing Support Worker Committee, RCN

Majella Kavanagh:

Independent Sector and Community Adviser, RCN Wales

Lifetime Achievement Award

Your 2026 judging panel for this category are:

CHAIR - Richard Hughes:

Executive Director of Nursing, Midwifery, and Patient Care, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board

Sandy Harding:

Associate Director, RCN Wales

Alison Magor:

RCN Wales Board Member

Alyson Thomas:

Chief Executive, Llais Cymru

Augusta Stafford-Umughele:

RCN Wales Nurse of the Year Alumni

Registered Nurse - Adult Award

Your 2026 judging panel for this category are:

CHAIR - Paul Hooton:

Director of Nursing and Midwifery- Powys Teaching Health Board

Melanie Blethyn-Roberts:

RCN Wales Board Member

Nicky Hughes:

Associate Director, RCN Wales

Lenient Okogbor:

RCN Steward

Registered Nurse - Mental Health Award

Your 2026 judging panel for this category are:

CHAIR - Jennifer Winslade:

Executive Director of Nursing - Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Susan Williams:

RCN Wales Board Member

Donna Mead:

RCN Wales Fellow

Katherine Cabason-Rose:

RCN Learning Representative Committee

Ben Thomas:

Mental Health and Learning Disability Adviser, RCN Wales