Vacant, Chair of Congress

An election is currently ongoing to elect a Chair of Congress for 2027 and 2028. Find out more.

Vacant, Vice Chair of Congress

An election is currently ongoing to elect a Vice Chair of Congress for 2027 and 2028. Find out more.

Carmel O'Boyle, Chair of Council

Carmel is a nurse practitioner and has recently completed an MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice. Studying for this qualification reinforced Carmel’s passion for nursing as a lifelong journey of continuous improvement with patients at the heart of every action.

Carmel worked for many years as a healthcare assistant, developing a love for care work, using this experience and her pilgrimage to Lourdes as catalysts to pursue her nursing degree. As a registered nurse, she worked in Trauma and Orthopaedics, nursing pre- and post- op patients, supporting them through recovery and discharge. Carmel is an accredited RCN Steward and has served as at branch and Board level in the North West. In these roles, she has worked with members to support with trade union and professional matters, organising conferences and events and ensuring members’ voices are heard as individuals and in policymaking. She is committed to valuing and celebrating nursing, striving for excellence in the profession and in the RCN.

Carmel is a proud mum to one son, plays the saxophone and drums, and enjoys singing in her church and kitchen – no matter the audience reception. Before working in healthcare, Carmel worked as a licensee and business owner.

Josie Gordon

Josie is a staff nurse working in thoracic surgery and an RCN steward. She has been involved in the RCN since her first day as a student nurse, and in democratic events organisation for many years before she began her training. Her main professional interests are pre-registration education, developments in surgical nursing, and promoting activism and organising among nursing staff.

Congress is the highlight of Josie's RCN calendar; she is keen to support and encourage as many members as possible to take part in whatever ways they can, shape the agendas for future Congresses and ensure a broad range of debate for our members.

Yetunde Ruqoyat Lawal

Yetunde graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor's of Nursing Science, and became a UK registered nurse in 2021. Yetunde has worked in a frailty unit, in critical care and in clinical education. Her current role is in corporate nursing, working as a Workforce Support and Development Facilitator.

As an RCN member, she has volunteered as a branch secretary for two branches, as a picket supervisor, and is an accredited Learning Representative. She has also previously served as a Congress ambassador and voting member. As part of the Agenda Committee, Yetunde plans to shape a robust and inclusive agenda using her active listening and assertive speaking skills. In her personal time, Yetunde enjoys reading, watching movies and playing Scrabble.

Claire Richardson

Claire has worked in nursing for over twenty years, across multiple NHS Trusts and independent settings. Her clinical work has focused on Infection Prevention and Control, Perioperative practice and Critical Care.
 
Claire has served on the executive of an RCN branch and currently serves as a school governor. She is committed to objectivity in decision making, and facilitating healthy debate in non-judgemental environments to create positive changes for nurses and patients.

Dawn Marr

Dawn is a registered mental health nurse who specialises in substance abuse.
 
Dawn has previously served as a member of the RCN Students Committee and the Scotland Board and is currently an accredited RCN Steward. Through these roles and on the Agenda Committee, Dawn is motivated by the need to address a diverse range of issues across the nursing profession, advocating for members voices in all settings.

Professor Nicola Ranger, General Secretary and Chief Executive

Professor Nicola Ranger joined the RCN in December 2022. She was previously Chief Nurse and Executive Director of Midwifery at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London. Before that, she held Chief Nurse posts at both Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust and Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust.

She has also held a number of senior nursing roles at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust. Earlier in her career, she worked at America’s George Washington University Hospital in Washington and at Mount Sinai Medical Centre in New York.