Biographies
Selven Armon (Outer South West London)
Selven worked as a radiographer in his native land Mauritius before he trained as a nurse at the University of Greenwich and has over a decade of experience working in cardiology as a Cathlab nurse, CCU nurse, chest pain nurse and currently managing the cardiology and haematology at Croydon University Hospital. Also a chemo trained nurse, Selven started as an RCN activist when he was working as a newly qualified nurse at Queen Mary's hospital in Sidcup and continued this role as a steward at St George's hospital and Northwick Park hospital. Member of the JSCC at Croydon health services, Selven has a passion for good nursing practice and mainly supporting nurses to deliver high standard of care.
Noeleen Behan (Outer North Central London)
Noeleen is a registered nurse with over 27 years’ of nursing experience, having commenced nurse training in 1987 at Barnet College of Nursing she completed a BSc in Nursing Studies in 2003 and recently completed an MSc Management course, both at the University of Hertfordshire. Noeleen is currently the Chair of the RCN Outer North Central London Branch and was recently re-elected to a third term in that positon, having previously been branch secretary. Noeleen was the Chair of staff side at Barnet and Chase Farm Hospital NHS Trust for over ten years. Noeleen has ten years’ experience as an RCN Steward and is an experienced negotiator as well as an experienced ACAS trained mediator.
Cynthia Davis (Council Member and Board Chair)
Cynthia has worked within the NHS for over 30 years, half of which time has been spent in management roles, including as Director of Nursing for 1 year in an interim role and Deputy Director of Nursing for 4 years. Cynthia’s current role is that of Senior Lecturer in Mentorship & Practice Education at Kingston University & St George’s University of London, where in addition to working with post –registration nurses she has the opportunity to work with pre-registration nursing students. Cynthia has an ethos of working with integrity, openness and fairness, applying a non-judgemental approach. In joining the Board Cynthia hopes to play a part in shaping and championing our profession, both as an educator and a Board member.
Matthew Hodson (Council Member)
Matthew Hodson is currently a COPD Nurse Consultant at the Homerton University Hospital. He has been a qualified nurse for 14 years, of which 8 have been in London. He manages an award winning integrated COPD team covering all aspects of management. Matthew completed his MSc in nursing at City University, where he is also an Honorary Senior Lecturer and is currently studying for a Professional Doctorate in Nursing. He is also a non-medical prescriber and recently won the Nursing Standard Nurse of the Year for work around end of life care for people with advanced COPD. He seeks to support and champion the role of nursing, never underestimating the valuable role that nurses have in providing quality patient care 24 hours a day.
Susan Howkins (Inner North West London)
Sue is both a registered nurse and a mental health nurse with experience in mental health and learning disabilities services. She is a disability equipment adviser for the Disability Living Foundation and prior to nursing had six years in retail pharmacy. Sue is enthusiastic about expanding the RCN branch role and actively reaching out to members.
Andrew McGovern (Inner North East London)
Andy McGovern is currently the Quality Improvement Lead for Barts Health NHS Trust. Andy has over 13 years of clinical nursing experience in a variety of roles, most recently as Ward Manager (2008-2010) and Matron for Children’s Services (2010-2013), both at Newham University hospital. Additionally, Andy has over 15 years experience within the RCN as an elected steward. Andy spent 4 years (2009-2013) as an elected RCN Council Member. During his tenure he spent one year as Chair of the Nursing Practice & Policy Committee, two years as Treasurer and Chair of the Business Committee and was also Chair of The RCN London Board for 4 years (2009-2013). Andy also sat as a member of the Congress Agenda Committee for four years (2005-2009) as well as being Chair of the Association of Nursing Students and Student member of Council (2000-2001). During his career as activist Andy has represented members in discussions with 2 Secretary of States for Health, given evidence to the health select committee and is a regular speaker at RCN Congress who is not afraid to address difficult issues including in 2014 the notion of charging for GP appointments. He is married to Kathryn and has 2 cats Molly and Cleo. In his spare time he enjoys London walks, cooking and karaoke.
Yemisi Osho (Outer South East London)
Yemisi is active in promoting educational and professional development for RCN members and activists in London. She wants to strengthen the roles and voices of nurses to influence nursing and health care policy at local and national level. Yemisi is currently an RCN learning and development officer at the RCN SE London Outer branch. She is also a member of the Advanced Nurse Practitioners Forum and Nurses in Management and Leadership Forum. Her particular areas of interest are community and primary care, commissioning, leadership and professional development and service transformation and redesign.
Dr Maria Ponto (Vice Chair and Inner South West West London)
Maria had many years of acute nursing experience before going into education and became RCN steward in 1990 to represent nurse teachers at the point of transfer to Higher Education. Maria is an Associate Professor at the School of Nursing at Kingston University and St. George’s University of London, where she is a course director for MSc in Clinical Leadership. She also has links with 6 clinical areas in the local teaching hospital. Maria is passionate about the future of the NHS and healthcare education. She believes that education must be relevant to practice and that workforce development should be given more prominence to equip nurses for the complexities of the modern NHS.
Email:
m.ponto@sgul.kingston.ac.uk
Philip Roud (Outer North West London)
Philip completed his nursing degree at London South Bank University in March 2011 having enjoyed a wide-range of pre-qualification experience in nursing, health and social care. He works as a community staff nurse in Wandsworth for St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust. As a member of the RCN board representing Outer North West London, Philip hopes to play a role in helping shape our profession and championing high-quality patient care, delivered with dignity and respect. Philip brings to the board a grounded perspective that helps represent, and advocate on behalf of, the wider membership and public that we serve.
Neville De Silva (Outer North East London)
Neville has been an RCN activist since 1998 in the role of Steward and became one of the College’s first Learning Reps. He is also a member of RCN Mental Health Forum & Education Forum. Currently a Branch Official in the role of Recruitment Officer. He works for North East London NHS Foundation Trust as a Senior Mental Health Practitioner. Neville is the Staff Side Secretary (Mental Health Service) and represents JNCC, E & D Forum, Policy Review Panel & AfC Job Matching Panel for RCN. He has a Masters Degree in Older Persons Mental Health problems and also has obtained his PGCE and acts as a Practice Teacher.
Gary Stockwell (Inner South East London)
Gary joined the RCN whilst he commenced his first year of Adult Nurse training and was elected to represent London on the Student Committee. Over the next two years he went on to become one of two student members of Council and also chaired the Student Committee. Gary is currently working in the critical care field at the Royal Marsden Hospital and has an active interest in the acute care sector. He put himself forward as a member of the London Board as he feels that healthcare workers in the capital are undervalued and overworked, a combination that he feels needs to change! Gary can be contacted on
garystockwell@hotmail.com
Faith Thornhill (Inner North Central London)
Faith has over 30 years experience as a Registered Nurse in adult general, mental health and intensive care nursing and as a lecturer practitioner. She works at UCLH NHS Foundation Trust, until recently as a senior clinical site manager. Faith is currently the RCN Lead for the Trust and Chair of Staffside. As an RCN steward she has represented members for over 16 years and additionally she has recently been appointed as a NMC Fitness to Practice panellist. She is passionate about Nursing and supporting Nurses. Email:
faith.thornhill@uclh.nhs.uk
