The RCN has announced Bejoy Sebastian as RCN President for a second term, and Professor Alison Leary MBE FRCN has been elected unopposed for a second term as Deputy President.
Bejoy is a senior nurse working in critical care at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. He’s been RCN President since 1 January 2025.
Hailing from Kerala, he arrived in the UK in March 2011 after finishing his nursing studies at Kottayam Medical College. In his former role as Chair of the International Nursing and Midwifery Association Forum network UK, he has raised the profile of internationally educated nursing staff, helping them thrive in their careers and identifying the barriers they face in the workplace.
Bejoy said: “I’m honoured members have chosen to re-elect me and I am looking forward to working with members again. My priorities for my second term are safe staffing, strong salaries and supporting nursing students.
“Since taking office, I’ve travelled across the UK, listening to members and representatives. Those conversations drive how I ensure your voices are all represented.”
Alison is a senior consultant at the World Health Organization and a Professor of Healthcare Modelling at London Southbank University, researching the relationship between workforce and safety. She’s been involved with the RCN in various ways, including as a member of the College’s Professional Nursing Committee, and most recently as Deputy President from 1 January 2025.
Members elected to six country and regional Council seats have also been announced. The results are:
- Leanne Patrick for Scotland
- Dr Sally Bassett for South East
- Ashleigh Taylor for South West
- Jackie Davies for Wales
- Olga Leach-Walters for West Midlands
- Peter Davis for Yorkshire and the Humber.
Kathrine Garnett has been elected to the student member of Council seat.
The RCN President and Deputy President are ambassadors for nursing in the UK and internationally and, along with the Chair of RCN Congress and the RCN executive team, form part of the College's governing Council.
The remaining 14 seats on RCN Council are directly elected from the nine English regions, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, as well as by student and nursing support worker members.
RCN Council provides rigorous oversight to make sure the RCN operates effectively and guides the RCN to best represent the nursing profession. The members elected to these roles will take up office on 1 January 2027.
Professor Nicola Ranger, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, said:
“Congratulations to all those who have been successfully elected. Where members have chosen to re-elect existing representatives, I’m grateful for their continued service and commitment to the profession.
“The RCN's strength comes from its members, and strong nursing leadership is essential to ensuring their voices are heard and represented at every level. Those elected today will play a vital role in championing our profession, amplifying nursing's contribution to health and care, and keeping the experiences of members at the heart of our work.
“As we begin delivering a new strategy for the RCN, I look forward to working together to strengthen our influence, support our members and help lead the profession through a period of significant challenge and change for health and care services across the UK.
“Together we will continue to build on the strengths of our great College and ensure nursing receives the recognition, respect and investment it deserves.”
Voting for contested seats opened on Monday 3 August, with members receiving their ballot papers by post. Members had until Monday 7 September to cast their votes, before ballots were counted and verified by Civica Election Services, an independent scrutineer.
