Donna Kinnair has announced that she has taken the decision to step down from her position as General Secretary and Chief Executive of the RCN after a period of ill health.
Pat Cullen will continue in the role of Acting General Secretary and Chief Executive. Pat has worked at the RCN since 2016 and was in post as Director of RCN Northern Ireland since May 2019, where she led RCN members on the College’s first general strike.
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I have been honoured to represent my profession in this role, particularly throughout the challenges of the pandemic and to have had an opportunity to work alongside ICU colleagues at the Nightingale Hospital London, said Dame Donna.
‘I wish my colleagues and our membership all the best for the future and look forward to taking on some new challenges after my recovery.’
Dame Donna joined the RCN team in 2015 and took up her leadership position two years ago. Her resignation will be effective immediately and an announcement regarding next steps for recruitment into the role will follow.
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Carol Popplestone, Vice Chair of the Royal College of Nursing Council said: ‘We thank Dame Donna for all her service to the College as General Secretary and Chief Executive and wish her well.’