Career profile - Kate Billingham, London

Fact File

Job title: Chair, Queen's Nursing Institute

Location: London

Qualifications: RN, RSCN, RHV, MA

Why did you become a nurse?

I think motivations at the age of 18 are inevitably complicated and largely unconscious. I recall a motivation to care for others, especially for children. I also opted out at school and in the late '60s if girls were not seen as university material, we were steered into nursing or teacher training.

How has your career developed since you started nursing?

I don't see myself as having had a career, more of wandering through life taking on roles I thought would make a difference, bring learning and satisfy my deep drivers to achieve something in life.