Chair – Professor Alison Machin
Alison is Chair of the Council of Deans of Health. She is a Professor of Nursing and Interprofessional Education and Head of the Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Health at Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne. She is also a Principal Fellow of the HEA. Previous posts include Dean of the School of Health and Social Care at Edinburgh Napier University and Deputy Faculty Pro Vice-Chancellor at Northumbria University. She has also been the strategic lead for a high profile, international nurse education collaborative venture in Malta in partnership with Malta College of Arts Science and Technology. Alison has worked in higher education since 1999, she is an active researcher, an experienced PhD supervisor and examiner. She is a registered nurse and health visitor. Her research interests include: interprofessional education; nursing and healthcare collaborative workforce development; professional identity; health visiting; and public health; using qualitative methodologies including grounded theory.
Vice Chair – Dr Norma Barry
Dr Norma Barry has significant experience of chairing and serving on governance boards within the public and third sectors. Until relatively recently she was a member of the Welsh Government’s Food and Drink Wales Industry Board and the Food Standard Agency’s Welsh Advisory Committee. Previously, she chaired a housing association in one of the most deprived areas of the UK for six years, where she worked tirelessly with the team to ensure that the organisation had sound and robust governance and strategic frameworks in place. Norma has also served as a panel member for Social Care Wales and as a member of Welsh Water.
Norma has run her own business consultancy, InsideOut: Organisational Solutions, for over ten years. The company undertakes research and project evaluation as well as developing strategic and business plans and providing HR advice to a range of bodies, primarily in the charity, public and social business sectors.
Norma was previously a Senior Civil Servant in Welsh Government, where she worked in economic, social, and agricultural policy areas. She has a Ph.D. in Leadership and Change Management, and a Masters in Business Administration degree. Norma is a trained project manager, executive coach and facilitator, and a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts.
Alison Carr
Alison Carr is a Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute and has a wide experience of working within professional bodies and regulators. Most recently, she was a Director of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and is currently a member of the Veterinary Nurses Council and Chair of the Regulatory Committee of the Institute of Financial Accountants. She was previously Registrar and Chief Executive of the Architects Registration Board and has also worked with actuaries, insolvency practitioners, chartered accountants, healthcare managers, insurance brokers and financial advisers.
Alison’s work has centred on building public confidence in professionals and her wide-ranging roles have included working to improve diversity within professions and the development of standards, policy, and strategy across both large and small organisations. She has developed new approaches to regulation and support for members and worked to enhance co-operation amongst regulators, professional bodies, and stakeholders, both in the UK and across Europe.
Professor Carol Curran
Professor Carol Curran is the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences at Ulster University. Carol has worked at Ulster University since 1996 and has held a number of posts including Head of the School of Nursing, Chief Executive Officer of Ulster University Health Limited and since 2011, had been Dean of the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences. Carol is widely recognised as a nurse leader, regularly delivering key-note addresses at prestigious conferences worldwide. She has been a visiting scholar at Kent State University, Ohio and is currently visiting professor at Qiqihar Medical University China.
Carol currently holds a Ministerial appointment as Chair of the Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council for Nurses and Midwives. In 2014 Carol was recognised in the Queen’s Honours, receiving an OBE for services to Education and Nursing in Northern Ireland.
Carol is a registered nurse and holds specialist qualifications in District Nursing and Education. She has a BSc, MSc and PhD all from Ulster University, along with a Diploma in Nursing from the University of London.
Professor Marc Griffiths
Professor Marc Griffiths is the Pro-Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences at the University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol. Marc is a HCPC registered Diagnostic Radiographer with twenty-five years of clinical and academic experience and has a research track record in nuclear medicine, hybrid imaging, workforce development, mentorship, leadership, and advanced practice. Marc is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of the Leadership Foundation, a Fellow of the College of Radiographers, a member of the Approval and Accreditation Board at the Society and College of Radiographers and a Fitness to Practice Partner at the Health and Care Professions Council. Marc is also currently an appointed Governor at the City of Bristol College focusing of educational pathways and quality and business metrics. Marc works extensively with Health Education England and is also involved in the local Academic Health Science Centre in Bristol. His professional background has involved working in clinical, commercial, and academic environments and he has a particular focus on the impact of emerging health technologies on the patient experience. Marc’s previous positions include Head of Department for Allied Health Professions at UWE, Bristol and working closely with external stakeholders on the development of new professional educational pathways, namely in Paramedic Science, Physician Associates, Radiotherapy and Oncology and Optometry.
Professor Paula Holt MBE DL
Professor Paula Holt was Pro-Vice Chancellor and Dean at the University of Derby. Paula had responsibility for all areas of Health, Psychology and Social Care at UG, PG and Doctoral level and delivery of different levels of Apprenticeships. Subject areas include Nursing (all fields), Midwifery, Nursing Associates and Assistant Practitioners, Diagnostic Radiography, Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy Programmes, Public Health, Social Work, Youth and Community and other social care programmes. Paula established a College Research Centre committed to applied research and evaluation that benefits the Derbyshire region, with two centres of Excellence that have international impact. Paula is an adult and mental health nurse whose work in the NHS included heading up drug and alcohol and mentally disordered offender services, and setting up mandated drug treatment for offenders. She served as an Army Officer for 8 years serving in SE England, Germany and Scotland heading up mental health services for Forces personnel and their families, and had operational tours of Bosnia in 1993/4 and 1997. Paula’s research interests reflect her passion for creative and inclusive learning, teaching and assessment that offers all students the opportunity to maximise their success, and active commitment to widen participation in higher education. Other areas of interest include post trauma sequelae and changing health behaviours. Paula is Director of the ‘Soldiers Arts Academy’ which promotes arts for recovery for veterans, and Patron of a charity that supports veterans struggling with alcohol misuse. She is a lay representative for diabetes care within her local CCG.
Professor Debra Towse
Professor Debra Towse is currently employed as Senior Expert Advisor for two international research projects within the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Social Care at Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU), after stepping back from her prior Executive level role as Pro-Vice Chancellor (Medical Education Development) and Dean of Faculty in November 2021. During this 12-year tenure, she successfully led and negotiated the multiple challenges to the delivery of healthcare higher education and was instrumental in the development of the portfolio, its partnerships, and governance.
Debra’s previous clinical background as an Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner provided opportunities within the UK and Internationally, to develop skills in collaboration, which enabled public and patient safety to be promoted through invited contributions as an advisor or expert in Fora, Groups, and Panels relating to neonatal care (e,g: Royal College of Nursing – Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Forum, and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence) and provided opportunities for the later delivery of bespoke education projects (e.g: in Vietnam).
Debra has a thorough grounding in governance having experience at both sides of this interface. Her university strategic responsibilities required her to provide assurance to a Board (Governing Body), whilst her NHS Governor roles helped develop skills in ‘seeking’ assurance from the Executive. This background provided a step into her lead role in the Council of Deans for Health Governance Review (2018-2021), which culminated in the creation of the Council as a Company Limited by Guarantee, and a Charity. Debra was appointed firstly to the Transitional Board and subsequently as a Trustee and is looking forward to ensuring the continued success of the Council.
Raluca Oaten
Raluca Oaten is a Council of Deans of Health #150Leader currently working in policy and influence alongside her role in critical care nursing. With a Master’s degree in Adult Nursing from Oxford Brookes University, graduating with distinction, Raluca integrates her frontline experience as an Intensive Care Clinical Nurse and educator with a strong commitment to evidence-based practice. In her policy and influencing role, she leads on synthesizing research, analysing healthcare policies, and overseeing national and international research initiatives to inform policy change. She collaborates with stakeholders to drive impactful decisions that enhance both healthcare education and practice.
As a Trustee for the Council of Deans of Health (CoDH), Raluca contributes her expertise in governance, risk management, policy development, and strategic planning. She plays an active role in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, including anti-racism working groups. In addition to her work with CoDH, Raluca serves as Vice President of the Phi Mu Chapter of Sigma, an international nursing leadership organization, where she advances leadership development for nurses globally. Her strategic, research-driven approach ensures that CoDH remains responsive to the evolving needs of students, educators, and the healthcare sector, fostering the development of future healthcare leaders.