The Council
The Council is the governing body of the NMC. It sets the strategic direction, takes key decisions, and holds the Executive to account.
The members of the Council are the charity trustees and are collectively responsible for ensuring that the NMC is solvent, well run and delivers public benefit through continuous improvement in its regulatory functions.
The Council is made up of twelve members: six lay people and six professionals on our register, all appointed by the Privy Council.
The Chair and Council members are expected to demonstrate our values and uphold the Councilâs Code of Conduct(opens in new tab) based on the Seven Principles of Public Life (the âNolan principlesâ).
The Council is committed to openness and transparency, holding meetings in public at least six times a year.
More information about how the Council works and its current membership can be found here(opens in new tab).
The Chief Executive and Registrar is accountable to the Council. They are supported by an Executive team which is responsible for the day-to-day running of the organisation. More information about our Executive team can be found here(opens in new tab).
Future changes to the Council
The four governments have committed to making changes to our legislation which will involve the Council transitioning from the current fully Non-Executive membership to a governing body which includes both Non-Executive and Executive members (a unitary board model). Based on the current timetable this change is likely to take place within the next three years.
Being a Council member
Anna Walker: Vice Chair and Lay Council member
The NMC has a vitally important role. It regulates almost a million nurses and midwives. It therefore effects the lives of everyone in the UK because, at some stage, we are all looked after by nurses or midwives. The NMCâs regulatory scope is huge. We set the standards for the professions â both the fundamental Codes of Conduct and also the education and training requirements. We approve the education bodies providing that training. We register nurses and midwives and ensure they continue to develop their skills.
We also deal with the comparatively small, but important, number of Fitness to Practise cases referred to us. The NMCâs regulatory role is therefore nationally important. We have had some real challenges recently, some internal and some caused by changes in our society generally. We are looking for four new Council members to help us meet those challenges. You would be joining an organisation with a team ready and eager to embrace transformational change. We need to radically improve how we regulate and transform our culture. It is a big challenge but, in my experience, a hugely worthwhile one.
Eileen McEneaney: Registrant member
I joined the NMC Council as the registrant member for Northern Ireland in October 2020. In my view it is critical that âourâ regulator has registrant Council members, alongside the essential skills and knowledge of other Council members who bring the necessary diverse range of skills to ensure that the NMC is a values based, progressive and competent organisation and regulator. This is important for the reputation of our professions and also for the safety of the public.
As registrants, we are focused on safe, effective, person centred and compassionate care and treatment for women, our patients and service users and their families. The Council actively works to the NMC values of fair, kind, collaborative and ambitious, which I believe are strongly aligned to âThe Code.â The nursing and midwifery family is a broad, diverse, disparate and yet distinct group across the four UK nations. We want to reflect the society that we serve. Council is focused on the essential aspects of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion within our business, our discussions and also within our membership.
The Council works in a truly collaborative style; there are open discussions, which are both supportive and challenging. Our Chair of Council is inclusive and provides strong leadership to the organisation on the strategic priorities for the NMC. My induction period for Council was comprehensive, which gave me confidence for when my period on Council officially commenced. Additionally, there is a formal âbuddyâ system for all new Council members, this is invaluable and helped me navigate the first few months as Council member.
I encourage you to consider this role; if this is not for you at this time, please consider colleagues whom you could recommend this role to.
Hussein Khatib: Registrant Council member
I joined the NMC as a Registrant Council Member in October 2025. It is important for Registrants to play a vital role in contributing to and influencing the way the NMC delivers its corporate functions. The Council together with the NMC as a whole offer the opportunity to improve publicâs protection through its work on, for example, revalidation, the code, professional and educational standards. It is an amazing opportunity to be part of the NMCâs journey under its new leadership.
Although I am the Registrant Council Member for England, the work at the NMC involves the issues in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. A great opportunity to enhance your learning and development across the four countries and to link in with very senior colleagues such as the Chief Nursing Officers and Chief Midwifery Officers. I highly recommend the role.