Meet the agenda committee

Linda Bailey, Chair of Congress

Linda began her nursing career in 1982. She worked as a staff nurse in acute hospitals, and as a health visitor before moving into Public Health. She retired from the NHS in 2019 having worked as a Consultant in Public Health in Wales for six years. Due to Covid she returned to work in March 2020, retiring again in 2022. She is currently looking for a part time nursing post. 

Since joining the RCN in 1987, at various times she has been a steward, branch officer, member of the Agenda Committee, member of the Public Health Forum Steering Committee, Council member for London and Nurse Treasurer of the RCN. 

Patience Bamisaye, Vice Chair of Congress

Biography to follow.

Paul Vaughan, Chair of Council

Paul works with NHS England as the Deputy Director - Primary Care Nursing and NextGen Nurse. Previously Paul was a Director of Nursing, Transformation within the organisation. Currently, the focus of his role is on general practice nursing and leading the national initiative on the perception of nursing known as NextGen Nurse. The Getting to Equity programme, a component of NextGen Nurse has been devised by Paul and Carol Cooper, Director, Global Talent Compass. It provides an evidence-based framework that enables executive white leaders to promote the careers of aspiring ethnic minority nurse leaders and midwives to connect and build on existing talent that otherwise would have been missed or may not have had the opportunity to grow into senior or executive NHS leadership positions.

Paul was a Regional Director with the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). Leading and managing RCN services in the West Midlands, Paul worked with key stakeholders to ensure the needs of RCN members within the region were met and the interests of nurses, HCAs and nursing were promoted and protected.

Engaging members in the work of the RCN was a key focus for Paul. Through his conception and delivery of the Local Learning Event Programme (branch engagement) and the Cultural Ambassadors Programme (addressing concerns of BME members with the disciplinary and grievance process) the region gained a reputation for listening to members and working with them to deliver positive change.

Paul has also been the RCN’s HCA Adviser, offering advice to HCAs, Assistant Practitioners (AP) and employers on issues relating to the employment and development of these roles. He also made a significant contribution to the development of the HCA role in general practice through his role as the National Project Manager with the Working in Partnership Programmes (WiPP), Health Care Assistant Initiative.

Paul has completed a Masters in Management with the University of Liverpool and his dissertation focused on the factors that enable nursing staff to raise concerns in their workplace. 

Josie Gordon

Josie is a staff nurse working in thoracic surgery and an RCN steward. She has been involved in the RCN since her first day as a student nurse, and in democratic events organisation for many years before she began her training. Her main professional interests are pre-registration education, developments in surgical nursing, and promoting activism and organising among nursing staff.

Congress is the highlight of Josie's RCN calendar; she is keen to support and encourage as many members as possible to take part in whatever ways they can, shape the agendas for future Congresses and ensure a broad range of debate for our members.

Vicky Keir

Vicky is a mental health nurse with 25 years of frontline experience. She is a registered RCN Steward and Safety Representative, and has held a number of committee positions on the RCN Dumfries & Galloway branch. Vicky was elected to the agenda committee in 2019

Clare Manley

Clare is a Mental Health Nurse working in a busy A&E liaison team. She studied nursing in the late 1990's but never registered as a result of an epilepsy diagnosis, but returned to nursing after a successful career in quality improvement. 

Clare has been a member of the RCN since her student time. Clare was RCN Student Ambassador of the Year for her work locally and nationally whilst a student. Clare also served as the student representative on the Trade Union Committee and ex-officio on the Students Committee and was a founding member of the RCN Newly Registered Nurses Network. Clare has been the chair of her local branch and an active member of forums.

Clare is passionate about Congress and is delighted to take up the role on the committee.

Stuart Quarterman

Stuart has worked as a Nurse for 25 years and is currently the Clinical Lead for Learning Disabilities. He is a registered RCN Steward. Stuart was elected to the agenda committee in 2023.

Stuart believes that the importance of debate and a rich embodiment of opinion should be a high priority on the Congress Agenda.

Professor Nicola Ranger, General Secretary and Chief Executive

Professor Nicola Ranger joined the RCN in December 2022. She was previously Chief Nurse and Executive Director of Midwifery at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London. Before that, she held Chief Nurse posts at both Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust and Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust.

She has also held a number of senior nursing roles at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust. Earlier in her career, she worked at America’s George Washington University Hospital in Washington and at Mount Sinai Medical Centre in New York.