Regional board
The RCN Northern board meets three times a year and its meetings include an open session which all Northern region members are welcome to attend as an observer.
You can book to attend via our RCN Northern events listings page.
If you wish to contact a board member, attend a meeting or obtain a copy of the minutes from the open session of any board meeting then please email northern.region@rcn.org.uk.
Tim Grace - Professional Nursing Committee member
Tim Grace works in the leadership team of a community mental health service as a psychological therapist. An independent prescriber and a specialist mindfulness-based cognitive therapy practitioner, his main professional interests relate to working with people with voice-hearing experiences, service development, teaching, supervision and research.He provides clinical supervision for a range of professionals and has supervised postgraduate students. Tim also works together with people with lived experience of mental health problems, developing workshops, delivering training to staff, and working on service development. The clinical leadership aspect of his role allows him to influence patient care across services while retaining the individual clinical work that he enjoys.
The RCN has been a part of Tim’s professional life for most of his career, which included a 15-month secondment with the College. He finds being on the Northern Board and the RCN Professional Nursing Committee very rewarding.
Jane Hamilton
Jane Hamilton is the treasurer and former chair of the RCN Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Branch. She works at South Tyneside District Hospital as a charge nurse and was elected onto the Northern Board in 2023. Her current term lasts until 31 December 2026.Lovemore Mahachi
Lovemore is a steward at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. He is secretary of the RCN Tees Valley Branch.He was elected onto the board in 2024 and his term finishes on 31 December 2026.
Andrew Moore
Andrew became an RCN Northern Board member in 2020 after being elected to represent members in the region. He is currently serving his second term on the board which ends on 31 December 2026. He has held various RCN positions including being the former treasurer for the Northumberland, Tyne and Wear branch, along with being an active steward involved in casework with members and promoting the RCN in the workplace. He has many years' experience in the NHS, initially working in the community delivering care in patients’ houses. He currently works for NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB. He is passionate about his board and steward work, recognising the importance of professional nursing work, and is determined to do everything in his power to help to deliver an improved pay deal for nursing staff.Carolyn Mason
Carolyn works at Bishop Auckland General Hospital for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. She has been an RCN steward for the County Durham and Darlington branch in the past. She is now an RCN Changemaker and is currently serving her first term on the RCN Northern Region Board, which runs from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2028.Danielle Ralton
Danielle is an Advanced Paediatric Nurse Practitioner for children and young people at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. She is team leader for the ANPs across the University Hospital of North Durham and Darlington Memorial Hospital sites, championing the ANP role within child health. She is passionate about being a voice for the nursing profession, and has been elected to the RCN Northern Board for her first term, starting 1 January 2025 and ending on 31 December 2028.Roaqah Shaher - ex-officio (Trade Union Committee member)
Roaqah is the chair of the RCN Tees Valley Branch, having previously been vice chair and secretary. She was accredited as an RCN steward in 2007 and joined the South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Joint Partnership Committee soon afterwards in 2008. After being elected to Vice Chair of the Staff Side Committee for two years, she was elected to Staff Side Chair in 2015 and has remained in that position since. Within the RCN Tees Valley Branch she has held the positions of vice chair and secretary. She has been the treasurer of the branch for the last three years.She has worked for James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough since she qualified as an adult nurse in 2004. She is currently a clinical sister in the Cardiothoracic High Dependency Unit and also has experience as a ward manager in general medicine.
Andrea Walters - ex-officio (Council member)
Andrea is an executive committee member of the RCN Tees Valley Branch. She is a steward at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and works in neurosurgery / neurosciences at James Cook University Hospital.She was elected to the board for a term lasting from 1 January 2025 until 31 January 2028.
Gillian Webster
Gillian Webster works for North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust as a clinical research nurse at the Carleton Clinic. She is a safety rep for the Cumbria Branch and has just been elected for her first term of office on the RCN Northern region board, which runs from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2028.Steven Yull
Steven Yull is the former Chair of the Tees Valley Branch. He has held several RCN positions including health and safety representative and steward and he is now a member of the RCN Northern Board, elected to serve for a second term which runs from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2028.
Born in Middlesbrough, Steven trained in adult nursing at Teesside University. He has worked in intermediate care, community nursing, clinical education and he is currently a people development practitioner at the University Hospital of North Tees, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust.
Vacancy
This could be you. There are two current vacancies on the RCN Northern Region Board, one for a term of office ending 31 December 2026 and one for a term of office ending 31 December 2028. You have until 4.30pm on Wednesday 5 February to submit your nomination to be considered as a board member. To find out more visit the 'Current elections and appointments' section of our website.Vacancy
This could be you. There are two current vacancies on the RCN Northern Region Board, one for a term of office ending 31 December 2026 and one for a term of office ending 31 December 2028. You have until 4.30pm on Wednesday 5 February to submit your nomination to be considered as a board member. To find out more visit the 'Current elections and appointments' section of our website.Page last updated - 30/01/2025