Key Spokespeople

Helen Whyley is the Executive Director for the Royal College of Nursing in Wales.  She takes a portfolio of responsibilities which currently include executive support to a number of RCN Networks and Committees.  She previously Chaired the RCN Education and Learning Development Strategy Program Board, the RCN Staffing for Safe and Effective Care Program Board and the RCN Member Experience and Journey Strategy Board.

Helen previously worked in the office of the Welsh Government’s Chief Nursing Officer from 2011 to 2017 where her role as Nursing Officer included professional and policy advice on workforce development, nursing & midwifery education and regulation, and safeguarding.  She delivered on a number of key areas while working for the Welsh Government including policy adviser on the Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Act 2016; a review of the Post Registration Career Framework for Nurses; the Aligning Skills Guidance & Portfolio and the PREVENT training programme.

Helen’s career with RCN Wales originally started in 1999 when she was appointed as an RCN Professional Officer.  Upon completion of her MA in Industrial Relations she undertook a secondment in 2006 to the RCN UK Employment Relations Department working on national recognition agreements and organising in the independent sector.  She returned to the RCN in 2017 as the Associate Director Employment Relations and was promoted to Executive Director for RCN Wales in February 2019.

Nicky has 30 years experience of working in the NHS in the specialities of inpatient acute medicine and the community setting, where she managed frontline services such as District Nursing, Prison Nursing, and those caring for the homeless and asylum seekers. In addition she commissioned care from the nursing home sector.

Sandy began her career in Nursing in 1985, at Basildon & Thurrock Health Authority. After qualifying she started as a Theatre Nurse in UHW Cardiff before specialising as an Ophthalmic Nurse working in Bristol Eye Hospital. While working at the Cwm Taf Local Health Board as an Ophthalmic Nurse Practitioner she took a post in the Education and Training Department marking a significant change in her career.

In 2010, Sandy took up the post of Senior Education and Contracting Manager at The National Leadership and Innovation for Healthcare in Wales, an NHS body which was responsible for health professions education. During this time Sandy was also an associate lecturer at Bradford University.

Sandy left Wales in 2015 to join Health Education England South London as Head of Quality and Commissioning. And was made Honorary Fellow by Cardiff Metropolitan University in 2016 for her work on lifelong learning in healthcare.

In 2018 she undertook a review of the Welsh Blood Service Education programme. Then joined the RCN in January 2019 as the Interim Advisor for Leadership and Acute Care. She then moved into role of Head of RCN Prince of Wales Nursing cadet Scheme.

She has recently been appointed as the Associate Director for Nursing, Policy and Professional Practice at RCN Wales.