A long-standing leader at the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has been appointed as its new executive director of strategy and insight.
Emma Westcott, who has worked at the NMC since 2011, had already been acting in the role since February 2025 but will now take on the position substantively.
“Emma is a much-respected colleague who will bring crucial organisational memory to our executive board”
Paul Rees
She stepped up to acting executive director of strategy and insight following the early departure of Kuljit Dhillon, who had been in the position on an interim basis.
Seconded from the General Medical Council, Ms Dhillon was due to cover the role at the NMC until the end of April, but stepped down in February instead, as previously revealed by Nursing Times.
Before that, the role was held by Matthew McClelland, but he was one of five executive directors who left the regulator between mid-2024 and January 2025 as part of a wave of high-level resignations.
The leadership shake-up at the NMC comes at a time when it is looking to rebuild its culture after a damning external review uncovered issues of bullying, racism and toxic behaviour within the regulator.
Commenting on her appointment, Ms Westcott said she was pleased to support the work to restore the NMC’s reputation.
“I am a regulator because I want the nursing and midwifery professions to benefit from excellent education, and to maintain good standards, so that the public experience care that is safe, expert and equitable,” she said.
“It is the job of my directorate to make sure the organisation has effective policy, sound analysis, and strong evidence as we steer the NMC through a period of rapid improvement.
“The NMC is working hard to restore confidence in our ability to protect the public. I’m glad to have the opportunity to help lead this effort, working with our council, colleagues and partners.”
Ms Westcott’s previous roles at the NMC have included assistant director of strategy and assistant director of education and standards.
High-profile projects she has led have included the introduction of nursing associates in England in 2019 and the modernisation of midwifery regulation.
“The NMC is working hard to restore confidence in our ability to protect the public”
Emma Westcott
Paul Rees, interim chief executive and registrar of the NMC, welcomed her appointment.
He said: “Emma is a much-respected colleague who will bring crucial organisational memory to our executive board.
“She has helped to build a strategy and insight directorate which is helping to drive learning and improvement within our own regulatory processes, and providing important insights from our work to the wider health and care sector.
“I know Emma has the support of her team to deliver research and insight with real impact, for the benefit of the professionals on our register and the public we serve.”
Ms Westcott’s appointment comes in the same week as senior civil servant Ravi Chand has been announced as the NMC’s new executive director of people and culture.
More about leadership changes at the NMC
