2025 Shortlisted Nominee
Lifetime Achiever Award
Kathryn has served as a nurse for 43 years, including 20 years in children’s nursing and two decades in senior leadership. As Chief Nurse, she championed access to healthcare careers for local, under-represented communities, leading apprenticeship programmes that helped hundreds gain qualifications in nursing, radiography, and administration. Her initiatives improved staff retention, leadership diversity, and professional development, with many participants advancing to senior roles. Kathryn introduced quality rounds, work experience schemes for care-experienced youth, and celebrated inclusive staff events, impacting over 7,500 individuals annually. Her leadership helped reduce vacancy rates from 40% to under 10%, growing the workforce by 500. Honoured with an OBE in 2018 and an honorary doctorate in 2019, she now serves as a National Professional Advisor at the Care Quality Commission, continuing to influence inclusive, sustainable healthcare for all.