Position
East Kent Hospitals Trust Chair
Responsibilities
- Chair of the Board of Directors
- Chair of the Council of Governors
- Member of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee
History with the Trust
Niall joined the Trust on 5 April 2021.
Professional background
Niall was the Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation until October 2020, and was previously Chief Executive and Registrar of the General Medical Council and Chief Executive of the health thinktank, The King’s Fund.
A Scot educated at Edinburgh University, Niall worked for Age Concern England and then moved into journalism. He was editor of Nursing Times in the 1980s and later became a familiar face and voice on BBC television and radio news, where he worked for 16 years culminating as Social Affairs Editor.
He has held international roles, serving as Chair of the International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities and on the governing council of the International Hospitals Federation.
He is an honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Queens Nursing Institute. He was awarded a CBE in the birthday honours for services to patient safety.
Other current activities
Niall is the Chairman of the Leeds Castle Foundation, the charity responsible for the castle and its estate, Kent’s major visitor attraction.
