New NMC Interim Executive Director of Strategy and Insight appointed

Kuljit Dhillon has been appointed as the NMC’s Interim Executive Director of Strategy and Insight, responsible for high quality regulatory intelligence and analysis that supports and influences the organisation’s work.

She joins from the General Medical Council (GMC), where she is the Assistant Director of Strategy, Planning and Inclusion, responsible for ensuring alignment between the GMC's activities and its strategic priorities, and leading the GMC’s equality, diversity and inclusion agenda.

Previously Kuljit held senior roles in the civil service, including as a deputy director at the Cabinet Office.

She also held various strategy and policy roles in a number of government departments including the Department of Health and Social Care and the Government Equalities Office.

As a member of the NMC’s senior leadership team, Kuljit will play a key role in fostering a safer and more inclusive working environment, following the recent independent culture review which found that there are colleagues who have experienced racism and other forms of discrimination, bullying and harassment.

Alongside this, she will have lead responsibility for strategy and insight programmes including:

• Insight, policy, and strategic input to support the successful implementation of the fitness to practise plan, which aims to make a step change in the timeliness and person-centredness of regulatory decision making

• Regulatory reform – working with the Department of Health and Social Care to update the NMC’s legal framework, so it has the right tools to regulate well, and so it can better support the professionals on its register to deliver the best possible care for people and communities

• Collaborative work with the NMC’s Professional Regulation directorate to help strengthen its international registrations processes and maintain the integrity of the register

• Supporting NMC engagement with the Thirlwall Inquiry and other high profile public inquiries.

Kuljit joined the NMC on Monday, September 23, for a period of 12 months. She said: “I’m excited to be joining the NMC as Interim Executive Director of Strategy and Insight and look forward to working with the executive team at what is undoubtedly a difficult time for the organisation.

“This presents a great opportunity to make meaningful, sustainable improvements to the culture of the organisation and in turn how we carry out our regulatory responsibilities.”

Helen Herniman, Acting Chief Executive and Registrar, said: “On behalf of the NMC's leadership team, I'm delighted to welcome Kuljit as our new Interim Executive Director of Strategy and Insight.

“These are challenging times for the NMC, and we’re excited about the wealth of experience and expertise that Kuljit will bring to our efforts to foster a safer, more inclusive culture at the NMC.

“She’s also the right person to take forward the important work of our strategy and insight directorate in supporting us to improve the way we regulate and using our regulatory insight to support wider learning across health and care.”