The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) has announced Steph Lawrence as its new chief executive.
Ms Lawrence, who has been the charity’s director of nursing and deputy chief executive since October 2024, will start in post on 1 July 2025.
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She will succeed Dr Crystal Oldman who has led the charity since 2012.
Ms Lawrence has spent the last two decades working in the community and previously the chief nurse at Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust.
Speaking today, she said she was ‘honoured’ to follow on from Dr Oldman at ‘such an exciting time for community nursing’.
‘I will take up post later this year and, in the meantime, will continue in my current role and have the opportunity to gain insights and experience from Crystal during this period.’
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Ms Lawrence previously led the trailblazer group for the District Nurse Apprenticeship standard which is now being delivered in many English universities.
She also co-chaired the Clinical Reference Group for the National Community Nursing plan for several years.
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Dr Oldman said Ms Lawrence was ‘a community nurse of exceptional experience and talent’ and was determined to deliver ‘high-quality nursing care’.
‘The QNI is fortunate to have Steph as its next chief executive and I look forward to seeing the QNI go from strength to strength under her leadership, building on what we have achieved,’ she added.
