Gill Walton has been appointed as the next chief executive and general secretary of The Royal College of Midwives (RCM).
She will succeed Professor Cathy Warwick who is set to retire in August.
The announcement from the professional association and trade union comes as thousands of RCM midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) across the UK celebrate International Day of the Midwife 2017.
Walton (pictured) currently holds the post of director of midwifery and maternity services at Portsmouth Hospitals and is a passionate midwife, experienced midwifery leader and manager. She started nursing at University College Hospital, and then undertook her midwifery training at the Princess Anne Hospital in Southampton. Previously she has held director of midwifery posts at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading; Barking Havering and Redbridge; John Radcliffe in Oxford.
Walton has also led many transformation programmes for maternity services and been involved in several national maternity related projects.
Commenting on her appointment, she said: “I am thrilled to have been appointed to the role of chief executive and general secretary for the RCM, an organisation I have tremendous respect for. I am really looking forward to working with members from all four countries of the UK, to help cement a positive future for midwives, maternity support workers and maternity services at this time of great change.”
