Biography
Helen has served as President of Council University of Reading since August 2022 having been a member of Council from 2017. She is also a leadership coach and has coached senior leaders in the not-for-profit, charity and commercial sectors for over 16 years. In addition, she is a trustee of the charity Arts Enterprise for Social Purpose and was appointed a non-executive director of IDG Security in January 2024. She has contributed to higher education governance for some time, having served as a governor at Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication, which is now a University, for nine years before joining University of Reading.
From February 2019 to August 2023, Helen was the Chief Executive of the Science Council, responsible for setting standards for professional registration for scientists and technicians working in science, plus supporting a broad network of 36 professional bodies in science on areas of interdisciplinary science interest.
Originally training as a nurse at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, she progressed through a number of clinical and managerial positions in hospitals in the National Health Service, before leading The Hillingdon Hospital and then Queen Mary’s Sidcup NHS Trust in Southeast London as Chief Executive.
She then moved to national CEO roles to support the development of health professionals. Between 2005 and 2018, Helen led the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the Royal Society of Medicine.
She was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of General Practitioners in 2013, an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Reading in 2016, and in Honorary Doctorate of Science from City, University of London in 2019.
Helen is also a keen saxophonist and scuba diver.
