Gillian is a clinician by background, with a passion for using evidence to improve care. She joined NICE, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, in 2001 and became its second CEO on 1 April 2020. In this role she led the development of a new 5 year strategy and set out updated methods and processes to put NICE at the forefront of evaluating new technologies and to deliver dynamic living guidelines for frontline staff.
Her career has covered a breadth of sectors including wider public health, healthcare, education and social care. It has entailed close working with the life science industries, patient organisations, professional societies, academia, plus local and national government across the United Kingdom. She has chaired national and international boards and committees, bringing comprehensive media experience across a range of complex topics.
She is now the Dean and President-elect at the Royal Society of Medicine and is on the Board of Radar Healthcare. She is also leading a government review into the safety and efficacy of the role of Physician and Anaesthesia Associates in modern healthcare.
Gillian’s dedication to the guideline field was celebrated in 2024 when she was awarded an Honorary MGIN.