Anne Marie is a Fellow of the RCN and campaigned for the presidency on key issues including securing legislation for safe staffing levels; ensuring the diversity and inclusivity of the nursing voice is engaged in designing and delivering RCN policy; reinstatement of student support and investment in continuing professional development and to pursue a new direction of travel for the RCN, which has faced uncertainty in recent times.

During her campaign, Anne Marie spoke of how under her leadership, nursing would ‘become a social movement, drawing on our collective strengths and talents to target the big health and care challenges of the day’.

Professor Rafferty has been a leading figure in the Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care at King’s since 2004, where she served as Dean, before becoming Professor of Nursing Policy in 2011. Her recent work includes contributing to a student-led commission which considered the future of the NHS and a Parliamentary Review of Health and Social Care in Wales.

Professor Ian Norman, Executive Dean of the Faculty said: ‘I am delighted that Professor Rafferty has been successful in her bid to become President of the RCN. I am confident that her skills and expertise will help the RCN move forward in challenging times and provide strong leadership of this influential organisation.’