Kerala-born critical care nurse secures a second term as President of the Royal College of Nursing, one of the world’s largest professional bodies for nurses
Malayalee healthcare professional Bejoy Sebastian has been re-elected as President of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), the UK’s leading professional body and trade union for nursing staff, securing a second term in office. The results were formally announced by the RCN on 9 September 2026.
Sebastian, who hails from Kerala, will continue to serve alongside Deputy President Professor Alison Leary MBE FRCN, who was also re-elected unopposed for a second term.
A Journey from Kottayam to Critical Care
Sebastian completed his nursing studies at Kottayam Medical College before moving to the United Kingdom in March 2011. He has since built a distinguished career as a senior nurse in critical care at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH), one of the country’s foremost teaching hospital trusts.
Before rising to the RCN presidency, Sebastian served as Chair of the International Nursing and Midwifery Association Forum network UK, a role in which he worked to raise the profile of internationally educated nursing staff — helping them thrive in their careers while identifying and addressing the barriers they face in the workplace. That advocacy for overseas-trained nurses, many of them from India and Kerala in particular, has been a defining thread of his work within the profession.
Sebastian has held the RCN presidency since 1 January 2025, having first been elected to the role in November 2024.
Priorities for a Second Term
Reacting to his re-election, Sebastian said he was “honoured members have chosen to re-elect me” and that he was “looking forward to working with members again.”
He identified three priorities for his second term: safe staffing, strong salaries, and supporting nursing students.
“Since taking office, I’ve travelled across the UK, listening to members and representatives,” he said. “Those conversations drive how I ensure your voices are all represented.”
About the Role
As RCN President, Sebastian serves as an ambassador for nursing both in the UK and internationally. Alongside the Deputy President, the Chair of RCN Congress, and the RCN’s executive team, he forms part of the College’s governing Council — the body responsible for overseeing the RCN’s work and ensuring it effectively represents the nursing profession across the United Kingdom.
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger congratulated all those elected, noting that “strong nursing leadership is essential to ensuring [members’] voices are heard and represented at every level,” as the College embarks on delivering a new strategy amid what she described as “a period of significant challenge and change” for health and care services across the UK.
The RCN Council elections also saw results announced for six country and regional seats, with members elected across Scotland, the South East, South West, Wales, West Midlands, and Yorkshire and the Humber, alongside a newly elected student member of Council. Those elected will take up office on 1 January 2027.
A Proud Moment for the Kerala Nursing Diaspora
Sebastian’s re-election is a source of pride for the large community of Malayalee nurses who have built careers within the NHS and across the UK’s health and social care system over the past two decades. His journey — from nursing studies in Kottayam to the presidency of one of the world’s most influential nursing organisations — reflects the growing leadership role Kerala-trained nurses continue to play on the global stage.
Bejoy Sebastian’s second term as RCN President is expected to run through the coming years, with a continued focus on staffing levels, fair pay, and support for the next generation entering the profession.
(Main Image: Facebook, Royal College of Nursing)
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