Chief Executive Officer

Dr Alexander Rhys, PhD, FInstLM, FRSA

Alex is a biochemist by background, specialising in molecular oncology and cancer cell division. Alongside this he has a strong background in higher education and student engagement, including having served as a non-executive director of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education and as an expert advisor to the government and British Council on higher education policy.

Before joining the IPS, Alex spent six years as Assistant Director at the Nursing and Midwifery Council, where he oversaw nursing and midwifery education throughout the UK. His leadership facilitated the deployment of over 45,000 nursing students to support the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic. Alex left the NMC having raised concerns about the culture and risks to protection of the public, alongside concerns regarding the wellbeing and safety of staff.

In addition to his professional achievements, Alex is the founder of It Gets Better UK, a charity dedicated to preventing self-harm and suicide among LGBTQ+ youth. His advocacy has been recognised, and he was honoured as one of the top 10 outstanding contributors to LGBTQ+ life at the 2022 British LGBT Awards. Alex is also a trustee of the Quaker Mental Health Fund.

Financial Controller

Sarah Hall, ACA, BSc

Sarah is a Qualified Accountant, working in the Charity Sector since 2010, in finance and operations as part of leadership and senior management teams.

Before joining the IPS, Sarah spent nearly three years working for The Intensive Care Society as Head of Finance and Operations and prior to that, YMCA East Surrey as Head of Finance and Internal Operations. Sarah has a wealth of experience in implementing new systems and processes, including bringing many services in-house and working collaboratively with colleagues to support delivery of strategic plans.

Sarah has also spent time as a School Governor during the merger of three state schools and Treasurer of the local nursery her children attended.

Education and Events Manager

Hannah Patel

Hannah has over 6 years of experience in creating, organising, and executing educational events in the orthopaedic field. Hannah currently works for Orthopaedic Research UK, a charity which brings together musculoskeletal professionals. Hannah is passionate about sustainability in healthcare and raising awareness of this issue. She looks forward to applying her expertise and experience to the infection field.

Education and Events Executive

Charlotte Dindorf

Charlotte has over 11 years’ experience creating and running events, including eight years organising educational healthcare events. Charlotte recently finished a contract with the National Institute for Health & Social Care Research, and is looking forward to bringing her wealth of experience and knowledge to the IPS.

When she’s not running events, Charlotte enjoys spending time with her friends and family, reading, video games, and re-watching Gilmore Girls at least once a year.

Governance & Engagement Manager

Lynne Duncan

Lynne first started working with the IPS back in 2005 when it was known as the Infection Control Nurses Association, working for the Society’s Secretariat company at the time, Fitwise Management Ltd. From 2005, Lynne worked on the membership side of the Society’s administrative support provided by the secretariat and then moved into the newly created role of PA to the IPS Board in 2010. Lynne has continued to develop in this role over the years and was delighted to be asked to move to IPS as Governance and Engagement Manager as IPS bring in its own staff team.

Outside of work, Lynne is an avid supporter of a number of charities, including Brain Tumour Research which is a cause close to her heart.

Communications & Membership Engagement Specialist

Gina Groom

Gina is our Communications and Membership Engagement Specialist. With a proven track record in leading communications strategies and driving brand growth across diverse sectors, including the NHS, Gina brings a wealth of expertise to our team. She has lead initiatives like website redevelopments, omni-channel campaigns, and brand refresh projects, all aimed at improving user engagement and satisfaction. Outside of work, she finds joy in hosting dinners for loved ones, hiking with her dog, and traveling to new places.