A view from the Chair: analysing feedback on our Corporate Strategy, new Council members, and working towards good oral health for all

This is my last blog post as Chair of the GDC and I want to start by thanking dental professionals for their hard work and dedication to delivering good oral health for all.

I also thank those I have met and had the opportunity to listen to their concerns and priorities, which has in turn helped to inform discussions about the GDC’s role and priorities.

My view is that professional regulation should be a benefit to professionals themselves. It is a privilege rather than a burden and underpins the reputation of the profession as a whole. I have been privileged to learn more about the challenges facing dentistry and hear at close hand your perceptions of the GDC and what you see as the role of the regulator.

Analysing responses to the Corporate Strategy consultation

We recently consulted on our Corporate Strategy for 2026 – 2028, which proposed our mission as “Through trusted and effective regulation, support dental professionals to provide the right care for their patients.”

I can share that we received 452 responses, with 40 coming from organisations and 412 from individuals. This is a significantly larger number than the 291 we received when we consulted on the current strategy three years ago. I am grateful to those who took the time to review the proposals and respond. We are analysing the responses now and there is much to learn from what people see as the regulator’s priorities.

New Council members join in October

September brings much important work for the current Council as we review the GDC’s performance and discuss the business plan required to deliver our Corporate Strategy. It is also the last month for two of our current committee chairs, as Sheila Kumar and Anne Heal come to the end of their terms.

Sheila chaired the Audit and Risk Committee, while Anne was Chair of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee.  These are important roles and their scrutiny has helped to shape how the professions are regulated.

And then three new members join Council in October. One that you already know about, of course, as we have announced Dr Helen Phillips as the new Chair. Helen has already started to have conversations with other members of Council and the GDC and is looking forward to a full programme of external stakeholder engagement when she is in post.

In addition, following an open and competitive recruitment process, Bill Gunnyeon and Mike Driver have been appointed as lay Council Members, both commencing four-year terms. They bring extensive experience of healthcare, government and senior leadership – skills that will complement and enhance the existing Council.

We have also reappointed Simon Morrow and Timea Milovecz as Council Members for additional terms. Simon will commence his third term for one year and Timea will commence her second term on 1 October 2025 for four years.

October sees important decisions being made in Council, about the Corporate Strategy for the next three years, which will in turn shape the ARF for 2026 and beyond.

Good oral health for all

The GDC’s proposed mission for the next three years is ‘Good oral health for all’. The GDC cannot realise the vision of good oral health for all on its own.  However, we can play a key role in creating the environment in which there are more dental professionals equipped to deliver the care that people need.

I will therefore end by repeating my earlier thanks. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to better understand dentistry in the UK and to contribute to making this a better experience for patients, the public and professionals, and I thank you for helping me to play my part to do so.