GDC Announce New Chair
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- Published: Tuesday, 08 July 2025 16:00
- Written by Peter Ingle
- Hits: 1290
The GDC have announced the name of their new Chair who will follow on from Lord Toby Harris when he stands down on completion of his four year term, at the end of September 2025.
Dr Helen Phillips will become Chair on October 1st 2025, bringing a long and impressive, non dental CV, to Wimpole Street. She has held a wealth of senior posts across a 30-year career in sectors including insurance, legal, social care and further education.
A former senior environmental regulator, Dr Phillips has held numerous non-executive roles since 2015. She already has some experience in professional standards, currently chairing the Chartered Insurance Institute and NHS Professionals, a workforce partner to the NHS.
Dr Phillips has also chaired the Legal Services Board and Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and is an independent Commissioner at the Gambling Commission.
On her new role as regulator of over 125,000 dental professionals, she has outlined a vision for upstream regulation and supporting the dental professions to remain competent and confident throughout their careers: "My ambition is that dental care professionals feel a sense of pride – never fear – in being regulated by a trusted, effective, proportionate regulator that embodies our values of being respectful, transparent, inclusive and purposeful."
Dr Phillips will continue the GDC’s metamorphosis from simply being a professional regulator into to becoming an instrument of social change, and emphasised her commitment to working with the dental professions to address systemic challenges: "We must work collaboratively with the dental sector to make meaningful progress in addressing health inequalities and the growing problem of equitable access to dental services for all.”
Her appointment comes as the GDC is consulting on its next Corporate Strategy for 2026-2028. This is claimed to focus on building trust with the profession, and begin a move away from a climate of fear, as well as adopting more supportive approaches to regulation that prioritise learning and professional development over punitive measures.
Lord Toby Harris, the outgoing Chair, welcomed the appointment: "I am delighted that the GDC has secured the services of such an outstanding leader as Dr Helen Phillips. She has exceptional experience in regulation across multiple sectors, combined with her deep understanding of healthcare challenges. I know her knowledge and expertise will ensure we continue building trust with the professions."
Dr Phillips has a BSc in Zoology and a PhD in Environmental Science from University College Dublin. She has previously served as a Board Director of Yorkshire Water and chair of Loop Customer Management Ltd, a Kelda Group subsidiary.
Prior to her non-executive career, she served as founding Chief Executive of Natural England and Director for Wales of the Environment Agency.
The appointment follows the Privy Council’s approval, with Dr Phillips set to take up the role in October 2025.
The GDC’s photograph on their website accompanying the announcement of the new chair carries the caption: “Experienced leader brings exciting vision for trusted, collaborative regulation.”
Registrants and the public both deserve and will benefit from a collaborative regulator, and GDPUK wishes Dr Phillips well in what will be at times, a challenging role. Some of us though would be pleased to exchange the promised excitement for increased competence, transparency and fairness.
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