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You are cordially invited to attend the Inaugural Professorial Lecture by Professor Pat Cullen, Honorary Professor of Practice at Queen's University Belfast and Sinn Féin MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone.

"From nursing to politics - the importance of nurses in political roles."

There have been significant improvements in global health and wellbeing leading to increased life expectancy due to developments in nutrition, sanitation, housing and access to healthcare. A healthy population contributes to the workforce and productivity. Disease prevention reduces poverty. Strong healthcare systems enable effective responses to global and local health threats. Improving access to reproductive and maternal healthcare reduces death rates. Healthy children attend school and perform better academically. Developments in the use of AI, telehealth and the health data is leading to improvement in healthcare service delivery.

Nurses and midwives are at the heart of all healthcare delivery, demonstrating time and again how their contributions are central to the delivery of innovative, holistic, person centred care and support. They lead the way in public health initiatives, community in-reach, telehealth and the delivery of community services. An effectively educated, developed and resourced nursing and midwifery profession is vital to ensure that the transformations required in healthcare design and delivery are fully realised.

There are significant opportunities for nurses and midwives to grasp. Nurses and midwives are in a prime position to influence and shape political and policy agendas to capitalise on their knowledge, skills and commitment to patients, families and carers. Investing in nurses and midwives will enable governments to meet the needs of populations and communities and address the challenges of today and in the future.

Date and Time	Location	Register
Tuesday 21st October 2025 17.30-19.30pm GMT	Canada Room/Council Chambers, Lanyon Building, QUB University Road, Belfast	This event is free