Leadership

Professor Dara Byrne is the Health Service Executive (HSE) National Clinical Lead for Simulation in Ireland and the Professor of Simulation at the University of Galway, Ireland. She leads the newly established National Simulation Office, which reports to the Chief Clinical Officer and represent all health professions at a national level. She established the Irish Center for Applied Patient Safety and Simulation (ICAPSS) in Galway in 2017 which is the only dual accredited simulation facility in Ireland and holds the AMEE ASPIRE to Excellence Award for Simulation. It provides simulation for undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as clinical learners and external users such as med tech, innovators, postgraduate training bodies and the community. The ICAPSS is a leader in patient safety and simulation research activities and outputs and runs the successful Diploma and MSc, in Healthcare Simulation and Patient Safety which was established in 2017 and has educated over 500 learners to date.

Professor Byrne has over 25 years’ experience in delivering high quality simulation-based interprofessional activities. She is passionate about the ability of collaborative simulation to support the transformation of healthcare and organizational change. Her expertise lies at the business end of simulation, in strategic management and implementation, corporate and business strategy and organizational change and leadership. The National Simulation Strategy for Ireland will be launched by the HSE in December 2025 after a 2-year development process under Prof. Byrne’s leadership.

She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and a Fellow of the Association of Medical Educators and AMEE. She is an advanced simulation educator (CHSE-A) since 2014 and ASPiH accredited. She is a member of the Medical Council’s Education and Training Committee and has led on several national curricula developments.  She has published widely on simulation, medical education and patient safety and is the senior author on ‘The Essential Handbook of Healthcare Simulation’ (2023).

Dr Asanga Fernando is a Consultant Psychiatrist specialising in the care of cancer patients.

He has senior clinical leadership, research and educational roles at St George’s University Hospital in south London, where he is also Clinical Director of Simulation and an Honorary Senior Lecturer at City St George’s school of medicine. Asanga is also the Programme Director for Simulation at NHS England (London), and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (FRCPsych).

He has experience and expertise in transformative simulation, helping to transform healthcare through designing new models of care including integrating mental health and physical healthcare. In this area he also has expertise in quality improvement and  translating policy into practice regionally and nationally by setting up clinical services and pathways. Asanga also works collaboratively on distributed simulation with international partners.

Asanga has been passionate about simulation for decades, and has held educational roles throughout his medical career, including at the South London and Maudsley (SLaM) and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosciences at King’s College London where he also held senior roles at Maudsley Simulation. Asanga has been Clinical Director for simulation at St George’s for the last 6 years where he has collaboratively set up several inter-professional educational programmes encouraging a human factors and patient safety led approach across subjects. He is widely published and has obtained several research grants.

He is particularly keen to work with AsPiH as a collaborative community and help it prepare for the future by optimising the simulation response to the clinical, workforce, research and technological opportunities in healthcare today. He is looking forward to working with you.

Mary Holding, BA (Hons), MSc

Mary is a Simulation Technician for West Herts Initiative in Simulation Education and Research (WiSER) at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals Trust.

Mary has an undergraduate degree in Multimedia Journalism and has experience in marketing, online and print journalism which includes producing multimedia projects and design. Following joining West Herts Trust, Mary gained experience with multiple education departments before becoming the Trust’s first Simulation Technician in 2018.

She has helped shape the department into a successful service which provides programmes for multidisciplinary teams internally and externally from the Trust. Her passion for education and human factors is a constant in all projects and future ideas for the service.

Mary gained her MSc in Health and Medical Simulation from the University of Hertfordshire in 2022, with a focus on facilitating simulation, human factors, and debriefing. Mary has also recently become a coach for the Trust’s Coaching Service.

Mary is currently managing a Simulation Technician Apprentice; coaching and providing them with experiences that underpin their knowledge to establish their future career in simulation based education. This ties in with Mary’s goals as a representative of Technicians: highlight career paths and empower the community to develop in the field of simulation.

When not working, Mary enjoys spending time with her friends and family, two dogs, going to concerts and reading.

Giuseppe is a senior lecturer in nursing simulation and clinical skills at the University of Hertfordshire with a clinical background in anaesthetic nursing. Starting his clinical career in theatres, he soon discovered a passion for human factors, education and service improvement in healthcare which were developed through different roles, like practice development nurse, clinical facilitator and theatre manager.

As a senior lecturer, Giuseppe has employed a range of innovative pedagogical strategies, including simulation-based learning (SBL), and led the provision of simulated practice learning (SPL) ensuring alignment with curricular goals, NMC and ASPiH standards. He is passionate about technologies and simulated patients (SPs) involvement in simulation. In fact, he spearheaded the adoption of digitalisation, extended reality (XR) platforms and developed a pool of SPs deriving from local theatres and the in-house drama school, enhancing student engagement and learning experience, whilst promoting confidence and competence.

Giuseppe’s professional experience and commitment to education are driven by a project management and innovation mindset, consolidated by an MSc in Advancing Professional Practice with a focus on Improvement Project. He has initiated, managed and contributed to projects through their life cycles, supporting data-driven decisions.

Giuseppe has published articles, contributing to the discourse on SBL and healthcare education. He is dedicated and committed to prepare existing and new healthcare professionals to face the challenges of the future through simulated learning.

Caroline is a Senior Lecturer for the Paramedic Science BSc at City St Georges University of London and is a HCPC registered Paramedic and a Senior Fellow with Advanced HE. Her passion for simulation based education started in 2015 when she started her journey as a simulation technician. She has since become the simulation lead for the department and has a special interest in undergraduate psychological safety. She gained her MSc in Health and Medical Simulation at Hertfordshire university in 2022 and is privileged to be the first Paramedic on the ASPiH committee.

She likes to walk and hike with her husband and her dog Bertie and take trips in their VW camper van.

Nathan is a nurse, an educationalist, a leader and an innovator with a passion to make things better. Nathan has a breadth of experience in simulation-based pedagogy which has been forged over time through a career as a specialist and leader in healthcare simulation across a variety of leadership and faculty development roles.

Returning with his family to Australia in 2023 following almost a decade living in the United Kingdom, his career incorporated local, regional and national simulation leadership roles, including roles in NHS Lothian in Edinburgh, the Scottish Centre for Simulation and Clinical Human Factors (SCSCHF), and NHS Education for Scotland (NES). He was also the founding Programme Director of the Graduate Certificate of Simulation Based Clinical Education at the University of Edinburgh.

Nathan now lives and works in Australia, as the Simulation Convenor at the University of Canberra’s Faculty of Health, based within the Discipline of Nursing. Nathan is a regular contributor to National and European simulation bodies and conferences and consults internationally on simulation design and educational briefing.

Diego is an Emergency Medicine consultant at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in Norfolk. He has been the simulation lead for the Trust for the last 5 years. He is also the Training Program Director for Simulation based activities for emergency Medicine at the East or England deanery and has been recently appointed as Clinical Skills and Simulation lead for the Medical School at the University of East Anglia.

He has been involved in simulation since very early in his career, initially as a candidate, and then as faculty, where he has been able to learn from many fantastic co-facilitators and from many, many candidates.

His main interests are psychological safety and breaking silos in education and simulation, so it is not unusual to find him constantly talking to new people and connecting other practitioners.

He helped developing the ASPiH Journal club and now helps with its organisation and monthly running.

Diego enjoys whatever time he has left with his family and their Cockapoo called Sol, who makes sure they all do their fair amount of walking.

Professor Paul O’Connor is a human factors psychologist and Personal Professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Galway, Ireland.

He is the Research Director of the Irish Centre for Applied Patient Safety and Simulation, and Co-Director of the Diploma/Masters in Healthcare Simulation and Patient Safety.

His research, and teaching, are concerned with improving human performance and safety in high-risk work environments.

He has carried out research in a wide range industries and the military.

In recent years his research and teaching has focused on the human factors that contribute to patient safety and quality of care.

Alan is an Associate Professor in Simulation-Based Education, and Head of Clinical Simulation in the Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Health at Northumbria University, UK. He is a Registered Nurse and specialised in Critical Care where he developed a very keen interest in healthcare education and his passion for simulation.

Alan has over 22 years of experience in simulation that encompasses both hospital and higher educational settings and includes undergraduate, postgraduate, and international participants across a wide range of professions. He also has a wealth of leadership experience in SBE, including:

Previously:

• • An executive committee member of ASPiH (2010 – 2014)
  • A National Simulation Development Officer (SDO).
  • The Vice president (Ad-interim) of the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning – Chapter Europe (INACSL – Chapter Europe)
• • Currently: Chair of the SESAM’s Nursing Community of Practice.

He completed his Professional Doctorate (Education) on the use of SBE in healthcare education in 2019 and has published and presented extensively on the subject.

Lauren Philpott is a registered Children’s Nurse and has worked in both general children’s wards and SCBUs since qualifying.

She moved into Clinical Education as Clinical Simulation Facilitator in March 2020 at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, where she developed and ran a variety of innovative Simulation courses, and worked as the Paediatric Lead for Simulation.

She has worked in Healthcare simulation for six years, for NHS Trusts and as part of Universities, and has experience of working in Lived Experience Co-Production since 2021.

In April 2021 Lauren began a part-time secondment for Canterbury Christ Church University, where she worked as a Clinical Fellow in Simulation for Mental Health. Through this role, she developed new multi-professional educational courses based on common mental health conditions and she has a special interest in Mental Health.

Since joining the University of Greenwich, she has continued her work in Co-Production, on projects involving those who have experienced homelessness, and currently on a project involving people with Lived Experience of Gender Affirming Care. She is part of the Service User Involvement Team at the University of Greenwich and is delighted to be a part of the ASPiH Executive Committee.

Jane is a General Practitioner (GP) and works clinically in Sussex. She holds roles as Faculty Education Lead for the Royal College of General Practitioners Southeast Thames Faculty, GP Tutor in West Kent and is Deputy Chair of West Kent Training Hub.

She has been involved with simulation since 2018 when she developed pilot sessions, with the assistance of the simulation team at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Hospital, to assess the applicability of simulation for primary care in West Kent. The pilots were very successful with highly positive feedback and affirmation of an appetite and need for simulation training for primary care teams.

Jane was integral in developing simulation training on the recognition and management of anaphylaxis, which was offered to all the covid vaccination hubs in West Kent run by Primary Care Networks (PCNs) in 2021. Following this she was appointed as the Kent Surrey and Sussex (KSS) GP Fellow in Simulation to develop simulation across the region for all primary care staff. She leads the interprofessional KSS Primary Care Simulation Faculty to deliver training both in situ to GP practices and PCNs, and in simulation suites in Trusts across the KSS region, with the support of the KSS Primary Care School and Training Hubs.

She is keen to explore opportunities to work with others delivering simulation in primary, social and community care settings.

When not at work Jane loves walking with family, friends, and her constantly exuberant and optimistic Labrador.

Naomi is a Diagnostic Radiographer by background. She is a Professor and the Faculty Director of Simulation across Medicine and Health Sciences at Keele University. Naomi has 13 years clinical experience prior to moving into education in 2013. Naomi’s passion for simulation developed from her award-winning research introducing students to patients with burns using moulage. This led her on a slightly longer journey to complete a doctorate in professional practice focusing on ‘The role of simulation and moulage on emotional labour in first-year diagnostic radiography students when seeing open wounds in a clinical setting’.

Naomi’s expertise in simulation has been recognised on an international scale, with regular invitations to speak at conferences. She has several publications and authored a chapter on simulation use for the radiography profession. Naomi also works as an expert-be-experience to share her lived experiences educating professionals on the modern-day lives of individuals with Down syndrome.

Naomi collaborates with other professional areas, her contribution, support and guidance has been recognised with the following awards, lecturer of the year, a National Teaching Fellowship, and the Senior Fellowship with Advanced HE.

Naomi spends her personal time with her family and enjoys running.

Kevin has worked in the simulation community at a national and international level for 15 years. Kevin is the lead for Clinical Skills and Simulation at the School of Health Sciences at the University of Dundee.  He has keen interests in faculty development, interprofessional education, simulation co-design and Quality Improvement. Kevin is the Commercial Partnerships and Projects lead for ASPiH.

This role was created to develop long-term collaborative partnerships with commercial organisations across the UK to develop programmes of activity which address some of the current challenges in healthcare practice or education. Previously, Kevin was a member of the board of directors for the Global Network for Simulation in Healthcare and was also a member of the original ASPiH executive committee from 2010 – 2015.

Robyn is a cardiorespiratory specialist physiotherapist by background, with clinical expertise in critical care and surgery. Her PhD is in the area of upper gastrointestinal cancer prehabilitation.

She joined the academic world in 2008, where she was involved in prequalifying physiotherapy education as a senior lecturer and subject coordinator, and has recently achieved Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.

Robyn is passionate about simulation-based education and research, to enhance complex reasoning, patient safety, inter-professional learning and workforce development.

One of her simulation highlights was completing the “Simulation as a teaching tool” course delivered by Jenny Rudolph and CMS colleagues in May 2017. This course helped to build on existing knowledge, develop confidence and ability to deliver and teach simulation-based learning. She was the first physiotherapist to complete this course – highlighting the under-representation of AHPs in this area.

In her physiotherapy lecturer role, she gradually and sustainably integrated simulation across the physiotherapy programmes, supporting team members to become proficient with debriefing, as well as mentoring and upskilling staff to enable high quality simulation provision across the Faculty.  The physiotherapy programme team received commendations for their simulation delivery at their most recent revalidation event.

In her current role as Principal Lecturer in clinical skills, simulation and immersive technology at Oxford Brookes, Robyn leads a brilliant team of academics, technicians and support staff in the delivery of simulation and immersive practice. She oversees the simulation provision and research aspect of simulation across a diverse range of AHP professions, nursing and social work, as well as collaborations with local hospital acute and community trusts and Oxford University Medical School.

Lorraine is a Senior Lecturer in Simulation and Immersive Learning at Oxford Brookes University where she works across the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences to embed simulation and technology enhanced learning within their healthcare programmes.

She is a registered nurse with a background in acute care specialising in intensive care and resuscitation before moving into higher education. She is an instructor for the Resuscitation Council UK teaching on both their Immediate and Advanced Life Support courses. She is experienced in teaching across a wide range of professional groups and facilitating inter-professional learning at both a pre and post registration level.

She completed her MSc in Clinical Education in 2021 with her dissertation focusing on the experiences of pre-registration student nurses when a digital approach was used for the teaching and learning of procedural skills.

Lorraine is interested in the use of simulation to promote inter-professional teamworking, faculty and workforce development, and learning through simulated practice.  She has worked with Health Education England to produce e-learning materials for their ‘Becoming Simulation Faculty programme’ which supports multi professional educators, practitioners, technicians and managers from higher education institutions (HEIs) and NHS organisations who want to design and deliver simulation and immersive learning.

She is married with three children and recently took up an allotment so tries to spend as much time as possible there and hopes to harvest fruit, vegetable and cut flowers over the next year.