INFORMATION FOR THE SKELLERN LECTURE & LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - HOW TO NOMINATE
Eileen Skellern was a pioneer who championed mental health nursing, service improvements, patient and person-centred leadership. The ability to influence change and challenge convention was a key role Skellern had in establishing the profession of nursing, alongside more traditionally acknowledged psychiatric convention. Today we continue to celebrate advancements and personal achievements in the annual Skellern lecture, and Lifetime Achievement Award. We want to hear from people who have made a difference.
Who would you like to see recognised for their contribution to mental health experiences? Who has drawn from their own personal lived experiences, implementing innovative practice changes and improvements, campaigning and championing policy and research advancements? We particularly welcome nominations from diverse and under represented communities from across our global society, those who have overcome adversity to achieve advancements in mental health care at home in the UK, and/or overseas. If you wish to nominate someone, whether a colleague, an activist, a survivor, you are asked to first check with the person you wish to be nominated to ensure,
a) they are happy for their name to go forward, and
b) that they can fulfil the commitments listed below (sections 1-3).
Nominees for both awards have historically tended to come mainly from a core mental health nursing background, but in the spirit of Eileen Skellern’s vision for an intra-disciplinary approach to mental health, nominations from a variety of backgrounds are welcomed and we encourage nominations from international colleagues. ALL NOMINATIONS CAN BE DISCUSSED OR SENT TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING: Dr Russell Ashmore (r.j.ashmore@shu.ac.uk), Professor Sally Hardy (s.hardy@uea.ac.uk), Catherine Gamble (catherine.gamble@rcn.org.uk), Professor Gary Winship (gary.winship@nottingham.ac.uk).
CLOSING DATE FOR Nominations SKELLERN LECTURER and the JPMHN LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2027 (December 5th 2026).
1) Nominees for the ES lecture are asked for a title & synopsis of their lecture/speech (no more than 300 words).
2) Lifetime Achievement Nominees are asked to provide a short biography (150-300). This information will be forwarded to the appointments committee panel. The short list and appointments, including host organisation are announced at the Mental Health Nurse Academics Conference Dinner in Spring 2027.
The appointments panel will undertake an independent vote for awardees. The panel consists of former recipients, sponsors, student representatives and organisers of the ES & Lifetime Award. (Panel Information).
The panel members vote for the candidates ranking each nominee (eg 1,2,3,4,5) - voting separately for each award. The candidate with the lowest score in each short list is appointed. The voting matrix is available only to panel members. In the event of a panel member being nominated that panel member will not be able vote for that appointment.
The short lists are publicised.
Panel for 2027
Dr Anne Aiyegbusi (past lecturer), Dr Russell Ashmore (past lecturer), Professor Len Bowers (past lecturer/past recipient), Dr Joy Bray (honorary), Geoff Brennan (past lecturer), Professor Neil Brimblecombe (past lecturer), Professor Phil Burnard (past recipient), Professor Tony Butterworth (past lecturer/past recipient), Professor Patrick Callaghan (past lecturer/past recipient), Professor Mary Chambers (past lecturer/past recipient), Professor Marie Crowe (JPMHN board), Dr John Crowley (University of Greenwich), Professor Bryn Davis (past recipient), Sean Duggan (past recipient), Professor Joy Duxbury (past lecturer), Professor Cheryl Forchuk (past lecturer), Dr Celeste Foster (past lecturer), Catherine Gamble (past lecturer), Dr Julie Hall (Notts Health Care Trust), Professor Ben Hannigan (Past chair MHNA), Professor Sally Hardy (past recipient), Dr Ada Hui (past lecturer), Marion Janner (past recipient), Professor Karina Lovell (past lecturer), Professor Hugh Mckenna (past recipient/JPMHN Editor), Dr Gwenne McIntosh (Chair, MHNA), Professor Mick Mckeown (past lecturer), Beverley Murphy (SLAM), Professor Fiona Nolan (past chair MHNA), Professor Peter Nolan (past recipient), Professor Ian Norman (past lecturer), Professor Malcolm Rae (past recipient), Dr Julie Repper (past lecturer), Professor Alan Simpson (past lecturer), Professor David Sines (past lecturer), Dr Ben Thomas (past lecturer), Dr Jim Turner (Past Chair, MHNA), Dr Dan Warrander (pst Skellern Lecturer), Jane Wells (Director, Oxleas), Professor Gary Winship (past Skellern lecturer).