Join us for an insightful panel discussion on collective leadership.
Led by Roffey Consultant Rebekah O’Rourke, PhD this event explores a unique, process-driven approach to build collective leadership, developed and implemented between 2021 and 2023 within a UK NHS Clinical Education Department.
In a time of immense pressure on healthcare professionals, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, this research highlights how a collective leadership engagement process can foster meaningful collaboration across traditional professional boundaries. Departing from conventional leadership development models that focus on individuals, this initiative embraced a team-based, non-hierarchical approach that not only strengthened interprofessional collaboration but also unexpectedly supported staff well-being.
The panel will delve into the lived experiences of those involved, discuss the theoretical and practical implications of this collective development process, and reflect on its potential to reshape team dynamics and improve patient outcomes.
Whether you’re a healthcare professional, or just someone interested in new ideas on leadership, this event will offer valuable perspectives on building more connected, resilient teams with collective leadership.
Janet Gilbertson
Assistant Director – Clinical Education
Janet has over 35 years’ experience in the NHS. She has a clinical background as a Pharmacist and has a strong track record of creating strategy and turning it into reality through significant and impactful leadership in senior clinical and management roles. She is an Executive Coach & Leadership Mentor and holds a Master of Arts – Organisational Analysis and Leadership.
She is passionate about the value of interprofessional learning. As the Assistant Director for Clinical Education at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, she has led the strategic direction for clinical education and the recent establishment of the CTM Clinical Learning Academy which launched in April 2025. The purpose is to develop an ambitious and capable integrated multi-professional clinical workforce, improving patient and population health outcomes & wellbeing through developing and delivering an inter-professional and collaborative learning approach
Julia Fernando
Consultant and Organisational Research
Julia is an organisational psychologist with over ten years’ experience applying behavioural science to support leadership development and learning in organisations. She has designed and evaluated programmes across health, clinical care, and international contexts, with a particular focus on understanding what works and why. Julia has worked with organisations including The King’s Fund, the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia, and Exeter Business School to deliver meaningful, evidence-based evaluations that support reflection, learning and improvement.
Rebekah O’Rourke
Highly skilled in organisational analysis, Rebekah specialises in team and group consultation, using her extensive experience managing large-scale projects, teams and integrated programs across diverse sectors. She holds a PhD in Psychology and has led, staffed, trained and supervised consulting teams in experiential group relations and systems dynamics globally. Rebekah also contributes to the RPI International Masters in People and Organisation Development through dissertation supervision.