Katie Spears has been appointed as the new interim executive director of legal and governance at the General Dental Council (GDC).
Effective from March, prior to this appointment Katie served as the GDC’s interim senior counsel and associate director of legal, overseeing the in-house legal advisory service.
Katie has led both legal and governance functions in the GDC for more than 10 years, says the regulator. She was its board secretary for five years, delivering several board recruitment campaigns, a board development programme and the implementation of a suite of governance improvements.
Katie started her practice as a self-employed barrister, practising in predominantly criminal and regulatory law. Subsequently, she moved into financial and healthcare regulation. She is also the co-executive sponsor of the GDC’s Women’s Network.
Leading GDC strategic aims
Tom Whiting, GDC chief executive, said: ‘Katie Spears has proved a real asset to the legal and governance directorate and the GDC. I have no doubt she will continue to provide the GDC with the benefit of her considerable skill and expertise. I look forward to working with her in this new capacity.’
Katie has collective responsibility for leading the delivery of the strategic aims set by the GDC. In addition, she will lead the delivery of the regulator’s legal and governance services, ensuring adherence to the legal framework that governs the council’s work and decision making.
The outgoing interim executive director of legal and governance, Clare Paget, joined the GDC in March 2023. The GDC said she has shown ‘great professionalism and pragmatism’ to guide its work in a changing environment ‘while always showing commitment to public protection’.
The recruitment campaign for the roles of executive director, legal and governance, and senior counsel and associate director of legal, recently closed. Applications are being processed to find the best and most appropriate people for these important positions.
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