Dr Crystal Oldman joined the QNI in 2012 as Chief Executive.

Crystal worked in the NHS for 18 years, the majority of which was as a Health Visitor, working with disadvantaged communities in west London.

She has a longstanding interest in learning, teaching and research to support best practice and in 1994 joined Buckinghamshire New University as a senior lecturer, to develop a new suite of undergraduate and postgraduate community nursing programmes for the region, including Specialist Community Public Health Nursing and Specialist Practice Qualifications.

Crystal enjoyed an academic career for 18 years, completing her Higher Education career as a Dean, a role which included developing partnerships with a range of public services, including local authorities and health service providers, to support workforce development and research.

Crystal’s interest in leadership inspired her doctoral studies into the knowledge, skills and attributes of middle managers, research which was completed in 2013. Her commitment to excellence in evidence-based practice, innovation and the development of highly skilled nursing leaders has guided the development of the QNI’s highly acclaimed portfolio of programmes and networks to support the aim and strategic priorities of the QNI.

Under Crystal’s leadership, the QNI’s International Community Nursing Observatory (ICNO) was established in 2019 and the work of the ICNO is now underpinning excellence in community nursing practice and providing valuable data to support workforce development.

She was awarded a CBE in 2017 for services to community nursing and her leadership of the QNI and in 2020, she was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Nursing. Crystal was delighted to be appointed as a trustee of the Nuffield Trust in November 2023.