Chairman Michelle Brand RDN BSc MA has stepped down following completion of her two year term and will be succeeded by Ruth Garrity RDN.  Michelle will continue to work as a locum dental nurse in Manchester,  will continue on the BADN Panel of Representatives and as BADN EDI Lead.  She will be succeeded as BADN Chairman and General Secretary by Ruth Garrity RDN. 

      Michelle Brand           Joan Hatchard         

Former Honorary President Joan Hatchard RDN FAETC finished her year as Immediate Past President at the AGM.  Joan, a former practice manager of two busy private general dental practices has held various Council/Executive Committee positions with the Association – as Chair of the Practice Managers’ and Receptionists’ National Group, as Chairman, Acting Chair, Finance Officer and Treasurer as well as Honorary President.  Joan was also a dental nurse tutor, and an examiner on the NEBDN Panel of Examiners for the National Diploma and the Certificate in Oral Health Education.  She is also a BADN Fellow; and received the 2013 BADN Award for Outstanding Contribution to Dental Nursing.   

      Ruth Garrity             Carolyn Roberts           Rebecca Silver 

Ruth Garrity RDN took over as Chairman and General Secretary from Michelle Brand.  Ruth began her dental nurse career on a YTS scheme in 1986 in Penrhyndeudraeth, North Wales, before joining the British Army in October 1988, working in various Dental Centres from Tidworth, Colchester, Warminster to warmer climates in Cyprus and colder climates in the Falkland Islands.  

Following her military career, she has worked in both NHS, private and community settings in Chester and Catterick before returning to work for Defence Primary Healthcare in a civilian role as  a dental nurse in Catterick, Shorncliffe, Omagh, Winchester and Aldershot, and is currently a civilian practice manager at Pirbright. She holds NEBDN qualifications in Oral Health Education and Radiography and is a keen dental nurse mentor.   Ruth is the Armed Forces Representative for the BADN and is an active member of the Education Committee. 

Rebecca Silver RDN MSc took over as Treasurer.  Rebecca is a multi-award winning dental nurse with almost 15 years of experience working in dentistry. She has worked within the NHS and private dentistry as well as working with numerous dental specialists. She has dental nursing experience in assisting in endodontics, periodontics, oral surgery, orthodontics, conscious sedation, prosthodontics, implants, facial aesthetics and a range of dental treatment. 

Rebecca is a published author, writing and appearing in many dental publications. She is on the editorial board for the Dental Nursing Journal and the Reader Panel for the BDJ Team. Her articles have appeared internationally and in a variety of dental publications. Her work has also been referenced in other publications, including the British Medical Journal. 

Rebecca has post-qualification certificates in Oral Health Education and Dental Nursing Sedation; and obtained Fellowship of the British Association of Dental Nurses in 2023.  She gained her Level 3 Award in Education and Training and is now enrolled on an assessor course. 

Carolyn Roberts is BADN’s new President-elect.  Carolyn began dental nursing in 1989, as a Saturday girl at a local practice. She has worked in two GDS Practices between 1989 and 1998 and then in North Wales Community Dental Service since 1999; and is currently the Senior Dental Nurse for Anglesey and Gwynedd CDS clinics within Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, covering 21 Community Dental Service clinic across the whole of North Wales and remaining clinical as well as moving up the management pathways. Her specialties are Sedation, General Anaesthetics, Special Care and also patient and staff wellbeing. 

She is currently part of the Senior Management and Improvement Team for NWCDS and has developed a local CDS Dental Nurse Peer Review Group. She has also been a member of the College of General Dentistry Dental Nurse/Ortho Therapy Faculty Board since September 2024. A first language Welsh speaker, one of Carolyn’s goals is to help increase membership of Welsh speakers and possibly look at developing resources in Welsh. 

Carolyn is currently studying for a BSc (Hons) in Public Health and Wellbeing. Carolyn’s aspirations are to raise the profile of Dental Nursing in North Wales in both professional and academic aspects both locally and nationally. She is passionate about career development and committed to being an advocate for this. 

       Shirley Lyons   

Membership Administrator Shirley Lyons also retired in November.  Shirley joined the BADN staff in 1999, following a long career in retail management and training. As a multiple license holder for a large chain of supermarket  off-licences, she gained qualifications from the Wines & Spirits Education Trust and was also a NVQ Assessor/Verifier.   Shirley was responsible for the Association’s membership database, and the Association’s book-keeping and accounts.