Meet our STAND TO Patron Professor Paula Holt MBE
You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.
Prof. Paula Holt, Pro Vice-Chancellor Dean at the University of Derby
Inspired by her years of service as a practising general nurse, mental health nurse and an army officer, Paula has dedicated her career to delivering high quality care and improving mental health and support services for members of the Forces and their families.
In her roles as NHS Trust Governor, Non-Executive Director of the Primary Care Development Centre, and Executive Regulatory Lead of the Council of Deans of Health, Paula’s work to improve the lives of patients in the NHS and deliver a high quality student experience has been unwavering. As Pro Vice-Chancellor Dean of the College of Health, Psychology and Social Care at the University, Paula was instrumental in developing the pioneering Nursing Associate scheme, which has since secured an accredited pathway to support the workforce for Nursing nationally. Paula also played a pivotal role in establishing the Nursing provision in Chesterfield, at the University’s St Helena site, attracting mature entrants to the profession, opening doors for those who didn’t think it was possible, and helping them to realise their potential.
In 2019, Paula spearheaded the signing of the Armed Forces Covenant for University of Derby and led the University to achieve the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition scheme (silver), which encourages businesses to recognise the value of veterans in the organisation. Through her voluntary directorship of Soldiers Arts Academy, Paula has helped provide serving and retired soldiers with a route into the arts.