Under her leadership, the College has seen a significant period of development with a focus on ensuring that paediatricians have a stronger profile and more impact in both national and international matters that affect the lives of children and young people. The membership has grown by more than 12 per cent during her tenure and the College has modernised many operations and greatly expanded its digital content, enabling 21,000 members to be supported throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
A former health journalist and senior government adviser, Jo has been a stalwart champion of the College’s activities across education and training, research, audits, advocacy, global health and engagement with young people. She started and implemented the College’s work in several areas, including climate change and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, as well as improving internal processes, risk management and governance arrangements. She worked with the former and current Presidents, Professor Russell Viner and Dr Camilla Kingdon, and tirelessly supported the College’s Officers, Trustees and staff through the uncertainty of the pandemic.
Jo Revill, CEO of RCPCH, said:
It has been an immense privilege to serve the College through these past few years. I have learned so much from the paediatricians I meet and have immense respect for the way in which they care for babies, children and young people, often amid difficult circumstances. I’m so proud of the way that our staff work closely alongside our volunteers in more than 100 areas of activity and that is why we are successful in supporting members on the ground, whether that is in the UK or abroad. I’ll greatly miss the College and its sense of purpose, but coming out of the pandemic, I want to focus on other areas of my career in 2023.
Joanne Shaw, Chair of the Board of Trustees, said:
The Board of Trustees is going to greatly miss Jo’s dedication and energy in supporting paediatrics and child health. Jo leaves the College with an impressive record of success and her invaluable efforts have positioned it to be stronger, more agile and ready to face the future. I would like to thank Jo on behalf of the Board for her outstanding contribution to the life of the College and to wish her the very best for the future.
Over the coming months, Jo will be working closely with the Board, the College’s Senior Officers and Senior Management Team to ensure a smooth transition. In terms of immediate next steps, the Board is leading the search for Jo’s successor, with input from members and colleagues.
Dr Camilla Kingdon, President of the RCPCH said:
I am hugely grateful to Jo, not just for her hard work and huge contributions to the College over the last four years, but personally for her support and guidance since I took up the President role in May 2021. She has supported me to work on the areas of College work that I believe are important priorities – Workforce, Equality Diversity and Inclusion, Climate Change and now Health Inequalities and the impact of the cost of living crisis on children. Her backing and recognition of these important strands of work have meant we have achieved a huge amount and are well set to continue to deliver on these priorities. She will leave a very solid legacy and she should be very proud of that. I extend my thanks and wish her well for the future on behalf of all our members.
Notes
Jo Revill is a former health journalist and senior government adviser. She was previously CEO of the British Society for Immunology (a membership body working with scientists and clinical researchers in immunology) and Strategic Communications Director at the Royal College of Surgeons of England. She has also worked for the Evening Standard and the Observer newspapers, as both health and political correspondent and then as adviser to Alan Johnson, when he was Health Secretary and Home Secretary. Jo is also the author of two books on allergies and bird flu. She will be taking up a post as non-executive director of Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in October 2022.