MBE for Director of the RCN Foundation!
Our Director, Deepa Korea, has been awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in His Majesty the King’s 2026 New Year Honours in recognition for her outstanding contribution to nursing and midwifery.
With a 30-year career spanning the public and not-for-profit sectors, Deepa has been the Director of the RCN Foundation since 2016. Throughout her career, she has worked in several senior positions within the not-for-profit sector, largely in health and education charities, and has been a charity Chief Executive since 2008. Deepa is currently the Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors at the University of Winchester and is a Board member of Winchester University Press.
Leadership
Deepa has overseen and led on some incredible projects since her appointment. With too many to share(!), below are a few highlights:
- Over £11 million awarded to 9,315 nurses, midwives and healthcare support workers seeking hardship support and education funding to enhance patient care as well as 44 organisations undertaking research activities
- Recognising the significant health inequalities experienced by people with a learning disability, Deepa oversaw the development of a £300k programme supporting learning disability nursing to address health inequality through education and research
- To raise the profile and transform social care nursing through research and education, the RCN Foundation Chair in Adult Social Care Nursing was established – a first of its kind in the UK
- In response to a £5 million donation during the Covid-19 pandemic, our subsidiary charity, Covid-19 Healthcare Support Appeal (CHSA), was created, providing grants to nearly 11,000 health and care professionals for hardship, psychological support and recovery during the pandemic
- Most recently, Deepa launched the RCN Foundation’s new strategy, a key element of which the establishment of the RCN Foundation Centre for Compassionate Leadership in Nursing and Midwifery which aims to embed a culture of compassionate leadership across nursing and midwifery, to ultimately improve retention rates and the quality of care
This recognition is testament to Deepa’s passion and steadfastness to supporting and strengthening nursing and midwifery across the UK.
Deepa Korea MBE, Director of the RCN Foundation said: "I am grateful and humbled to receive this recognition. I would like to thank all those who were involved in my nomination. The award is a reflection of the achievements and contributions of the people, communities and organisations that I have had the privilege of working with throughout my career.
More than anything, this award is a recognition of the importance of the ongoing work of the RCN Foundation, and its commitment to supporting and strengthening nursing and midwifery. As someone who is not a nurse or midwife, I am particularly touched that the award has been made for services to nursing and midwifery. I will continue to work tirelessly and advocate for the professions, highlighting their incredible impact and contribution to improving the health and care of the nation.”
Professor Dame Jane Cummings DBE, Chair of the Board of Trustees, said: “I am absolutely delighted to see Deepa recognised with this award. As Chair of the RCN Foundation Board of Trustees, I see first-hand the impact that her leadership, passion and dedication to the charity have – not only in the support that nursing and midwifery professionals receive through hardship, education and research grants, but also on the team of staff that she leads.
Deepa’s tenacity has transformed the RCN Foundation, with her leadership continuing to ensure that the charity has the greatest impact on the professions, and the people they care for.”