Dr Sue Jones PFHEA, FIBMS, MRSB

Executive Head of Education, IBMS

Dr Sue Jones joined the IBMS in June 2022 following 20 years in higher education where she developed and led several IBMS accredited BSc Biomedical Science programmes. Sue has extensive experience of effectively supporting students in their studies, when undertaking placements and commencing their careers following graduation.

Sue has won several prestigious awards for her innovative, inclusive and successful pedagogical approaches that have achieved exceptional student outcomes. These include the RSB HE-Bioscience Teacher of the Year (2020), Principal Fellowship of Advance-HE (PFHEA, 2021), Advance-HE CATE award (2022) and National Teaching Fellowship (2023).

Sue has brought her extensive experience and expertise in education to the role at the IBMS where she leads all aspects of pre-registration education and training for students, trainees and apprentices. Sue’s areas of responsibility include the Certificate of Achievement (for support workers); Certificate of Competence (IBMS degree accreditation events (BSc, MSc and Level 6 degree apprenticeships) plus the IBMS Registration Training Portfolio); non-accredited degree assessment; IBMS Laboratory Training Approval; the Specialist Diploma.

Sue’s current priority projects are focussed on updating, streamlining and digitising the education and training offers of the Institute. She continues to facilitate interactions and communities of practice by mentoring others and developing pedagogical approaches in higher education through her continued joint leadership of the national Biosciences Educators’ Network.

: @sjones120

Dr Sarah Pitt

President, IBMS

Sarah is a registered Biomedical Scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and a Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS). Specializing in microbiology, Sarah has a particular expertise in clinical virology and parasitology. She holds a BSc in Microbiology from Bristol University and trained as a Biomedical Scientist at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School in London. Throughout her career, Sarah has gained extensive experience working in hospital diagnostic laboratories across the UK, Africa, and Central Asia.

With a strong passion for education and training, Sarah is deeply committed to the development of future Biomedical Scientists. She plays an active role in managing clinical placements for BSc Biomedical Science students at local hospital pathology departments, helping to prepare them for careers in diagnostic laboratory work.

In her professional capacity, Sarah serves as the IBMS Chief Examiner for Virology, contributing to the development of professional exams, the Specialist portfolio, and continuing professional development initiatives.

Sarah has also made significant contributions to educational resources, publishing three textbooks to support student learning: Introduction to Biomedical Science in Clinical and Professional Practice (co-authored with Dr. Jim Cunningham), Parasitology: An Integrated Approach (co-authored with Dr. Alan Gunn of Liverpool John Moores University), and Clinical Microbiology for Diagnostic and Laboratory Scientists, for which she was the sole author.

Professor Catherine Ross

Chief Scientific Officer , Chief Nursing Officers Directorate, Scottish Government

Catherine is the Chief Scientific Officer at Scottish Government, Scottish Government’s most senior clinical advisor for Healthcare Science professional issues, and head of profession for Healthcare Scientists in Scotland. She provides expert professional advice to Scottish Ministers and Policy Officials and leadership for all aspects of policy which impact on the scientific workforce including education, research and clinical practice. She is responsible for overseeing the strategic direction for all of the scientific services in Scotland, and leads on international health issues from a scientific professions perspective.

Catherine is a Clinical Scientist and has worked in the NHS for over 25 years having spent most of her clinical career specialising in non-invasive cardiac imaging and is a Chartered Scientist, Chartered Biologist and holds a number of Fellowships including Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology.

She has previously held the post of Scientific Lead at NHS England, and prior to that led the Clinical Leadership Portfolio for Healthcare Scientists at the Office of the Chief Scientific Officer for NHS England.

Catherine holds a number of senior leadership positions Nationally and Internationally and has served as the President of the Professional Body for Cardiac Scientists. She is the current Vice-Chair of the Science Council, the international awarding body of Chartership in Science, as well as a member of the Science Council Board of Trustees and Chair of the Policy Advisory Committee. She is currently a Board member of the Association of Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professions within the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), and is the current Secretary/Treasurer of the Board and Member of the European Society of Cardiology Taskforce on Allied Professionals. She represents Scotland on the International Federation of Medical and Biological Engineering (IFMBE) Board and is a member of the International (IFMBE) scientific programme committee. In recognition of her work supporting women leaders has been an invited delegate for the UK UN Women delegation on the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

Catherine’s professional interests include Workforce, Professional Identity and Research and is an Editorial Board member of the British Journal of Cardiology and peer reviewer for a number of international scientific journals. She has led and been involved in a number of STEM initiatives aimed at inspiring children and in particular girls, to pursue a career in science.