About our training

Are you a nurse dedicated to clinical education and professional development? Look no further than the Clinical Nurse Educator Network – your free community of practice! Our supportive national network is designed for nurses in any practice or clinical education role across the UK. We’re passionate about the nurse educator role and know firsthand the difference they make to the student and the registered nursing workforce experience, safer care for patients and creating safe and supportive working environments.

Meet The Team FHFT Clinical education academy

Here’s why you should join us:

Connect:

Build meaningful connections with fellow nurse educators across various specialties and settings. Whether you’re seeking advice, sharing experiences, or collaborating on projects, our network provides a supportive community to connect with like-minded professionals.

Support:

Access peer support and mentorship opportunities to enhance your skills and confidence as a clinical educator. Our network fosters a culture of support and collaboration, empowering you to excel in your role and make a positive impact on nursing education.

Advocate:

Join us in elevating the importance of nurse educator roles and advocating for policies that support professional development and educational excellence. Together, we can amplify our collective voice and influence policy at local, regional, and national levels.

Inspire:

Be inspired by engaging discussions, evidence-based practices, and innovative ideas shared within our network. Whether through webinars, newsletters, or face-to-face events, we provide valuable resources and opportunities for professional growth and inspiration.

FHFT Education clinical learning course teaching nurse

Get started. Get in touch.

As a CNE Network member you’ll be sent newsletters informing you of the work the network has achieved and exclusive access to member only webinars and conferences.

Meet our committee members

Our wonderful committee members are volunteers and dedicate their time to making the network the best place for nurse educators to network & champion their role.

If you are interested in joining the committee, please contact us.

Kat team member NHS FHFT Clinical education Academy

Kathryn Tolfree

Education Academy Lead, Frimley Health Foundation Trust Chair for the Clinical Nurse Educator Network (CNEnet)

Kat Tolfree is the Education Academy Lead at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust. As a senior nurse with 17 years’ experience Kat leads on various education workstreams both within the organisation, and more widely across the region. Kat is committed to leading an outstanding clinical education team and seeks opportunities for continuous improvement and development of the service. As an education specialist Kat has completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education and holds Fellowship with the Higher Education Academy. In addition, Kat is the chair of the UK Clinical Nurse Educator Network. Kat is passionate about the value and importance of clinical nurse educator roles and has a particular is interested in the transition into specialist education roles.

Team member FHFT Clinical education Academy

Vanda Carter, Network Deputy Chair & General Secretary

Programme Manager, Staffordshire University

Vanda is a Registrant Nurse Researcher& Educator, presently on secondment for a year with Staffordshire University as a Research Programme Manager. Much of her 35-year NHS career has been spent within a clinical oncology research specialty setting. Vanda is proud to be the incumbent Deputy Chair of the Clinical Nurse Educator Network. In last five years, Vanda has taken a different direction in her career, this includes commencing a PhD at Staffordshire University and working with colleagues to develop and deliver nurse led and health care related research. Her research interests include healthcare management, policy and education, safety, quality, and innovation. She is a certified Professional Nurse Advocate, she is also a Health Research Authority research ethics committee member, an expert panel member and a Academy of Fabulous stuff Ambassador. In 2023 she was also proudly awarded a Fellowship for the IHSCM.

Vanda always takes the opportunity to promote and connect colleagues to research and quality and encourages everyone to utilise their innate research and critical, enquiry skills. We all have them. Vanda very much enjoys teaching and sharing information and supporting others in practice to be the best versions of themselves and to provide good quality, evidenced based care. Vanda is also a published author.

NHS FHFT Clinical education Academy

Luke White, Network Committee Member

Lead Nurse for Clinical Quality and Education, Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust

Luke began his nursing career in September 2006, training at the University of Leeds and qualifying in 2009. He worked at York & Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as a Staff Nurse in Acute Medicine and Short Stay care. In late 2010, he moved to Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT), gaining experience in Haematology & Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT), Thoracic, and Oncology.

Since 2015, Luke has held various education roles, including Clinical Educator for Haematology & BMT and Senior Clinical Educator for Oncology. He completed a Masters in Professional Healthcare Practice in 2019. Luke has also worked as a Senior Project Nurse for the Chief Nurse CSU at LTHT, leading key programs.

In 2022, he became a Clinical Leadership Fellow, and in 2023, he was appointed Lead Nurse for Clinical Quality & Education in Specialty & Integrated Medicine CSU at LTHT. Passionate about clinical education, Luke joined the CNE Network UK in 2017 and has been a committee member since 2022. He lives in Leeds with his wife and enjoys gardening, walking, and socialising.

FHFT Clinical education Academy

Finn Tysoe, Network Committee Member

Divisional Lead for Practice Development & Education, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Finn is an avowed generalist who embraces Robert Heinlein’s maxim that ‘specialisation is for insects’. They are naturally curious and willing to look past assumptions to be alongside people. Throughout their life they have supported people through times of crisis.

Currently Finn leads a team of clinical educators to deliver academic and practice-based learning. Finn firmly believes they are the best team. In 2023 the team’s work received an NHS England award for pastoral care of Internationally Educated Nurses.

Finn’s key area of interest is supporting nurses and midwives in transition between levels of practice. They contribute to cancer policy, international education programmes and advanced communication skills training. They have taught and continue to learn from nurses in Palestine and Tanzania.

Team member FHFT Clinical education Academy

Rachel Wright, Network Committee Member

Education Lead Practice Development, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Rachel started her nursing career in London on a nephrology and transplant unit where she stayed to progress into the position of ward sister. After a brief time working within this specialism in Australia, she then re-located to Oxford in 2002 to take on the role as Renal Lecturer Practitioner. During this post, her passion for supporting learning and practice development activities developed while undertaking a Masters in Higher Professional Education. Since 2008 Rachel has been working as an Education Lead for Practice Development. During this time, she has led on Trust wide projects including preceptorship, clinical skills, clinical supervision and delivering academic modules. A passion to support and develop others has continued and in 2023 Rachel qualified as a Professional Nurse Advocate (2023).

Nurse FHFT Clinical education Academy

Lianne Ford, Network committee member

Lead Nurse, Exemplar Healthcare Services Ltd

Lianne is the Lead Nurse at Exemplar Healthcare, starting her career in acute psychiatric inpatient settings before supporting older adults with anxiety, depression, and dementia in the NHS. She transitioned to Social Care a decade ago, enjoying development opportunities and diverse nursing experiences. At Exemplar Healthcare, she has held various roles, including registered nurse, unit manager, and clinical nurse manager, before moving into quality roles and her current position.

Passionate about the social care sector, Lianne advocates for greater recognition of its work, challenges, and rewarding outcomes. She looks forward to engaging with members and fostering valuable conversations.

Team Member FHFT Clinical education Academy

Shikha Sharma, Network Committee Member

Practice Development Nurse (Emergency Department), The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

Shikha has practiced as a nurse for the past 15 years. She began what she describes as her wonderful nursing career as a critical care nurse in a cardiac thoracic ITU. She was then successful and honoured to serve in the Indian army for five years as a Captain. Here Shikha worked in different specialties, including emergency services, paediatric & NICU, maternity units, burns units, orthopaedics units, and specialised units for renal and bone transplant this undoubtedly sharpened her leadership and managerial skills. Shikha embraced another great development opportunity to join the team as a quality improvement nurse and nursing educator in an Indian cancer hospital after she retired from the army in 2015. She went onto be successful in leading an in-service training programme that is analogous to a residency programme. Shikha made the courageous choice to continue her nursing career in the UK in 2017. She describes the UK as a nation which greeted her with open arms and nothing but affection. Shikha went onto work in a medical and surgical ward, an elderly ward, ITU, and ED before deciding to pursue her passion for education further and move to PDT. Shikha describes herself as incredibly invested in empowering colleagues, especially international nurses.

FHFT Clinical education Academy Nurse

Liavel Vargas, Network Committee Member

Senior Nurse for Practice Education, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

Lia is a Registered Adult Nurse with experience in emergency medicine, cardiology, and neuro theatres. Starting as a cadet nurse in Lincoln, she completed her nursing studies at the University of Nottingham in 2011. Lia’s dedication to education and leadership led her to become a Preceptorship Support Nurse in 2014, and she now serves as a Senior Nurse for Practice Education.

In 2019, Lia became a Health Education England – East Midlands Professional Fellow, leading a project on career development and nurse retention in Nottinghamshire. She contributed to national digital initiatives and promoted nursing to the younger generation through local schools and social media as part of the NursingNow campaign.

In 2023, Lia completed the NHS England (Midlands) Developing Aspirant Leaders programme and earned a Post Graduate Diploma in Medical Education. As an immigrant from the Philippines, she is committed to inclusive leadership and supporting global majority staff, advocating for robust education and support for newly registered nurses.

Team member FHFT Clinical education Academy

Liz Allibone, Network Committee Member

Head of Nursing, The Nightingale Academy, Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

Liz Allibone is Head of Nursing at The Nightingale Academy – a centre for professional development at Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust. Liz has a passion for raising standards in person centred care, learning and teaching in practice, quality improvement, leadership, and developing staff to achieve their career potential.

Liz co-founded Clinical Nurse Educator Network in 2014. As previous Chair Liz collaborated with NHSE, RCN, NMC to raise the profile of clinical nurse educators e.g. a national careers resource and framework, SSSA, and Future Nurse Standards.

Liz has been widely published and cited and is a regular reviewer for a broad range of professional publications

Team Member FHFT Clinical education Academy

Avneet Riyait, Network Co-Ordinator

Project Manager, Clinical Education, Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

Avneet is a project manager within the Clinical Education directorate at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust. Avneet’s first role as senior admin within the directorate involved organising student induction, study days and graduation events where she witnessed firsthand the importance of the nurse educator role. As the CNE Network co-ordinator Avneet is passionate about supporting the CNE Network to not only grow in numbers but to help our members have meaningful connections and develop their professional network.

Avneet’s current workstreams include independent prescribing, advanced clinical practice and healthcare science. Avneet particularly enjoys managing projects, implementing efficiencies and improving processes to support both the learner and their wider department. Avneet has recently completed a year within the Frimley ICS Allied Health Professional team as a project manager.

Ready to reach your full potential?

We tailor our courses to ensure high-quality learning  for all our students.