Alex Rhys

Executive and leadership coach with a parallel career leading organisations across science and technology, healthcare, professional regulation and the charity sector.

Currently Chief

Executive of the Foundation for Science and Technology, working at the interface between government, Parliament, academia and industry, and previously a senior executive within one of the UK's largest professional regulators. I coach CEOs, directors, senior leaders and emerging leaders across sectors including healthcare, science, the Civil Service, education, start-ups and purpose-led businesses. My work focuses on leadership effectiveness, self-awareness, complex decision-making, stakeholder relationships, difficult conversations, confidence, organisational change and sustainable high performance.

Originally trained as a molecular oncology researcher, I bring scientific and technical fluency alongside extensive experience of digital transformation, regulation and complex organisational systems. I am comfortable working with technically expert leaders and helping them explore the human, organisational and systemic dimensions of leadership without requiring them to simplify the technical context unnecessarily. My approach is person-centred, psychologically safe and appropriately challenging.

I work with the whole leader while maintaining a strong focus on translating insight into improved leadership effectiveness and meaningful action.

Chief Executive at Foundation for Science and Technology (2026-01 – Present)

Lead an independent national foundation operating at the interface of science, technology and public policy, convening senior leaders from government, Parliament, academia and industry.

• Lead organisational strategy, operations, membership development and stakeholder engagement.
• Work with senior leaders across science and technology, including researchers, technical specialists, civil servants, parliamentarians and industry executives.
• Lead the Foundation's Future Leaders programme, supporting emerging leaders from the Civil Service, academia and industry and creating opportunities for cross-sector leadership development.
• Operate across organisational and disciplinary boundaries, translating between technical, scientific, commercial and policy perspectives.
• Lead organisational development and change while working closely with the Board and external stakeholders.

Founder & Executive Coach at The Leadership Nook (2024-10 – Present)

Independent executive coaching practice supporting CEOs, directors, founders and senior leaders.

• Provide one-to-one executive coaching across healthcare, science and technology, education, the Civil Service, charities, start-ups and purpose-led organisations.
• Coach leaders on complex decision-making, confidence, leadership effectiveness, difficult conversations, stakeholder relationships, organisational change and sustainable performance.
• Work with leaders to recognise patterns in their thinking and behaviour, understand their impact on others and translate insight into practical changes in how they lead.
• Support leaders navigating competing stakeholder expectations, organisational politics, ambiguity and change.
• Take a systems-aware approach, exploring not only the individual leader but the organisational environment, relationships, structures, incentives and expectations influencing the challenge.
• Facilitate peer coaching and leadership development, including a monthly Charity CEO Circle providing structured reflection, challenge and peer learning for chief executives.
• Experienced in 360-degree feedback and supporting leaders to turn feedback into insight, behavioural change and action.
• Deliver coaching and facilitation online and in person.

Chief Executive at Infection Prevention Society (2024-08 – 2026-03)

First paid Chief Executive of a professional body representing more than 2,400 infection prevention professionals.

• Led organisational transformation from a predominantly volunteer-led model to a professionally staffed organisation.
• Reduced an approximately £250,000 structural annual deficit by £160,000 within 12 months through cost management, commercial development and income diversification.
• Turned the flagship national conference from a £40,000 deficit to a £65,000 surplus in one year.
• Led digital transformation including website and CRM modernisation.
• Worked across healthcare, science, industry and professional communities in a highly technical and evidence-driven field.
• Navigated Board relationships, organisational change, competing stakeholder expectations and significant financial constraints.

Founder & Chair; Chief Executive (September 2024–March 2026) at It Gets Better UK (2017-01 – Present)

Founded and developed a national charity from a grassroots initiative into an organisation with staff, volunteers, governance, partnerships and diversified income.

• Developed organisational strategy, governance and operating infrastructure through multiple stages of growth.
• Grew annual income by 500% through corporate partnerships, public-sector funding and philanthropy.
• Led organisational and leadership transitions as the charity evolved from volunteer-led to staffed and Board-led models.
• Currently serve as Chair, providing strategic leadership and governance oversight.

Assistant Director, Professional Practice (Operations); Interim Executive Director of Professional Practice; Head of Education & Quality Assurance at Nursing and Midwifery Council (2018-01 – 2024-07)

Senior executive leadership within the UK's largest healthcare professional regulator, working in a complex, highly regulated and politically sensitive environment.

• Led multidisciplinary teams and major programmes spanning regulation, professional standards, education, digital transformation and organisational change.
• Managed a £10 million budget and operated across a large matrix organisation with significant governance, legal and compliance requirements.
• Led professional standards development across all four UK nations, navigating competing expectations from governments, professional bodies, trade unions, universities and healthcare organisations.
• Led cross-government regulatory work enabling the emergency deployment of approximately 43,000 student nurses into clinical practice during COVID-19.
• Led the digitisation of regulatory engagement with approximately 100 education institutions, 2,000 programmes and 110,000 students.
• Worked extensively with ministers, senior civil servants, healthcare executives, academics and professional leaders on complex and contested issues.

Governance Consultant at Eastside People

Governance reviews and board effectiveness work for charities and professional bodies.

PhD in Molecular Oncology – Queen Mary University of London (2013-01 – 2017-01)

Integrated Masters (Hons) in Biochemistry – University of Bath (2008-01 – 2012-01)

ILM Level 7 Executive Coaching and Mentoring in Executive coaching and mentoring

Diploma in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) (2025-01)