Dr Lenny Cornwall 

My supporting statement

Ddarllen y datganiad hwn yn Gymraeg

2020 has been an extremely challenging year for us all.  Covid-19 is leading to a marked increase in mental health problems, and the College is suffering a substantial loss of income through cancelled events, just when it is needed most. 

Sound financial management has meant we have weathered the storm so far. 

But we need a Treasurer with experience of managing budgets and working with the senior team on the Finance Management Committee to continue on a safe course.

What I stand for

• Value for money
  
  Maintaining a sustainable financial position is essential if we are not going to increase the burden on our members and trainees.  I will ensure that membership fees do not increase above pay or price inflation.  I will uphold the principle of the College not profiting from the MRCPsych exams.  I would advocate opening up fellowship to our international and specialist associate members.
  
  
• Strength in diversity
  
  The strength of our College lies in our diversity but we must continue to speak with a united voice.  I will enhance the support we give to our overseas members in the international divisions.  I will ensure the devolved councils have the financial and staffing support to manage the work they do with the governments of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.  And I will ensure that the College’s new race equality strategy is properly resourced to tackle the systemic racism in our profession.
  
  
• Sustaining our future
  
  One positive from the pandemic has been the participation of members in virtual webinars and conferences.  We must develop this as a new income source.  With more staff homeworking, we can make the College ever greener and we can make better use of our building as a resource for members.  We need to build on our successful Choose Psychiatry campaign to continue to grow our membership.

My background

I trained at Newcastle University and in the Northern Region, and have worked as a general adult psychiatrist on Teesside for nearly 20 years.  I was the first Director of Medical Education for my Trust, initiating medical student teaching on Teesside and creating a strong faculty so that the Trust has one of the best records in the GMC training surveys.  I am now the Trust lead for medical appraisal.

I have worked hard for the College.  As a trainee representative, I had the privilege of chairing the Psychiatric Trainees Committee.  Later I was elected to the General Adult Faculty executive and served as Finance Officer and Chair. 

I helped grow the faculty conference and with it, the faculty finances.  I set up a system for small project grants, using the conference surplus to support members in service innovation.  I represented the faculties on the Finance Management Committee until last year.  Results included funding the timely upgrade of the College IT infrastructure and the successful review of faculty, division, and special interest group funding.

I would be honoured if you voted for me as the next Treasurer of our College.