Last night (Tuesday) we said a fond farewell – and thank you – to Dr Lade Smith CBE after three incredible years as our president, and bid a wonderful welcome to Professor Subodh Dave.
The presidency formally passed to Subodh at the College’s Annual General Meeting at 7.45pm yesterday, which took place in person at the RCPsych International Congress in Liverpool, with members joining online from around the world.
And as Subodh demitted office as College Dean, we also warmly welcomed Professor Nandini Chakraborty as our Dean for the next five years.
Reflecting on three amazing years
During Lade’s speech at our Congress on Monday, she acknowledged the urgent need for investment in mental health.
The psychiatric workforce is “still overstretched, still under resourced”, she said, but added she felt she was handing over presidency with hope for the future.
“This is a moment when mental health is being recognised as everyone’s business – and we’re leading the shift.”
Giving the first keynote speech at Congress 2026, which this year has delegates from 44 countries across the world, Lade noted the exceptional work done by the College’s National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (NCCMH), the College Centre for College Improvement (CCQI), and the International team, who secured three health partnership grants during the last three years, among other achievements.
Additionally, the College’s Publishing programme has gone “from strength to strength” she said.
Lade also highlighted Monday’s launch of Wim’s Protocol for prescribing clozapine, our Tackling Racism in the Workplace guidance, our Reasonable Adjustments guidance for employers, a menopause position statement, and the related Women’s Mental Health Strategy published last week.
“I’m also super proud of the women’s mental health inaugural webathon,” she said, speaking of the Women's Mental Health in Bloom webathon, an online event held in March and attended by 2,000 people, with contributions from 50 psychiatric organisations worldwide.
Lade emphasised the achievements of the vice presidents and work of the Devolved Nation teams, namechecking the Dyfodol Programme in Wales, Sir Michael Marmot’s President’s Lecture in Northern Ireland, and RCPsych in Scotland’s success at embedding our manifesto asks in parliamentary party promises among the high spots.
The College’s membership has grown by 2,000 members over Lade’s tenure, and now has over 22,500 members, she noted, suggesting the RCPsych’s CPD offer, including recent innovations like our RCPsych Learn programme and our podcast series Big Questions in Psychiatry were adding extra value to the member experience.
Lade spoke about improvements to member communications during her tenure including Question Time with the Officers, in which the College Officers have answered 300 member questions across 30 episodes, and the College launching a WhatsApp channel last summer, which now has over 2,700 members.
Work to retain psychiatrists is a priority and Lade namechecked our Retention Charter as a document so good other medical royal colleges were reading it too!
Addressing her successor, Lade said:
“Subodh – congratulations on your appointment. I wish you every success in your leadership and the continued advancement of mental health care.
“I’ve been incredibly lucky to work with the members who have been College Officers during my presidency.
“Subodh, you did a fantastic job as Dean, and I am sure you will be even better as President.”
Lade received a long-lasting and deserved standing ovation at the end of her speech to Congress.
Welcome, Subodh!
Subodh becomes the College’s 49th President since RCPsych was established in 1971.
He has been the College’s Dean for the last five years.
Subodh is a consultant liaison psychiatrist at Derbyshire HFT, and a Professor at the University of Greater Manchester.
He holds leadership positions in healthcare, community transformation initiatives and medical education with internationally recognised innovative training programmes, culminating in recognition as a rising star in the Health Service Journal list of most influential Black, Asian and minority ethnic people in healthcare.
He is an accomplished marathoner and Trustee of Doctors in Distress, where he champions suicide prevention in health care providers.
As he stepped into the role, Subodh praised Lade and spoke about his plans as President. He said:
“I want to thank Lade for her wise, courageous and determined leadership through what has been a tumultuous period for psychiatry and for healthcare, not just in the UK but across the world.
“It is now my task to build upon these foundations to deliver true power to the voice of our membership as everyday clinicians.
“As Dean, I drew a straight line between the College’s education and training offer and patient outcomes.
“As President, I will draw a straight line between the College’s role in setting standards, in bringing science, research evidence and public policy together meaningfully, to improve patient outcomes and to make psychiatry a fulfilling profession for all psychiatrists.
“I look forward to working with the membership to translate these ideas to action over the coming three years.”
Welcome, Nandini!
We also welcomed Professor Nandini Chakraborty as the College's Dean.
As Dean for the next five years Nandini will play a significant part in our efforts to ensure our workforce meets the needs of communities across the UK, provide strategic leadership on psychiatric training and support the development of a valued and sustainable workforce.
Speaking after she was elected last week, Nandini looked forward to taking the role, saying:
“Together we will work for psychiatry in the four nations of the UK and our wide international membership. Together we will weather challenges and bring changes for the better because we care for our colleagues and patients, for the coming generations of psychiatrists.
“The path ahead is challenging and inspiring at the same time. But together we will achieve. I believe in myself, and I believe in all of you."
For further information, please contact:
- Email: webteam@rcpsych.ac.uk