Professor Hilary Garratt CBE
With an impressive 40-year career in the NHS, Professor Hilary Garratt is a recognised authority in the field of executive coaching and leadership development. Starting her journey as a cleaner in a care home, Hilary's unwavering commitment and relentless pursuit of personal growth propelled her to positions of influence and impact within the healthcare industry.
Hilary's extensive professional background includes roles as a registered nurse, registered health visitor, and various executive positions at board level, such as Director of Performance, Director of Commissioning, Director of Operations, Chief Nurse, and Deputy Chief Executive. Hilary's diverse experience spans provider, commissioner, and system-level organisations, offering a comprehensive understanding of the complexities and challenges faced by individuals and teams in healthcare settings.
Hilary's philosophy centres around cultivating clarity of purpose, fostering the development of others, and forging collaborative partnerships. She firmly believes in investing in one's own talents and capabilities while supporting others to unleash their true potential. Hilary's passion for giving back extends beyond her NHS commitments, as she has also engaged in volunteer work both locally and internationally.
As a Non-Executive Director for one of the largest NHS Integrated Care Boards in the country, Hilary remains deeply connected to the healthcare sector. She also holds esteemed professorial roles at Chester University and Salford University, where she enjoys sharing her knowledge and expertise with students and university staff.
Recognised for her exceptional contributions to the NHS and safeguarding vulnerable individuals, Hilary was awarded a CBE in the 2017 Queens New Years Honours. In addition, she was appointed as a fellow of the Queens Nursing Institute in 2021, further solidifying her standing as a leader in the field.
'Hilary has made a real positive difference to my life, particularly at work. The sessions enabled me to explore how I communicate and importantly how to get the best from working relationships particularly in relation to transactional analysis. Hilary’s knowledge and experience gave me confidence to affirm my capabilities and I have gained clarity and understanding of my style of communication and thought process. Hilary’s calm, accepting and supportive approach enabled me to talk openly and to feel valued and safe'.
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Andrea Westlake
Director of Nursing
Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board
I attended my first coaching session with Hilary with a list of vulnerabilities that I wanted to solve. Throughout my sessions Hilary provided a safe space for me to deeply explore, question and understand each vulnerability one by one, using her extensive knowledge and expertise to keep me on track. I was then able to create a new sense of ambition and a clear narrative of purpose for my future. In my last coaching session with Hilary I was able to reach the conclusion that to be a an authentic, effective and inspiring leader I needed to embrace my vulnerabilities as part of my journey of learning, development and improvement. This gave me the confidence and courage to tackle my future head on.
I will be forever grateful for the opportunity Hilary and for the profound impact that it has had on me. – Thank you!
Grace Wall
Divisional Director and Associate Director of Nursing
Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust