Professor Mandy Ashton OBE

Pro-Chancellor

Professor Mandy Ashton worked in the NHS for 31 years, starting her career as a nurse at the Leicester Royal Infirmary. She has a first class BA (Hons) in Health Studies and an MSc in Managing Change. Mandy is a qualified performance coach.

During the first 10 years of her career, Professor Ashton progressed to a Ward Sister and then to Assistant Director of Nursing in Leicester. She worked in the Trent Region, most notably in South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire as Assistant Director of Performance. Mandy worked as a nurse researcher and nurse leader in Labrador and Uganda with the Grenfell and Mildmay charities respectively during this time. She also visited Cuba and developed professional links with colleagues of this country.

She has worked as Director of Nursing and Quality at Leicester General Hospital NHS Trust and was the responsible Nurse Director during the creation of University Hospitals of Leicester in 2001, Director of Nursing and Research for NHS Leicester City West and Director of Quality and Deputy Chief Executive for NHS Leicester City 2006-11. 

The recipient of many awards, she is a Florence Nightingale Scholar and most notably an OBE for services to healthcare and nursing (2010). Professor Ashton continued to immerse herself in the healthcare arena during her appointment in 2011 as Pro Vice Chancellor (Transformation) and Dean for the Faculty and Health and Life Sciences at De Montfort University, Leicester.

Mandy became an independent consultant in September 2014 and is the Managing Director of Mandy Ashton Consultants Ltd; a values-based company in south Leicestershire. She works along side policy makers and leaders, care givers, patients and families. This work encompasses mental health, acute trusts, primary care and commissioning organisations, with a particular focus on nurse education, quality improvement, safeguarding and people development.

Mandy has held a non executive role within the NHS and is currently a non executive director of an East Midlands Housing Association, The emh Group. She is also the Chair for a Leicester based charity (Leicester Aid in Sickness) that assists people living in the city who have health care needs and live in poverty and supports Hidden Talents – a charity scheme supporting refugees into employment within the NHS.

Mandy is a mother and wife, she enjoys playing tennis and swims every other day.