10 February 2023
We are delighted to announce that Theresa Thomas-Morton has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the National Registers of Communication Professionals working with d/Deaf and Deafblind People.
Liz Duncan, Chair of NRCPD, said: "The Board is delighted to welcome Theresa as our new CEO. As CEO, Theresa will play an important role working with the Board to develop a new strategy, raising NRCPD's profile and influence with a wide range of stakeholders, and reinforcing our regulatory posture. Having worked with us for some time, she already has a deep understanding of what is needed in the role. Her personal experience as a registrant and practitioner means that she understands the importance of d/Deaf and deafblind people receiving high quality, professional language services. The Board is very much looking forward to working with Theresa as we continue to develop our regulatory role, support initiatives led by other bodies, and be an advocate for improving the lives of people in the communities we work with".
Speaking about her appointment, Theresa said: "I'm elated to accept the role of CEO of NRCPD. I have always taken pride in my RSLI registration with NRCPD and have spent much of my career developing and supporting Sign Language Interpreters, with the privilege of working alongside excellent colleagues from all of the regulated professions."
My experience both personally and professionally has driven my commitment to achieving a strength-based approach to regulation and truly inclusive pathways to professional practice. I want to bring this passion and commitment to NRCPD, developing reciprocity across the professions, supportive frameworks for development, trustworthy regulation and create a landscape of professionals who reflect the communities they work with.
I look forward to working with Professional Associations, Educators, community organisations and Public Bodies in extending the message that the linguistic requirements of d/Deaf and deafblind people are individual and dynamic, and as such, unlimited inclusion can only be achieved through collaborative, responsive and regulated language service provision. I'm excited to lead NRCPD at this important time and I hope I can count on your support as I take on this challenge!
Theresa's appointment to CEO of NRCPD is a full-time role, and whilst she will maintain a professional and personal interest in the regulated professions, she will not be practising as a Registered Sign Language Interpreter for the time-being.
As NRCPD's previous Interim Operations Director, Theresa was not involved in our Complaints Procedure and the role of Independent Registrar is held by an NRCPD Trustee. Aspects of this arrangement will continue, however we recognise that certain elements of the Complaints Procedure will fall within her remit as CEO. As such, we would like to assure you that all complaints will continue to be anonymised and personal data is only shared within the complaints team for the purpose of processing complaints.
As the UK national voluntary regulator of language service professionals working with d/Deaf and deafblind people, we have made great strides in strengthening regulation and developing the professions. Our processes and procedures are robust and our team is committed to our vision and purpose. We have worked hard to develop our networks across Public Bodies to raise the profile of regulated professionals, extol the importance of Language Service provision and work towards unlimited inclusion for all d/Deaf and deafblind people.
