Sue Brent

Sue Brent is a Registered Nurse, Registered Nurse Teacher, and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, with 40 years of experience as a nurse, 22 years in clinical practice in the NHS, and 18 years’ experience of working in Higher Education (HE). Sue began her career as a nurse in 1984, and practiced as an Oncology Nurse in the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust, then moved into an education role in the Trust in 2002.

Sue is currently the Head of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences at the University providing strategic academic leadership and operational management for a diverse group of subject areas including, nursing, midwifery, paramedic practice, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, biosciences, healthcare sciences, sport and rehab therapies, apprenticeships and a large health CPD/CWD portfolio.

In Sue’s current role at the University of Sunderland, she led on the establishment of the School of Nursing within the now School of Nursing and Health Sciences, and created the lead role for the development of a Patient Carer and Public Involvement (PCPI) group which hosts over 200 PCPI’s across nursing, allied health, pharmacy, and medicine. Sue was key to the development of the outstanding clinical simulation facilities at the University and was a key part of the development of the Helen McArdle Nursing and Care Research Institute. More recently Sue led the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust teaching academy development, the first in the country to have NMC approval for a NHS Trust satellite centre to deliver nurse education.

Sue is the North East and North Cumbria Council of Deans of Health Regional Chair and the Million Plus Health and Social Care Group university representative. Sue currently manages several partnerships, stakeholder relationships and advisory groups with medical, nursing and allied health staff in several NHS organisations across the region, the private sector including Spire Healthcare and the Military.