Bird takes up the post with immediate effect and will support incoming president Dr Mary Tanay (Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust) for a period of two years before becoming president herself from December 2027. 

She said: ‘It is a great privilege to be elected president elect of UKONS. The charity provides educational opportunities for cancer nurses to improve the outcomes of people with cancer. This year has been the 20th anniversary and the celebrations have showcased the supportive community that has developed and how standards for clinical practice have been implemented. I look forward to working with colleagues from across the UK to build on these achievements.'

Bird is a nurse consultant in melanoma and immunotherapy late effects at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and an honorary research fellow at the University of Sheffield.

She previously worked as clinical research nurse across a variety of cancer sites and early phase trials and continues to maintain a clinical academic career having completed an NIHR Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship.