Mary Frances is a nurse and health visitor. She began her nursing career in Northern Ireland, where she currently holds the position of Deputy Chief Nursing Officer at the Department of Health in Northern Ireland. She has professional responsibility for nursing, education and regulation, alongside providing support to the Government's Chief Nursing Officer for Northern Ireland. Mary Frances was previously the Senior Nursing Officer for Public Health Nursing and has a strong interest in promoting health equity and reducing health inequalities. Mary Frances has held a range of clinical, managerial and leadership posts throughout her career and has undertaken a range of leadership programmes and holds a Master's Degree in Public Administration and a Master's Degree in Health Promotion. Mary Frances is a Florence Nightingale Foundation alumna leadership scholar.