Gillian Oliver

Who is Gillian Oliver?

Dame Gillian Frances "Gill" Oliver, DBE, FRCN, is an expert in cancer nursing and palliative care and has been instrumental in developing cancer services, policy and strategy in the UK and beyond. She has been involved with cancer nursing for many years - at a practical level as a ward sister, at national level while working as Adviser in Oncology Nursing at RCN, and at organisational and managerial levels as Director of Patient Services.

She has represented cancer nursing in many national and international organisations, including the Board of the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care, the Chief Medical Officer’s Expert Advisory Group on Cancer and, most recently, the Department of Health’s National Advisory Group on Palliative and Supportive Care. She joined Macmillan Cancer Relief as UK Director of Service Development in April 2000 and has actively promoted the voice of the service user as well as professional knowledge, skill and experience in the development of effective cancer services.

Since retiring from full-time work in October 2004, she has continued with Macmillan in a part-time capacity as Adviser for Nursing and Allied Health Professionals. She also remains a Trustee of the National Council for Palliative Care and is undertaking various projects related to cancer services, nursing and care.