Niall Dickson joined the General Medical Council as Chief Executive and Registrar in January 2010.

He joined the GMC from The King's Fund, the leading independent think tank and development organisation, where he was Chief Executive for six years (2004-2009).

He began his career in teaching before taking up posts in national voluntary organisations involved with older people. He was Editor of Therapy Weekly for the allied health professions and then of Nursing Times. 

He moved to the BBC in 1988 as Health Correspondent, became Chief Social Affairs Correspondent and then, in 1995, Social Affairs Editor, focussing mainly on Radio 4's Today programme and the Ten O'clock News on BBC 1.

Niall is a member of the Cabinet Office Honours Committee (Health) and the Department of Health's End of Life Care Implementation Advisory Board.  

In 2008, he chaired a cross-party commission on accountability in health for the Local Government Association (LGA).

He is a trustee of the Leeds Castle Foundation. His honorary awards include being elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and as Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners.