Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 5th February 2026 Issue no. 1196
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Karen Pryor becomes AHCP national chair
As it celebrates 50 years of commitment to excellence in healthcare cleaning, the Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals is marking this milestone with the announcement of a new era of leadership: facilities management professional Karen Pryor has been appointed national chair.
Karen brings with her over 39 years of NHS service, including more than 20 years in senior leadership roles within the healthcare facilities management sector. She currently serves as senior facilities manager at Mid Yorkshire NHS Foundation Trust, where she is responsible for all soft facilities management functions.
"It is an honour to be asked to take up this role," she says. "My priority is to strengthen our national voice, increase visibility and membership and support our members in meeting the challenges of today and tomorrow - from workforce development to sustainability and innovation in cleaning technologies.
“I am excited by the opportunity to help shape the future of the AHCP and support our members across the UK in delivering excellence in healthcare cleaning."
A champion of transformational leadership, Karen is committed to engaging with members, stakeholders, and industry partners to ensure that British Cleaning Council member AHCP continues to be a respected, progressive, and inclusive organisation.
Karen takes over from Alison Lane who will remain in post as past chair. Under Alison's leadership, the AHCP transformed many of its behind-the-scenes functions and processes, including centralising all bank accounts, implementing new IT infrastructures, (which transformed how the AHCP communicates with its members) and updating invoicing and accounting processes.
Indeed the AHCP has gone through a complete new rebrand - including logo and new modern website.
Says Alison: "I have the satisfaction of knowing that the changes made in past two years have transformed our ‘behind-the-scenes’… securing the future of the AHCP. I am honoured to have served as chair for the past two years and I look forward to helping Karen and the Exec team take the AHCP into the future.
“I want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me and the AHCP over the last two years. We look forward to a dynamic future under Karen's leadership as we honour our past, embrace the present, and prepare for a stronger future.
14th August 2025