The Awards

The 2025 Shortlist is Revealed!

About the Awards

The Awards spotlight the achievements of B.A.M.E staff and allies who break barriers, champion equity, and transform lives. From leadership and innovation to community impact, we celebrate those making healthcare more inclusive, equitable, and inspiring for all.

Students(NHS & Healthcare) Healthcare Workers(NHS & Social Care) Corporate & Private Sector
Summit Only £40 £60 £150
Awards Only £130 £180 £250
Summit + Awards £150 £200 £300

The 2025 Shortlist

Advocacy and Patient Experience Champion Award

This award celebrates individuals or teams—whether healthcare professionals, patient advocates, or community leaders—who have championed the voices of B.A.M.E patients.

It recognises those whose advocacy has led to measurable improvements in patient care, access, or outcomes. Nominees may include frontline staff enhancing patient experiences, organisations driving systemic change, or individuals influencing policy to create more equitable healthcare environments.

 

Aurora Todisco Local Voice in the Community
Clare Lawson Primary Care 24
Dian Bates North Middlesex Hospital Maternity
Dr. Caoilin Maclaverty Barking Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust
Gabriel Abotsie Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Lynette Mupopoma West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Sadia Nasir Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts
    Ally of the Year

    This award recognises individuals who may not be part of the B.A.M.E community but actively advocate for equity, inclusion, and justice within healthcare. It celebrates allies—whether leaders, colleagues, managers, or advocates—who have used their influence to challenge systemic barriers, support marginalised voices, and create measurable change. Nominees may include senior leaders driving inclusive policies, managers fostering diverse teams, or individuals championing B.A.M.E colleagues and patients through advocacy and action.

     

    Bonnie Teague Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
    Christine Hale Whittington Health
    Claire Cutting West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
    Giselle Padmore-Payne Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
    James Freed NHS England
    Joan Pons Laplana NHS England
    Matthew Trainer Barking Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust
    Naomi Mcvey NHS England

      B.A.M.E Midwife of the Year

      This award recognises midwives from B.A.M.E backgrounds who demonstrate exceptional leadership, compassion, and advocacy in maternity care. It celebrates those who not only provide outstanding clinical care but also champion equity, cultural sensitivity, and inclusion within their practice. Nominees may include midwives working in hospitals, community settings, or education who have improved maternal outcomes, supported B.A.M.E families, and contributed to reducing health disparities in maternity services.

       

      Dalvir Kandola University Hospital of Leicester NHS Trust
      June Thomas Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
      Sherilyn Ndhlovu The Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust
      Waheeda Abbas North West Genomics Medicine Service Alliance @ Manchester Foundation Trust
        B.A.M.E Nurse of the Year

        This award recognises nurses from B.A.M.E backgrounds who demonstrate outstanding clinical excellence, leadership, and advocacy in healthcare. It celebrates those who go beyond patient care to influence positive change within their teams, organisations, and communities. Nominees may include nurses working in clinical, community, or leadership roles who have improved patient outcomes, championed inclusive practices, and inspired others through mentorship, innovation, or advocacy for health equity.

         

        Agnes Phakati Bedford Hospital
        Guruprasad Kholgade Barking Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust
        Hannah Rahmani Primary Care 24
        Joan Pons Laplana NHS England
        Joanne La Verne Sanchez Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
        Rohit Sagoo London Northwest NHS Trust / British Sikh Nurses
        Sihle Malapela Newham Transitional Practice – East London Foundation Trust
        Susie Lagrata University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
        Vedantee Shiebert Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust

           

          Clinical AHP Champion of the Year

          This award recognises Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) from B.A.M.E backgrounds who demonstrate exceptional leadership, innovation, and commitment to advancing equitable care. It celebrates those who have made significant contributions to improving patient outcomes, reducing health disparities, and championing inclusion within their practice. Nominees may include AHPs such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, radiographers, paramedics, speech and language therapists, and others who have demonstrated clinical excellence, service improvement, or advocacy for health equity.

           

          Emmanouela Kladouchou Central & North West London NHS Foundation Trust
          Helen Mcalinney South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board
          Maulik Darji Northampton General Hospital
            Clinician of the Year

            This award honours clinicians from B.A.M.E backgrounds whose dedication to care is felt far beyond the walls of their clinics or hospitals. These are the individuals who don’t just treat conditions—they see the whole person, standing as advocates when voices go unheard and as leaders when change feels out of reach. Whether at a patient’s bedside, in a boardroom, or within their communities, they fight for fairness, dignity, and respect in healthcare. Nominees may include doctors, dentists, pharmacists, or other healthcare professionals who have not only saved lives but transformed them through compassion, courage, and a relentless commitment to equity.

             

            Chineze Otigba Barking, Havering and Havering NHS Trust
            Dr Azhar Chaudhry NHS – Thistlemoor Medical Centre
            Helen Gbinigie Medway Foundation NHS trust/ Kent and Medway LMNS
            Joan Pons Laplana NHS England
            Joanne La Verne Sanchez Cambridge University Hospitals NHSFT
            Michael Beckles Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
            Rajat Gupta Birmingham Children’s Hospital
            Saswata Banerjee Barking Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust

               

              Educator or Workforce Developer of the Year

              This award honours the educators and workforce developers who don’t just teach—they inspire. These are the mentors, leaders, and changemakers who believe that talent is everywhere, but opportunity must be created. Through bold, innovative approaches and a deep commitment to equity, they open doors that might have remained closed for B.A.M.E students and staff. Whether they’re in classrooms, boardrooms, or training programmes, their work lights a path for others to follow, nurturing potential, breaking down barriers, and ensuring the next generation of healthcare leaders feels seen, supported, and unstoppable.

               

              Chido Muchaneta Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust
              Dionne Korsah NHS England
              John Skelton The Royal Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
              Marjani Orchery SMILEquity
              Rumbidzayi Chakahwata East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust
              Wilfredo Vitao Jr. George Eliot Hospital

                Emergency & Critical Care Innovation

                .This award honours the innovators who thrive where urgency meets impact—those who step into the most critical moments with solutions that save lives and change systems. It celebrates individuals or teams who have transformed emergency and critical care to ensure B.A.M.E patients receive not just timely interventions but equitable, compassionate support when it matters most. Whether through groundbreaking protocols, life-saving technologies, or system-wide improvements, their work delivers more than care; it brings hope, dignity, and fairness in moments where every second counts.

                Criteria:

                All three bullet points must be answered to the minimum stated word count.

                Nominations must provide evidence of:

                • Proven implementation of innovative practices improving access or outcomes.
                • Evidence of measurable benefits for B.A.M.E patients in emergency or critical care.
                • Sustained impact and dissemination of innovations across healthcare services.

                 

                Excellence in Community Partnership Award

                his award celebrates the heart of community-driven change—organisations and volunteers who stand at the crossroads of healthcare and lived experience. It honours those who build bridges where gaps once existed, creating partnerships that bring healthcare closer to the people who need it most. Whether through grassroots advocacy, health education, or outreach programmes, these changemakers work hand-in-hand with B.A.M.E communities to improve access, raise awareness, and deliver life-changing support. Their efforts are more than collaborations; they are lifelines woven into the fabric of the communities they serve.

                 

                Bernadette Charehwa Woodleigh Community Lifeline/Woodleigh Healthcare ltd
                Cultural Inclusion Network Cin Cultural Inclusion Network
                Doncaster Anti-Racism Partnership Doncaster Anti-racism Partnership
                Dr Nike Arowobusoye And Sola Afuape Mbe Birmingham City Council
                Gabriella Van Beek Healthwatch West Northamptonshire (formerly Healthwatch North and West Northamptonshire)
                Hong Zhou Mile Rainbow C.I.C (MR.CIC)
                Tony Kelly NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System
                Vicky Hines One Walsall

                   

                  Future Leader Award – Next Gen (18-30)

                  This award celebrates the next generation of healthcare leaders—young changemakers aged 18–30 whose passion, courage, and fresh perspectives are already making waves. It recognises individuals who have been identified as rising stars at the start of their careers and show extraordinary potential to influence the future of healthcare. Whether through advocacy, innovation, leadership, or community impact, these trailblazers are challenging the status quo, championing equity, and proving that age is no barrier to making a difference. Their journey may be just beginning, but their impact is already being felt.

                   

                  Agilandiswari Arumuga Jothi Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
                  Alister D’Souza Central and North West NHS Foundation Trust
                  Comfort Ogunbanjo Christies Hospital
                  Haris Sultan Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
                  Ifeoma Ndukwe The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
                  Nkiruka Nduka The Royal Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
                  Kanwal Munir London Ambulance Service NHS Trust
                  Rumbidzai Gore Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

                     

                    Health Equity Digital Innovator of the Year

                    This award celebrates the visionaries who see technology not just as a tool, but as a lifeline for those too often left behind. It honours individuals or teams who have harnessed the power of digital innovation to break down barriers in healthcare, making access, support, and outcomes fairer for B.A.M.E communities.

                    Whether through groundbreaking apps, data-driven solutions, or transformative digital health platforms, these pioneers have turned complex challenges into simple, life-changing solutions. Their work doesn’t just improve systems—it changes lives, one connection at a time.

                     

                    Maryann Ferreux Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex
                    Oana Ciurdarean Integrated Care Board Northamptonshire

                      Inclusive Leader of the Year

                      HThis award honours leaders who don’t just talk about inclusion—they live it, breathe it, and build it into the very fabric of their organisations. These are the visionaries who challenge the status quo, dismantle systemic barriers, and create environments where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Whether they lead teams, departments, or entire organisations, their actions speak louder than words—turning diversity into strength and equity into measurable change. Their leadership isn’t about titles; it’s about impact, courage, and a relentless commitment to creating cultures of belonging that last.

                       

                      Alister D’Souza Central and North West NHS Foundation Trust
                      Amanda Hussain UHB NHS Foundation Trust
                      Asma Nafees AGEM CSU / DCHS FT
                      Benard Mensah North London NHS Foundation Trust
                      Christy Abraham Yeovil District Hospital
                      Dionne Korsah NHS England
                      Epiphania Muranda Manchester University Foundation Trust
                      Evonne Hunt Medway Maritime Hospital
                      Harprit Hockley Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
                      Mayflor Bernal South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
                      Pauline Okhamesan Barking, Havering, and Redbridge University Hospital NHS Trust
                      Paul Rees MBE NMC (Nursing & Midwifery Council
                      Sola Makinde Whittington Health
                      Ustadah Maysoon Shafiq Rotherham Foundation Trust
                        Inclusive Organisation/ Trust of the Year

                        This award celebrates organisations and trusts that don’t just commit to inclusion on paper—they live it in every policy, practice, and decision. These are the workplaces where diversity isn’t a buzzword but a driving force for innovation, equity, and better health outcomes. Whether through groundbreaking strategies, transformative leadership, or bold cultural shifts, these organisations create environments where B.A.M.E staff and patients don’t just feel represented—they thrive. Their work sets the benchmark for what true, sustainable inclusion looks like in healthcare.

                         

                        Hong Zhou Mile Rainbow C.I.C (MR.CIC)
                        Nitesh Somani Kara Healthcare
                        Public Health Birmingham Birmingham City Council

                           

                          Lifetime Achievement Award

                          This award honours individuals whose lifelong dedication to equity has left a profound and lasting impact on health and social care. These are the pioneers, advocates, and leaders whose work has broken barriers, challenged injustices, and created pathways where none existed. Their influence can be seen not just in policies and programmes but in the lives they’ve touched, the voices they’ve amplified, and the systems they’ve transformed. This award is more than a recognition of years served—it’s a celebration of a legacy built on courage, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to justice for B.A.M.E communities.

                           

                          Amanda Hussain UHB NHS Foundation Trust
                          Christopher Innerarity Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
                          JS Bamrah  University of Greater Manchester
                          Yvonne Coghill Excellence in Action

                            Outstanding Social & Community Care Award

                            This award celebrates the unsung heroes of social and community care—those whose dedication transforms lives, one act of compassion at a time. It honours individuals or teams who work tirelessly to ensure B.A.M.E communities have not just access to care but access to care that is equitable, culturally sensitive, and life-affirming. Whether supporting families through social services, leading community health initiatives, or advocating for vulnerable groups, these champions create networks of support that help people feel seen, valued, and empowered. Their work doesn’t just change lives; it strengthens entire communities.

                             

                            Andrea Cortés; Daniela Valdés; Vanessa Pérez; Alex Hernández Latin Americans for Health and Care UK Network
                            Asma Nafees AGEM CSU / DCHS FT
                            Bernadette Charehwa Woodleigh community lifeline/Woodleigh healthcare ltd
                            Daniela Valdes Latin Americans in Health and Care UK Network
                            Danyal Mohammed Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
                            Epiphania Muranda Inspirational Women to Action CIC and NHS
                            Latin Americans In Health And Care UK Network Latin Americans in  Health and Care UK Network

                              Pioneering Health Equity Researcher of the Year

                              This award honours researchers who refuse to accept health inequities as inevitable. It celebrates those who ask difficult questions, challenge outdated systems, and uncover truths that drive real change for B.A.M.E communities. Whether through groundbreaking clinical studies, community-led research, or transformative data analysis, these innovators turn evidence into action. Their work doesn’t just sit in reports—it reshapes policies, improves care, and builds healthier, more equitable futures for generations to come.

                               

                              Amanda Bennett University Hospitals Liverpool Group
                              Hellena Habte-Asres Royal Free Hospital
                                Public Health Impact Award

                                This award recognises individuals, teams, or organisations leading impactful public health initiatives that address health inequalities and improve outcomes for B.A.M.E communities. Whether through policy change, preventative healthcare, education campaigns, or community-led interventions, these changemakers use innovation and advocacy to drive real, measurable improvements in health access and equity.

                                 

                                Alister D’Souza Central and North West NHS Foundation Trust
                                Azhar Chaudhry NHS- Thistlemoor Medical Centre
                                Berin Krenek Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
                                Hong Zhou Mile Rainbow C.I.C (MR.CIC)
                                Sam Rodger Race and Health Observatory
                                Talha Sami Patient Compass
                                Zoyah Hussain Holycroft  surgery

                                   

                                  Trailblazer in Inclusion Excellence - Sponsored by UNISON

                                  This award honours individuals who may not hold formal leadership titles but lead with courage, conviction, and a relentless drive to make inclusion a reality. These trailblazers challenge the status quo from within, sparking change through grassroots initiatives, bold ideas, and everyday actions that ripple across their organisations. Their work redefines what it means to be an agent of change—proving that you don’t need a title to inspire others, break down barriers, and create workplaces where equity isn’t just an aspiration but a lived experience.

                                   

                                  Asma Nafees NHS AGEM CSU / Derbyshire Community Health Services FT
                                  Christiana Fadipe North Central London Integrated Care Board
                                  Ebelechukwuka Ijomoni Barking Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust
                                  Goran Zangana NHS LOTHIAN
                                  Goran Zangana NHS Lothian
                                  Heena Mahmood Minority ethnic voices in healthcare professions
                                  Joan Pons Laplana NHS England
                                  Joanne La Verne Sanchez Cambridge University Hospitals
                                  Mike Buckle NHS England
                                  Rukaiya Bhanji Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
                                  Tinu Fakoya Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust