NHS Leaders Set To Address Workplace Race Equality

More than 150 senior leaders including former and current chief executives, board members and directors will join a leadership event designed to help NHS organisations confront, address and implement race equality in the workplace.

Organised by the NHS Race and Health Observatory, the event, on 13 May 2026 comes as race discrimination and inequalities continue to shape poor experiences, outcomes and lack of opportunities for thousands of Black, Asian and ethnic minority staff who face unfair treatment from patients, managers and colleagues alike.

Fundamental to addressing these inequities, two of the most influential, key figures on race and health inequalities and members of the Observatory board; Professor David Williams, Professor of Public Health, Harvard University (USA) and Yvonne Coghill, CBE, former director of NHS England’s Workforce Race Equality Standard, Director, Excellence in Action, will host the all-day event, unveiling new evidence-based global research with a host of practical resources and action-based recommendations.

With over 40 years NHS experience, Yvonne will state the moral, financial and quality case for tackling race inequality. World renowned academic and race equality expert, Professor Williams, will lead a session on the role leaders must play in tackling race inequalities with learnings from international case studies highlighting good practice examples with proven approaches, solutions and measures to tackle both race and ethnic health inequalities.

Alongside addressing the persistent challenges of racism, bullying, and discrimination for staff, evidence-based solutions to tackling inequalities for patients and communities will be outlined by 18 prolific speakers on the day. In particular, Professor Habib Naqvi, CEO of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, will present an overview of the Observatory’s work and impact over the five years since its establishment.

Yvonne Coghill, International Race and Health Experts Group co-chair, and NHS Race and Health Observatory board member, said:

“The NHS, England, the United Kingdom and the world at large is seeing worrying high levels of racisms. This is reflected in the experiences of Black, Asian and minority ethnic NHS staff. The NHS is an anchor institution, as such, leaders at all levels in the NHS have a unique duty to lead in tackling racism. The leadership guide developed by race equality experts from around the world will help leaders with this”.

Alongside this, the Workforce Race Equality: What can leaders and staff in the NHS do?  is among the suite of comprehensive resources, produced by the independent health organisation in addition to a new set of anti-racism principles for NHS staff.

Observatory Chair, Dame Marie Gabriel, and Chief Executive, Professor Habib Naqvi, will join the lineup of headline speakers alongside Lord Victor Adebowale, Chair of NHS Alliance who will lead an in conversation session with Lord Nigel Crisp and Sir David Nicholson, exploring initiatives and reflecting on interventions, perspectives and personal insights for current and future NHS leaders.

Lord Victor Adebowale, Founder, NHS Race and Health Observatory; Chair, NHS Alliance, said:

“Success can only be measured when NHS leaders lead by example and actively challenge racism, bullying and inequality in their organisations. Signposting to EDI and HR policies is not leadership — not while Black, Asian and ethnic minority colleagues continue to face racism and bias in their daily working lives.

“Race must make no difference to how a complaint is handled, how a sanction is applied, or what outcome a member of staff can expect. This event is an opportunity for profound change. Leaders must hold themselves and each other to account, without fear or favour.

“Anti-racist leadership is not adjacent to competent leadership — it is competent leadership. Only leaders who understand that will lead all of the people, all of the time.”

Delegates will also hear from a panel of leading healthcare regulatory bodies on plans to improve race equity into board level decision-making, governance and regulation with measurable impacts and evaluation.

Owen Chinembiri, Assistant Director, Workforce, NHS Race and Health Observatory, said:

“It is vital we come together and support leaders of NHS organisations in their journey to become equitable and inclusive to all staff, regardless of ethnicity.

“This event is significant as we move beyond pledges and statements of intent and instead deliver the practical interventions required to action changes to structures, policies, behaviors, and future outcomes.”

Complimenting the NHS 10 Year Health Plan and Workforce Plan, the Observatory has a comprehensive workforce portfolio in place to tackle race inequality to foster better working environments for Black and minority ethnic staff. Other projects underway include independent reviews into the NHS ethnicity pay and progression gap and reducing the ethnicity gap in experiences of bullying harassment and abuse at work.

Almost 30% of the NHS workforce are from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Dean Royles, Interim Chief Executive, NHS Employers said:

“The universal nature of the NHS demands that no patient or member of staff should feel unsafe or unwelcome because of who they are. The NHS is probably the world’s most diverse workforce, yet too many staff still experience discrimination and unequal opportunity. NHS employers know that tackling workforce race inequality in all its guises, requires visible leadership and sustained activity, so this event is a critical opportunity to focus on the actions needed to uphold that universal promise of the NHS. Success should be measured not merely by reduced complaints, but by staff and patients from every background reporting greater confidence that antisemitism and racism is dealt with firmly and fairly.”

Confirmed speakers also include:

  • Dr Nnenna Osuji, Chief Executive, NHS North East London
  • David Probert, Chief Executive, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Deputy Chief Executive, NHS England
  • Salma Yasmeen, Chief Executive, Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust
  • Charlie Massey, Chief Executive and Registrar, General Medical Council
  • Paul Rees MBE, Chief Executive and Registrar, Nursing and Midwifery Council
  • Professor Nicola Ranger, General Secretary and Chief Executive, Royal College of Nursing
  • Danny Mortimer, Director General for People, Department of Health and Social Care
  • Sarah Cooper, AHP Advisor – Office of the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer, NHS England

Professor Habib Naqvi, Chief Executive, NHS Race and Health Observatory, said:

“When we speak with senior leaders across the NHS, they often say inequity in the workplace exists in their organisation, but they also acknowledge that they don’t always know how to tackle it. We are presenting leaders across the NHS with evidence-based resources to help provide sustainable solutions to the long-standing challenge of workforce race inequality across the healthcare system. Leaders are the driving force for change – our goal is to support them to create a culture where fairness is the standard and belonging is the norm.”