Patrons and Trustees

Biography

I am an experienced management consultant and a former trained nurse (SRN) with a background in social administration having held senior management positions in the NHS, Social Services, Education, community and health organisations. I am a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD) with Diplomas in Social Administration and Personnel Management from the London School of Economics.

I joined the board of Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Appeal in 2011 and in my capacity as a previous Non-Executive Director of Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation Trust (GSTT) (1999 – 2007) and a member of the GSTT Council of Governors (2009 -2015) have been an instrumental link between the Mary Seacole Trustees and GSTT, in organising events to raise awareness amongst GSTT Staff and building community support for the statue. I had particular responsibility for organising the unveiling event on 30^th June 2016.

My role with the MST legacy is to champion education programmes that will be of inspiration and support to children and young people in reflecting Mary’s qualities in their own lives and those whom they admire. Added synergies will involve working with the Black Cultural Archives, which I have chaired since 2012, and the Florence Nightingale Museum.

I was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s 2018 New Year’s Honours list for services to culture.

Biography

Trevor is an Major Trauma Lawyer and Senior Partner at Moore Barlow, with over 35 years’ experience. He also sits on the firm’s Partnership Council and has a leading role in respect of Diversity and Inclusion. At age 28, he became the first black and youngest partner in the history of his previous firm and in 2021 he was appointed Senior Partner at Moore Barlow Solicitor becoming the first black Senior Partner of a top 100 UK firm.

Trevor became involved in the latter of stages of the campaign for the bronze statue of Nelson Mandela unveiled at Parliament Sq. in 2007. He subsequently became involved in the Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Appeal as a trustee, leading to his appointment as Chair following the unveiling of the Mary Seacole statue in 2016, the first bronze statue of a named black female in the UK. Trevor leads the Mary Seacole Trust, on a number of legacy projects including its education and diversity programmes. He has been particularly vocal on the relationship between statues and Black Lives Matters, creating the Mary Seacole Trust “Black Plaques” proposal arguing against the toppling of statues.

Trevor has appeared in the media on numerous occasions, most notably he was involved in campaigns in respect of the Windrush Scandal being the son of Windrush immigrants and an advocate for racial and social equality.

Biography

Elizabeth G. Pearson is a Ugandan Diaspora Nurse and Lecturer in Nursing. She has recently obtained her master’s degree and her research looked at the retention, integration and role of Diaspora healthcare professionals in strengthening healthcare systems.

Elizabeth qualified as a nurse in 2005 and holds an advanced diploma and a bachelor’s degree in nursing science from the University of Sheffield, UK. She then worked in various capacities in the public, third and independent sectors and gained much experience.

She is the co-founder and Inaugural President of the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Association – UK (UNMA-UK). Elizabeth is the former Chairperson of Sidings Community Centre, London (2013 to 2019) and Patch Resource Services trustee (2014 to 2022).

In 2017, she founded the National Health Care Conferences (NHCC) Uganda – the knowledge-sharing platform for nurses and Midwives, a Community Interest Organisation registered in England and Wales as an independent platform to foster training and be recognised for influencing the promotion of nurse specialisation and advancement nationally, continentally, and globally.

At the onset of the pandemic in 2020, as an amateur nurse researcher, she conducted a research survey to assess the nurses’ readiness: how well prepared (Knowledge and Competence), their role in health promotion during the COVID-19 outbreak, and their impact on overall well-being. The preliminary report findings were used to inform the nurse leaders in Uganda to create a think tank group and prioritise advocacy for the frontline health care professionals. She is also then initiated and is co-editor of the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Letter (NML). A newsletter first of its kind in Uganda, enacted in April 2020 to bridge the communication gaps from the in-country leadership, provide guidance and support to the frontline healthcare workers, and raise the profession’s profile. It is now in the second edition and is published quarterly.

Until September 2021, she was the operations manager at zone1hearing, an independent hearing care organisation in London. Before that, she played a crucial role in developing the strategic one health initiative at Boots Hearingcare flagship store, ensuring collaborative partnerships with the health care professionals and supplier relationships are flexible in response to an increasingly demanding marketplace.

Elizabeth is passionate about world development and driven to make a difference by helping eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities and exclusion by promoting and fostering evidence-based practice and knowledge sharing for Low to Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). She is currently looking to publish her research and undertake a study on inequalities in maternal health outcomes in the UK.

Biography

D.O.B 23/08/1964

Commenced Student Nursing in 1983 at Kent and Canterbury Hospital. Returned to London in 1987 to work at Mayday Hospital in Croydon on a Breast and Bowel surgical ward. Her interest in Cancer inspired her to take the Cancer Degree at the Royal Marsden for 2 years. She moved to St Georges Hospital in 2000 to take up the role the Macmillan Breast CNS for Oncology and Metastatic Breast patients for 15 years. She has also been involved with Macmillan in their “No one faces cancer alone” campaign which covered a national poster and video for the website.

At present she works as a Breast Screening CNS with the Southwest London Breast Screening Unit. The role is to support the clients, advise GPs and encourage uptake of Breast Screening. The age range is 50 to 71 but encourage ladies over 71 to self-refer. She was involved with NHS England ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ targeting the Black and Ethnic minority groups. To encourage breast awareness amongst the over 70’s with a recommendation to continue breast screenings using local churches social media and radio interviews. The role has a large Health Promotion element to increase the take up of Breast Screening within the health inequalities within the community.

On 5^th July 2023 She was awarded the lifetime achievement for 40 years of Nursing and pastoral care support for International Jamaican Nurses at the NHS Parliamentary Awards. On the same day also went to a reception at 10 Downing Street for the 75^th Anniversary of the NHS.

Charmaine is the President of the Nurses Association of Jamaica (UK) NAJ(UK)

are a registered charity supporting individual nurses in hardship and focusing on health and wellbeing in the community in the UK, Jamaica, and other international countries. She has been a member since 1989. www.naj.org.uk

She is also the Secretary for the Mary Seacole Memorial Association which has an annual commemorative service annually in May and maintains the Grave of Mary Seacole in St Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Harrow Road, Kensal Green.

Recently she has become the co-vice Chair for the Mary Seacole Trust (MST) that promotes the Mary Seacole Legacy by involving the community. The Mary Seacole Statue was erected in 2016 and stands in the grounds of St Thomas Hospital. MST is leading in Diversity and Leadership skills courses, the Mary Seacole Awards in Nursing, an inspiring the youth section and engaging with school children about their Modern-day Mary Seacole.

Biography

I began my career in journalism working on local newspapers in London. I did a degree in economics and history as a mature student at the London Metropolitan University from 1982-1985, followed by a master’s degree in social policy.

After leaving college I provided professional support for a GLC-funded newspaper written by and for homeless people. Funding was lost when the GLC was abolished and so I moved to a post in the information department at the college lecturers’ union Natfhe.

In 1989, I joined the RCN Publishing Company’s flagship title, Nursing Standard – now the UK’s leading weekly nursing title, becoming Editor in 1998. From 2008-2014, I was Editorial Director with overall responsibility for all RCN Publishing titles and a seat on the Board.

I was Media Adviser with the Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Appeal from January 2016 and became a Trustee with MST in February 2017. I chair the MST communications group which is responsible for media and public relations as well as the MST website.

Biography

I’ve worked at AmicusHorizon (AH) Housing Association for over 10 years. I started on reception and worked my way through various roles including Lettings, Performance & Policy, Income Management and Home Ownership into management. I’m currently a Neighbourhood Manager within our housing management teams.

I absolutely love working within the Housing sector as it’s hugely rewarding supporting our residents, some who are highly vulnerable. I enjoy specialising in a broad range of housing legal matters too. It’s an area where our Government faces some of its biggest challenges.

Within my local community, I was the former Chair of Eastfields Resident Association (TRA) which quickly became one of the largest active TRA’s in South East England.

My true passion is and will always be raising awareness around Diversity. Across the social sector, there remain challenges around a lack of diversity at higher levels, Housing is no different. I’m keen to be at the forefront of addressing challenges for people from disabled, BAME and LGBT groups. I want to be able to positively contribute and address these issues pro-actively.

I founded our Diversity Group at AH and supported the creation of our Diversity strategy in 2016. I’ve also supported our sub-groups based around the Equality Act 2010, nine-protected characteristics; LGBT Allies Group, Disability Awareness Group and BAME Networking Group. I’m the Chair of the latter. I remain the youngest and only senior black male manager at our organization. I’m keen to mentor and support others.

I was also nominated to attend the CIH National Conference as a ‘delegate of the future’ in 2015. Networking with others is critical to address these fundamental issues. Building platforms for others to be inspired and achieve success is at the forefront of my mind.

Biography

I am Colonel David Bates ARRC and I have been a Trustee on the board of the former MSMSA and the current MST since October 2015; being elected as the military representative whilst I was serving as Director Army Nursing Services. I have been married to Helen for 30 years and have enjoyed 37 years’ experience as an Army nurse. I have been deployed all round the world gaining a huge awareness of cultures, beliefs, challenges especially inequalities.

More recently I have held every appointment as a board member in the charity sector. I have a passion for military and social history, I see everything through a public health lens and I champion inclusivity whilst countering inequality across the political and socio-economic spectra.

I believe that Mary Seacole is a role model for all, not just care givers, intrepid travellers and entrepreneurs! She demonstrated what people from minority and marginalised communities can do if they have the will. Her links with the Army and her love for soldiers and helping people in adversity provides a direct link to our current Army and more widely, Defence Medical Services and the missions that we find ourselves deployed in.

I am still an Army Reservist at the tender age of 57 and will continue to follow where Mary and others led in the Crimea theatre of operations by maintaining my competence in order to continue bringing my experience to bear in support of this brilliant Trust.

I hope that you are inspired by us and that you find some way to follow in Mary’s footsteps or at least learn lessons from her mission.

Biography

Dr Habib Naqvi has a background in public health, and healthcare policy and strategy development, and is Director of the NHS Race and Health Observatory.

Habib worked on the development of national equality and diversity policy at the Department of Health. He led on the development of the Equality Delivery System for the NHS, the establishment of the NHS Equality and Diversity Council, and led on the health sector’s response to the Ministerial review of the Public Sector Equality Duty.

More recently, Habib was the Director of the NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard at NHS England, where he also led on the national strategy for this programme. Habib currently sits on several national healthcare advisory groups, and also provides advice to the boards of a numerous public sector organisations.

Habib is the Chair of Knowle Cricket Club in Bristol. He is also a qualified cricket coach and provides coaching, mentoring and sponsorship to youngsters, particularly from deprived areas. Habib is reverse mentor to the NHS Chief Executive, Sir Simon Stevens, and was awarded an MBE in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to equality and diversity in the NHS.

Habib is on Twitter: @DrHNaqvi

Biography

I am a Mary Seacole Trustee and Projects Coordinator. I first became involved in the charity when it was the Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Appeal, working as a volunteer during the final stages of fundraising ahead of the statue unveiling. I was lucky to be present for the unveiling of the statue, which is a day I will never forget. I have gradually learned about Mary’s story through my involvement with the charity and how powerful this can be to promote diversity, fairness and inclusion in society – across all generations.

My role has steadily grown since the Mary Seacole Trust was launched in 2016. Originally a volunteer, I assumed a number of more operational roles, including secretarial and project management responsibilities. I generally monitor the emails coming into the charity, assist with website administration and development, co-ordinate / manage the delivery of key projects and assist with business planning.

I am also a Major Trauma Lawyer at Moore Barlow, having joined the firm in 2012. I act for major trauma clients from the early stages of injury as part of the Signposting Partnerships at both St George’s and King’s College Hospitals in London. I focus on early intervention by seeking to obtain funding for rehabilitation and any other support that my clients may need as well as securing them compensation.

At Moore Barlow, I am also involved in a number of initiatives, including a network that seeks to empower those at the early stages of their career. I am IT Lead for my division and assist in a number of operational aspects and technical projects for my department.

I am proud to be involved in a charity that has such a positive focus and impact on society, which is why I felt incredibly honoured and privileged to be invited to join the Board of Trustees.

Biography

Biography

Joan has over 38 years’ experience as a strategic nurse leader, consultant and educator in community children’s nursing services across London. Joan was an Associate Director for Health Services and Chief Nurse in West London, UK before she retired in 2019 to start her Independent consultancy company offers mentorship, coaching, training and development and career support.

As well as being a Queen’s Nurse and Fellow of the Queen’s Nursing Institute Joan is also Trustee with the Queen’s Nursing Institute.

Joan is a much sought after inspirational keynote speaker and is passionate about motivating and challenging people to excel and do well. She enjoys teaching and inspiring people to progress and advance in their careers. Joan facilitates and lead BME leadership and development programmes in several NHS organisations.

Joan is a multi-award winning nurse and received an OBE for services to children and nursing in the Queens’ Birthday honors’ list in 2013, she has a honorary doctorate from Middlesex University. Joan was voted one of the top 50 most influential BME figures in the NHS by the Health Service Journal (HSJ] in 2020 & 2021. Joan received a Woman for Africa Special Recognition Award for Leadership in Healthcare and Nursing Sector in May 2023 in recognition of the medical missions she has led in Kenya, Ghana and Uganda.

Joan has a children’s charity called Rehoboth Community Based Organisation (RCBO) in Nakuru, Kenya, providing education and support for vulnerable children & their families.