Professor Arun Verma (BSc, MSc, PhD, LLD h.c., FRSA) - Chair

Professor Arun Verma (BSc, MSc, PhD, LLD h.c., FRSA) - Chair

Arun Verma is a leading figure in integrating intersectionality, inclusion and equity in public sector and education systems change, policy and programmes both nationally and internationally. He is Head of Equality and Inclusion at the University of London and Fellow of the RSA. He has led the embedding of intersectionality, inclusion and anti-racist practice in higher education, government, in the design and evaluation of a variety of national and global programmes, policy development and practice. He has been granted a number of awards facilitating his research and impact for equality, inclusion and intersectionality including a Doctor of Laws honoris causa from the University of Dundee. Dr Verma is an established and respected voice for change and holds several senior board roles facilitating constructively disruptive conversations about inclusion and impact

Mehvish Shaffi-Ajibola, External Adviser - Vice Chair

Mehvish is a distinguished and nationally recognised strategic Human Relatedness (HR) & Organisational Development (OD) leader with a wealth of experience across diverse sectors. She has worked in the NHS, local government, financial sector as an Islamic Finance Consultant, and the voluntary sector, bringing a unique and holistic perspective to her roles.

In 2021, Mehvish earned national recognition at the Health and Social Care Awards as an award-winning leader for her outstanding contributions to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) within the healthcare sector. Her impact continued to be celebrated, and in 2023, she was named one of the Top 50 Most Influential Muslims in Europe. Mehvish has been instrumental in helping organisations navigate change and foster inclusive cultures through social mindfulness and restorative practices.

As the founder of Socially Inspired Ltd, Mehvish leads a HR & OD consultancy that partners with socially conscious clients dedicated to creating fairer and more equitable societies and workplaces. Her work is deeply influenced by her personal experiences and a profound commitment to humanity. Mehvish actively uses her experiences with racism to drive positive change and improve the workplace environment.

In addition to her professional achievements, Mehvish is a dedicated mother to two daughters and has a supportive husband. She balances her demanding career with her family life, embodying strength and compassion in both her personal and professional endeavours.

Mehvish has contributed several insightful blogs for NHS Providers, law firms, BRAP, Mind, and has been featured in Personnel Today. She is an advanced Legal Executive, a Mental Health First Aider, a Workforce Race Equality Standards (WRES) Expert, and a Cultural Intelligence practitioner. Additionally, she is an experienced and accredited Coach and Mediator, continuously advocating for mental health awareness and cultural competence in the workplace.

Jackie Davies, RCN Trade Union Committee

As a registered nurse, Jackie has a clinical professional background in mental health nursing and forensic psychiatry. An experienced Trade Unionist, Jackie has an interest in healthcare law, clinical negligence and employment law. Jackie graduated in law with an LLB (Hons) in 2006. In 2014 Jackie also obtained a Masters Degree in Healthcare Law and Ethics from Swansea University. Jackie is a board member with the Royal College of Nursing Wales Board, she has been a branch official within the RCN Glamorgan branch for several years holding various positions such as Chair, Treasurer, secretary and more recently Communications officer.

Jackie is currently an independent member of the Board of Swansea Bay University Health Board, a public appointment she has held since 2017. She is Chair of the Swansea Bay Armed Forces Forum and Chair of the Swansea Bay Organ Donation Committee.

Lucy Kallen, External Adviser

Lucy is a diversity, equity and inclusion leader, with over 10 years’ experience driving DEI strategies across the legal industry, fintech and now the third sector. Currently working at a UN supported NGO, the “Principles for Responsible Investment” aims to build an economically efficient, sustainable global financial system which can benefit wider society as a whole.

Originally from Manchester, Lucy stays connected to her roots through her love of football and regular trips to the North to visit family. She is also active in her local community in London, volunteering with social mobility charities supporting young people getting into the workplace and through her role as a governor for Walthamstow School for Girls.

Roger Kline OBE, External Adviser

Roger Kline OBE FRSA is Research Fellow at Middlesex University Business School 

Roger authored several reports on race equality in the NHS including “The Snowy White Peaks of the NHS” (2014) and Fair to Refer (GMC 2019) with Dr Doyin Atewologun on disproportionality in GMC referrals. He designed the NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) and was joint national director of the WRES team 2015-17. 

Roger was co-author of Being Fair (2019) on disciplinary action in the context of patient safety and human factors and co-author with Prof Duncan Lewis of The Price of Fear (2018) – the authoritative estimate of the financial cost of bullying in the NHS. 

Roger was author of No More Tick Boxes (September 2021) a review of the research evidence on fair recruitment and career progression. 

Roger was co-author of Difference Matters (National Guardian Office 2021) on raising concerns and BME staff and co-author of the recent report Too Hot to Handle (2024) on lessons for the NHS from recent Tribunal cases on race discrimination

Roger was voted as one of the top 30 Most Influential UK HR thinkers by HR Magazine in 2021 and again in 2022.

Olga Leach-Walters, RCN Council

Biography to follow.

Alison Paterson, RCN Professional Nursing Committee

Alison is the Lead Cancer Nurse at East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust. Qualified for over 20 years she started her nursing career on a Bone marrow transplant ward moving onto intensive care and completing her Masters in Advancing Critical Care Nursing at Kings College London. More recently she has held CNS roles in Haemato-Oncology and Acute Oncology including a Lecturer-Practitioner role qualifying as an Independent Prescriber and practicing at an advanced level.  
 
Alison has been a member of Blood Cancer UK Nurses group since 2018 and a member of their Healthcare Professional Advisory Group since 2020 contributing to the APPG on Blood Cancer. She is also the Lead for the East Of England Cancer Alliance Lead Cancer Nurses Group.

Dr Caroline Shuldham OBE, RCNi Board Non-Executive Director

Biography to follow.

Allyson Omoniyi, RCN UK Students Committee

Biography to follow.

Leanne Patrick, RCN Council

Biography to follow.

Vacant, RCN UK Nursing Support Workers Committee

A vacancy has arisen for the RCN UK Nursing Support Workers Committee member of the committee. A new member will be appointed to the committee in due course.