2025 has been a year of bold steps and meaningful progress for our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee. As your EDI Committee Chair (Prof Arun Verma) and Vice Chair (Mehvish Shaffi-Ajibola) we wanted to share some of our reflections and plans for how we’ll be taking this work forward in 2026 and beyond.

Deep dives into the RCN EDI strategy

This year, the committee has taken a more rigorous approach to overseeing the strategy’s implementation. Rather than treating the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy as a static document, we have been ‘deep diving’ into each workstream. We have asked hard questions about what is working, what needs more attention, and how we measure our progress and success. This has helped us move from aspiration to accountability.

Publication of the first RCN annual EDI impact report

One of our proudest milestones was publishing the first RCN EDI impact report. This is more than a document. It is the golden thread that runs through everything we want to do. It is a statement of transparency. It sets out where we are and where we need to go, and this has been used to create a rigorous foundation for future action. Members have told us they valued the honesty of the report, and we intend to keep that spirit alive in every update.

Formation of the anti-racism sub-group

Another highlight has been the creation of our anti-racism sub-group. Early conversations have been powerful, with members sharing lived experiences of racism in the workplace. We know this is not easy to talk about, but it is essential. Rising calls to the RCN from members experiencing racism underline the urgency of this work. The sub-group will produce diverse content in the new year to amplify diverse voices and set out practical steps for change.

Responding to the current climate

We cannot ignore the external pressures. Anti-immigration rhetoric has been rising, and many of the RCN members have felt its impact directly. By strengthening our equity, diversity and inclusion and anti-racism work by embedding equity into every strand of our strategy, we are sending a clear message: the RCN stands with its members, and we will not shy away from confronting discrimination and harassment.

While we have achieved a lot already in 2025, we have more to do in the year ahead. 

Launch of new member networks

In 2026, we will launch new member networks designed to bring people together around shared identities and experiences. These networks will be spaces for support, dialogue, and collective action. They will help us ensure that our strategy is informed by members’ lived experiences, not just policy.

New opportunities for the committee

We are excited to welcome new committee members. Fresh perspectives are vital for keeping our work dynamic and relevant. By broadening the membership of the committee, we will strengthen our capacity to deliver on the ambitious goals as part of our strategy.

Building momentum

2026 will be about building on the foundations we’ve laid. With the EDI strategy as our direction, the anti-racism subgroup gaining momentum, and new networks coming online, we are entering a phase of deeper engagement and wider impact.

Cultural change is not the responsibility of a committee alone. It requires all of us. Every member has a role to play in making the RCN a truly equitable organisation.

There are many ways to get involved:

• Join the upcoming , where we’ll explore key themes in EDI and hear directly from members.
• Participate in the new member networks launching in 2026.
• Share your experiences with us — whether through RCND, committee consultations, or informal conversations.

As Chair and Vice Chair, we are committed to leading with compassion, transparency, courage, and collaboration. We recognise that leadership is most powerful when it is shared and distributed.

Together, we can ensure that equity, diversity and inclusion are not just words on a page, but lived realities for every member of the Royal College of Nursing.

A final note from the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee

Chair: Professor Arun Verma

This past year has been incredibly rewarding as the inaugural Chair of the RCN Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee. I’ve seen the way in which our collective energy translates into driving change, and I am proud of the way in which we continue to embrace and embolden members’ voices at the heart of our work. Whilst we know there is a journey ahead to achieving the RCN’s ambitions, I am confident the RCN is moving in a positive direction, with momentum and impact at its heart.

Vice Chair: Mehvish Shaffi-Ajibola

2025 marked my one-year anniversary at the RCN, a milestone that has given me space to reflect on the journey we are on as a committee, and the wider RCN. This year has been one of progress, active listening, and truly feeling the human impact of our EDI work. The progress made matters, but the voices of our members matter even more. With the rise in reported incidents of racism, it’s clear EDI work must continue with urgency and compassion. It’s about making sure every member in all their identities and experiences feels seen, safe and valued. As we move into 2026, our focus remains simple - keep listening, stay human, and keep driving the change our members deserve.