White British nurses seem underrepresented here. You may wonder, am I white British? No, I am African. But underrepresentation is underrepresentation; it does not only matter when it relates to people of my own skin colour.

At the 2025 Congress, an internationally educated nurse from the Philippines boldly asked for a head count of those from the Filipino community who were represented. They were fewer than a handful. That moment inspired her to encourage and bring more Filipino colleagues to Congress in 2026.

It is beautiful to see how well Africans are represented at Congress. 

One may wonder how they achieve that?

One thing I am certain influences this is, their culture of bringing others along, a strong sense of community that encourages participation and engagement.

It could also be that, among others, many have had to engage more with the services and support of the RCN, which may naturally spark greater interest and involvement.

But then, what happens with white British nurses?
 
Could it be a culture of cordial independence, respect for boundaries, or perhaps something else entirely? 

And what do we do if the RCN in the UK, although for everyone, has less representation from the people in whose land it exists?

I do not want to see an RCN Council made up of only one demographic. I want to see an RCN with meaningful representation from Black, Asian, and White British nurses alike.

To me, that is what true inclusion looks like…

Perhaps a useful starting point would be to explore how different communities perceive and understand the role of the RCN, and what influences their level of engagement.

I know I can begin by having those conversations within my own community.