Meet Our Esteemed Panel of Judges

Patrick Vernon is recently appointed Independent Non-Executive Director of Birmingham and Solihull ICS, leading on inequalities and Non-Executive Director for Hertfordshire NHS Trust and Associate Director for Connected Communities for the Centre for Ageing Better and Chair of Citizenship Partnership for HSIB. In 2012, Patrick was awarded an OBE for tackling health inequalities among the UK’s ethnic minority communities. In 2018, the Evening Standard selected him as one of London’s 1,000 most influential people.

Professor Shivani Sharma is Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor, Business and Social Sciences, at Aston University. A first-generation university graduate, she champions higher education’s role in social mobility. Her research focuses on health inequalities, particularly in kidney disease, securing £4 million in funding. She chairs Swindon South Asian Performing Arts Centre, is a Trustee at Kidney Care UK, and serves on Police Now’s D&I Committee. A 2023 Asian Women of Achievement finalist, she is also listed among the UK’s 50 kind leaders.

Dr Shera Chok is a GP and former Chief Medical Officer at NHS Digital. She co-founded the award-winning Shuri Network to champion diversity in digital health. An advisor to the NHS Race and Health Observatory, she has held senior roles across primary care, commissioning, and NHS England. A global health volunteer, she studied at Harvard and is a Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow at the Robert Bosch Academy. Her work focuses on equity, innovation, and transforming healthcare through digital inclusion.

Patricia Hughes is an Associate Director at the Royal College of Nursing, dedicated to advancing equality and career progression for healthcare professionals. A former Divisional Nurse Director at The Royal Marsden and Deputy Director of Nursing at NHSE/I, she has championed inclusion throughout her career. Patricia founded the UCLH BAME Network and is an active Shuri Network member, advocating for digital transformation. With an MSc in Cancer Studies, she continues to mentor and uplift future nursing leaders.

Celestine Laporte is a National Officer at UNISON, leading the Race for Equality campaign to combat racism in the NHS. She is the strategic lead for ensuring UNISON workplace representatives use the Workforce Race Equality Standard to drive change. As the national lead for Science, Therapy, and Technical staff, Celestine shapes policy for allied health professionals. A member of the NHS Staff Council’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Group, she is dedicated to advancing equity across the NHS workforce.

Tista Chakravarty-Gannon is a senior leader at the General Medical Council, where she co-leads the Outreach team and heads up the ‘Welcome to UK Practice’ programme for internationally trained doctors. With over 25 years’ experience supporting survivors of abuse, Tista continues to champion safeguarding, medical leadership and inclusion in healthcare. She is a peer reviewer for BMJ Leader and the Sushrata Journal, and a recognised voice in tackling misogyny in medicine. Tista was awarded the BAPIO President’s Award in 2022 and BIDA’s Special Award in 2024 and is currently co-authoring a textbook on anti-racism in medicine.

Tina Jegede MBE is the Joint Director of Race Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and Nurse Lead for Islington Care Homes. A Queen’s Nurse, she has worked extensively in Sickle Cell Disorder, care home provision, and tackling health inequalities. With a postgraduate degree in management and an MSc in Health Education & Health Promotion from King’s College London, Tina has shaped integrated care models both locally and internationally. She is a passionate advocate for anti-racism, social justice, and equitable health outcomes for minoritised communities.

Professor Mahendra Patel OBE is an award-winning pharmacist and academic with professorial roles at multiple universities, including the University of Sussex and Universiti Sains Malaysia. A founding member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, he has served as a national board member, assembly member, and treasurer. As a national lead at the University of Oxford, he has advanced inclusive COVID-19 treatment research. A champion for EDI, he advises national pharmacy bodies and was honoured as an OBE for services to pharmacy.