Health and Care LGBTQ+ Leaders Network

Mark is the chief executive of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), a group of ten hospitals and community services that support the Greater Manchester community with a wide range of acute and specialist healthcare services. In addition to his role as chief executive at MFT, Mark also currently acts as the national priority programme director for planned care at NHS England, leading on key programmes of work for elective care, cancer and diagnostics.

Mark has a long-standing career in the NHS having joined the service as a nurse in Greater Manchester in 1992. Mark became chief executive of MFT in April 2023. Prior to that, he was chief delivery officer for NHS England where he was responsible for driving change across the NHS to support the move to system working and enable improvements in delivery.

Mark has held a range of senior leadership roles in his career, including chief executive at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, regional chief operating officer for NHS Improvement in the Midlands and East of England, and several director roles in London NHS trusts, including Moorfields Eye Hospital, Whipps Cross and Barts Health.

Ian (he/him) has over 30 years of high-profile leadership roles in the voluntary, health local government, housing and social care sectors in executive and non-executive roles. His executive roles have been in the voluntary sector where he was chief executive of YMCA England and most recently CEO of the Terrence Higgins Trust, the UKs leading HIV and sexual health charity.

For twenty years he was an elected member of the London Borough of Ealing, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services and Housing; and Mayor. He has held a number of non-executive roles in the NHS – for five years he was chair of Ealing Hospital NHS Trust, is a NED at South Central Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust and current chair of Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust.  

He was chair of HIV Prevention England for six years and was on the Welsh Government expert Advisory Board on banning conversion practices.

He was awarded an OBE in the 2023 New Years Honour’s List for services to charity and public health.

He lives with his husband Paul and Stanley, the Springer Spaniel, and splits his time between Hampshire and Powys.

Ian is director of corporate affairs at NHS Resolution and is chair of their Pride and Progress network.

Alison (she/her/ella) is an National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Clinical Lecturer at Queen Mary University London (QMUL) and an Honorary Consultant in Medical Oncology at St Bartholomew’s Hospital and Chelsea & Westminster Hospitals.

She is the UK’s only oncologist to be dual trained in gender identity medicine and leads the UK Cancer and Transition Service (UCATS) – a world first national clinic to integrate local oncology and gender affirming care for transgender and gender diverse people in the UK.

Her research centres on reducing cancer care inequalities according to sex, gender and sexual orientation. She is President of the British Association Gender Identity Specialists and a Trustee of the OUTpatients, the UK’s LGBTIQ+ Cancer Charity.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey so far.

I am a cisgender bisexual woman and a strong ally for the transgender community. As a resident doctor I was inspired to improve the care of transgender people through cases I observed on the ward. I dual trained in gender affirming care with a vision to improve the care of transgender people in medical oncology, my primary specialty.

Through that journey I have taken on wider work in LGBTQ+ advocacy and leadership. For the last two years I have been President of the British Association of Gender Identity Specialists, an organisation representing clinicians and academics in gender affirming care in the UK.

Recently I have become part of the LGBTIQ+ network at Barts Health and taken the lead on developing a trans inclusive staff policy. I currently lead the UK Cancer and Transition Service for trans people with cancer, which has secured three years of Macmillan funding. This will form a platform for recruitment to prospective clinical studies through a recently awarded National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Advanced Fellowship.

What is one lesson or piece of advice you’d like to give aspiring LGBTQ+ leaders?

National and international attitudes to LGBTIQ+ inclusion fluctuate so you have to ride the creative curve and make the most of enthusiasm for the topic when it is there, in order to be resilient and weather the storm when it is deprioritised or halted.

What are you most looking forward to about joining the Health and Care LGBTQ+ Leaders Network?

I am looking forward to sharing experiences and challenges with other leaders, and finding collaborative solutions to problems that affect us in our various organisations that we can all adapt and implement locally.

Dr Paul Gilluley (he/him) qualified in Medicine from the University of Glasgow in 1991. He subsequently trained in psychiatry and was appointed consultant forensic psychiatrist for Westminster in 2000.

Dr Gilluley has worked in a number of clinical settings. He helped develop the Quality Network for Forensic Psychiatry at the Royal College of Psychiatry and went on to be specialist advisor in forensic mental health to the Care Quality Commission.

In 2012 he moved to become head of forensic services at East London NHS Foundation Trust, where in 2017 he became chief medical officer. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr Gilluley provided clinical leadership in the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine across North East London. In July 2022 he took up the post of chief medical officer at NHS North East London.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey so far.

I have over thirty years’ experience in mental health in a number of roles. Over the last three years, I have been chief medical officer at NHS North East London. I’ve also been an executive sponsor of LGBTQ+ staff networks in a number of organisations.

What is one lesson or piece of advice you’d like to give aspiring LGBTQ+ leaders?

Be your authentic self.

What contribution to LGBTQ+ inclusion are you most proud of?

Trans allyship.
 

Anthony Hassall (he/him) joined Pennine Care as chief executive in April 2022.

He was previously regional chief people officer at NHS England and Improvement North West, and before that was chief accountable officer at Salford Clinical Commissioning Group for six years. At Salford Clinical Commissioning Group, Anthony led a successful team who achieved an NHS England and Improvement 'outstanding' rating every year.

Prior to his role in Salford, Anthony worked at board and senior level in a range of NHS organisations in Greater Manchester and Cheshire and Merseyside. 

Anthony is chair of the North West mental health, learning disability and autism collaborative, which ensures the voice of NHS trusts specialising in these areas across the region are represented and heard at a national level.

He is also on the NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board as the acute mental health representative and on the board of Health Innovation Manchester. His earlier experience includes being trustee of a mental health charity and leading a service user engagement programme to redesign community services in a US mental health organisation.

Anthony has led work regionally around inequalities and inclusion and is also currently trustee of the Salford Foundation charity where he lives, which supports people with mental and physical health challenges back into employment and training.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey so far.

I am very proud to work in the NHS, with our health and care partners and have done for all of my professional career. I have worked across all sectors – provision, commissioning and regulation and have a strong belief in the power of creating supportive, empowering, values driven cultures to deliver great care, by great people.

What is one lesson or piece of advice you’d like to give aspiring LGBTQ+ leaders?

Believe in yourself, your values and your compassion. Be kind, be human and be humble.

What are you most looking forward to about joining the Health and Care LGBTQ+ Leaders Network?

I am looking forward to supporting our LGBTQ+ leaders to be the very best they can be so that our patients, carers and their families and our wider communities benefit from their skills, dedication and compassion.

Dr Russell Hills (he/him) is currently medical director primary care and system improvement; and national primary care medical directorate lead for workforce at NHS England – East of England. He has been an NHS doctor for nearly 30 years, and a GP for over 20 years. He was a clinical leader in a Clinical Commissioning Group, then an Integrated Care Board, and is now working with NHS England.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey so far.

I am a partner in a large GP practice, and have always supported my colleagues, and my patients, to enable us to have an inclusive environment for people from diverse backgrounds. 10 years ago, I became the EDI lead for my Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), before becoming the Chair, and held onto the mantle for EDI, championing diversity in my CCG and then Integrated Care Board.

I sat on NHS Employers' Board as executive sponsor for EDI for several years, and now hold responsibility for workforce for the primary care medical directorate for NHS England, currently working on an EDI improvement plan for primary care.

What is one lesson or piece of advice you’d like to give aspiring LGBTQ+ leaders?

Be kind, both to yourself and to others.

What contribution to LGBTQ+ inclusion are you most proud of?

I have been out professionally for a long time now, and have used my position to be a voice for LGBTQ+ people, whether they are accessing or delivering services. 

Claire Ingle (she/her) is a HR professional with over 27 years of experience in private, public and third sector. She has a particular interest in the inclusion agenda in the workplace for those who wish to build their families via non-traditional routes such as surrogacy.

She is a huge ally of the LGBTQ+ community in supporting those conversations and educating workplaces to ensure that all voices are heard.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey so far.

I have worked in HR all my life initially in retail, and then in the NHS since 2013 in various roles in resourcing, workforce and HR. I am also a founder of a social enterprise that advocates for those on family building journeys and those who need fertility treatment to achieve this. 

I am a mum of one ( thanks to reproductive science) and have two dachshund dogs who are like my other children. I love working with people and will talk to anyone anywhere. I am always excited to learn about new things (HR related or not!).

What is one lesson or piece of advice you’d like to give aspiring LGBTQ+ leaders?

That listening to lived experience is paramount to make inclusion work.

What are you most looking forward to about joining the Health and Care LGBTQ+ Leaders Network?

To meet a diverse group of people, to make a difference, and to influence the NHS in a positive way.

Dr Kamilla Kamaruddin (she/her) is a General Practitioner specialising in transgender healthcare and serves as the clinical lead at the East of England Gender Service. With a deep commitment to improving healthcare for transgender and non-binary individuals, she has become a respected advocate and educator in the field.

Dr Kamaruddin actively contributes to enhancing the understanding and delivery of inclusive care through her extensive teaching, writing, and speaking engagements. She has shared her expertise at numerous national and international conferences and webinars, addressing key issues in trans healthcare and promoting equity in health services.

Her work reflects a dedication to bridging gaps in care, reducing health disparities, and empowering marginalised communities to access compassionate and affirming healthcare. A passionate and influential voice, Dr Kamaruddin continues to inspire and lead advancements in transgender health, fostering a more inclusive healthcare landscape globally.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey so far.

I am a trans woman and a doctor. I have worked as a GP partner in Tower Hamlets for 15 years and have switched my career in 2020. I am now a gender specialist and clinical lead at East of England Gender Service.

What is one lesson or piece of advice you’d like to give aspiring LGBTQ+ leaders?

Being yourself is not a weakness. Leadership by example is empowering and inspiring.

What contribution to LGBTQ+ inclusion are you most proud of?

Advocating for improving healthcare for trans people.

Stacey Keegan (she/her) joined the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust (RJAH) as interim director of nursing in November 2019 and was appointed substantive chief nurse and patient safety officer in March 2020.

Between March and October 2020, she served as interim chief executive, before returning to her role as chief nurse and patient safety officer. In August 2021, Stacey once again stepped into the role of interim chief executive, and was formally appointed to the substantive chief executive position in December 2022.

She is an NHS trust partner member on the Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care Board and sits on the National Orthopaedic Alliance Board. Stacey’s tenure as chief executive has included leading the Trust through the unprecedented challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, a defining period for both RJAH and the wider NHS. 

A registered trauma and orthopaedic nurse, Stacey brings a wealth of clinical and leadership experience, having held senior roles across multiple NHS trusts. She is deeply passionate about delivering innovative, patient-centred care and is committed to enhancing patient safety, outcomes and experience across all services.

She holds an MSc in Senior Healthcare Leadership and is a graduate of the NHS Leadership Academy’s Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Programme.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey so far.

Beyond my professional life, I am married to Marion, and together we share our home with two beloved dogs, Charlie and Freddie. I am passionate about fitness, especially running, and find balance by recharging through adventures in my campervan, a lifestyle that reflects my love for the outdoors and exploration. 

My leadership is marked by authenticity, resilience, and a deep commitment to staff and patient wellbeing. I continue to drive innovation and improvement at RJAH to make it a place where both patients and staff thrive.

What is one lesson or piece of advice you’d like to give aspiring LGBTQ+ leaders?

Lead with authenticity and courage. Being true to yourself. Authenticity builds trust, fosters inclusion, and empowers others to do the same.

What contribution to LGBTQ+ inclusion are you most proud of?

Sharing my MSc dissertation on ‘Heteronormative culture in the NHS’ to aid learning, inclusivity and improvement.

Chris Oliver (he/him) joined Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) in July 2020 originally as the chief operating officer and deputy chief executive, before becoming chief executive in October 2022.

Prior to joining LSCFT, he was the chief operating Officer at Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. In early 2024, he was appointed as a mental health trust chief executive on the board of trustees for NHS Providers.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey so far.

I completed my accountancy training within the NHS and then moved over to operational roles across Trusts within the West Midlands as well as Cheshire and Merseyside. I’ve been really lucky to have had some amazing roles, working alongside operational and clinical colleagues. As a team, we have driven improvements in access and quality by really valuing colleague empowerment and how this can lead to sustainable change.

What is one lesson or piece of advice you’d like to give aspiring LGBTQ+ leaders?

Everything is possible, even if it doesn’t seem it at the time. Reach out to NHS leaders within the community for advice and guidance. They’ll have walked a similar path and their advice will be invaluable; it was and still is for me now.

What are you most looking forward to about joining the Health and Care LGBTQ+ Leaders Network?

Joining leaders passionate about LGBTQ+ priorities, working to influence and be a voice for the community. This is both from personal reflection, but also seeing the impact that discrimination can have from working within the NHS, both from a colleague and patient/service user perspective.

Dr Daniel Saunders is deputy chief medical officer at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust.

Laura Wiltshire (she/her) is a social worker by background, and is currently care group director at Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust. Laura is an experienced clinical and operational leader. Having qualified as a social worker in 2007, she remained in the field of mental health throughout her career.

Laura is a passionate feminist, a proud lesbian and an active trans ally living in Sheffield.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey so far.

Laura spent her first five years in private health care, before moving to public services and becoming an approved mental health professional in 2015. Laura has spent the last five years in purely operational leadership roles, but remains true to her social work values and beliefs in all she does.

Outside of work, Laura is a trustee for SAYiT, a local youth LGBTQ+ charity, and is also a governor for a mental health NHS Trust. In her personal life, Laura is a devoted dog mum to two gorgeous Gran Canarian hounds, a new runner and an avid bird watcher (basically all things nature is what she loves).

What is one lesson or piece of advice you’d like to give aspiring LGBTQ+ leaders?

Lift as you climb, and remember you have privilege over others. It may not always feel like that but is usually the case. Use your platform to bring others with you as you progress in your career as people will do for you. Another area I think is important is executive support and sponsorship. We all need role models.

What are you most looking forward to about joining the Health and Care LGBTQ+ Leaders Network?

Shaping the network and influencing the future!

Dr Dan Bailey (he/him) is a consultant geriatrician and educator at King’s College Hospital, where he champions inclusive, person-centred care and co-leads the perioperative medicine service for older people. He holds an MA in Medical Law and Ethics from King’s College London.

Dan is co-chair of Kings & Queers, King’s College Hospital’s award-winning LGBTQ+ staff network. Under his leadership, the network has grown into a visible, values-driven platform for inclusion, intersectionality and joy. 

He has led work on trans+ allyship, inclusive communications, staff mobilisation for Pride, and storytelling as a tool for culture change. He works closely with Trust leadership to ensure LGBTQ+ inclusion is embedded in policy, education and workforce wellbeing.

Beyond the network, Dan contributes to a specialist frailty clinic for older people living with HIV and is involved in projects exploring the care needs of older trans+ individuals. He has published on LGBTQ+ health in older adults and is working to broaden postgraduate medical education to better address LGBTQ+ health inequalities.

He regularly speaks on queer ageing and dignity in care. He brings warmth, humour, and fierce advocacy to his clinical and cultural work, and believes healthcare must celebrate queer lives at every age, making space for joy, wisdom, and belonging.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey so far.

I trained in Leicester and settled in London after working in many parts of the UK and in New Zealand. I have been a consultant for 15 years and live in South London with my husband Asad. I am multilingual, speaking six languages at different levels. I love to travel and explore new cultures and places. I am a big fan of the creative arts and wish I had the skill to practice them! My husband and I adore cats, Maine Coons in particular.

What is one lesson or piece of advice you’d like to give aspiring LGBTQ+ leaders?

In the current global socio-political context, aspiring LGBTQ+ leaders need to activate their pioneering leadership spirit, just like our past leaders did. Society is not listening to us, so we are the ones who need to listen to what our communities are saying, to unify and amplify those voices.  In doing so, we must always ensure we are representing the most under-privileged, under-represented, and under-attack communities.

What are you most looking forward to about joining the Health and Care LGBTQ+ Leaders Network?

Putting Pride in Power.

Melanie Holloway (she/her) has worked in the diversity and inclusion space since 2018, beginning as the EDI lead for a large social housing organisation where she developed and implemented the organisation’s EDI strategy.

For the past five years, she has been part of the national diversity and inclusion team within NHS arm’s length bodies, leading on high-profile national initiatives such as Black on Board, supporting staff networks, and co-ordinating the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index submission.

Her passion lies in creating inclusive environments where everyone can thrive, with a particular focus on LGBTQIA+ inclusion. She brings a deep understanding of the diverse communities we serve, informed not only by her EDI work but also by a 20 year career in social care.

She currently serves as chair of NHS England’s LGBTQIA+ Staff Network, a role she has held for two years. She is committed to role modelling inclusive behaviours and being her authentic self in the workplace. She believes in lifting others – especially those from marginalised groups – and creating spaces where people feel seen, heard and valued.

Staff networks play a vital role in organisational culture: acting as critical friends, providing social and educational support, creating safe spaces, and driving external collaboration across NHS trusts and health organisations. Their success depends on listening to and responding to the needs of their members. 

Personally, she is deeply committed to increasing visibility and support for marginalised identities within the LGBTQIA+ umbrella and actively challenging homophobia and transphobia wherever it exists in NHS culture.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey so far.

I’ve always been driven by a deep desire to support and empower others, and this has shaped every step of my career. I spent 20 years in social care, beginning as a support worker and progressing to registered manager roles across services supporting people with learning disabilities and older adults.

In my 40s, I made a bold career change, moving briefly into learning and development before stepping into the world of diversity and inclusion. I began this journey with a large social housing provider and, five years ago, joined Health Education England (now part of NHS England), where I continue to work within the national diversity and inclusion team.

My involvement with staff networks began in 2013, as a member, then a chair, and later as an EDI lead supporting the development and sustainability of networks. I believe staff networks are vital spaces for colleagues from under-represented communities. They offer safety, support, and visibility, helping people feel valued and included in the workplace.

I’ve supported both the housing provider and HEE in achieving recognition in Stonewall’s Top 100 list of LGBTQ+ inclusive employers, earning Gold Awards and Commended Network Awards. In 2019, the network I led received a Commended Rainbow Honours Award, and NHS England’s LGBTQIA+ Staff Network is soon to be announced as a finalist in a new leadership award.

One of my proudest achievements is authoring the LGBTQIA+ Inclusion e-learning module, launched in 2023 and made available to all NHS and social care colleagues, which briefly helped to embed inclusive practice across the sector.

What is one lesson or piece of advice you’d like to give aspiring LGBTQ+ leaders?

Leadership doesn’t always look like a title or a role; it often shows up in how you advocate, support others, and challenge the status quo. Take time to reflect on the strengths you bring, and see them for what they are: powerful tools for change.

Whether it's a healthcare organisation, a government body, or a community network, knowing how the system operates helps you navigate it strategically. Learn its language, its levers, and its limitations, then organise with others to create momentum.

Change can be slow and complex. Be clear about your goals, whether they’re personal, team-based, or systemic. Knowing what success means to you helps you stay focused and resilient.

Be bold in your vision and unapologetic in your values but also lead with empathy. Inclusion is built not just through challenge, but through connection. Fierce compassion is a leadership superpower.

What are you most looking forward to about joining the Health and Care LGBTQ+ Leaders Network?

Sharing space with other passionate leaders and contributing to improving the workplace for LGBTQIA+ colleagues.