Acknowledgements

The NHS Alliance would like to thank everyone who contributed to this report. 

In particular, we would like to acknowledge the 950 individuals who participated in the BME Leadership in the NHS survey, the senior ethnic minority leaders who generously shared their experiences through qualitative interviews and the 139 participants who attended the workshop at NHS ConfedExpo 2026. Their openness, honesty and willingness to reflect on both the opportunities and challenges facing ethnic minority leaders within the NHS have been invaluable in shaping the findings and recommendations presented within this report. 

We would also like to thank members of the NHS Alliance BME Leadership Network for their continued commitment to improving race equality and leadership diversity across the NHS. The network has played an important role in creating opportunities for discussion, challenge and shared learning, helping to ensure that the voices and experiences of ethnic minority leaders continue to inform and influence the national conversation. 

Special thanks are extended to Lord Victor Adebowale CBE, whose longstanding leadership and commitment to addressing racial inequality within health and care have helped shape thinking across the NHS and beyond. We would also like to acknowledge Joan Saddler OBE and Dame Donna Kinnair DBE for their advocacy, insight and continued commitment to championing race equality, inclusive leadership and positive change across the health and care system.

We would like to recognise Chloe Knight and the EDI communications team at the NHS Alliance for leading the survey, qualitative interviews and wider engagement activity that informed this work. 

The planning and design of this work was informed by a literature review undertaken in 2025, supported by Alexandra Ankrah and NHS England’s knowledge and information team. Their contribution helped provide the evidence base that informed the development of this report. 

This report was authored by Sandra Buchan, managing director of Culture & Engagement Experts Ltd, on behalf of the NHS Alliance. 
.We would like to acknowledge Sandra and Culture & Engagement Experts Ltd for their support in analysing, interpreting and presenting the findings contained within this report.

Finally we recognise the many NHS organisations, leaders and staff who continue to work towards creating more equitable, inclusive and representative leadership cultures across the health and care system. Meaningful progress relies upon the collective efforts of individuals and organisations committed to turning intention into action and creating lasting change.