Shahnaz Ali

Shahnaz Ali OBE is a British woman best known for her leadership role in equality, inclusion and human rights in the National Health Service and local government in England.[1][2] She is also known for her activism, as a young woman, in the anti-racist struggles in Bradford in the 1980s. She was appointed an OBE in the Queen's New Year's Honours list, December 2012[3][4] in recognition of her contributions to Equality and Diversity.

Shahnaz Ali
Shahnaz Ali in 2012
BornOctober 1961 (age 58)
Pakistan
NationalityBritish
EducationLeeds Metropolitan University, MA Policy Studies (1996)
TitleDirector for Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights (2007 – present)

Family and educational background

Shahnaz Ali was born in Pakistan and came to England with her family, at the age of 3, in summer of 1965.[5] She grew up in Bradford and attended Leeds Metropolitan University, earning an MA in Policy Studies in 1996.

Political activism

As a teenager growing up in Bradford, Shahnaz Ali was part of a South Asian community that was increasingly subject to hostility and racist attacks from part of the white, indigenous population. She became involved in the United Black Youth League of Bradford and took an active part in its struggles for justice and the right to live without victimisation.[6] See also 1981 England riots. This included resisting the regular bouts of 'Paki-bashing' undertaken in the city by racists, because the police did little to protect the communities under attack. In July 1981, 12 young men from the League were arrested and charged with making explosive substances and a conspiracy to make explosive substances.[7] If found guilty, they would have faced life imprisonment. Shahnaz Ali was detained and interviewed along with the 12 young Asian men, but never charged. The 12 were found not guilty[8] by a verdict of 11–1 in 1982 after a trial lasting 31 days.

Ali was interviewed by the BBC for a documentary it made to mark the 30th anniversary of the Bradford 12 event.[9] She also describes her own involvement in these events in a Podcast interview with Christine Burns.[10]

Work history

From December 2007, Ali was Director of Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights at NHS North West,[11][12] the strategic health authority for the region. During that time, she has gained national recognition[13] for her strategic leadership on equalities work.[14]

Her work has included publishing a five-year strategy, Narrowing the Gaps,[15] for transformative change of equality outcomes at regional level.

The strategy was in turn based on original in-depth research and analysis, published in October 2008 as "A Landscape of the Region" [16]

Based on that research her programme also involved:

  • Developing the UK’s first performance measurement and improvement framework for equality outcomes in the NHS (Equality Performance Improvement Toolkit) [17][18]
  • Pioneering a sustainable approach to long-term equality stakeholder engagement for consultation and involvement in strategic programmes (The Health Equality Stakeholder Engagement programme) [19][20]
  • Creating the UK’s largest and most successful online library and portal for Equality and Diversity evidence and background knowledge (Health Equality Library Portal) [21][22]
  • Championing and leading development of the first competency framework for E&D executive leadership in the public sector[23][24]
  • Establishing a regional Equality and Diversity Leadership Forum, comprising NHS Trust chairs, chief executives and directors of partnership to lead and champion transformative regional strategy
  • Embedding equality governance into all major assurance processes at regional level, including the review of commissioning strategic plans, operating plans, reconfiguration plans, World Class Commissioning [25] assurance and the Transforming Community Services project.[26]

Ali and her team developed a philosophy for transformation over the period 2008–12 which they published in a recent peer reviewed journal paper.[27] The paper was followed by the publication of a textbook, 'Making Equality Work' co-authored with Christine Burns and Loren Grant, in September 2013.[28]

Selected publications
  • Narrowing the Gaps[29]
  • A Landscape of the Region[30]
  • Ali, S., Burns, C. and Grant, L. (2012), 'Equality and diversity in the health service: An evidence-led culture change'. J of Psych Issues in Org Culture, 3: 41–60. doi: 10.1002/jpoc.20095
  • 'We know diversity work saves cash, but does George Osborne?' Shahnaz Ali. The Guardian, 4 June 2010[31]
  • 'A partnership of equals'. Shahnaz Ali. The Guardian, 18 March 2009.[32]
  • Craig, G., Adamson, S., Ali, N., Ali, S., Atkins, L., Dadze-Arthur, A., Elliott, C., McNamee, S., Murtuja, B. (2007) Sure Start and Black and Minority Ethnic Populations. National Evaluation Report. Research Report 020. London: Department for Education and Skills.
  • ‘Diversity means made to measure, not mass produced.’ Shahnaz Ali. Parliamentary Brief, Vol. 7, December 2000.
  • ‘Strength Through Diversity’. Shahnaz Ali, Nursing Times, 3–9 May 2001
  • Positive Images. Shahnaz Ali. Health Management Magazine, August 2002
  • Shahnaz Ali (2002) 'Racial diversity in the NHS'. Health Service Journal, 30 September 2004.

Awards
  • Positive Image Role Model Campaign, 2003. HR in the NHS Conference award.
  • Mainstreaming diversity under best HR practice. 2000. Beacon award.
  • Responding to HIV/AIDS Through Partnerships. Award for Excellence, 1991. London Association of Authorities.
  • Homo Heroes Award for leading the way in ending homophobia and empowering people. The Lesbian and Gay Foundation, 2012.
  • Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2013 New Year Honours
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References
  1. NHSemployers.org "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. The Guardian: Five minutes with … an NHS director for equality and inclusion https://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2013/feb/01/nhs-director-equality-inclusion
  3. "The New Year Honours Lists 2013".
  4. The Guardian: OBE? MBE? An honour or a betrayal? https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/feb/25/mbe-obe-honour-or-betrayal
  5. The Guardian: Five minutes with … an NHS director for equality and inclusion https://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2013/feb/01/nhs-director-equality-inclusion
  6. Conference "So we stand – Self defence is no offence" (July 2011) http://sowestand.com/category/blog/%5B%5D
  7. WorkersLiberty.org: "From the Asian left" (6 April 2006) http://www.workersliberty.org/node/6016%5B%5D
  8. Runnymede Trust Oral Histories "Oral Histories". Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  9. The Asian Youth Movements (26 March 2012) http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01dtkjb
  10. 30 Years on – The Bradford Twelve : Podcast interview with Christine Burns: http://podcast.plain-sense.co.uk/2011/07/12/30-years-on-the-bradford-twelve/
  11. NHS Northwest (14 February 2012) "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. The Guardian: OBE? MBE? An honour or a betrayal? https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/feb/25/mbe-obe-honour-or-betrayal
  13. University of Bradford: "Centre for Inclusion and Diversity Conferences" (http://www.brad.ac.uk/health/CfID/Events/Conferences/keynote-and-other-key-speakers/%5B%5D
  14. Health Service Journal: Why Equality is Business Critical for the NHS http://www.hsj.co.uk/leadership/why-equality-is-business-critical-for-the-new-nhs/5055082.article?blocktitle=Leadership&contentID=7800
  15. NHS Northwest, blog (2 May 2012) Bloghttp://help.northwest.nhs.uk/news/id/141
  16. Ali, Burns & Mulchand (17 October 2008) "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. NHS North West: Equality Performance Improvement Toolkit http://www.epit.northwest.nhs.uk%5B%5D
  18. Just Plain Sense: Introducing the Equality Performance Improvement System – EPIT http://blog.plain-sense.co.uk/2011/02/introducing-equality-performance.html
  19. NHS North West: An Equal Partnership "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  20. Just Plain Sense: Effective and Sustainable Engagement with Equality Stakeholders http://blog.plain-sense.co.uk/2011/02/effective-and-sustainable-engagement.html
  21. NHS North West: The Health Equality Library Portal http://www.help.northwest.nhs.uk Archived 1 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  22. Just Plain Sense: The Health Equality Library Portal http://blog.plain-sense.co.uk/2011/02/health-equality-library-portal-help.html
  23. Equality and Diversity Leadership Competency Framework to support new Equality Delivery System for NHS "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. Just Plain Sense: Competent Change Management is Key to Achieving Equality Outcomes http://blog.plain-sense.co.uk/2011/02/competent-change-management-is-key-to.html
  25. Department of Health: World Class Commissioning – Vision "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  26. Department of Health: Transforming Community Services – Enabling new patterns of provision "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  27. Ali, S., Burns, C. and Grant, L. (2012), 'Equality and diversity in the health service: An evidence-led culture change'. J of Psych Issues in Org Culture, 3: 41–60. doi: 10.1002/jpoc.20095
  28. Ali, S., Burns, C. and Grant, L. (2013), 'Making Equality Work' Archived 13 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  29. Ali & Mulchand (8 April 2009) "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  30. Ali, Burns & Mulchand (17 October 2008) "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  31. Ali, Shahnaz. Guardian (4 June 2010) https://www.theguardian.com/society/joepublic/2010/jun/04/equalities-and-diversity-budget-cuts
  32. Ali, Shahnaz. Guardian (18 March 2009) https://www.theguardian.com/society/2009/mar/18/equality-human-rights
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