Strategic Race Equality Network (SREN) Core Team
Fatima Khan-Shah – Chair of the SREN
Fatima i
s the first-ever West Yorkshire Inclusivity Champion, as part of the Mayor’s pledge to achieve greater equality across the region.
Fatima is known regionally and nationally for leading complex change and transformation programmes across systems and geographies. She is also an advocate for Public and Carer Involvement, Compassionate Leadership and Diversity and Inclusion. She was named in the 2021 HSJ top 50 most influential Health leaders from an Ethnic Minority.
Fatima has led several agendas in West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership which have been multi award winning and recognised nationally; leading to changes in legislation and government policy. These include Diversity, Long Term Conditions, Personalisation and Carer Support.
In addition to her numerous roles Fatima is also a podcaster and blogger focusing on authentic leadership, EDI, and Public Carer Involvement. She also has several roles nationally, as a member on the NHS Assembly, the King’s Fund General Council. Fatima is also a Non-Executive Director at Sheffield Children’s Hospital. She has previously held roles with NHS England, Kirklees CCGs, Kirklees Council, Health Education England and Healthwatch.
Sayma Mirza – Deputy Chair of the SREN
Sayma is an award-winning system collaborator with a lengthy clinical background including over 23 years’ experience working for the NHS. Sayma has an outstanding track record of leading large-scale system transformation programmes, building system leadership capability and actively championing the inclusion agenda.
Her contributions have led to winning a national HSJ award.
Sayma started her career in the NHS as a paediatric nurse initially progressing into senior roles in clinical and operational fields. She then moved into system leadership and transformation roles across local and regional systems.
Sayma is currently working for the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board as the Associate Director for Children, Young People and Families.
Sayma is the Deputy-Chair of the West Yorkshire Strategic Race Equality Network and an Appointed Governor for Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Sayma led the West Yorkshire ‘Connected on Inclusion’ event in 2021, attracting a national audience of up to 1300 professionals from the health and care sector.
She is known to continuously advocate for better patient outcomes, amplifying the staff and patient voice, and improving equity of access to development opportunities. Sayma enjoys inspiring and influencing teams to achieve outstanding results by working together, and continually supports individuals through coaching and mentoring.
Kez Hayat
Kez is the Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust.
Kez has worked in the field of EDI for over 25 years mainly within the public sector. Kez has gained wealth of experience while working in a range of senior diversity and inclusion roles, including Bradford Council, Leeds City Council, University of Bradford and the NHS, namely Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust and at Bradford Teaching Hospitals Trust.
He has a Masters in Training and Development and his research paper was published with the Journal of Psychological Issues in Organisational Culture, on the topic of the effectiveness of drama-based scenarios included in the delivery of diversity-related training.
In addition, he was awarded the Employee of the Year in 2004 by Leeds City Council and in November 2018 he was recognised for his dedication and commitment to the diversity and inclusion agenda at Yorkshire Ambulance Service.
Kez has led on a range of diversity and inclusion initiatives that have had a positive impact on patients and staff. He has been instrumental in raising the profile of diversity and inclusion within the NHS.
Kez’s passion, commitment and approach to diversity and inclusion along with his lived experience has enabled him to influence and change perspectives in the workplace, including ensuring diversity and inclusion practice is embedded and mainstreamed within organisations.
Wendy Tangen 
Wendy Tangen is a Mental Health nurse by profession and currently in the role of Clinical Services, Inclusion Lead.
She has been employed within different NHS organisations for the past 29 years and has worked in both acute mental health and criminal justice pathways in a variety of roles. Her clinical and leadership experiences have influenced and brought about improvement in quality and delivery of care to service users and carers.
Wendy was one of the first cohorts of Workforce Race Equality Standard Experts, a programme delivered by NHS England to address the workforce disparities experienced by African, Asian, and Ethnic Minority staff groups. She is also the Chair of her organisation’s Workforce Race Equality Network (WREN) creating a safe space for all staff to have a voice and to raise awareness and concerns.
Her leadership and role modelling within the network fosters progression and supports staffs engagement to meet the organisational strategic goals. Wendy is an ally and a member of other staff networks internally and externally to her organisation, at both regional and national levels, and has a commitment to working together to draw on strengths to deliver positive change.
Wendy is a qualified coach and mentors and offer peer support to individuals to reach their full potential, enabling them to identify their obstacles and build confidence.
Shaheen Kauser
Shaheen Kauser has been a member of WY Strategic Race Equality Network since December 2021.
Her role as Race Equality Project Manager for the Long Term Conditions and Mental Health Hub has given her the opportunity to promote and advocate for racial equality in all aspects of society. With a deep commitment to social justice and a passion for creating a more inclusive workforce, Shaheen actively contributes to the networks mission of addressing systemic racism and promoting fair and equal opportunities for all.
Shaheen collaborates with a diverse group of individuals including colleagues, communities and external stakeholders to develop and implement strategies that foster diversity, equity and inclusion.
Drawing upon her extensive knowledge and understanding of racial disparities, Shaheen actively engages in initiatives aimed at dismantling structural barriers and fostering a more equitable workplace and society. She actively seeks innovative solutions to address the challenges faced by marginalised communities.
Outside of work, she is dedicated to community engagement and advocacy, using her lived experience to inspire change and empower individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Zahida Mallard
I have worked in the public sector for over 30 years, including roles within Local Authority Adult Social Care and my current role as Equality and Involvement Manager at South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Prior to this I have worked several years within the VCFS (Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector) in West Yorkshire and in the West Midlands.
My qualifications include: MSc in Diversity Management, Certificate in Quality and Health Improvement, and Level 7 in Transformational Change. I have been a member of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) for over 12 years.
Social Justice is the core of my being. Giving voice to the voiceless and visibility to hidden differences is my passion and what drives me to make/be the change, as well as living my faith in everyday action.
My involvement and engagement is always from my lived experience and grassroots interaction. I’ve worked hard to make sure diverse voices are heard. I have created and influenced discussions and conversations around equality, and changed direction of travel on a local, regional, national, and on occasion, international footprint by undertaking this activity. I feel that through my work, where I live and where I volunteer, I can represent views of all five places that make up West Yorkshire Integrated Care System.
Outside of work I am currently involved and active in several initiatives around community development, education/training, and governance. I have held roles (over 30 years) of being Board Member/Director of a couple of charities, covering Hate Crime and a grant-making body. I am also a member of a regional Crown Prosecution Service Scrutiny Panel. Nationally I am involved in influencing and developing an academic syllabus from a faith-based context.
Kulvant Sandhu
Kulvant Sandhu is the Senior Programme Manager for Unpaid Carers, Personalisation and Palliative End of Life care at the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), and a member of the West Yorkshire Strategic Race Equality Network. Kulvant is a mental health nurse by background having spent over 16 years working in a variety of NHS settings. She became a Queens Nurse in December 2021 for demonstrating high level of commitment to improving patient care and nursing practice over her career.
Kulvant has years of experience in championing and leading on race equality agendas with multi-award winning recognition. She was previously chair of Leeds Community Healthcare’s first Race Equality Network for a number of years, helping to establish and grow their staff network. For her leadership in race equality agendas in 2020 she was awarded Leeds Community Healthcare’s leader of the year award, and in 2021 awarded Compassionate and Inclusive Leader- Role Model of the Year at the National Black Asian and Minority Ethnicity Health & Care Awards. For her work in Leeds Community Healthcare alongside their organisation’s Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, they were also awarded the 2021 HSJ Award for Freedom to Speak Up Organisation of the Year.
Kulvant continues to champion addressing race inequalities in her current role within the ICB, promoting positive culture change across the health and care system.