Published on: 1 September 2023
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and two of its members of staff have been named as finalists for work carried out within the NHS at a national awards scheme run by Asian NHS professionals. 
Both Ade Odunlade – Chief Operating Officer and Amber Ghei – Communications Officer, are in the running for awards at the Asian Professionals National Alliance (APNA) NHS Awards.
The Trust, meanwhile, is in contention for the Trust of the Year award.
The awards celebrate South Asian colleagues and those who support equality, diversity and inclusion work to break through the glass ceiling and visibly make a difference to the NHS and its diverse workforce.
Ade, who started at the Trust in 2021, is a finalist for the Mentoring and Coaching Champion Award, which recognises significant positive action in coaching and mentoring aspiring diverse leaders, and creating a pipeline for the future.
A colleague working closely with Ade, praised him for his personal commitment to help build an inclusive and diverse workforce within the NHS.
Ade has helped to develop the weeklong programme for school leavers, which launched earlier this month to provide an insight into the different roles within the Trust and the wider NHS, to encourage students to consider the NHS as a future career.
Amber, who joined Derbyshire Healthcare in 2022, was shortlisted for the Rising Star Award for demonstrating significant impact, influence, career progression and leadership in a short time – and considered an NHS leader of the future.
Amber was recognised for regularly engaging with local media and working with TV news outlets to cover important health issues.
One of Amber’s most recent efforts was to champion a new regional gambling support service – the East Midlands Gambling Harms Service, which was featured as the lead story on the lunchtime, evening and late news bulletins and resulted in a large number of referrals into the service – far more than had been predicted for a service in its infancy.
APNA is a voluntary organisation of NHS health and social care leaders of South Asian descent. The network have a clear focus on reducing health and workforce inequalities; supporting and informing policy and strategic change.
Mark Powell, Chief Executive at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Both Ade and Amber have worked exceptionally hard in line with the values and aims of APNA NHS and our organisation.
“As an organisation we are highly committed to reducing health inequalities and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion. We will continue to celebrate our workforce widely and promote a positive culture across healthcare.”
Ade was pleased to receive the good news, he said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed coaching and mentoring aspiring leaders who will go on to become diverse leaders for the future who can continue to promote the value of an inclusive, diverse NHS.
“It is a pleasure to work closely with talented and dedicated people who share the same values of putting inclusion at the heart of everything we do.”
Amber was equally as delighted, she said: “It is a real honour to be recognised for an award, particularly one which highlights the hard work of those championing diversity and those who identify as South Asian working in the NHS.
“The importance of promoting diversity and inclusivity across healthcare is paramount. We should continue to create working environments which support people from all backgrounds.”
Winners will be announced at the awards event at Warwick University on Saturday 16 September.
