I have always been deeply committed to LGBTQIA+ rights, as both an advocate and a member of the community. I want LGBTQIA+ individuals to know that people like me continue to champion inclusion, equality, and representation, especially within healthcare and academia.
In 2024, I embarked on two significant journeys. Firstly, I began a Master’s degree in Health Research, with the intention of progressing to a PhD. My research focuses on LGBTQIA+ health inequalities within pharmacy practice and education. All of my academic work is centred on addressing gaps in knowledge and advocating for inclusive pharmacy curricula that better prepare healthcare professionals to meet the needs of LGBTQIA+ patients.
Secondly, recognising the absence of representation within my own profession, I co-founded the Pride Branch of the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK. As a Pharmacy Technician, I was unable to access existing LGBTQIA+ networks available to pharmacists, which highlighted a clear inequality. Through this network, I have led and delivered educational sessions to my peers on a wide range of topics, including cancer care in LGBTQIA+ populations, unconscious bias, gender-affirming care, HIV and PrEP/PEP, inclusive communication, and taking inclusive drug histories.
Building on this work, I have organised a national series of online events for Pride Month this year in collaboration with key pharmacy stakeholders and leading LGBTQIA+ charities. These events are designed to be accessible to the entire pharmacy workforce—the third largest sector in the NHS—rather than being restricted to members of specific organisations. It aims to increase awareness, develop clinical knowledge, and build inclusive practice for both patients and colleagues. Alongside education, the events will also raise funds to support these charities.
All of my work leading this network is undertaken voluntarily, alongside my clinical and academic roles.
Within my clinical practice, I have actively advocated for inclusive change. I successfully campaigned for the introduction of pronouns on staff name badges, despite initial resistance. I also led an award-winning project examining the gender inclusivity of antimicrobial guidelines, which identified gaps in both language and clinical decision-making where binary assumptions were embedded. This work led to changes within my Trust and has since been shared with NHS England networks for further development.
In recognition of my contributions, I was awarded the EDI Champion Award at the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK Conference in 2025.
In the same year, I began my role as a Clinical Educator at the University of Sheffield within the School of Allied Health Professionals, where I lead on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. In this role, I embed inclusivity at the curriculum level, ensuring that future healthcare professionals are equipped to deliver truly patient-centred care. This includes integrating diverse representation into teaching materials and ensuring different health inequalities are addressed. I have also developed and deliver an annual, in-depth EDI workshop, and contribute to teaching across disciplines including speech and language therapy and optometry.
Through all of my work, I strive to create meaningful, lasting change—ensuring that LGBTQIA+ individuals are not only seen and respected, but are provided with equitable, informed, and compassionate care.
Alongside all of this, I have presented at several conferences, nationally and regionally, promoting the education of LGBTQIA+ topics for healthcare professionals.
This award would mean so much to me, not only to recognise the work I have already done, but to boost my platform and widen the network I have to make positive change.