Patrick Vernon

 Rising Together: Unlocking the Potential of Global Majority Nurses and Midwives.

Rising Together 2026 will be hosted by Professor Patrick Vernon OBE FrHistS, a nationally respected campaigner and senior health leader whose work has shaped inclusive leadership across the NHS and beyond. As the first Non-Executive Director for Inequalities appointed to an Integrated Care Board in England, and former Chair of NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB, Professor Vernon brings deep system insight grounded in lived experience. His leadership sits at the intersection of policy, accountability, and community voice—setting the tone for a conference rooted in honesty, influence, and action.

Rising Together: Unlocking the Potential of Global Majority Nurses and Midwives is a one-day conference dedicated to advancing equity in nursing and midwifery leadership. Bringing together Global Majority professionals, educators, and system leaders, the event will spotlight good practice, confront persistent barriers, and co-create solutions for meaningful change—particularly across the North of England, where leadership representation remains disproportionately low.

Grounded in lived experience and collective expertise, the conference will explore what works, what holds us back, and what must change to ensure Global Majority nurses and midwives are not only present, but empowered in leadership roles. It also supports organisations to meet Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) goals and progress against the Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES), with a focus on sustainable, system-wide accountability.

Why This Conference Matters

Across the NHS, leadership programmes have multiplied—but their impact has not been felt equally. Global Majority nurses and midwives continue to be excluded from senior decision-making spaces despite their expertise, resilience, and frontline contributions. This leadership gap is not a reflection of capability; it is a reflection of systems that have failed to evolve.

WRES data continues to highlight persistent disparities: underrepresentation in senior roles, disproportionate disciplinary action, and unequal access to leadership development. These are systemic issues, not isolated incidents.

Rising Together is a direct response. It is a space to pause, interrogate, and reimagine. The conference will examine whether current leadership programmes are delivering on their promise, amplify the journeys of those who have broken through, and confront the barriers that remain. It will ask the hard questions:
Are we building leadership pathways that reflect the diversity of our workforce—or reinforcing the status quo?

With support from NHS England and alignment with national frameworks including WRES, Rising Together is a catalyst for visibility, equity, and transformation—across the North of England and beyond.

What to Expect

Participants will engage in a day of learning, dialogue, and action, including:

• Good practice case studies that are shifting the leadership landscape

• Honest conversations about structural barriers and systemic inequities

• Breakout sessions and policy-focused discussions to co-create solutions

• Networking opportunities with peers committed to equity, advocacy, and leadership progression

• CPD certificates and reflection forms to support professional development

• The opportunity to shape a post-conference report with recommendations for Integrated Care Boards and national stakeholders

• Practical insights to strengthen organisational approaches to EDI and WRES

Sponsorship and Exhibition Opportunities

A range of sponsorship packages is available, offering meaningful visibility and engagement, including:

• Breakout session leadership

• Exhibition stands

• Speaker slots

• Media promotion

• Dinner packages

Evet Details:

Event: Rising Together: Unlocking the Potential of Global Majority Nurses and Midwives
Date: Thursday, 5 February 2026
Time: 9:30am – 4:00pm
Venue: Manchester United Suite, Manchester
Host: Professor Patrick Vernon OBE FrHistS
Register: Here