NHS Clinical Research Professional, Community Engagement Leader, Advocate for Inclusion and Health Equity, Health Equity Fellow
Abi is an experienced NHS clinical research professional with nearly 20 years’ experience delivering health research, particularly in mental health and dementia. Her work bridges research and underserved communities, championing inclusive engagement and ensuring that underrepresented voices are heard, valued and reflected in research.
She leads and manages the setup and delivery of NIHR portfolio research studies, within the
Research and Development team, at Leeds and York Partnership NHS Trust, with expertise in research coordination, participant engagement and inclusive recruitment. Previously, as Minority Hub Research Lead for West Yorkshire’s, for EMRI Project, she leads on ethnic minority inclusion in research, developing culturally responsive approaches to engagement and building trust with diverse communities. Abi advocates for equity and inclusion at organisational and national levels. She is a member of the UK Research and Development Leaders (UKRD) Inclusion Working Group and has served as Vice-Chair of the Workforce Race Equality Network on Organisational level. She also contributes to the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership’s Faith and Belief Toolkit as working group member and serves on the steering committee of the Healthtech Research Centre, supporting meaningful patient and public involvement in research. Her leadership experience includes co-creating and facilitating inclusive mentoring programmes and relevant initiatives locally and on national level, providing strategic guidance on inclusive research practices, and supporting researchers to strengthen professional development and inclusive research delivery in practice. She has completed projects using existing service and public data alongside lived-experience insights to explore health inequalities in mental health services, particularly among underserved communities. With postgraduate training in health research from the University of Leeds, Abi combines research delivery expertise, strategic leadership and community collaboration to advance equitable access to care and more inclusive research. Her work reflects the Beyond Assumptions theme by challenging assumptions about whose voices shape research and professional practice, championing lived experience and helping ensure that diverse communities inform the development of more accessible, responsive and equitable health and care services.
