North East London ICB; UK

Safa is an Operational Director with over 15 years of experience in national and regional commissioning, strategic development, and system leadership. At 19, she was the youngest Community Development Worker in the country under the Delivering Race Equality framework, shaping her lifelong commitment to equity for Black and Asian communities. Safa has led impactful programmes at NHS England, including smoking cessation, COVID-19 vaccine equity and digital transformation, working closely with Ministerial teams and senior stakeholders. Her expertise spans service redesign, procurement and population health, with a clear focus on outcomes and inclusion. She has held senior roles in commissioning and stakeholder engagement across integrated care systems, clinical commissioning groups and the voluntary sector, influencing national policy and driving innovation. As a Charity Deputy Manager, she secured the Kings Fund and GlaxoSmithKline Awards in health education and engagement. With a BA in Counselling and Psychology and ongoing Prince2 certification, Safa pairs operational rigour with a values-driven approach. A mother of two, she is also a school governor and active community volunteer, raising funds for grassroots initiatives.