I am a Professor of Diversity in Public Health and Director of the Institute for Health Research at the University of Bedfordshire. The Institute for Health Research hosts a thriving health research programme, examining issues throughout the whole of the life-course from pre-conception to end-of-life care. I was the Research Lead for the Unit of Assessment 3 (Health) for the REF2021 and REF2014.

I have a unique mix of Public Sector Board Leadership experience, Government public health advisory experience, and extensive Patient and Public Involvement research track-record. I currently serve as an Expert Adviser to the NICE Centre for Guidelines and as a Member of the BMA Medical Ethics Committee; as well as bring a Facilitator for the UK Faculty of Public Health’s Accredited Practitioner Program. I hold Honorary Public Health Academic Contracts at the Office for Health Improvement & Disparities and the UK Health Security Agency respectively.

I contributed to the national effort on COVID19 management as:

• National Member, NHS England, Clinical Advisory Group - Workforce Cell – Disproportionate impact of COVID 19 on NHS Black Asian and Minority Ethnic staff
• National Member, Public Health England/Joint Biosecurity Centre/NHS Test and Trace Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions Ethics Group (NPEG)

I am privileged to serve as Vice-Lord Lieutenant for Bedfordshire and support the Lord-Lieutenant in carrying out her functions as His Majesty The King’s representative in the county.

My research is focused on the development of patient-centred care pathways. 

I have undertaken research and consultancy on a range of issues with a focus on social justice and equity – topics ranging from COVID-19 & public engagement, air quality, greenspaces, diabetes, kidney disease, organ donation and transplantation, mental health, tele-health, social prescription, cancer and end-of-life care amongst diverse communities.

I am the author of the seminal Faith Engagement & Organ Donation Action Plan [PDF] which was commissioned by NHS Blood and Transplant. The Plan was published in partnership with Faith Leaders and is the first Faith-based Action Plan commissioned by a national public sector body in the UK. The Plan is being used as a blueprint approach for Equality Delivery Systems in the UK and worldwide. I am also Director of the UK Organ Donor and Transplant Research Centre. I am currently a Member of the Donation Ethnicity Liberty Inclusion Pontifical Academy for Life (PAL) – Vatican State-led Engagement of Religious communities (DELIVER) Project; as well as a Member, European Society of Transplantation (ESOT) – Health Equity Steering Committee; and a Member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Advisory Panel on Donation and Transplantation.

I have received grants from organisations such as the National Institute for Health Research, Department of Health, EU Horizon 2020, Health Education England, Kidney Research UK, Big Lottery Fund, NHS Blood and Transplant. and the King's Fund.

I am also a Public Sector Board Governance Expert and have extensive experience as a Board coach, facilitator, consultant and trainer with all levels of leadership in the public and voluntary sectors. I have over 30 years' experience as a NHS Board member at national and local level in both Chair and Non-Executive Director roles. I’ve created Boards from inception, delivered financial turnaround, produced sustainability and transformation plans, CQC Improvement Plans. Leadership experience gained, most recently, as Non-Executive Member (Deputy Chair), NHS Central East Integrated Care Board (ICB), and as a Non-Executive Director of Forestry England.

I hold a number of policy and practice positions:

• Member, World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Advisory Panel on Donation and Transplantation.
• Non-Executive Member (Deputy Chair), NHS Central East Integrated Care Board (ICB)
• Fellow, UK Faculty of Public Health

• Expert Advisor, NICE Centre for Guidelines, UK 

• Non-Executive Director, Forestry England
• Expert Advisor, NICE Centre for Guidelines, UK
• Facilitator, Faculty of Public Health Accredited Practitioner Program, UK Faculty of Public Health
• Honorary Public Health Academic Contract, Office for Health Improvement & Disparities, UK
• Honorary Public Health Academic Contract, UK Health Security Agency, UK
• Adjunct Professor, Ton Duc Thang University, Vietnam
• Chair, Transplant 2030 Stakeholder Group, UK
• National Member, National Black and Minority Ethnic Transplant Alliance, UK
• Member - Health Equity Steering Committee , European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT)
• Member, European Ethical, Legal and Psychosocial Aspect of Transplantation Platform (ELPAT) – Public Issues in Organ Donation & Transplantation
• Member, British Medical Association Ethics Committee, UK
• Member, Donation Ethnicity Liberty Inclusion Pontifical Academy for Life (PAL) – Vatican State-led Engagement of Religious communities (DELIVER) Project
• Member, Quality and safety of organs for transplantation - European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and HealthCare (EDQM) Group of Experts, Council of Europe
• National Member, Strategy Oversight & Sustainable Funding Group, NHS Blood & Transplant 
• National Member, NIHR Policy Research Unit, Behavioural and Social Sciences
• National Member, Mental Health Working Group, NHS Race & Health Observatory, UK
• National Member, Independent Stakeholder Advisory Board, National Institute for Health Research – Rapid Service Evaluation Team
• National Member, UK Implementation Group, Commonwealth Tribute to Life – Organ Donation
• Member, Data Monitoring and Ethics Committee, Increasing Retention of healthcare staff from minority groups (I-CARE), National Institute for Health and Social Care Research
• Chair, NIHR IM-Adapted Trial Steering Committee
• Member, Healthy Futures East Advisory Group

I have a specialist knowledge of Board leadership/Strategy development/Public Health/Commissioning issues – Public health workforce development, Health and Wellbeing Boards, Public Health policy development, Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs). Public health, equalities and diversity research experience gained via working on national and international projects commissioned by Government bodies.

Other References

• LinkedIn
• Institute for Health Research
• www.youtube.com
• Twitter @gurchrandhawa

• Health inequalities
• COVID19 and public engagement
• Air quality
• Greenspaces
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Kidney Disease
• End-of-life care
• Tele-health
• Organ donation and transplantation
• Mental health
• Cancer
• Social Prescription

• Masters by Research
• PhD supervision
• BSc Public Health
• MSc Public Health
• Short courses in Health Inequalities, Public Health Project Management, Healthcare Commissioning