THE equality lead at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust is up for a top national award for her work promoting diversity in the organisation.
Safina Nadeem has been shortlisted for the Mills & Reeve award for 'most effective use of diversity'.
Winners of the Healthcare People Management Association (HPMA) Awards, which celebrate the best in healthcare management, will be announced in June.
Safina, pictured, has the role of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) lead at the trust, which runs Steeping Hill Hospital and community NHS services in Stockport.
Since taking the role just over 18 months ago, Safina has been working closely with the trust's chair Adrian Belton in promoting EDI values in the workforce.
Safina has been working to identify and tackle areas where inequalities exist, including highlighting deficits in pay gaps between men and women in the trust.
She has been assessing performance on race equality, and helping to ensure equity in recruitment, promotion and experiences for the trust's disabled workforce.
Amongst many other initiatives, she has helped to establish effective staff networks in BAME, LGBT and disability, and organised a number of popular events to raise awareness highlight their work.
As a result the trust is now often contacted by neighbouring organisations to share best practice.
Adrian Belton said: "If we get our approach to EDI and culture right, we are well on the way to excelling at quality.
"Safina has been doing a fantastic job in helping us take great strides in ensuring we do get it right, and I’m delighted for her to be recognised at the HPMA Awards."