Sandra Husbands (Director of Public Health, Hackney) interviews Jacquie Burke, Executive Director for Children & Education at Hackney Council. The conversation covers how anti-racism work has been embedded across children's social care, education, and commissioning in Hackney, with lessons for public health and the wider London system.

Key topics discussed:

• Motivation & approach: Jacquie arrived at Hackney shortly after the murder of George Floyd. She and her social care operations director felt existing Black Lives Matter work needed to translate into tangible changes for children and families receiving services. She co-leads race equity work across London for the Association of Directors of Children's Services.
• Strategic vs. operational anti-racism: Jacquie frames anti-racism as both a moral imperative and a business-critical one — neglecting underserved communities leads to higher costs and worse outcomes downstream. She challenges the "we've always done it this way" mindset.
• The STAR practice model: Hackney developed a practice model for children's social care that is Systemic, Trauma-informed, and Anti-Racist. Ofsted recognized STAR running through the organization during a recent inspection.
• Anti-racist commissioning: Hackney is working to make procurement accessible to smaller, local Black and global majority organizations — moving from short-term grants to 3–5 year contracts to give them firmer footing.
• Data, categories, and interpretation: Sandra and Jacquie discuss how ONS racial categories are reductive, rooted in colonial structures, and often don't reflect how people identify themselves. They highlight the problem of always comparing outcomes to the white group as an implicit norm, and the need to co-produce data interpretation with affected communities.
• Education & exclusions: Hackney's high permanent exclusion rate and the Child Q incident were catalysts for change. The council reconfigured its exclusion service into an inclusion-focused, multi-agency team that intervenes early with at-risk children — achieving an estimated 20% reduction in permanent exclusions. Exclusion is flagged as a major safeguarding issue, linked to increased risk of criminality and harm.
• Hair policing: They discuss the history of schools policing Black children's hair (afros, locs) under "disruption" pretexts, and the ongoing need for vigilance even after initial progress.
• Emotional toll on staff: Jacquie's key takeaway is the emotional exhaustion this work places on Black and global majority staff, who are often asked to share trauma stories to convince white colleagues. She stresses that the data already exists — the burden of proof shouldn't fall on those most affected.
• Looking ahead: Both see strong potential for ADCS and ADPH London to collaborate, particularly around mental health pathways for Black and global majority children and understanding the cumulative impact of systemic racism on wellbeing.

In this episode we return to Eastern Europe. We interview PhD Researcher at Bournemouth University, Adina Maglan,  Commissioner in Public Health at the London Borough of Newham Madalina Pop, and midwife and founder of Elythia online platform Emma Raja Krishnen about the newly formed Romanian Health Equity Forum (RoHEF).

In this episode Dr Sandra Husbands, Director of Public Health of City and Hackney, interviews Professor Kevin Fenton (CBE) about his three decade career in public health.

The discussion covers his globe-trotting journey, his rise to public prominence during the COVID pandemic and his brand of authentic leadership.

In this episode we speak to Victoria Ekanoye and David Ayeni, the host and the director of new documentary Shades of Survival, about the topic of black women and breast cancer.

Nurullah Turan and Taylan Sahbaz both came to the UK as immigrants from Turkey in the early 90s, and have been working to support their communities for most of their adult lives. In this episode we discuss the unique history and challenges of this relatively recent migrant community.

In this episode Adeola Agbebiyi talks to Jason Stretlitz about his new book Same Storm, Different Boats, which details battling the COVID pandemic during his time as the Director of Public Health for the London Borough of Newham.

In this episode Lee Pinkerton interviews Marc Thompson, lead commissioner for the London HIV Prevention Program. As well as sharing findings from their latest report, Marc discusses the double stigma of being a Black gay man with HIV, and what we can learn from high profile cases like those of Magic Johnson and Fela Kuti.

The London HIV Prevention Programme (LHPP) is a city-wide initiative commissioned by the Association of Directors of Public Health London (ADPL) and delivered on behalf of all London boroughs.

Their recent Black Heritage Needs Assessment is a vital piece of work commissioned as part of the wider LHPP programme and is a key step in their commitment to tackling health inequalities and improving HIV prevention for Black communities across London.

You can access their report here

Professor Chinegwundoh’s shares his early career challenges, as well as highlighting his ground-breaking research on prostate cancer disparities in Black men, linking genetic and environmental factors. 

Perhaps most importantly he discusses how lifestyle, diet and sexual activity can influence a man’s prostate cancer risk.

Dr. Sharmin Shajahan shares her extensive experience in public health, including her early work in Tower Hamlets and her PhD research on access to health services for Bangladeshi cardiac patients.

Dr. Shajahan also discusses her current roles as Deputy Director at Voice for Change England, and co-chair of the London Bangladeshi Health Partnership, addressing health disparities like diabetes and cancer screening, and emphasises the need for innovative community engagement approaches.

link to the Voice For Change website  https://www.voice4change-england.org/

link to the Horizons Health Programme https://www.voice4change-england.org/horizons-london-programme

Link to the Bangladeshi Health Partnership website https://www.banglaha.org.uk/lbhp

In this episode guests Jabeer Butt, Chief Executive of the Race Equality Foundation, and Tracy Bignall highlight the Race Equality Foundation's work, as it pertains to the Institute of Health Equity (IHE) recommendations on health inequalities. 

The guests discuss the co-production of detailed recommendations that aim to be actionable and impactful in reducing racial health disparities in London. The conversation covers how structural factors impact health, and the importance of a wide range of interventions across different sectors.

The episode also delves into the Foundation's approach to addressing systemic racism through both behavior and systems change. They express concerns about trust in public systems and emphasize the importance of consistent engagement and transparency.

Dr. Amanda Simon and Tracey Bignall discuss the Race Equity Maturity Index (REMI)

Introducing the REMI: A Tool for Advancing Race Equity in Public Health

In this episode of the Public Health Tackling Racism and Inequality podcast, host Adeola Agbebiyi explores the Race Equity Maturity Index (REMI) alongside guests Dr. Amanda Simon and Tracey Bignall.

Dr. Simon and Bignall detail the origins and development of REMI, emphasizing its role as a self-assessment tool designed to help organizations in the public health sector achieve sustainable race equity.

They discuss the six stages of the REMI framework and its alignment with other equity tools, sharing insights on its implementation and impact. The conversation highlights the importance of leadership buy-in, flexibility, and the benefits of a collaborative and iterative process in fostering meaningful change.

https://anti-racism.london/race-equity-maturity-index/

00:00 Introduction to the Public Health Tackling Racism and Inequality Program

00:33 Overview of the Position Statement and Program Themes

01:01 Podcast Series Goals and Host Introduction

01:43 Welcoming the Guests: Dr. Amanda Simon and Tracy Bignall

03:30 Tracey Bignall's Journey into Public Health and Race Equality

05:07 Amanda Simon's Path to the Race Equality Foundation

10:05 Exploring the Race Equity Maturity Index (REMI)

12:30 Development and Design of the REMI

15:54 Implementing the REMI: Steps and Benefits

20:38 Current Adoption and Impact of the REMI

29:09 Self-Assessment and Organizational Buy-In

35:05 Final Thoughts and Encouragement to Use the REMI

39:27 Personal Reflections and Closing Remarks

In the latest installment of our podcast, we delve into a critical discussion surrounding health equity and community outreach with two distinguished public health leaders. Dr. John Licorish, a Public Health Consultant in Brent, joins forces with Dr. Adeola Agbebiyi, the Assistant Director of Public Health in Newham, to unpack the complexities of identifying and engaging communities often labeled as ‘hard to reach’ who are more accurately described as 'underserved'.

The Newham Health Equity Programme (NHEP) Health Equity Toolkit has been built to support service commissioners, designers and providers to analyse how equitable a service is.

At the launch, the team from Newham introduced their ‘four steps to improving equity’ model, which helps individuals, teams, and organisations through the processes needed to understand health inequalities and implement effective service improvements. 

This model combines the activity and thinking from other change frameworks, including quality improvement methods used by the NHS, but makes this even easier to understand and follow. 

If you’d like to learn more about the Does It Look Like Newham (DILLN) and ART Framework tools, more details can be found on their website at https://www.wellnewham.org.uk/advice/newham-health-equity-toolkit

In this episode, Dr. Sandra Husbands, Director of Public Health for the City of London and Hackney, hosts Dr. Adeola Agbebiyi, Assistant Director of Public Health in Newham, as they discuss Dr. Adeola's diverse career journey from film censorship to public health. 

They delve into her work on Newham Health Equity Programme, tackling structural racism, and implementing the ART framework to reduce healthcare disparities. 

Dr. Adeola emphasizes the importance of culturally competent public health services, community engagement, and innovative approaches to improve health outcomes for marginalized populations. 

The conversation also explores behavior change frameworks and how implementation science can bridge the gap between national health policies and local health needs, ultimately leading to more equitable and effective health interventions.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

02:18 Career Journey and Public Health

04:34 Public Health and Behavioral Science

10:12 Newham Health Equity Programme

16:17 Challenges in Public Health Services

20:28 ART Framework and Service Design

25:58 Diabetes Remission and Public Health Messaging

39:42 ADPH London Public Health Network

46:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode Dr Sandra Husbands, Director of Public Health of City and Hackney, interviews Dr. Will Maimaris, Director of Public Health in Haringey. The discussion covers Dr. Maimaris' journey into public health, his experiences and challenges in leadership, Public Health's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts in anti-racism and tackling inequality, and the specifics of his cardiovascular disease prevention work in North Central London.

In this episode, host Lee Pinkerton welcomes three distinguished guests from the public health sector to discuss the unique health inequalities faced by Eastern European communities in the UK. 

Tetiana Teslenko, a paediatrician and neonatologist from Ukraine shares her work on childhood health and vaccination awareness among Ukrainian refugees. 

Galina Nguekam , a public health advanced practitioner working in Barking & Dagenham, outlines the efforts of the NHS and local councils to engage Eastern European communities through culturally sensitive outreach and vaccination steering groups. 

Diana Divajeva, a Lithuanian-born Public Health Intelligence Lead based in Hackney, explains the importance of data-driven decision-making and the challenges of overcoming misinformation and distrust in health services.

An interview with Professor Winston Morgan, Professor of Toxicology, Equity and Inclusive Practice at the University of East London.

Confronting Racism: Health Inequities, Sickle Cell Challenges, and Academic Gatekeeping

In this compelling episode of the Public Health Tackling Racism and Inequality Program podcast, host Lee Pinkerton engages with Professor Winston Morgan from the University of East London. They delve into the impacts of racism on public health and academic careers, discussing the ADPH London position statement and exploring strategies to combat systemic barriers.

The conversation touches on the psychological and physiological effects of racism, such as chronic stress contributing to premature aging and disease vulnerability. Highlighting new advancements, the episode also covers promising gene therapy for sickle cell disease and addresses the biases and training gaps in healthcare that affect treatment quality. Throughout, the importance of increasing diversity among healthcare professionals and understanding the broader societal factors influencing health disparities are emphasized.

00:00 Introduction to the Public Health Tackling Racism and Inequality Program

00:33 Themes for Action Development

01:01 Podcast Series Overview

01:43 Guest Introduction: Professor Winston Morgan

02:32 Professor Morgan's Academic Journey

03:06 Challenges in Academia

08:47 Supporting Students and Overcoming Barriers

11:47 Research on Racism and Public Health

15:44 The Impact of Discrimination on Health

17:12 Understanding the John Henryism Effect

18:34 Exploring Sickle Cell Research

20:43 Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell

24:04 Challenges in Sickle Cell Treatment

28:51 Genetic Diversity and Health Inequalities

31:29 Conclusion and Final Thoughts