Draft:Adebayo Tijani

Dr. Adebayo Tijani

Dr. Adebayo Tijani is a Nigerian-British academic and a prominent leader in Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) within the United Kingdom's public health sector. He is the current Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at West London NHS Trust, where he serves as the strategic lead for EDI and health inequalities. His work focuses on implementing data-driven strategies to foster inclusive workplace cultures and address systemic inequities in healthcare.

Education and Academic Career Dr. Tijani holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Equality and Diversity from Newcastle University Business School. His doctoral thesis, "Navigating the Labyrinth: A Bourdieuian Analysis of Gendered and Racialised Power Structures in Organisational Practices," was an in-depth study of inequality within the London Ambulance Service.

His other academic qualifications include a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in International Human Resource Management from Coventry University. Dr. Tijani is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD).

His scholarly work includes "The ADAPT Framework: A Cross-Sectoral Approach to Cultural Competency Development."

NHS Leadership West London NHS Trust

At West London NHS Trust, Dr. Tijani is responsible for the EDI agenda for an organization of over 4,500 staff. Reporting to executive leadership, he collaborates with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including the Trust Board, staff networks, patient groups, and community organisations, to embed EDI principles across the Trust.

His role involves the strategic development and implementation of key national NHS equality frameworks, such as the Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) and the Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES). He also chairs the Equality and Diversity Committee and provides expert consultation to the Trust Board on complex EDI matters to ensure compliance with the Equality Act 2010. Between 2020 and 2022, his leadership contributed to significant improvements across all WRES indicators and a majority of WDES indicators.

Notable achievements at the Trust include:

Spearheading initiatives that increased Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) representation across all staffing levels, including senior management and the Trust Board. Leading the implementation of the Patient Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF). Helping the Trust achieve the Stonewall Bronze Diversity Champion accreditation, recognising its commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion. Contributing to the Trust winning the Mayor of London's Design Lab PiP Award for its Anti-Racist Policy and framework. Medway Foundation Trust

Prior to his current role, Dr. Tijani was the Head of Culture & Workforce Engagement at Medway Foundation Trust, where he led the implementation of the "Best Culture" delivery plan.

Advocacy and Approach Dr. Tijani is described as being passionate about driving positive change within organisations and communities. He is dedicated to leveraging innovative approaches to help businesses achieve a fair and inclusive culture while addressing health inequalities in the communities they serve.

His approach is noted to be rooted in data-driven insights, strategic thinking, and collaborative partnerships. With a deep understanding of the challenges in the sector, his expertise lies in executing initiatives that foster a sense of belonging, empower underrepresented groups, and promote equitable practices. He is a proponent of using machine learning and AI analytics to translate complex HR data into actionable recommendations for policy and strategy.

Publications Tijani, A. (2024). The ADAPT Framework: A Cross-Sectoral Approach to Cultural Competency Development. SSRN. Tijani, A. (2024).

Navigating the Labyrinth: A Bourdieuian Analysis of Gendered and Racialised Power Structures in Organisational Practices. Newcastle University.