As Director of Policy for the NHS Confederation, Layla McCay is a national leader in health policy. She also runs the Health and Care LGBTQ+ leaders network which advocates for better inclusion in the health and care sectors, and she consistently role models and communicates about diversity on internal and public platforms. Layla came to international prominence this year for her contribution to LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion via the publication of her book, Breaking the Rainbow Ceiling: How LGBTQ+ People Can Thrive and Succeed at Work (Bloomsbury). Her exploration of how being LGBTQ+ can affect people’s careers, and how to overcome inequalities combines research with insights from senior executives who are LGBTQ+; it has inspired new discussions and actions across workplaces and leadership communities. Within her own organisation, Layla is executive sponsor for the NHS Confederation’s thriving LGBTQ+ staff group, which has achieved increases in staff engagement, inclusion and wellbeing.
