As Director of Policy at the NHS Confederation, Layla champions authentic leadership and has brought LGBTQ+ inclusion into all aspects of her work. She is executive lead of the NHS Confederation’s Health and Care LGBTQ+ Leaders Network where she drives national advocacy to improve inclusive leadership and policies, promoting LGBTQ+ visibility and leadership across the NHS. Layla was instrumental in creating a representative response from LGBTQ+ leaders and mental health professionals on banning conversion therapy. She role models visible diversity, writing, chairing and speaking on public platforms, including panel discussions at national conferences. Within the NHS Confederation, Layla founded and is executive sponsor for the LGBTQ+ staff group which has delivered better LGBTQ+ visibility, allyship and belonging through meetings, all-staff discussions, policies, and organisation-wide blogs and videos. LGBTQ+ board members and staff are increasing, and LGBTQ+ staff are now the most engaged in the organisation. In her voluntary role as Director of the Centre for Urban Design and Mental Health, she advocates for LGBTQ+ inclusion in urban planning and design, including via blogs, interviews, and inclusion in her recent book, Restorative Cities: Urban Design for Mental Health and Wellbeing. Layla’s upcoming book is about LGBTQ+ people in the workplace.
