Professional Development & Leadership Conference
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Organised by the British Caribbean Doctors & Dentists Association in collaboration with the Healthcare Leadership Academy, will take place on 07 June 2025 at De Morgan House, London.
About the Event
The British Caribbean Doctors & Dentists Association (BCDD) is proud to invite you to our Professional Development & Leadership Conference. This inspiring event is designed for doctors, dentists, and healthcare professionals, empowering them to drive change, tackle health inequalities, and shape the future of medicine and dentistry.
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This conference will provide the skills, knowledge, and networks necessary to excel as healthcare leaders in today’s challenging landscape.
What to Expect
Inspiring Keynotes & Expert Discussions
The event features keynote addresses from respected thought leaders, including:
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Medical Defence Union (MDU) – Safeguarding your career and navigating professional challenges
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General Medical Council (GMC) – Anti-Racism and support for International Medical Graduates (IMGs)
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Healthcare Leadership Academy (HLA) – Developing the next generation of healthcare leaders
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Gain insights from trailblazing leaders who have navigated successful careers across multiple specialties.
Interactive Workshops
The conference includes a range of workshops covering key topics such as:
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Workshop Session A
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Stream 1
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Medical law: Navigating legal aspects in healthcare
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Your Financial Wellbeing
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Stream 2
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Out-of-program experiences
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The Stanford Experience
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Research and Audits (NIHR)
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Workshop Session B
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Stream 1
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Setting up private practice: Practical things to consider
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5 Ways to a more profitable business​
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Stream 2
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Beyond the Box: Career diversification and Entrepreneurship
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Creating a safe space for black medics
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Giving Back at Home and Abroad
Networking & Mentorship
The conference offers invaluable networking opportunities with peers, senior professionals, and future leaders within the BCDD community.
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Connect with like-minded individuals
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Find mentors who can guide your career
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Discuss healthcare leadership, policy, and strategy
Health Inequality Focus
Explore how leadership can address disparities affecting Caribbean communities and influence healthcare policy at all levels.
Financial & Legal Advice
Access expert guidance on protecting and growing your career, whether you’re newly qualified or an experienced professional. Topics include career advancement, financial management, and legal issues relevant to healthcare professionals.
Ticket Information
Price: £70.00
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Members-only Discount Available: Check your email for the discount code.
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Don't miss out on the opportunity to attend this inspiring and educational conference. Secure your spot today and gain valuable insights into healthcare leadership, financial wellbeing, legal considerations, and more. Whether you're a doctor, dentist, or healthcare professional looking to elevate your career, this event will provide you with the tools and networks needed to succeed.
Meet Our Guest Speakers
Arnold M Bonsu – Principal Financial Adviser
Arnold is the Principal Financial Adviser at Hoxton Financial Services. He has been working in Financial Services for a decade now and has advised for some of the largest organisations in the industry, including Schroders Personal Wealth and Lloyds Banking Group.
He is a fully qualified financial adviser, having qualified with both the London Institute of Banking and Finance and the Chartered Insurance Institute. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance.
He is passionate about financial advice and takes pride in ensuring that his clients receive an outstanding level of service.
Arnold is a keen advocate for early financial education and in his spare time, supports some of the local schools and colleges in educating their students on personal finance.
Asari St Hill – Business Coach, The Black Business Club
Asari St Hill is an Award Winning ActionCOACH. He just won the Executive Coach of the Year 2025 for Europe, M.East & Africa (EMEA). He has run his own business for the last 14 years coaching and training business owners and teams. He has helped business owners to scale through £1m and one client well over £10m. He also launched the Black Business Club in December 2022. The aim is to increase the amount of business we do between each other in the Black community. We have 3 themes – networking, collaboration and business education. We now have over 60 members and meet online twice per month plus quarterly socials. He also writes for The Voice Newspaper on business.
Dr Johann Malawana
Former frontline Clinician with experience in representation and leadership within medicine at local, regional and national level. Experience of negotiations with various bodies on a variety of projects and initiatives. Currently an Academic, Business Leader, Non Executive Director, Investor and Entrepreneur building organisations in Education, Healthcare, Technology and Impact CEO and Founder of a Healthcare Education Technology Company designing and building: www.medics.academy Managing Director of The Healthcare Leadership Academy.
Dr Marjani Orchery
Dr Marjani Orchery is a dual-qualified doctor and dentist with a strong commitment to advancing health equity. She is the founder of SMILEquity, an initiative dedicated to improving health equity through culturally relevant education, advocacy and community engagement. In recognition of her work, she was awarded 2024 CAHN Dentist of the Year for her commitment to empowering and educating communities. Her work focuses on creating inclusive health systems and reducing health inequalities.
Dr Monique Wheatle
Dr Monique Wheatle BSc Mbhcb is a doctor currently working in medical education, and an incoming GP trainee. She began her journey studying Biomedical Science before studying Graduate medicine, during which she co-founded African Caribbean Medical Mentors (ACMM). She started this after recognising the need for a service to improve the representation of black individuals within the medical profession, and this charity has since helped thousands of individuals at all stages of their medical careers, creating a safe community for black medics. She has a keen interest in public health and addressing health inequality, which has transitioned to her current role as a trustee for StreetGames - a UK wide charity which aims to allow children to access sport regardless of their financial background. Throughout her journey she has tutored students through outreach, her work with ACMM and community projects, with the aim of using her experiences to help others realise their potential.
​Dr Rachael Harlow MB BChir, MChD
Rachael Harlow is a dual-qualified dental surgeon and doctor, having trained at the University of Leeds and the University of Cambridge. She has spent her early career in maxillofacial surgery, and has recently pivoted into clinical research at Roche Pharmaceuticals in Basel, Switzerland. She has recently led the development and rollout of fellowship and internship programmes in her current role and as immediate past president of the University of Cambridge Black Medics Society.
James Watkins
James Watkins is the founder of Mainz World, a community organisation specialising in prevention, intervention, and diversionary solutions for families and communities. With a strong commitment to social impact, James leads several national and international initiatives that serve marginalised communities.
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Of Jamaican heritage, James has run several projects in schools and communities across Jamaica, delivering mental health and well-being workshops to those that need it most. His work continues to bridge gaps, empower individuals, and create lasting change both in the UK and abroad.
Prof Patrick Vernon OBE – Chair and Non-executive Director for Inequalities
Professor Patrick Vernon OBE, is the Chair of the Birmingham and Solihull NHS Integrated Care Board (BSol ICB). Patrick initially took up the role on an interim basis in January 2023 and was appointed as permanent Chair in January 2024. Patrick was the first Non-Executive Director to be appointed at the BSol ICB and was appointed to specifically lead inequalities (in fact he was the first NED lead for inequalities to be appointed in the country). He received an Order of the British Empire in 2012 for his work on tackling health inequalities and ethnic minority communities. In 2019, he was awarded a lifetime achievement award for campaigning and advocacy work by the Sheila McKechnie Foundation.
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Patrick is a former Non-Executive Director for Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust and Healthwatch England. In 2020 Patrick established the Majonzi Fund, which is providing grants to families and community organisations to hold commemoration events for individuals from Black and racialised communities who have died from COVID-19 during the pandemic. Alongside his work for the BSol ICB, Patrick also chairs the Walsall Together Partnership Board working to create happier partnership working in the locality.
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In August 2021 Patrick was appointed by Wolverhampton University as Honorary Professor of Cultural Heritage and Community Leadership for the Department of Community Development. In 2020, Patrick was selected by British Vogue as one of Britain’s top 20 campaigners and was included in the 2020 power list of 100 influential Black People in Britain. Also in 2020, Patrick co-authored 100 Great Black Britons. Patrick is a sought-after broadcaster, public speaker and writes blogs and articles for the national and international media on healthcare, cultural heritage and race.
Professor Kavin Andi
Professor Kavin Andi is a Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in London, specialising in ablative and reconstructive head and neck cancer surgery. He has served as Regional Specialty Advisor to the Royal College of Surgeons of England, President of the Institute of Maxillofacial Prosthetists and Technologists, and External Examiner at King’s College London. He also contributes as a Macmillan Cancer Professional Reviewer and peer reviews technology and innovation research for the NIHR.
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Professor Andi holds both Dental and Medical degrees from Bart’s and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry and completed Higher Surgical Training across leading London hospitals. He was awarded the Intercollegiate FRCS (OMFS) and ranked first nationally for the Advanced Head & Neck Interface Training Fellowship, which he completed at Guy’s Hospital alongside a Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. He also holds a Masters in Law applied to Medicine.
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His research focuses on the integration of Digital Engineering in Surgery — including VR/AR, AI, robotics, and intelligent imaging — and has earned international recognition, including the 2012 Norman Rowe Clinical Prize. He completed robotic surgical training at the IRCAD Institute in Strasbourg and supports MSc and PhD research at Cranfield University School of Aerospace and Manufacturing.
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Born in Arua, Uganda, with Jamaican heritage, Professor Andi lives in London with his wife and three children. He is currently completing his private pilot’s licence to support his charity work across Africa.
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Simone Bowman – Bow Law Chambers
Simone Bowman is a seasoned legal professional and is the founder and director of Bow Law Barristers Chambers (UK & Caribbean) and Tenant of The Barrister Group.
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She is a dual qualified practicing Barrister (2015) and former Solicitor of England and Wales (2006) and Attorney at Law in several Caribbean Jurisdictions, including Guyana, Jamaica and several Eastern Caribbean islands.
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Her areas of expertise include professional regulatory, complex private family law disputes (including cross jurisdictional children and matrimonial finance cases), and property trust disputes.
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Beyond her legal practice, Simone is a published author and is deeply involved in civil, commercial, and community mediation.
Simone's extensive experience and dedication to both her professional clients and the African Caribbean diaspora community, highlights her as a passionate advocate and leader in her field.
Tista Chakravarty-Gannon – Head of Outreach Strategic Delivery and National Engagement, GMC
Tista has worked in the service for over 25 years supporting survivors of abuse. She now also co-leads the Outreach team at the GMC and heads up their ‘Welcome to UK Practice’ work to support doctors who qualified overseas. More recently she has worked on collaborative projects with the Gold Standards Framework and RCGP. Tista still provides support to survivors of abuse and is involved in projects to empower women and children, including recent work to tackle misogyny in medicine. Tista is passionate about the NHS and has particular interests in safeguarding, medical leadership and quality improvement, especially pertaining to anti-discrimination and compassionate cultures. She is a peer reviewer for BMJ Leader and SushrataJournal of Health Policy and Opinion on these issues and was awarded BAPIO’s President’s award for Professional Excellence in 2022 and the BIDA Special Award in 2024, for her commitment to work in this arena. She is currently co-authoring a medical text book on anti-racism in medicine for Elsevier.
My name is Shadeyah, I am a qualified yoga teacher and wellness coach. I love facilitating Yoga, Breathwork, Meditation and wellbeing sessions at my weekly classes and at my wellness events. After working in the corporate industry for over 10 years I know the importance of having a workplace wellbeing regime for yourself and your teams.
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I am passionate about what I do; helping others to find wellness and peace through movement and mindset.