Race Equality Strategic Leaders Group
Membership
Bristol’s Race Equality Strategic Leaders group is made up of the following organisations who all play a critical role in the work of the group:
- Avon and Somerset Police
- Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner
- Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
- Avon Fire and Rescue Service
- Bristol City Council
- Bristol Commission on Race Equality
- National Probation Service– Bristol & South Gloucestershire LDU
- NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire CCG
- North Bristol NHS Trust
- Sirona Care & Health
- South Western Ambulance Service
- SARI (Stand Against Racism and Inequality)
- University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
- University of Bristol
- University of the West of England, Bristol
- Black South West Network
- Crown Prosecution Service
- VOSCUR
- HMP Bristol – Prison Service
Introducing the Strategic Leaders Group
Group Chair:
Nick Hibberd
Chief Executive, Bristol City Council
Nick Hibberd has been Chief Executive of Bristol City Council since January 2025. Nick has over 30 years’ experience of working in local government, in a variety of senior executive roles in London and Brighton & Hove. Nick is the Chair of Bristol’s Race Equality Strategic Leaders Group.
Group Members:
Cllr Heather Mack
Deputy Leader, Bristol City Council
Heather became deputy leader of the council in 2024 having previous been leader of the opposition.
In the council Heather leads on work supporting low income households.
Heather previously worked for Oxfam and with refugees across Europe. She has a background in environmental campaigning and engaging young people with sustainability issues.
Alex Raikes MBE (Hon LLD)
Chief Executive of Stand Against Racism & Inequality (SARI)
Alex became Chief Executive of Stand Against Racism & Inequality (SARI) in 2024. Alex was previously Strategic Director of SARI– a leading, regional hate crime charity – after having joined as their first caseworker in 1991. Alex is a trustee of the Learn @ Multi-Academy Trust; a member of the University of Bristol Court; was awarded an MBE in 2009; an Honorary Doctorate by the University of West of England in 2019 and in November 2019 was announced as Bristol’s High Sheriff in Waiting (2022). Crucially, as a dual heritage individual with four sons, Alex has first-hand experience of racism and running a busy, lively household.
Jade Simpson
Head of Diversity and Inclusion, HMPPS – Prison Service
I am the Head of Diversity and Inclusion at HMP Bristol, a position I’ve held since 2022. Throughout my career, I’ve been passionate about fostering environments where everyone feels valued, respected, and included. I have worked tirelessly to promote equality and support underrepresented groups, both within the prison system and beyond. In my current role, I lead initiatives aimed at ensuring fairness for both staff and prisoners, creating a culture that actively celebrates diversity and combats discrimination. I collaborate with colleagues and external partners to deliver training programs, raise awareness, and implement policies that nurture an inclusive atmosphere. I’m dedicated to making a positive impact, advocating for equal opportunities at every level, and ensuring that diversity and inclusion are at the heart of all we do here at HMP Bristol.
Paula Lyons
t/Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Avon Fire and Rescue Service (AF&RS)
Paula has been in the Fire and Rescue Service since 2001, serving across Hampshire, Greater Manchester and Avon. Paula champions equality and currently holds the strategic responsibility for Diversity, Inclusion, Cohesion and Equality (DICE) within Avon Fire and Rescue Service, in conjunction with the cultural change programme. Paula is the current representative for the Service at RESLG.
Paula has been involved in establishing, developing and having oversight as a strategic sponsor for a number of diversity and inclusion networks, has been actively involved in ensuring application and inclusion of meaningful impact assessments, and volunteers as Company Secretary in a fire service related organisation, enabling and inspiring confidence and success for underrepresented colleagues.
Paula is currently the t/ACFO of Service Improvement of which DICE and the Culture Change Manager are part of.
Sarah Jenkins
County Commander, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
Sarah has been working for the Ambulance Service for almost 25 years serving our local communities and surrounding areas. As County Commander for BNSSG for a large ambulance service she is acutely aware of the need to be actively involved on issues relating to equality, diversity and inclusion. As a Bristolian she understands the diverse needs of our population and staff, not only to ensure best outcomes for their clinical needs, which include particular intricacies for our BAME and seldom heard groups, but also of the way in which a person’s overall wellbeing can be supported by honouring their cultural needs. In SWAST she sits on the Equality Steering Group and touch base with our BAME Forum to ensure she is an ally to team members, the Trust and the wider community.
Sarah Marchant
Area Business Manager, CPS South West, Crown Prosecution Service
Sarah joined the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in 2002 as the Area Business Manager for CPS Avon and Somerset.
Following a CPS restructure in 2011, Sarah became Area Business Manager for CPS South West covering the police force areas of Gloucestershire Constabulary, Avon and Somerset Constabulary and Devon and Cornwall Police.
Prior to joining the CPS, Sarah worked in the private sector in financial services as a senior leader for a large international insurance company with responsibility for technical services, pension schemes and complaints.
Dr. Jeff Farrar QPM
Chair of the Integrated Care System for Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire (BNSSG)
Jeff is the Chair of the Integrated Care System for Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) and Chair (Designate) of the Integrated Care Board for BNSSG, having formerly been the Chair of University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust. Prior these appointments Jeff had a 35-year career in the police service, reaching the rank of Chief Constable.
During his policing career he was seconded to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary as part of the team that inspected the Metropolitan Police after the death of Stephen Lawrence, and was also part of the team that inspected all 43 police forces in England and Wales on equality, diversity and Inclusion.
Mark Runacres
Bristol Police Commander, Avon and Somerset Police
Mark is a Superintendent within the Neighbourhood Policing and Partnership Directorate with the responsibility for policing in Bristol. Throughout his 26 years in policing he has worked extensively in community and neighbourhood policing roles, all of which have been in Bristol. Mark chairs the City’s Keeping Communities Safe group and the Youth Justice Board and is a member of the Keeping Bristol Safe Executive Board. He is the Avon and Somerset Constabulary lead for hostage and crisis negotiation and drugs strategy.
Katy Trundley
Assistant Chief Officer, Head of Bristol & South Glos Probation Delivery Unit
Katy is the Head of the Probation Delivery unit for Bristol & South Gloucestershire. She has worked for the probation service for the past 24 years and has spent the majority of her career working in Bristol in a range of different roles covering Youth Justice, Integrated Offender Management, Prisons & Courts.
Katy is a member of the Keeping Bristol Safe Executive Board and also sits on the Community Safety Partnership & Youth Justice Board. Katy is chair of the Avon & Somerset MAPPA Strategic Management Board.
Maria Kane OBE
Chief Executive, North Bristol NHS Trust
Maria Kane OBE joined North Bristol NHS Trust as the Chief Executive in April 2021. Prior to this she was Chief Executive at North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust, where she had been since December 2017.
In addition to her current role, she chairs Bristol Health Partners (AHSC), Somerset, Wiltshire, Avon and Gloucestershire Cancer Alliance and the South West Genomic Medicine Service Board. She is also an active member of the NHS National Improvement Board and NHS Genomics Board.
Maria previously worked as Chief Executive of Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust for ten years and as an Executive Director at North-West London Strategic Health Authority for four. Maria has held a variety of senior roles at the Royal College of Midwives, Medical Protection Society and the National Council of Voluntary Organisations.
In 2019, Maria was made an OBE for services to health care leadership over two decades.
Richard Welch
Assistant Chief Fire Officer for Service Delivery Support, Avon Fire & Rescue Service
Richard was appointed Assistant Chief Fire Officer for Service Delivery support in August 2022. Richard joined London Fire Brigade in 1996, progressing through various roles. Notably, he established the Local Intervention Fire Education (L.I.F.E) project in East London, earning the prestigious Mayors London Day Award in 2003. His community engagement extended globally, delivering training to Fire and Rescue Services in the UK and abroad.
Promoted to Station Manager in 2009, Richard held roles at East Ham and Poplar Fire Stations. He later became Borough Commander in Bexley, Southwark, and Lambeth before advancing to Deputy Assistant Commissioner in regulatory fire safety in 2017. Between 2019 and 2022, he served as Deputy Assistant Commissioner for the South East and North East Areas of London.
Dan Wood
Chief People Officer, University of England (UWE Bristol)
Dan is a dynamic leader with a rich professional background in various sectors. Currently serving as the Chief People Officer at the University of the West of England, he has also held key positions at Avon and Somerset Police and the UK Sector Skills Council for Health. In addition to his paid roles, Dan actively contributes to the community through multiple non-executive directorship and trustee positions, including with organisations such as the National Fire Chief’s Council and Quartet Community Foundation. His extensive experience in governance extends to serving as a school governor and leading various charities nationally. Dan is recognised for his leadership skills as a Fellow of the RSA, Institute of Leadership, Chartered Management Institute, St. Georges House, Windsor, and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
Partnerships
The Strategic Leaders Group also work in alignment with other key race equality bodies across the city. A summary of how the group works can be accessed via Bristol’s Race Eco System tool which maps out the networks working across Bristol to tackle race inequality.
Should you have any queries regarding the work of Bristol’s Race Equality Strategic Leaders Group please direct these to Equalities.Team@bristol.gov.uk