Meet the National Executive Team
Asma Nafees - National Co-Chair
Asma Nafees is inspirational for her ability to use her skills to add value across a wide range of organisations in different professional sectors. Having started her professional life as a commercial solicitor in private practice, she subsequently carved a career in the NHS, where she has been steadily climbing ever since. She is currently the Deputy COO – NHSE Delivery at Arden & GEM CSU. She is also a Non-Executive Director with Derbyshire Community Health Services FT, a Trustee with Lisieux Trust (a Birmingham based social care charity which supports adults with learning disabilities), and a NED with Futures Group, a Local Authority subsidiary social enterprise focused on keeping people in education or obtaining gainful employment. She uses her passion to create a pipeline of new talent and lead by example as the Co-Chair of APNA NHS, a national South Asian NHS Leaders Staff Network. Her expertise is highly valued and draws upon her Masters in Healthcare Leadership (NHS Leadership Academy), she is part of the current cohort of NHS England Midlands Talent Team’s Aspirant Director Pool. Asma’s career path includes previous roles as Chief Analytics Officer at the CSU, Assistant Director of Contracting and Deputy Director of Intelligence, Planning and Performance within the then Coventry and Rugby Clinical Commissioning Group, and she has experience of contracting, transformation, planning, performance and business intelligence in healthcare. She is passionate about equality, diversity, and inclusivity at all levels and championing the need for culturally appropriate services. She was featured in the Equality-X Top 50 Influential Muslims – Europe 2023, the Women Leaders Association Remarkable Female Leader 2024, and named in Seacole GEM as part of the NHS75 celebrations.
JAGTAR BASI OBE - National Co-Chair
Prof Jagtar Singh OBE was appointed as chair of Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (CWPT) in 2014 in September 2024 he completes the maximum 9 years term and will step down as chair . He has a wealth of expertise, including 30 years in the Fire and Rescue Service, and 12 years in non-executive roles in the NHS (having previously worked as a non-executive director in the Ambulance Service, and Luton and Dunstable University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust).Jagtar is recognised for his passion and support for reducing inequalities. He has been selected by NHS England to serve on the NHS Assembly and is was a trustee of NHS Providers, which ended in June 2023. Jagtar was acting chief fire officer in Bedford and Luton Fire and Rescue Service and rose from fire fighter to divisional commander in the West Midlands Service.In 2003, Jagtar received both the Public Servant of the Year Award at the Asian Achievement Awards ceremony in Birmingham, and an OBE for his work on equality and diversity in the fire service. In the NHS, Jagtar has been recognised for his work on equalities and inclusion and he has received awards from national bodies including the Health Service Journal (HSJ). In 2020 he was named by the HSJ as one of the 50 most influential BAME leaders in health and won the National Asian Achievement Awards in 2016 for most influential NHS leader.Jagtar has also served as a trustee of several charities in the past including the Healing Foundation, Employment Opportunities for Disabled People and Bedford Race Equality Currently he is a member of the NHS Assembly and the NNH Honours committee. jagtar is a founder of Asian Fire Service Association that’s has made significant contributions to inclusion in the fire service. Jagtar consultancy JSA Ltd offers a range of training and development solutions
Asha Day - National Co-General Secretary
Asha Day BEM Head of International Recruitment, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust A dedicated professional, nurse and health visitor, with over 30 years of experience in the health and social care sector. Asha has worked at the highest strategic level at the Department of Health (UK) advising Government Minsters, developing, and implementing national policy. In 2017 Asha was awarded the prestigious title of Fellow of the Institute of Health Visiting for her contribution to Public Health (only 100 Public Health Nurses have been awarded this Fellowship across the UK). In 2020 Asha was recognised in the Queens New Years Honours list and received the British Empire Medal. She is an individual with advanced skills and expertise which have enabled her to support organisations to develop, review and implement clinical and inclusion strategies to become operational realities. Asha has a global reputation for her work in transcultural perinatal mental health, which has involved her working with many international organisations. She was invited to join the National Institute for Health and care excellence (NICE) (CG 192) & Quality Standards (NICE QS 115). Asha has received multiple awards over the last few years including Midlands Inclusivity and Diversity Awards Scheme (MIDAS) 2022. In 2023 she was recognised as ‘Highly Commended’ in the Nurses of the year by the National BAME Healthcare awards.Asha was instrumental in designing the sponsorship component of the regional awards winning ‘Delivering Aspirant Leaders’ programme diners by NHSE. More recently she managed a system wide Talent Acceleration Programme for BAME Nurses & AHPs 8a/8b matched with senior/Executive Directors. Her legacy has been a Strategy for BAME Nursing, Midwives & AHPs working across Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland ICB and a the development of a BAME specific coaching directory and commitment for coaching, tracking & sponsorship for the delegates who completed the programme.Asha is currently working with NHSE on the 90 day Career Progression Sponsorship Challenge for BAME Nurses & Midwives and has developed a skills, competency & experience matrix which will act as a talent pool for sub board positions. Asha is currently Vice Chair of the Community Practitioners & Health Visitors Association (CPHVA), Professional Advisor CPHVA Development Trust. Asha is a founding member of the AMAREE Women’s Network.
Faizah Mustafa - National Co-General Secretary
Faizah Maryam Mustafa joined the NHS six years ago, initially in the NHS Supply Chain, then at Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICS working on the Personalisation Agenda (Chapter One of the NHS Long Term Plan) before joining NHS England Midlands People, Talent and Culture Team. Prior to this, she spent ten years leading large scale transformation programmes and projects at the Local Council, private and charity sectors. Her success led to her being awarded for services to Creativity and Technology at the British Muslim Awards. Faizah’s passion and areas of expertise include Project and Programme Management, Talent Management and Leadership, IT & Digital, and Continual Improvement. Her current role as Project Manager ultimately supports the best use of talent across the Midlands region, supporting systems and organisations develop and implement their own Talent Management strategies and improve capability; enabling local health economies to develop their own best practice. Outside of her role in the NHS, she is a Non-Executive Director at BASE51, a grassroots charity which supports young people to reach their potential, an associate at Nottingham Trent University, Founder and Chair of the NHS Project Managers network and earlier this year completed a Masters in Healthcare Leadership from the University of Birmingham and University of Manchester.
Pam Bhupal - National Strategic Advisor
Pam Bhupal is an accomplished professional with significant expertise in the healthcare and Local government sector. She serves as the current APNA NHS National Strategic Advisor and is a multi-award-winning executive member of APNA NHS (winning the working together award at the Centre of Public Scrutiny awards and the APNA NHS 2022 Shining light award.). Pam currently holds the position of Programme Support Manager at the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, where she works within the Workforce, Planning and Strategy team. With over six years of experience in health and care systems, she brings extensive knowledge from her work in local authorities and community work.Pam is deeply committed to promoting equity in health and care, striving to reduce inequalities across communities. Beyond her professional roles, she contributes her expertise as a Board Director at Healthwatch Leeds and Volition Leeds (largest VSCE organisation across Leeds). She has led raising awareness of health issues for the Sikh Community in Leeds.
Bal Claire - National Strategic Advisor
Bal Claire has over three decades of executive leadership experience within the private sector. As the Founder of his management consultancy firm MyQonsult, Bal has guided organisations across diverse sectors toward growth and success. Alongside this, Bal is also a Senior Associate Consultant at the international consultancy firm Alumni Services.An angel investor, Bal is currently Chair of Swi-tch, a global recruitment business, and Executive Chair at Spark Supply Chain Systems Advisory, a logistics and technology consultancy start-up.In addition to his consultancy and investment activities, Bal is deeply committed to public service. He is the Deputy Chair of Birmingham Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust, an Independent Member of the Council at the University of Warwick, and a Non-Executive Director at Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Partnership Trust. Bal's extensive experience and expertise makes him a highly respected figure in both the private and public sectors.
Dr Aaliya Goyal National Communication Strategy and Media Lead
Dr Aaliya Goyal is a GP and Occupational Health doctor in the West Midlands. She has held leadership roles across organisations at regional and national level. She has been recognised for her work and influence across medical specialities including General Practice, Occupational Medicine and Public Health and for her work to support diverse workforces and patient populations. She has run several NHS associated social media accounts, delivered social media training and supported numerous colleagues with their social media accounts. Her personal social media has been highlighted as an exemplar of good practice by a former BBC journalist who delivers social media training to the RCGP.
- Rajeev Gupta Editor HLJ
Professor Rajeev Gupta is the Editor of the "Health Leaders Journal" and member of national team for APNA NHs . He is a dedicated Consultant Paediatrician with over 27 years of experience, an accomplished author of over 45 scientific publications and many books. He has demonstrated leadership skills through multiple prestigious roles with chairmanship of the Regional Council of the British Medical Association, Educational Committee of British Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, and the Central Specialist Committee of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. He is reviewer of many journals and editor of a few journals and has build the Health Leaders Journal for APNA NHS from scratch. He is an award-winning innovator in digital technology and passionate about integrating modern medicine with alternative and complementary medicine. Acclaimed for leadership, management expertise, and exceptional teaching skills, Dr Gupta is Triple accredited MBA holder with additional qualifications in coaching and emotional intelligence which he uses to mentor and coach NHS and non-NHS executives and other members.