Race Equality Partnership for Sheffield appoints chair

A professional with experience in leadership, diversity and inclusion has been appointed chair of the Race Equality Partnership for Sheffield (REPS).

REPS, which launched earlier this year, is an active, collaborative network of people and organizations with the common goal of making Sheffield an anti-racist city.

REPS was set up by partners including public sector institutions, local businesses and community groups following the publication of the Race Equality Commission (REC) in July 2022 and will play a key role in supporting the City to meet the Commission’s recommendations and ensure a legacy from the work.

The Chair’s role will be to provide visible and collaborative leadership of REPS, working with key partners across the City.

Fatima Khan-Shah was successfully appointed to this role due to her extensive experience in leading nationally recognized and multi-award winning Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) programmes, as well as her passion for Sheffield, the city where raised in.

Councilor Tom Hunt, leader of Sheffield City Council, said:

“Racism has no place in Sheffield or anywhere. The Race Equality Partnership will play an important role in helping us create an inclusive city without discrimination where everyone can thrive.

“I am delighted to welcome Fatima Khan-Shah as the new Chair of the Partnership. Through the partnership, she will play an invaluable role in helping to create a more inclusive Sheffield.

“The Race Equality Partnership for Sheffield provides an opportunity to think strategically about how we bring our diverse communities together and how we share best practice on race equality and hold each other to account in pursuit of long-term change .”

Fatima Khan-Shah has extensive experience leading complex change and transformation programs and has a reputation as an advocate for public engagement, compassionate leadership, diversity and inclusion.

He currently works with leaders from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, where he provides specialist advice on inclusion and tackles the drivers of social, economic and health inequalities.

Fatima is West Yorkshire’s first Inclusion Champion, where she provides advice on inequality as part of the Mayor’s commitment to greater equality in the region.

Born and bred in Sheffield, Fatima says she is “grateful for the opportunity to be of service to the people of Sheffield” in her role at chair.

She said:

“I am delighted to be appointed Chair of the Race Equality Partnership for Sheffield.

“As a Sheffield born and bred person, my roots in this incredible city have made me who I am today.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Sheffield. The Race Equality Partnership is an important opportunity for everyone in this city to work together to deliver the legacy of the Race Equality Commission and I will do all I can to continue our journey towards a truly anti-racist Sheffield.”

Richard Stubbs, chairman of the partner-led group that set up REPS, added:

“I am delighted to announce Fatima Khan-Shah as the new Chair of the Race Equality Partnership for Sheffield.

“Her commitment to inclusive leadership, her experience of bringing about change and her exciting vision for partnership will be essential to our progress in ensuring that Sheffield is an anti-racist city.”

If you would like to know more about REPS, email [email protected] to join our mailing list.