Non-urgent advice: Dr Chetna Modi
Head of Leadership and Lifelong Learning for London
Chetna joined the London Leadership Academy in November 2020. She began her career as a government scientist at Porton Down, MoD. Following on from this she completed a PhD in cancer chemotherapy. Her research work has resulted in a number of peer reviewed academic publications as well as a patent. In 2019 she became Head of GMTS, a role she was particularly fond of having joined the NHS through the route 16 years ago. Chetna is passionate about delivering high quality leadership training for the current and next generation of leaders. She has held a number of roles in the NHS transforming services across organisational settings and understands the impact good leadership can have on improving patient care. During Wave 1 of Covid, Chetna was deployed to the Risk Assessment Delivery Unit to support the delivery of Risk Assessments for all frontline staff. Chetna holds an Honorary Senior Lectureship at Leicester Medical School and has both designed and delivered curricula. Here she teaches chemistry, genetics, Quality Improvement, NHS leadership and patient safety. She has recently successfully supervised her first PhD student who studied CQC Care Home closures. In her spare time, Chetna, can be found out in the Leicestershire countryside walking or cycling with her young family.
Non-urgent advice: Dr Mark Cole
System Leadership Development Senior Manager
Mark has worked at the London Leadership Academy since July 2016 leading on Systems and Organisational Development. Prior to this, Mark has worked in a variety of senior leadership roles focusing on learning, OD and HR.
Non-urgent advice: Jo Betterton
Primary Care Programme Manager
Jo joined the London Leadership Academy in June 2018 with a background in Primary Care. She trained as a nurse and social worker and has worked in a range of settings from developing shared care services for substance misusers, to delivering the RCGP Drugs Misuse Management Training Programme, and more recently supporting the development of primacy care teams in the current changing landscape. Jo oversees a portfolio that includes Primary Care Leadership development , Inclusion, the London Women’s Leadership Network and Darzi Fellowships.
Non-urgent advice: Kay Landi Buhari
Leadership Development Senior Manager
Kay has over 17 years of programme and project management experience and has a passion for inclusion and diversity. Kay’s role as LD Lead includes the management and delivery of the Leadership Development, Inclusion and Coaching and Mentoring offer in London. In addition, Kay is a qualified Barrister having being called to the Bar in 2015. In Kay’s spare time she is also the Founder of Landi’s Kitchen, a cookery school based in East London.
Non-urgent advice: Sara Javid – currently on secondment
Leadership Development Senior Manager
Sara joined the London Leadership and Lifelong Development Team in 2021, with a background in Public Health working in health, local government and nationally at NHS England NHS Improvement across a range of programmes. She holds an ILM Level 5 in Coaching and Mentoring, PRINCE2 and outside of work enjoys hiking and inspiring other people to become active.
Non-urgent advice: Kashmira Sunni
Senior Manager – NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme
Kashmira currently works on the award winning Graduate Management Training scheme within London to source future leaders of the NHS. When Kashmira isn’t at work her passion is for acting and dancing and is a professional dancer with training in Indian Classical, Indian Folk, Ballet, Jazz and many other styles.
Non-urgent advice: Coralyn Selman
Business and Performance Manager
Coralyn Ann Selman (preferred name Ann) joined the team in November. Ann has a background in public sector finance starting her career in the NHS some 34 years ago and moving to the civil service to work in finance roles. Ann left the DoH and worked in an health charity as business manager in order to get a full rounded finance experience. She returned to the DoH working with the SpHAs and NDPBs across public health. Ann moved to DEFRA spending 6 years there until 2015 where she managed a team of finance staff responsible for reporting and taking on various projects including delivering the IT savings across DEFRA as part of the government spending cuts until 2015. Ann moved to the education academy sector in 2018 until 2021 when she semi-retired. Ann brings a wealth of experience and is really looking forward to returning to her roots, supporting the NHS team delivering the valuable programme of education and training offered by the academy and hopes to add value in doing so.
Non-urgent advice: Keith Whitburn – currently on secondment
Senior Manager – NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme
Keith has worked for the London Leadership and Lifelong Development Team (in all it’s guises) since July 2016, with a background in Human Resources acquired through working in the commercial; further and higher education, government, housing, hospitality, NHS and not-for-profit sectors.
Non-urgent advice: Runa Begum
Leadership Development Manager
Runa is our leadership development manager and leads on the Coaching and Mentoring Programme. Trained in a number of leadership development tools, she supports leaders to step into their potential and develop better leadership skills to help build an improved healthcare system. Having previously worked in the 3rd sector and in national government in areas such as equality, poverty and community capacity building; her interest in development spans across the spectrum of the individual right through to wider systemic change. She also runs her own private therapy practice weaving together expertise from the world of corporate leadership, contemporary therapy practices and ancient healing wisdoms to enable people to dive deeper and move through their perceived limitations
Non-urgent advice: Samantha Hosten – Currently on secondment
Inclusion Coordinator
Samantha is CIPD qualified in Learning and Development and has over 10 years’ experience in the field. Her background includes working in the NHS, Local Government and the Private Sector. She is also Chair of the NHS Race Equality Network of Networks; the NHS Race Equality Network of Networks was launched March 2019 and is a formation of Network Chairs across NHS Trusts in London. She also facilitates Action Learning Sets for Black and Minority Ethnic staff to build confidence and support career development. She believes in nurturing talent to identify and utilise key attributes in people.
Samantha is also an accredited Life Coach, trained Action Learning Set facilitator and Mental Health First Aider.
She has recently started mentoring for the BT Mentoring Programme and has previously mentored on the Primary Healthcare Mentorship Programme.
She describes herself in 3 words: authentic, compassionate and innovative.
Samantha identifies as a straight woman and her pronouns are she/her.
Non-urgent advice: Awladuz Zaman
Inclusion Coordinator
Non-urgent advice: Jake Cutting
Leadership Development Coordinator
Jake has recently been appointed as the Learning and Development Coordinator to help support the Coaching and Mentoring Scheme. Jake has worked previously for NHS England as a Project Support Officer, with a focus on practitioner performance and GP appraisal and revalidation. When Jake is not at work, he is delivering amateur boxing and coaches young people and adults in North London, affiliated to England Boxing.
Non-urgent advice: Grace Masoapatali
GMTS Leadership Development Coordinator
Grace joins the Graduate Management Training Scheme in London with a varied background in Psychology and Human Resources. She has a keen interest in dynamic engagement with both individuals and organisations. Grace enjoys connecting with people and fostering new experiences.
Non-urgent advice: Bernie McShane
Business Support Officer
Bernie has worked for the London Leadership Academy for five years and has worked for the NHS in other senior administration roles since 2003. She undertakes the office management and business support function of the LLA team. Her mantra in this role is that LLA “should continue to secure value for money”.
Non-urgent advice: Bhavika Patel
Leadership Development Coordinator – Systems & Primary Care
Bhavika has over 18 years of experience working in different fields of the NHS including working in Provider settings, CCG and the NHS Helpline. Bhavika thoroughly enjoys being a part of the NHS family, it has taught her that the smallest thing can make the biggest difference to people. Outside of work Bhavika enjoys spending time with friends and family, travelling and exploring nature.
Non-urgent advice: Nastasia Jefferson
Leadership Development Administrator
Nastasia has successfully worked within the NHS beginning as a Health care assistant within a rehab unit, where she worked with patients who had physical challenges with mobilising to do their day to day activities. Over the years she has held various positions and has just recently join the London Leadership Academy. When Nastasia is not working she enjoys singing, travelling and being with her family.
Non-urgent advice: Dagmara Sobczuk
GMTS Leadership Development Administrator
Dagmara has been directly involved in numerous administrative procedures, national data, healthcare policy and public health projects. In her spare time she is a photography enthusiast and avid cyclist, and has participated in various cross country cycling events.