Published on: 4 August 2026
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is proud to announce that its Chair, Selina Ullah, has won the ‘Women of the Year’ award at the British Asian Women Awards 2026. 
The British Asian Women's Awards celebrate the hard work, grit and determination of women driving various industries and communities forward across the UK. This national recognition places Selina among the UK’s most influential and inspirational Asian women, highlighting her exceptional leadership in driving positive change and promoting diversity within the NHS and beyond.
Selina has over 25 years of senior leadership experience in the NHS, local government, and national policy. As one of the first Muslim female NHS trust chairs, she has been recognised for her work advancing Board diversity and workforce inclusion. Under her leadership, the Trust has also received multiple awards for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, including Trust of the Year.
Her extensive career includes roles as regional lead on mental health policy for the National Institute for Mental Health. Leading a high-profile portfolio including community safety and community cohesion strategic partnerships, civil contingencies and emergency planning and commissioning third sector domestic abuse, drug and alcohol initiatives for Bradford Council, and serving as a Non-Executive Director at Locala and Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Selina is also a lay Board member at the General Pharmaceutical Council and the Vice Chair and Senior Independent Director at NHS Providers.
Selina said: “This has been a fantastic achievement that I feel honoured to be named a finalist in, never mind a winner. To be amongst some incredibly talented women is a real highlight for me. Equality, diversity and inclusion in health and social care remain high as a Trust priority and beyond.
“I want to continue using my position to promote a culture where everyone feels supported regardless of their background, with an aim to create safe spaces within our workforce where everyone can bring their whole self to work and give their best to our patients.”
Not only has Selina been recognised this year but she was also recognised nationally as one of the HSJ 50 most influential BAME leaders in health last year.
Vikki Ashton Taylor, Deputy Chief Executive/Chief Delivery Officer at Derbyshire Healthcare, congratulated Selina for her achievement and said: “On behalf of Derbyshire Healthcare, I would like to congratulate Selina on winning this award. Not only has Selina got a proven track record of success for looking at ways to improve healthcare for communities across Derbyshire, but her efforts also extending beyond our Trust across the country.”
