This year’s International Women’s Day theme, ‘Accelerate Action’, is more than just a phrase – it is a call for urgency. A demand for transformative change that brings equality and inclusion not in the distant future, but right now. As my tenure comes to an end, I look back at the BMA’s journey and believe it has demonstrated what accelerated action looks like.
 
The BMA has been around for nearly 200 years, founded in 1832. For the vast majority of that time, its leadership was stereotypically male, white, and senior in their careers, primarily consultants and GPs. This structure did not reflect the diversity of the NHS workforce or our membership.

Prior to me, only three women had ever held chief officer roles in the BMA: Dr Helena McKeown, my predecessor; the late Dr Anthea Mowat, her predecessor; and Dr Jane Richards. Anthea was the first SAS doctor in a chief officer role. When I stood for election as deputy, I stood alongside six men who better fit the historic profile of past chief officers – but the representative body put their faith in me, an ethnic minority woman, a resident doctor.

So, when I think about this year’s theme, Accelerate Action, I feel proud and deeply grateful for the women who have stood alongside me, those who will come after me, and those who came before me. I want particularly to mention Dr Emma Runswick, our deputy chair of council. Emma is only the second resident doctor to become a chief officer and the first openly out chief officer in the BMA’s 200-year history. She has led incredible work for our members, and I know she will continue to push for real change.

And change at the BMA has not just been about representation but also about shifting the culture. If someone had told me 10 years ago that one of the BMA’s chief officers would be pregnant – not once, but twice – while in office, that they would regularly attend meetings with a baby in a sling, chair agenda committee meetings while breastfeeding, and give speeches at conferences with a baby in their arms, I would have thought it impossible. And yet, that is exactly what has happened. Not only have I shown this can be done, but I hope I have demonstrated it can be done well.

Importantly, I have not done this alone. I have had the privilege of working with two chief officer teams and being part of a culture that has adapted and embraced change. There have been meetings where a crying baby in the background was simply accepted. No one ever told me this was unacceptable; instead they adjusted. The BMA has been patient, flexible, and understanding – a true example of an organisation adapting to support women in leadership. To the staff and elected members I have worked with – thank you. 

The truth is, the future of medicine is women. The NHS is now made up of at least 75% women and for the first time, the number of women on the GMC register has surpassed that of men. And if the future of medicine is women, then the future of the BMA must be women. It is important that we are reflective of our membership.

Over the past four years, I have worked to make the BMA more inclusive, delivering two extra ARMs  (annual representative meetings) and ensuing greater accessibility. The message I want to leave with all BMA members – the 4,000 elected representatives and 195,000 members who make up this association – is that the BMA is a place for everyone. It is inclusive, accessible, and diverse. Women who need flexible working arrangements, are in caregiving roles, have taken longer career paths, and have faced sexism, must know that the BMA stands ready to support them.

So please complete your equality data (sign in and check your details under ‘My BMA’) so we can better support you – individually and collectively – and ensure the BMA continues to be a place where women can thrive, where leadership is within reach, and where no ask is too great.

And if any of my circumstances sound familiar, please do consider standing for election. As I look towards the end of my – longer than expected – term, I see the many more women in leadership roles across our BMA who are doing a fantastic job. They may hopefully hand over to other women, and that could be you. Let’s continue to accelerate change.