South East Director of Workforce, Strategy and Transformation, and BAME Network Chair at NHS England South East

Adanna Williams leads workforce strategy and transformation for NHS England South East, shaping the region’s approach to building a diverse, inclusive, and sustainable NHS workforce fit for the future. Her work spans workforce planning, staff experience, and organisational development across one of the NHS’s most diverse regions.

For Adanna, the NHS’s 78th birthday carries profound personal meaning. Her grandmother was among the more than 55,000 Caribbean men and women who answered the NHS’s call to address post-war workforce shortages, crossing the Atlantic to serve with skill, dedication, and courage. Like many of the Windrush generation, she faced racism, discrimination, and deliberate non-recognition of her qualifications — yet she persevered, helping build the health service that millions rely on today.

Adanna reflects: “This 78th year presents an opportunity not only to celebrate what is good about our NHS, but also to recognise the people who make that excellence possible. Their contributions have strengthened our NHS for generations, and their legacy continues to shape its future.”

Today, the NHS is the largest employer of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff in Europe, with over 200 nationalities represented across its workforce. Adanna believes this diversity is not simply a statistic — it is the foundation of the NHS’s strength, compassion, and capacity to deliver outstanding, person-centred care.

Adanna is featured as one of 78 NHS South East colleagues celebrated in a campaign marking the NHS’s 78th birthday and the first anniversary of England’s 10 Year Health Plan.