Developing our Public and Community Partnerships Advisory Board

23 February 2026

Each member of our Public and Community Partnerships (PCP) Advisory Board has an allocated annual personal development award. The award can be used to develop their personal public health research interests and skills through a number of routes, this could be protecting time to attend webinars or training, or visiting organisations to experience their PCP activity. All our Board members are using the fund differently. Offering this opportunity to public contributors is a first for any NIHR infrastructure, and we are proud to champion the development of our PCP Advisory Board.  

Our first public contributor to visit a local authority was Zahid Hossain from Bradford. Zahid joined our PCP Advisory Board in early 2025, and has enjoyed having a chance to raise awareness of the importance of public health research and local/national priorities when engaging with diverse communities in Bradford. 

Zahid has a passion for research inclusion and is a leader in the Rohingya Association, a charity dedicated to finding sustainable solutions for the Rohingya people. Zahid wanted to learn more about how different local authorities have been involving diverse people, including ethnic minorities, in their public health research. This led us to Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) Lambeth, who have been working hard to involve their diverse communities in their public health research. 

On his visit, Zahid was welcomed by Charlotte Afuape, Community Engagement Manager, Emily Aidee, HDRC Head of Service, Shyrina Rantisi, Community Engagement Coordinator, and Claire Bowerman, Culture and Communications Manager.  

Zahid attended meetings including the Community Engagement Fortnightly Meeting, the Learning and Development Working Group Meeting, and attended the Community Knowledge Networking: Biannual General Meeting.  

Zahid said: “What made the day so great was that the team were happy to share information with me, they were happy to share what they were doing, talking openly about what works well and where they experience challenges. Meeting with the community knowledge network was also great, I enjoyed listening to what they’re doing.” 

Reflecting on this development opportunity, Zahid would repeat the experience and visit another local authority who are doing positive work around diversity, one in a more rural community, to compare the three. 

Kasia Kurowska, Public and Community Partnerships Manager said: “I’d firstly like to thank Zahid for his contributions as a member of our PCP Advisory Board, it’s been a pleasure working with him to facilitate this opportunity with HDRC Lambeth.  

“Thank you as well to HDRC Lambeth for allowing Zahid to come and spend time with you and listening and valuing his thoughts and contributions across the meetings he attended.”  

Find out more about the work our public contributors have been involved in.