Asma Nafees

Asma is a Deputy COO – NHSE Delivery for NHS Arden & GEM Commissioning Support Unit (CSU); a Non Executive Director on the Board of NHS Derbyshire Community Health Services FT; a non-executive director for the Futures Group, a Nottingham local-authority subsidiary social enterprise which focuses on keeping young people in education or gainful employment; and a Trustee in the charity care sector for Birmingham-based Lisieux Trust, who provide supported living for adults with learning disabilities. 

Asma has held leadership roles within the NHS in the contracting, commissioning and technology sector for the past 16 years. Her career spans roles as Chief Analytics Officer, Deputy Director of Intelligence, Planning and Performance, and Assistant Director of Contracting.

Asma holds a master’s degree in healthcare leadership, and is a member of the Midlands’ Aspirant Director candidate pool to succession-plan talent for NHS Boards. She is passionate about equality, diversity and inclusivity, and championing the need for culturally appropriate services, and a focus on staff wellbeing. A qualified solicitor by background, she carries out pro bono legal support within her communities in the Midlands. She was recently awarded Remarkable Leader Award 2024 by the cross-sector Women’s Leader Association, Outstanding Woman in Public Services Award 2024, listed in Equality-X’s Top 50 Influential Muslims in Europe 2023 and 2024, and named in the ‘GEMS Hidden in Plain Sight 75@75’ 2023 by the National BAME Health and Care Awards and the Seacole BAME NED network to recognise BAME leaders in health and social care.

 Asma is also the National Executive Co-Chair of APNA NHS, a South Asian NHS Staff Network.