Lord Ribeiro and Prof Averil Mansfield among experts on RCS England’s diversity review panel

An independent review of diversity across RCS England’s professional leadership has convened a panel of experts to oversee its work.

Among the appointees are former president of RCS England Baron Ribeiro, CBE, FRCS, and Professor Averil Mansfield CBE, FRCP, the first British woman to be appointed a professor of surgery.

The independent review is being led by the distinguished barrister and member of the House of Lords, Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, who will advise our Council on how to improve diversity across the College.

RCS England President Professor Neil Mortensen is keen to make diversity one of his signature goals and said: ‘It is so important that the leadership of our College reflects the fantastic diversity of the surgical community.’

The scope of the review covers an assessment of the College’s existing leadership as well as recommendations for the future, so that senior positions within the College increase meaningfully in its diversity.

The panel members appointed are:

Samantha Tross, consultant orthopaedic surgeon
Georgette Oni, consultant plastic and aesthetic reconstructive surgeon
Tricia Campbell, President of BOTA
Prof Shafi Ahmed, consultant colorectal surgeon, innovator and entrepreneur
Lord Ribeiro, former President of RCS England
Joshua Burke, President of ASiT
Prof Farah Bhatti, RCS England Council member
Prof Michael West, professor in organisational development
Victoria Pegna, RCS England Council member and surgical trainee
Kathryn Harley, former Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons
Emeritus Prof Averil Mansfield, former Vice President of RCS England and champion of women in surgery