The BHIVA EEDI Action Group has been created following the publication of the BHIVA Equity, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion review.
Terms of Reference
Click here to download the Terms of Reference.
Further information on the work of the action group will be updated on this page.
Action Group Members
Dr Rageshri Dhairyawan - Chair, Barts Health NHS Trust, London
Dr Rageshri Dhairyawan is a consultant in Sexual Health and HIV medicine at Barts Health NHS Trust and Honorary Senior Lecturer at Queen Mary University of London. She is the Deputy Director of the SHARE Collaborative and her research focuses on health equity particularly at the intersections of ethnicity and gender. She chairs the steering group of 4M Mentor Mothers CIC, is a member of the medical board at NAZ and a steering group member of the BASHH Racially Minoritised Communities SIG. She has previously chaired the BHIVA External Relations Group and BASHH Sexual Violence Group and been a member of the BHIVA Executive Group and Guidelines Group. She is author of Unheard: The Medical Practice of Silencing (2024) and recipient of the Wellcome Collection x Spread the Word inaugural awards. She co-led the BHIVA EEDI review.
Vice chair
TBC
Dr Sani Aliyu, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Sani Aliyu is a consultant in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at Cambridge University Hospitals, UK, and serves as the Caldicott Guardian for the Trust. He is also the Clinical Lead for the East of England HIV Network. Previously, Dr Aliyu was the National Coordinator of Nigeria’s Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Director-General of the country’s National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA). With a distinguished background in strategic leadership and an international profile, Dr Aliyu has served on various government and multilateral bodies. He currently chairs the Board of Georgetown Global Health Nigeria (GGHN), a major not-for-profit organization that supports HIV and TB control programs in northern Nigeria. His past roles include chairing the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Organisation (ALCO) and the Strengthening Integrated Delivery of HIV/AIDS Services (SIDHAS) Project. He has also contributed to the UNAIDS Technical Committee on Target Setting for 2025 and until recently was a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Coalition on Epidemic Preparedness and Innovation (CEPI). Dr Aliyu is currently a commissioner on the African Union Commission on Pandemic Preparedness & Response and sits on the Strategic Advisory Group for the WHO Foundation as well as the WHO AFRO Pandemic Response Technical Advisory Group. A strong advocate for health system strengthening in resource-constrained environments, Dr Aliyu is committed to ensuring equitable access to healthcare in marginalised communities. His areas of interest include emerging infectious diseases epidemiology, pandemic preparedness and antimicrobial stewardship. He has co-authored 98 peer –reviewed publications and four book chapters. In recognition of his contributions to global health, he was conferred the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) in October 2022.
Dr Tristan Barber, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Tristan Barber is an HIV and Sexual Health Consultant at the Ian Charleson Day Centre, Royal Free Hospital, and Honorary Associate Professor at the Institute for Global Health at UCL. He attended a comprehensive school in Cornwall, studied medicine in Cambridge and London, and has been living with HIV for over 20 years. He has a research background in HIV-related neurocognitive impairment and phase 3 clinical trials. He established and is clinical lead for a dedicated frailty and complexity service for people living with HIV (The Sage Clinic). Tristan is current Chair of the Education and Scientific Subcommittee chair, with oversight of educational delivery, the International Partnerships Working Group, and Research and Implementation Science awards, as well as supporting conferences. He is Chair of the EACS Young Investigator Network. He jointly conceived and proposed the BHIVA EEDI review, and has also worked on advocacy and policy change, including the CAA rules for pilots, and gamete donation for people living with HIV. He is committed to the work of BHIVA, supporting its teams and trainees in the UK, as well as the wider HIV community and community organisations, alongside promoting links overseas. Tristan stood as a BHIVA Trustee to support and represent all working and training in, living with, and affected by HIV. He was elected as a BHIVA Trustee in 2019, re-elected in 2022 for a three-year term, and was elected to serve as Honorary Secretary from February 2023 to the AGM in 2025.
Dr Michael Brady, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London
Biography and photo to follow.
Bhavna Halai, Highly specialist pharmacist and prescriber in HIV and sexual health at Guys and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation trust
With experience in both hospital and community pharmacy, acting as a medication safety officer and now a specialist HIV pharmacist, I have had exposure across various sectors of healthcare provision. Currently, my responsibilities span from providing specialist pharmaceutical advice, undertaking service improvement projects, leading the HIV Pharmacy association (HIVPA) bulletin team and contributing to the renewal of HIVPA patient information leaflets. My passion for patient care is the at the core of my practice. Given the health inequalities I have faced as a member of the BAME community, I will bring forward ideas to drive improvement, such as collaborative working with partner organisations and charities. I will use my experience to explore different ways to reach a diverse audience and ensure language and medicines information is inclusive and represents all voices.
Ese Johnson, Waverley Care, Glasgow
Ese Johnson works as Development manager for Minority Ethnic Health in Waverley Care, Scotland. He uses his experience from working with diverse communities, both UK and abroad, to deepen understanding of communities needs around HIV and sexual health and to create HIV health promotion interventions that reduce stigma and increase knowledge of HIV and services in Scotland. Ese likes to spend his time travelling, interior designing and crafting. Ese has been living with HIV since 2019 and he uses his experiences to advocate for the needs of the HIV communities, especially within Minority Ethnic and the LGBTQIA+ communities.
Mina Kakaiya, Positive East
Mina is seasoned international speaker, author and transformational coach with a background in health and social care sector, driving service improvement and change. Innovating new ways of working, tackling health inequalities, promoting community development and social inclusion. She has coproduced the innovation of a diverse range of mental health and wellbeing peer led projects and social prescribing services as well as developing peer support training in Mental Health, HIV, Living Organ Donation, and Domestic Violence. Mina has been living with HIV since 2003 has been involved in several HIV campaigns and featured on BBC Asian Network, BBC Women’s Hour and various podcasts. Keynote speaker at various international HIV conferences. Currently Mina is a Community Rep and member of London HIV Clinical Forum, the Fast Track cities GP Champions Delivery Group, UK CAB Steering Group, Aids Memorial UK Committee, and Facilitator of Naz Peepal South Asian HIV Support Group and peer mentors people living with HIV. Mina has served on various local integrated commissioning and social care governing boards as operations manager for Healthwatch’s to influence and scrutiny of the wider local and regional integrated health and social care strategy implementation. She is a trainer in Emotional Resilience, Mindfulness, Peer Support and Sexual Wellbeing and a certified MHFA (Mental Health First Aid), Hypnotherapist and Mindfulness Practioner and holds a degree in Neuroscience and a Masters in CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility). Mina is passionate about regenerative low carbon society and sustainable homebuilding to readdress the balance towards restorative ecological, biological and social ecosystems towards social justice and environmental stewardship.
Josh Peasegood, HIV i-Base and Final Year Medical Student, SGUL
Biography and photo to follow.
Dr Eduardo Peres, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust, London
Dr Eduardo Peres is a Brazilian, mixed race, Latino medical doctor and queer advocate dedicated to improving healthcare access for marginalized communities. He graduated from Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (BR) and began his career as a General Practitioner in São Paulo, with special interest on gender care and sexual health. Currently, Dr Peres works as a Specialty Doctor in Genitourinary Medicine and HIV at the John Hunter and Kobler Clinic in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. He has completed advanced training in Psychosexual Therapy whilst in Brazil and Gender, Sexuality and Relationship Diversity (GSRD) Affirmative Therapy in the UK. He was honoured with the Best Oral Presentation award at the BASHH Conference 2023 for his work on healthcare access for Latin Americans in the UK. He is a member of both BASHH and BHIVA EEDI Action Groups, and has been involved with numerous campaigns and events, both virtual and in-person, focusing on HIV prevention strategies and raising awareness around sexual health. He has also been recently elected as Chair of the Racially Minoritised Communities Study Interest Group at BASHH and is a co-author of a guidebook for LGBTQIA+ persons, published earlier this year. Dr Peres is committed to advocating for equitable healthcare access. He believes that healthcare is a human right and strives to make a positive impact in his community.
Dr Hannah Pintilie, Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust
I am a new consultant working in genitourinary medicine and HIV in Norwich since November 2021, having completed my training at Imperial College NHS Trust in London. I have a particular interest in complex HIV care and safeguarding. I am chair of our regional HIV Network meeting (complex case MDT) and antenatal infection lead for iCASH Norwich, improving our local antenatal network and initiating our monthly MDT meetings across two Trusts. I am a member of the BASHH HIV and BBV SIG. I have a passion for Quality Improvement and am a qualified Quality Improvement Coach. Having experienced HIV care in a tertiary centre within an acute trust in London, I am now working in a clinic for a large community trust and therefore have experience of HIV care in two very different scenarios within England, and the benefits and challenges of both. I plan to bring this knowledge to BHIVA as well as my enthusiasm for quality improvement and providing excellent care for all people living with HIV, independent of the complexities or challenges faced. Hannah Pintilie was elected as a BHIVA trustee from the November 2023 to the AGM in 2026.
Professor Nicoletta Policek, Chair, UK-CAB Steering Group
Dr Nicoletta Policek’s biography is embedded in 40 years of HIV activism matched with a longstanding academic career. Currently, she is the Executive Director of the European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG), a patient-led NGO that advocates for the rights and interests of people living with or affected by HIV/ AIDS and related co-infections within the WHO Europe region. In the UK, Nicoletta is the Chairperson of the UK-CAB (Community Advisory Board), a network for community HIV treatment advocates across the UK providing peer-led training on HIV treatment. Nicoletta holds a space for her community, or rather her tribe, as she would say, in many other roles she has. She works with BHIVA as a community representative on several clinical guidelines. In Italy, she is a member of the Community Advisory Board of ICONA. She is the co-Chair of HIV Outcomes UK and a member of the Steering Group of HIV Outcomes Italy and HIV Outcomes Europe. Her advocacy work focusses mainly on women and older and ageing people living with HIV. She is a member of the Global Steering Committee of iCope HIV (international Coalition of older people living with HIV).
Harun Tulunay, Positively UK
Harun, originally from Turkey, spent over a decade as an events manager before relocating to the UK in 2015 to escape anti-LGBT+ hostility. Following his HIV diagnosis in 2016, he transitioned to advocate for sexual and mental health, volunteering with London charities. In 2020, he shifted his focus entirely to HIV support, now serving as Training and Volunteering Programme Manager at Positively UK. As a Patient and Public Voice Partner for NHS England's HIV Clinical Reference Group and a member of the UK-CAB Steering Committee, Harun actively shapes HIV policy. He shares his journey openly, including a battle with Mpox in 2022, one of the UK's severe cases, to combat stigma and raise awareness around HIV and sexual health globally. Harun is dedicated to destigmatizing HIV, sexual health and mental health, drawing from his experiences as a gay man in Turkey. He mentors peers living with HIV and offers bilingual (English/Turkish) sexual health information via social media. His story, embraced by WHO and UN, features in campaigns, podcasts, and articles worldwide, amplifying vital conversations on sex positivity and health awareness.
Dr Yasmin Walters, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London
Dr Yasmin Walters is a senior registrar in GU/HIV, currently based at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. She also sits on the BASHH EEDI and BASHH Racially Minoritised SIG steering groups. Originally from Birmingham, she studied Medicine at University of Cambridge. For her MA in Medical Ethics and Law from Kings College London she was awarded a distinction. Inspired by her experienced working in COVID ICU and dismay at the ongoing findings of the MBRRACE reports into maternal mortality, her dissertation examined the Equality Act’s failings to prevent poorer healthcare outcomes for racially minoritised communities, and was supervised by Prof Ben Bowling (expert contributor to the MacPherson Report into institutional racism in the Metropolitan Police). Yasmin also works to support schools and charities, providing sexual health education and guidance for students wishing to study medicine. She has also been a mentor for the Women of the World foundation for several years, and has been invited to speak at the WOW festival and Festival of Education about PSHE and sex education. Reducing and preventing inequity in healthcare is at the centre of her clinical practice. She utilises her lived experiences as a mixed race woman, both in society in general and as a medical professional, to advocate for and empower her patients to get the care they deserve.