Irene Henderson

Honorary Graduate, 2024

Irene Henderson received an honorary doctorate for her years of service supporting staff at the Trust, especially in supporting and setting up initiatives around race, disability and equality more generally. Irene had a substantial and positive impact on the Trust, and the doctorate was in recognition of her contribution.

Having worked at The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust for over 20 years, Irene Henderson has held many different roles, including in Clinical Governance, supporting staff to ensure quality service delivery and care for all service users and students, and as the Trust’s Race Equality Champion. Most recently, she was the Associate Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

Irene has made a tremendous contribution, both professionally and personally, to the organisation and towards various agendas at the Trust, particularly in terms of equalities, patient safety and clinical governance and the Trust has benefited hugely from her input and commitment.

Irene held many additional roles including Race & Diversity Champion, Trust-wide Equalities Lead role; Chair of the Staff Race Equality Network for Black, Asian and those from Minority Ethnic backgrounds (REN); Chair of the Race Equality Network Allies Group (RENAG); Co-chair of the Disability and Long-Term Health Conditions Network. She was also part of the North Central London People’s Board (NCL). These roles aim to reduce inequality of opportunity as the Trust works with London partners, but also aim to help The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust on the journey to becoming an anti-racist organisation and an increasingly inclusive employer across all protected characteristics, including posts at senior levels.

Irene is engaged in community involvement including as a Director for the People’s Media Development Association (PMDA), a non-profit making organisation founded in 2005 with help from the Scarman Trust. PMDA works in the community to enable disadvantaged youths to learn new skills and enhance their personal development in terms of their life goals and aspirations. She finds this work challenging and immensely rewarding.

Irene also supports a local football children’s team in providing practical help, support and guidance for those children who do not have sufficient parental support to enable their engagement and development in community initiatives or sport.