Professor Patrick Vernon OBE doesn’t just document history—he redefines it. As Chair of the Birmingham and Solihull NHS Integrated Care Board (BSol ICB) and Pro Chancellor of Wolverhampton University, Professor Patrick Vernon OBE has turned advocacy into architecture—building systems that centre justice, equity, and cultural heritage.
Born in Wolverhampton, Professor Patrick Vernon OBE’s journey has been defined by a fierce commitment to justice and recognition. His work spans health, race equality, cultural heritage, and public policy—interwoven threads he has continually pulled into focus through leadership, scholarship, and grassroots activism.
As the architect of the Windrush Day campaign, Professor Patrick Vernon OBE transformed remembrance into action. What began as a call for recognition became a rallying cry for justice. His advocacy on behalf of the Windrush Generation catalysed government reform and reshaped public understanding of Britain’s immigration story. It’s a fight he continues, unflinchingly, to this day.
Professor Patrick Vernon OBE is also the founder of Every Generation Media and co-author of 100 Great Black Britons, initiatives that have cemented his role as one of the UK’s most influential cultural historians. His dedication to documenting Black British history is both an act of preservation and of radical inclusivity—ensuring future generations have access to narratives too often excluded from mainstream accounts.
But Professor Patrick Vernon OBE’s work is not confined to formal institutions and policy arenas. As the creator and host of Museum of Grooves, a radio show imagined from the vantage point of the 24th Century, he has used storytelling and music as tools of cultural reclamation and celebration. Through Museum of Grooves, he has crafted a platform where cultural heritage intersects with creativity, challenging conventional narratives and making history resonate in new, unexpected ways.
His influence stretches from local communities to the highest echelons of policy-making. Professor Patrick Vernon OBE has served as a councillor in Hackney, as Race Equalities Adviser to the Shadow Equalities Ministerial Team, and as a committee member for Healthwatch England and the NHS Equality Diversity Council. He has held non-executive roles at Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, and the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB).
Professor Patrick Vernon OBE’s leadership extends into health equity, where his impact is profound. He has led initiatives tackling inequalities within the NHS, including his role as Chair of the Walsall Together Partnership Board, which strives for inclusive, community-centred healthcare. His creation of the Majonzi Fund—supporting bereaved families from Black and racialised communities impacted by COVID-19—reflects his dedication to justice that is both systemic and deeply personal.
In 2020, Professor Patrick Vernon OBE was named one of Britain’s top 20 campaigners by British Vogue and included in the Power List of the 100 most influential Black Britons. His voice remains indispensable, whether advising policymakers, mentoring emerging leaders, or writing for national and international media on healthcare, cultural heritage, and race.
He has received numerous accolades, including an OBE in 2012 for his work on tackling health inequalities and a lifetime achievement award from the Sheila McKechnie Foundation. His expertise in African and Caribbean genealogy has made him a leading authority in the field, and his contributions to cultural heritage have earned him fellowships at the Imperial War Museum and the Royal Historical Society.
Yet titles alone cannot capture the reach of Professor Patrick Vernon OBE’s impact. He speaks not only to policymakers and historians, but to those whose stories have been ignored, erased, or misunderstood. Whether challenging injustice from within the system or empowering communities from outside of it, his work remains rooted in the power of collective action.
For Professor Patrick Vernon OBE, history is not static. It is a living, breathing force, constantly reshaped by those willing to challenge it. Whether amplifying unheard voices, curating revolutionary radio shows, or dismantling structural barriers, he proves that the past is never truly behind us—it is the foundation upon which change is built.
