Menu
Bernadette Thompson OBE is an influential diversity leader and advocate for equality, currently serving as the Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Widely recognised as one of the UK’s top 100 inspirational D&I leaders, she is celebrated for her commitment to creating inclusive workplaces and empowering underrepresented communities. Bernadette is an engaging and impactful speaker who shares practical insights on leadership, belonging and cultural transformation, drawing from more than two decades of experience across the public sector. Her extensive background and dedication to fairness have positioned her as a leading voice in shaping equitable work environments across the UK.
Bernadette’s distinguished career began in the Civil Service, where she held senior roles within major government departments, including the Home Office, HM Treasury, the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Her early work as Senior Diversity and Inclusion Manager for HM Treasury and later as Diversity Consultant for the UK Home Office established her as a thought leader in workforce equality and inclusive policy design. By 2019, she had become Deputy Director of Inclusion, Wellbeing and Employee Engagement for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, as well as a Senior HR Business Partner for the Ministry of Justice. These roles enabled her to shape national strategies that improved workplace culture, strengthened employee engagement and advanced representation across the Civil Service.
In 2021, Bernadette joined Barts Health NHS Trust as Associate Director of Inclusion before taking up her current position at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in 2023. Her leadership has been recognised with numerous accolades, including the Workplace Hero Award at the 2020 Investing in Ethnicity Awards, the Rising Star Champion Award at the 2021 We Are the City Awards and the Community Award from the Charity for Civil Servants. In the same year, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to diversity and inclusion. Beyond her professional achievements, Bernadette contributes as a trustee for King’s College charity and Black Inclusion Week, serves as an ambassador for Different Woman, and has been featured in Still Breathing and SHE2’s Wonder Woman publication, highlighting her influence as a changemaker.
Bernadette is hired as a speaker for her deep expertise, authenticity and ability to inspire action. Her presentations offer practical, evidence-based strategies for embedding equity and inclusion within organisations, while her personal journey brings warmth, credibility and genuine motivation. Through her engaging delivery and transformative message, Bernadette empowers audiences to move beyond awareness and take measurable steps towards lasting, meaningful inclusion and equality.
“Bernadette’s Black History Month talk with IRIS was incredibly inspiring and thought-provoking. Her passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion was evident, and her storytelling brought to life the important topic. Bernadette has a unique ability to engage the audience with warmth and authenticity, while delivering a powerful message on the importance of representation and empowerment. Her talk left a lasting impact on all of us, sparking important conversations and encouraging reflection on how we can all contribute to positive change. Truly a motivating experience for all who attended!”
“Bernadette sat on the panel for our 2022 International Women’s Day event. The theme was #BreakTheBias and Bernadette brought an inspirational perspective to the discussion. Her views were clear, relevant, and importantly, practical. We were delighted to bring Bernadette’s extensive experience in breaking boundaries to our audience.”
“I just wanted to say a massive thank you on behalf of the whole team for the session yesterday. You were so engaging and made the team really think about how we can continue to check ourselves and be a truly inclusive team.”
“We would like to say a massive thank you for being a part of our Black History Month Lunch and Learn event today. It made a big impact on the attendees – myself included. Hearing your experiences and the enthusiasm you bring to every new role or position you find yourself in was, and is, nothing short of inspiring. The presentation itself was informative and thoroughly entertaining – it’s a real struggle believing you’re an introvert!”
“Bernadette did a great job, it was exactly what we needed. A good balance between weaving in thoughts and information around Black History Month but also a strong focus on inclusion in general. I also liked that Bernadette used a variety of difference interaction methods. From Video, to pictures or the chat box.”
“Thanks for being so authentic, sharing your knowledge and experience. The general feedback has been very positive with over 170 people in attendance. I particularly liked the Guinness Vs latte description.”
The Mental Health Speakers Agency has been one of the UK’s leading bureaus for emotional wellbeing experts since 2020. We supply speakers for corporate and public events across the world, and cater to both in-person occasions and online webinars. Our roster includes athletes, psychologists, celebrities and more, to ensure that audiences of all demographics receive tailored, impactful mental health guidance.
Copyright © 2025 The Mental Health Speakers Agency. All rights reserved.
