The King’s Ambulance Medal is awarded to ambulance staff who have shown distinguished service, exemplary dedication to their role, and demonstrated outstanding ability, merit and conduct to their vocation. On being awarded this medal, Lisa said: “It is such an honour to be nominated for the award by my colleagues and then to actually receive a letter saying I was to receive it was such a surprise. I am immensely proud to work for the ambulance service and to support the people who do such an amazing job caring for our patients every day. I am especially humbled to be the first woman in NWAS to receive this award.
“I have always wanted to be a voice for and support those who are underrepresented, not only in our own organisation but in the workplace in general. That has been my motivation for my whole career. One of my proudest achievements at NWAS has been the creation of several networks: for women, the armed forces, race equality, LGBT+, disability and faith, religion and belief, ensuring their voices and issues are heard and making the trust is a more inclusive and insightful place to work. The ambulance service is a very different organisation than it was 24 years ago, and it does make me proud to see how far we have come.”
As well as her role within NWAS, Lisa is also HR Director lead for National Education Network for Ambulance Services, leading national educational and training development on behalf of the ambulance sector. She is a highly regarded member of the Staff Council and supports the national LGBTQ network. Her decades of allyship were recently recognised with an award at the national LGBTQ conference in 2023.
Despite her national profile Lisa still regularly finds time to support staff at PRIDE events, motivate female staff at leadership conferences, encourage the recruitment of reservists through the development of an armed forces covenant, introduce a reverse mentoring programme to partner senior managers with younger staff from different backgrounds and put in place countless schemes to help the mental and physical wellbeing of staff. From therapy dogs to healthy eating and from hardship funds to cheaper cycles, Lisa makes life better for countless individuals.
Lisa’s commitment has helped both staff and patients alike. Her boundless energy includes shaping national policy for HIV and blood borne viruses, providing informed pandemic briefings through the diversity lens, being part of a select negotiating team for the national pay deal, regularly liaising with the Department of Health as lead HR director, the sexual safety launch, being part of the mental health continuum and much more. She perfectly balances leadership of her own People Directorate, the workload of an Executive Director and generously giving to numerous national programmes and groups with apparent ease. She has the innate ability to filter complex issues and move them forward with drive and compassion.
Acting Chief Executive, Salman Desai KAM, said: “When we think of the ambulance service, we rightly think of our frontline staff, but Lisa is part of a vital team working behind the scenes which supports our workforce.
“Lisa is an exceptional leader, perfectly balancing leadership of her own People Directorate, the workload of an Executive Director and generously giving to numerous national programmes and groups with apparent ease and has the innate ability to distil complex issues and move them forward with drive and compassion.
“It is fitting that, in line with her endless campaigning for equity across the entire workforce, she is the first woman within NWAS to receive this honour, and I am exceptionally proud of her achievement and to have her as a colleague.”