In this article, Abdul Hai OBE, Director of Community Relations and Public Affairs at LabTech, shares powerful insights on inclusive leadership and its role in building stronger, more equitable communities, drawing from his extensive knowledge and experience across the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS), local government, and the corporate world.
What Does Inclusive Leadership Mean to Me?
To me, inclusive leadership means connecting with people and communities while remaining open to opportunities. It involves uniting individuals around a shared vision whenever possible and making decisions based on data, facts, and lived experiences rather than relying on instincts or conscious and unconscious biases. Such biases often lead to missed opportunities for meaningful change.
I believe that the essential traits of an inclusive leader include humility, an open mindset, curiosity, adaptability, courage, and empathy. Inclusive leaders inspire, challenge, and lead by example, creating momentum and bringing people along on the journey for change.
Inclusion goes beyond diversity and equality; equity must also be considered when it is the right course of action. A conducive environment allows individuals and teams to flourish and grow together, fostering autonomy, openness to dissenting opinions, and a sense of fulfilment.
Does Inclusive Leadership Matter?
Absolutely. Inclusive leadership matters because it ensures everyone’s knowledge, skills, and experiences are valued, utilised, and embraced. Together, we achieve more than we do individually.
Inclusive Leadership in action
When I first learned about the spread of COVID-19 across London and the UK, I realised that my role as a community leader and lead councillor would be essential in supporting local communities and helping to save lives in the London Borough of Camden. It soon became clear that the virus disproportionately impacted residents from Black, Asian, and other ethnic backgrounds.
In March 2020, my brother tested positive for COVID-19, and my elderly mother exhibited symptoms. I shared the pain that many families across the UK experienced due to the inability to visit loved ones.
COVID-19 exposed deep structural inequalities in the UK. Recognising the need for urgent action, I worked with the Director of Public Health for the London Boroughs of Camden and Islington to establish a working group. We implemented a six-week programme to review the disease’s disproportionate impact on ethnic minority communities. Our goal was to quickly gather evidence and take immediate action to protect residents while developing a long-term call to action for substantive change. We explored a wide range of issues, including health and employment, and sought to understand the underlying factors better.
In August 2020, we launched the “Building Equal Foundations” report, which presented our findings and outlined a plan of action to tackle racial inequalities in Camden. The report reflects input from councillors, senior officers, health practitioners, schools, young people, and community members. The Local Government Association (LGA) recognised the work as good practice. I chaired a cross-party Race and Equality Working Sub-Group to hold the Council and its partners accountable for implementing the report’s recommendations.
Above: Abdul with Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan
In 2017, Camden experienced a surge in knife crime, becoming the highest in London. Deeply concerned by this trend, we believed a community-led response was necessary. I co-chaired the Camden Youth Safety Taskforce (2017-2023) with Keir Starmer, then the local MP, to investigate the causes of youth violence in the borough and develop a coordinated response. We brought together schools, Public Health, businesses, the police, young people, and community groups with the desire to improve youth safety. We firmly believe that no young person should feel unsafe in their community. However, what became clear to us while leading this work is that for some young people, fear of crime and violence has become a daily reality. Our goal was to change that.
In 2018, Camden’s Youth Safety Steering Group was established to oversee and deliver the 17 recommendations made in the Youth Safety Taskforce Report. These recommendations aimed to reduce youth violence and keep young people safe by adopting a public health approach. By proactively engaging with at-risk youth, collaborating with the police, and providing trauma-informed support in schools, youth clubs, and on the streets, we have delivered significant reductions in knife crime in Camden.
The Mayor of London has invested £3 million across the city to implement the Engage Youth diversion programme developed by the Taskforce. This programme supports young people in police custody through youth workers and health practitioners. Additionally, the government has pledged £100 million towards the Young Futures programme, designed to tackle knife crime based on the Youth Safety Taskforce model.
Ultimately, inclusive leadership is not about mere words – it is about driving forward the change needed to deliver our desired outcomes.
