Patrick Vernon OBE

Patrick Vernon OBE is a social commentator, campaigner and cultural historian. He has over twenty years’ senior experience working across mental health, public health, heritage and race equality and is well known in health, local government and the voluntary sector.

In 2018, Patrick kick-started the campaign for an amnesty for the Windrush Generation. Patrick is currently Associate Director for Connected Communities at the Centre for Ageing Better, Equality and Diversity Adviser to Lambeth Council, Chair of Citizens Partnership for Healthcare Investigation Branch (HSIB) and Senior Associate at OLMEC.

Patrick is a Patron of ACCI, a long-established black mental health charity in Wolverhampton. He is Patron of Santé, a social enterprise in Camden which supports and befriends refugees and asylum seekers across London. Patrick is Vice Chair of the Bernie Grant Trust and is a board member of 38 Degrees.

Patrick received an OBE in 2012 for his work in race equality and health. He was award an honorary PhD by Wolverhampton University in 2018 for his campaigning and writing on culture, history and migration. In 2019 Patrick received the SMK Lifetime Achievement Award for campaigning. In 2020 Patrick was featured in September’s edition of British Vogue as one of the top 20 activists and campaigners.