New College Leads appointed

We are pleased to announce that Professor Mohammed Al-Uzri has been appointed as the Royal College of Psychiatrists' new College Lead for Global Mental Health for a five-year term. Dr Ananta Dave has also been appointed as the new College Lead for Mental Health Equity for a five-year term.

Having worked as the Presidential Lead for Global Mental Health for the past three years, Professor Al-Uzri will continue to strengthen our International Work. Professor Al-Uzri will provide senior clinical leadership across the College's international portfolio, advising the President and Officers while helping shape and deliver the International Strategy.

Working closely with the International team and College leadership, he will support the development of international programmes, partnerships, and training, ensuring these are coordinated, impactful and aligned with the College's priorities as well as values.

For members, this appointment supports a connected and strategic approach to international activity. Professor Al-Uzri will work closely with International Divisions Officers and members across regions to improve communication, increase opportunities for engagement, and ensure members can both contribute to and benefit from the College's global work.

Dr Ananta Dave has worked as the Presidential Lead for Retention and Wellbeing, which has been a key focus for the College's equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) work. This new role recognises the strong evidence that inequity increases the risk of mental health problems and we cannot secure good outcomes for patients and our workforce without equity – and so it's at the heart of and essential for us to deliver the mission of the College.

Dr Dave will provide senior clinical leadership to drive, coordinate, and champion the College's work on mental health equity, ensuring fairness and respect for all. Working closely with College leaders, members, stakeholders and staff colleagues, Dr Dave with lead and support development and implementation of existing and new initiatives to ensure EDI is embedded in the work of the College. This will include prioritising the action to address mental health stigma, discrimination, and prejudice which affects people with mental disorders in many areas, including both engagement with other clinical specialties and experience of care within mental health services.

Across the wider College, the role will help connect international and equity activity with Faculties, Special Interest Groups and other College initiatives ensuring our work in the UK and globally reflects best practice, shared learning and the College's values, including a strong commitment to human rights and reducing mental health inequalities. We warmly congratulate Professor Al-Uzri and Dr Dave on their appointments and look forward to working with them to strengthen the College's global impact and ensuring equity is embedded across all we do.

This article was included in our July 2026 eNewsletter.