In a rapidly evolving world where healthcare and education must meet global challenges with innovation and equity, Professor Dr. Khurshid Alam OBE stands out as a visionary and transformational leader. His remarkable journey from humble beginnings to the international stage makes him an icon worth celebrating — a global authority in health governance, education, and social justice.
Early Roots and Inspiring Journey of Professor Dr. Khurshid Alam
Dr Khurshid Alam’s life story is itself an inspiration. Originally from Jamshedpur, he journeyed to the United Kingdom, where he would eventually make an indelible impact. His transition from a modest background to becoming one of the youngest health commissioners in the UK is a testament to his grit, commitment, and deep sense of purpose.
This remarkable odyssey reflects not only personal perseverance but an early recognition of systemic inequalities, especially in health and social care. Over the years, Dr Alam channeled this recognition into transformative leadership roles that have influenced policy, governance, and capacity building.
Leadership in Healthcare & Education
At present, Dr Alam is the Chair & CEO of the Academy for Advanced Studies & Training UK International, an innovative institution dedicated to delivering high-standard healthcare and educational training through strategic global partnerships.
Under his stewardship, the Academy promotes capacity building — not just in the UK, but internationally — by offering programs that bridge gaps in leadership, governance, and clinical excellence. His role demonstrates his unwavering belief that education and health are deeply intertwined, and that strengthening one strengthens the other.
Professional Credentials & Fellowships
Dr Alam’s qualifications are as impressive as his career trajectory. He holds an MBA, and he is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (FCIPD) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health (FRSPH). These honors reflect his multidisciplinary expertise, combining human-resource excellence with public-health insight, making him uniquely qualified to lead institutions that operate at the intersection of workforce development and health policy.
In October 2023, he was formally honored with an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) — a mark of recognition for his contributions to public service, especially in health and education.
Governance, Regulation & Public Service
Dr Alam’s impact spans far beyond administration. His contribution to healthcare regulation is particularly noteworthy:
- He was one of the founding commissioners of the UK’s Healthcare Commission, the first regulatory body preceding today’s Care Quality Commission.
- As a member of the Patient Safety Expert Group, he helped develop rigorous standards for assessing safety in healthcare, ensuring that patient welfare remained a core focus.
- He was instrumental in developing health indicators for BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) communities, emphasizing not just raw data but trends over time — a forward-thinking approach to evaluating and improving health equity.
His regulatory work shows that Dr Alam isn’t simply a bureaucrat — he’s someone who builds systems on the foundation of fairness, safety, and inclusivity.
Prof. Dr Khurshid Alam: Championing Diversity & Social Equity
A powerful thread throughout Dr Alam’s career is his advocacy for diversity, representation, and social justice:
As Chief Executive of the National Association of Racial Equality Councils (NAREC), he worked with various organizations to improve diversity in public appointments, including non-executive roles in judiciary and health institutions.
He served as Chair of the Progressive Muslim Forum (now PET Foundation – Progression through Education, Training & Social Enterprise). Through this platform, he organized workshops and dialogues aimed at increasing the diversity of applicants for leadership roles in the NHS and other public bodies. His work was officially recognized: he received a special commendation from the Chair of the Appointments Commission.
For six years, he was part of the Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards (ACCEA) in London (North-East), where he championed reforms to make the awards process fairer for BME and women doctors.
These efforts reflect Dr Alam’s belief that true leadership means lifting others, especially marginalized groups, through structural change.
Non-Executive Roles & Thought Leadership
Beyond his executive responsibilities, Dr Alam is deeply involved in non-executive roles:
- He serves on various boards, housing societies, and healthcare projects, leveraging his experience to improve leadership and governance in multiple sectors.
- He is a healthcare columnist for the Business Economics Journal, writing on critical issues such as governance, equality, and performance management.
- He continues to sit on the General Medical Council’s BME Committee, contributing his voice to ongoing conversations about diversity in medical regulation.
His thought leadership amplifies critical conversations around fairness and excellence in health systems globally.
Strategic Vision: Global Capacity Building
One of Dr Alam’s defining characteristics as a global leader is strategic vision. At the Academy for Advanced Studies & Training UK International, he is not just building a training institution — he is nurturing a global network of leaders, educators, and healthcare professionals. His goal is ambitious: to create a cadre of professionals who are not only skilled, but ethically grounded and system-aware.
He understands that in an era of global health crises — from pandemics to health inequalities — capacity building is not optional but essential. By fostering international partnerships, Dr Alam ensures that knowledge, resources, and leadership practices flow across borders, benefiting underserved communities and institutions alike.
Recognition & Legacy
Dr Khurshid Alam’s work has not gone unnoticed – The OBE he received is a formal acknowledgment by the British Crown for his services to public health and education. His leadership in organizations like the Academy, NAREC, and PET Foundation has produced tangible change: more inclusive leadership pipelines, improved safety and regulatory standards, and greater representation in public bodies. Through his writings, board roles, and non-executive contributions, he continues to shape policy conversations at the highest levels.
Professor Dr. Khurshid Alam OBE: A Global Icon
What makes Professor Dr Khurshid Alam a global leader and icon is not just the breadth of his roles, but the depth of his impact:
Bridge-builder: He spans sectors — health, education, diversity, regulation — and connects them in a way that builds sustainable systems.
Systems thinker: Whether developing patient-safety standards or diversity indicators, Dr Alam thinks in terms of structures that last.
Inclusive leadership: He uses his position to amplify underrepresented voices and create pathways for others.
Global educator: His work through the Academy is about building capacity far beyond the UK, touching communities in developing countries, and fostering global excellence.
Ethical grounding: His fellowships (FCIPD, FRSPH) and his OBE reflect not just professional success, but ethical and public-service commitment.
Conclusion
In a world full of complex challenges — widening inequalities, health crises, leadership vacuums — Professor Dr. Khurshid Alam emerges as a visionary whose work matters deeply. From his inspiring journey from Jamshedpur to leading a global academy, to his advocacy for diversity and his system-building in health regulation, Dr Alam exemplifies what it means to be a global icon today.
He reminds us that leadership is not just about personal achievement, but about empowering others, building institutions, and imagining a better future. As Chair & CEO of the Academy for Advanced Studies & Training UK International, he is not just shaping the next generation — he is helping to shape a more equitable, fair, and healthy world.
