A healthcare leader has been recognised nationally for her role in advancing innovation within the health service.

The professional is employed by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and achieved a nomination at the Parliamentary Pathfinder NHS Innovation Adoption Awards 2026, celebrating her efforts in fostering innovative approaches across the National Health Service.

She travelled to Westminster for the AI and Healthcare Parliamentary Showcase, where she was presented with her nomination certificate.

She expressed her gratitude, saying she was extremely thankful to receive this nomination and to have their work acknowledged at a national parliamentary level. She noted that genuine innovation only becomes meaningful when it reaches people, services and systems and delivers real improvements in patient care and for staff. She added that this recognition reflects the collective efforts of colleagues, partners and clinicians who are committed to moving beyond pilot schemes and implementing solutions that work effectively across the NHS.

The nomination highlights her leadership in developing a system to centralise Confidential Disclosure Agreements for mental health research.

This framework allows researchers to securely evaluate initial studies through a standardised agreement, supporting assessments of feasibility, recruitment potential and study viability.

The streamlined approach has delivered trust-wide benefits, reducing waiting times and strengthening collaboration between the NHS, universities and commercial sector collaborators.

It has also generated continued interest from pharmaceutical companies, which have recognised the model’s potential for broader rollout.

She described accepting the parliamentary nomination as a proud moment.

She continued that visiting Westminster to collect her nomination certificate was an honourable occasion, and she thanked Professor Rachel Upthegrove for putting her forward and UKHLSI for recognising innovation adoption. She noted there was significant opportunity ahead and she looked forward to expanding impact on a larger scale.

Her nomination was submitted by Professor Rachel Upthegrove MBE, who leads the Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration and serves as director of the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Oxford Health.

Dr Martin Batty, who leads research and development at Oxford Health and attended Parliament with her, said he was delighted to see Nnenna receive national recognition for her outstanding leadership in spreading innovation across the NHS. He noted the nomination reflected not only Nnenna’s ability and commitment but also her focus on ensuring innovation delivers measurable outcomes beyond initial trials. He mentioned that attending Parliament to accept this nomination was a significant achievement and the organisation was extremely proud of the ongoing contribution she makes in creating genuine improvements for patients, services and the wider health system.

Those who make the shortlist will feature in an upcoming Parliamentary State of the Nation report on healthcare innovation adoption.

The ultimate winners will be announced at the full awards ceremony in London later this year.