Meet Steve Gilbert OBE

Why Steve?

With over a decade of experience leading work to tackle racism and improve outcomes for people living with mental illnesses, Steve has become the go-to speaker, consultant, and coach for organisations serious about delivering meaningful change. But his expertise wasn’t earned in comfort – it was forged in the fire of personal experience.

As a dual-ethnicity child with a Black father and a white mother, growing up in a largely white neighbourhood, Steve grew up not ‘fitting in’. He became acutely aware of how racial discrimination contributed to the high rates of serious mental illness on his father’s side of the family. These personal and familial experiences aren’t just backstory – they’re the driving force behind everything he does.

The Journey That Shaped Him

‘I remember sitting alone one night, really thinking about my role in perpetuating or challenging racism. It wasn’t comfortable. In fact, it was downright uncomfortable.’ But that discomfort? That’s where growth happens.

Steve has battled with mental illness since his late teens, experiencing the painful depths of Depression, destructive highs of Bipolar Disorder, and heart-breaking episodes of Suicidal Ideation and attempts. Against the backdrop of psychological challenges, Steve has continued to display grit and determination as he overcomes the obstacles that accompany life with a serious mental illness.

It’s this combination of personal struggle and professional excellence that led to Steve being awarded an OBE in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to Mental Health.

The 3Cs Approach to Anti-Racism Leadership

We believe that the pursuit of the 3Cs (competence, confidence and courage) are essential for organisations and their leaders to create truly Anti-Racist futures. Steve’s approach isn’t theoretical – it’s been battle-tested in some of the most challenging environments:

Competence

Steve has made it his life’s work to tackle racism and support organisations to become Anti-Racist. Focused on developing the competencies required to influence change his contributions include:

  • Co-developing the 300 Voices Engagement Model and Toolkit designed to facilitate equal relationships between young Black African Caribbean men and statutory staff

  • Reforming the Mental Health Act as one of three Vice-Chairs to the Independent Mental Health Act Review, with a particular focus on reducing racial inequity

  • Co-chairing the NHS Race & Health Observatory’s Mental Health Working Group, investing in research to transform mental health experiences of Black and historically racialised people

  • Developing the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework, a model to reduce mental health inequity in England and Wales

Confidence

Steve excels at building confidence in others through:

  • Powerful presentations that inspire action without overwhelming audiences

  • Clarity of communication that makes complex concepts accessible

  • Meticulous planning that builds confidence through structure and process

  • Striking candour that creates safe spaces for honest conversation

Courage

You know that moment when everyone in the room knows something needs to be said, but no one wants to be the one to say it? That’s where Steve lives – in those uncomfortable but necessary spaces where real change begins.

As a suicide attempt survivor, Steve brings unparalleled courage to his work, sensitively exploring the pain and trauma of getting support for suicidal behaviour, while emphasising the roles communities can play in saving a life. His personal vulnerability becomes a powerful tool for change, creating spaces where others find courage to address their own challenges.

But Steve’s courage extends beyond personal sharing:

  • In boardrooms, as a former trustee of Mind and the Association of Mental Health Providers and current board member at Bipolar UK, Steve has repeatedly held voluntary organisations to account for their performance on delivering racial equity for both staff and beneficiaries

  • On stages across the country, Steve delivers keynotes that challenge organisations to move beyond comfortable conversations:

    • “Cultivating Equity: Your Role as an Ally in Creating Change” – where he empowers audiences to leverage their influence and privilege

    • “Targeted Universalism: Moving Beyond ‘Whataboutism’ to Create Equity” – tackling the resistance that often derails progress

    • “The Business Case for Inclusion: Defending DEI in Challenging Times” – providing leaders with tools to defend inclusion when it’s under attack

As Arden Tomison, CEO of Thalamos, shares: “Steve has been fantastic to work with. He is able to broach incredibly challenging topics and subjects with frankness, honesty and kindness. He has held senior members of our team, including me, to account whilst in the next breath been super supportive to more junior team members.”

Steve’s courage isn’t just about speaking truth to power – it’s about creating spaces where others find their own courage to challenge racism, even when it’s uncomfortable, even when it’s risky, even when it would be easier to stay silent.

Impact of Working With Steve

You know, when we talk about anti-racism leadership, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. We might think, ‘Who am I to lead this work?’ or ‘What if I make a mistake?’ But here’s the truth bomb – we need you. Yes, you.

Working with Steve isn’t just about learning theories and frameworks – it’s about transformation. His colleagues and clients consistently highlight his:

  • Ability to listen across all levels of an organisation

  • Warmth, intelligence, and humour even when navigating difficult conversations

  • Thoughtful contributions and personal reflections that create space for others to grow

  • Healthy challenge that pushes organisations beyond their comfort zones

  • Solution-focused approach that balances honesty with hope

As Elaine Bousfield MBE, Founder of Kooth PLC, puts it: “Steve is warm, intelligent, open and funny. He understands people’s pain and yet is able to navigate a way through the mess and disruption that inevitably follows when a company is facing its mistakes and trying to build an anti-racist future.”

What People Have to Say About Steve

I had the immense pleasure of working with Steve as he chaired the panel discussion for the TEDxNHS Unlocked episode 'Somebody Must Go First' which discussed the experience of mental health/mental ill health and accessing mental health services in black and brown communities

Steve brought with him a wealth of experience both personally and professionally and shared this generously. He approached the task with maturity and care to support the contributors and to challenge the audience.

Steve was an absolute joy to work with. I cannot recommend him enough. His experience is not unique however his approach and his courage are remarkable. He has a skilful way of holding a mirror up to injustice in a compassionate way which encourages action as well whilst broadening awareness.

Steve will be asset to any team or project.
Alex Prinsley, TEDxNHS Leader

 

I worked with Steve as founder of Xenzone - now Kooth Plc- and was impressed not just by his grasp of the issues but his ability to listen to people across the organisation. Steve is warm, intelligent open and funny. He understands peoples pain and yet able to navigate a way through the mess and disruption that inevitably follows when a company is facing its mistakes and trying build an anti racist future.

I have had long chats with Steve over the last couple of years and can recommend him whole heartedly as a consultant to help you and your business move forwards.
Elaine Bousfield MBE, Founder of Kooth PLC (formerly XenZone)

 

Steve is a respected leader and thinker in the mental health and anti-racism space. I've had the privilege to sit alongside him on Mind's Race Equity Committee and really appreciate his thoughtful contributions, personal reflections and the healthy challenge he brings to the group. Steve is very passionate about promoting rights and justice within mental health and this really shines through all his work. He is a collaborator and despite the challenges faced within the sector, he always adopts a hopeful and solution-focussed approach. In particular, I really value Steve's advocacy around lived experience in decision-making and lived experience leadership - especially amongst groups facing the greatest inequalities.

I have learnt so much from working with him and would consider any individual or organisation who get to work with Steve as extremely lucky.
Kadra Abdinasir, Director of Policy at Centre for Mental Health

 

I have worked with Steven over many years. He is very intelligent and thoughtful. Steven’s lived experience has provided invaluable insight which has informed the work we have done together. I first met Steven when I was asked to chair a Mental Health Commission in the West Midlands. Steven joined the Commission and proved to be an outstanding work colleague. Always a pleasure to collaborate with and always constructive and helpful. Since then Steven joined the Advisory Board at Kooth - which I chair. I have a very high regard for Steven and would strongly recommend him.

Sir Norman Lamb, Chair of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

 

 Steven is an expert in developing and delivering anti-racism strategies. His championing of and contributions to Mind's Race Equality Advisory Board were significant in delivering the strategy. For organisations committed to positive change, I highly recommend Steven Gilbert as a consultant.
 Frances Brown, Governance, EDI and strategy expert

Steve is a highly inspiring, articulate individual who draws on his own lived experience of serious mental illness to campaign for and ultimately make a difference to others facing similar struggles. Steve is also an anti-racism campaigner and advisor, and a passionate keynote speaker on the topic of tackling inequalities in mental health. He made a big impact when he spoke about redesigning care for racially discriminated communities during the Opening Keynote session of the 2022 HIMSS European Health Conference in Helsinki last month. During another session on tackling inequalities in mental health through the use of digital therapeutics, Steve shared how he’s involved in developing an anti-racism approach in a digital mental health company and delivering a digital care pathway for the mental health act. I would highly recommend working with Steve as someone who can not only share priceless insights into the realities of living with serious mental illness but who will also draw on his experiences to support you to build and implement solutions to help level up your organisation. To find that combination in one person – particularly somebody as great to work with as Steve – is pretty rare.
 Lisa Thomlinson Events Director, Cogora

 

 Steve has worked with my organisation for a number of years and is a breath of fresh air. He communicates with such authenticity and integrity….and doesn’t hold back which is absolutely vital when you’re on a journey of learning and change. Steve is extremely wise, compassionate and committed to making a meaningful difference; this enables him to challenge in a really thought provoking way - and people want to listen to what he has to say. I have really valued the insights and support he has provided - such an asset to any organisation.
Lynne Green, Chief Clinical Officer at Kooth (formerly XenZone)

 

I first met Steve when we were co-speakers at a conference back in 2019. From the moment he got off stage I'd decided I wanted to work with him. After a some pursuing from me, and lots of checking us out from him, we were lucky enough that Steve joined our Team as an Advisor and Steering Group member!

I could say the rest was history but that's not the point of a recommendation, so...

Steve has been fantastic to work with. He is able to broach incredibly challenging topics and subjects with frankness, honesty and kindness. He has held senior members of our team, including me, to account whilst in the next breath been super supportive to more junior team members. He has an inate understanding of how to imbed positive attitudes and behaviours at all layers of an organisation.

For anyone who is serious about addressing some of the fundemental challenges of our time, I'd suggest Steve is the person you should be speaking with.

The team and I look forward to working with him for many years to come.
Arden Tomison, CEO Thalamos

 

I worked with Steve throughout 2018 as the legal adviser to the independent Review of the Mental Health Act, of which he was a Vice-Chair. Steve's commitment, passion and hard-earned knowledge infused the working group meetings, and his robust but unflaggingly polite challenging of received wisdoms were instrumental in sharpening recommendations across the board. He is a true force for good.
Alex Ruck Keene KC (Hon), Barrister at 39 Essex Chambers