Dr Sharon Black is an esteemed academic and nurse leader with an extensive career in higher education, clinical practice, and workforce transformation. As Associate Deputy Head of School (People and Culture) and Associate Professor of Nursing at the University of Nottingham, she has been instrumental in driving cultural change and academic excellence across one of the UK’s leading institutions for nursing education.

Her research interests include leadership, psychological safety, and organisational wellbeing, with a particular focus on how compassionate cultures enable both staff and students to thrive. A Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Dr Black has earned a national reputation for her strategic work on inclusive leadership and for promoting diversity within healthcare education.

Dr Black’s career began in clinical nursing, where her commitment to patient-centred care evolved into a passion for shaping the systems and structures that sustain high-quality, ethical practice. She continues to advise NHS Trusts and educational bodies on workforce engagement and leadership development.

With her deep sense of integrity, empathy, and vision, Dr Sharon Black exemplifies the values at the heart of the NouZetwals Health and Social Care Excellence Awards — honouring those who lead with courage, inclusivity, and compassion.