Patrick Vernon is CEO of The Afiya Trust, a Hackney Councillor in Queensbridge, and a committee member for Healthwatch England, one of Britain’s leading Black genealogists and the founder of the ‘100 Great Black Britons’ website.

Patrick was born in Wolverhampton, of Jamaican parents. He grew up in All Saints then Pennfields, before moving to London in 1989. Patrick was a pupil of Brickkiln Street Infants, Grove Primary and Colton Hills High School before attending Wulfrun College. Patrick pursued higher education at Manchester University? and Warwick University. In the 1980s Patrick was a key organiser of the ‘Clinton McCurbin Campaign for Justice.

In 2012 Patrick was awarded an OBE for his work to promote health equality for Black and minority ethnic communities. In a released statement, Patrick dedicated his OBE to his parents, Norris and Avis Vernon: “I am dedicating this honour to my parents who were part of the Windrush Generation, they made a lot of personal sacrifices in coming to Britain and raising my four sisters and I. It is also great to receive this award which also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Independence of Jamaica.”

Mr Vernon was the former Non Executive Director for East London and the City Health Authority and Chair of City and Hackney Drugs Action Team. He has held various roles such as Regional Director for London and South East England for Mind, NHS Director of Brent Health Action Zone) and a Non Executive Director for City and East London Health Authority, Trustee for Social Action for Health.