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Leadership programme

Our leadership programme helps members develop the skills, experience and professional connections to lead change in kidney care.

Combining structured learning with mentoring and practical project work, it supports emerging leaders across professions to take on responsibilities within their services and contribute to the UKKA’s national work in education, research, guidelines and quality improvement.

The programme also helps bring a wider range of professional experience into leadership, connecting members with opportunities to shape the work of our Special Interest Groups, Professional Groups and Committees.

Leadership Course 2025-2026

Leadership Course 2023

The 2025-2026 programme

The 2026 programme brings together early- to mid-career UKKA members from across the kidney community, combining leadership teaching with mentoring, peer learning and practical project work.

Participants joined one of two routes:

  • Experiential Leadership Programme: a 12-month programme combining mentored shadowing, the Leadership and Change Course and project leadership alongside a UKKA Special Interest Group, Professional Group or Committee.
  • Leadership and Change Course: a three-month course combining self-directed learning, online sessions and in-person teaching.

Teaching covered leading teams through change, navigating difficult conversations, project planning and quality improvement. Participants have applied this learning to projects addressing priorities within kidney services and the UKKA’s national work.

Explore projects from the 2026 cohort

Pooja Mehta Gudka and Laura Desai are developing complementary resources for primary care professionals and colleagues new to nephrology, covering the diagnosis and management of chronic kidney disease.

Abid Elshekhidris is examining barriers within the home haemodialysis pathway at Leicester, testing improvements to staff education, communication and documentation.

Mohammad Rabiul Islam Rony is developing a structured approach to identifying people receiving haemodialysis who may benefit from a conversation about whether continuing treatment remains right for them.

Rachel Austin is developing a virtual ward model for kidney patients who need continued monitoring after leaving hospital, examining the pathways, governance and technology required.

Isaac Tseng is surveying UK Renal Pharmacy Group members to understand the barriers, support needs and priorities that influence their involvement in research.

Janeme Lam is exploring how workplace culture, assumptions and processes contribute to medicines waste, using interviews with pharmacy staff and managers to inform future improvement work.

Building a community of kidney leaders

The UKKA’s multiprofessional leadership training developed following the merger of the Renal Association and British Renal Society, supporting members from different professions to take on leadership responsibilities within the newly formed Association. The 2023 programme was designed with the Royal College of Physicians. Running over eight months, it combined five teaching days with personalised mentoring from senior colleagues and structured peer groups where participants worked through real challenges from their workplaces.

Interested in a future cohort?

Contact the UKKA to ask about future leadership development opportunities or contributing your experience as a mentor.