Dr Desaline Joseph, Consultant in Paediatric Sleep Medicine at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and Honorary Senior Lecturer at King’s College London, delivered a keynote address at the Global Women Empowerment Awards 2026, held at the Houses of Parliament on Thursday 12 March.
The event, organised by the United Kingdom Women’s Network (UKWNET) in partnership with the World Tamil Organisation, brought together leaders, professionals, and community representatives to celebrate the resilience and achievements of women across diverse communities. The programme was hosted by the Rt Hon Nia Griffith MP and Lord Hannett John.
In her keynote address, Dr Joseph reflected on her personal and professional journey, from her early education in Tottenham to high school in Dominica in the Caribbean, and the challenges of progressing within a medical career in the United Kingdom.
She highlighted the importance of strong support networks, expressing gratitude to mentors including Dr Mike Wailoo, Professors Petersen and Silverman, Dr Toni Wolff, Dr Whitehouse, and Professor Gringras, acknowledging that she stands “on the shoulders of giants” who invested in her development.
Dr Joseph also shared how faith and prayer sustained her through significant personal and professional challenges, including experiences of misogyny and racism.
She paid tribute to the prayer support she received from the Tottenham, Leicester St Matthew’s, and Leicester Central Adventist church communities, as well as the encouragement of her mother, Janette Joseph, and her spiritual mentor, Pat Flemmings.
Encouraging younger generations, she emphasised the importance of drawing strength from faith, family, and community, reminding attendees that our stories ultimately point beyond ourselves:
“Let us take the gospel to every corner of the earth – even into the heart of government – so that all may know who Jesus is.”
The event was organised by Edward John, a member of Stoke-on-Trent Seventh-day Adventist church and a respected leader within the Tamil community. His continued work helps create opportunities for faith engagement and dialogue within public and civic spaces.