Rifat Wahhab is currently advising a Primary Care Trust on all aspects of learning and development. The role is challenging as well as being fulfilling. By being a part of the team that produces a strong learning programme for over 900 members of staff, Rifat is aware that the beneficiaries will also be patients who will receive higher quality care as a result of the training.

Rifat's career has centred on advising, developing and training individuals and organisations. Rifat has been particularly committed to communities who do not access traditional information and education routes. She worked for nine years in a NCVO project which later became independent helping inner-city voluntary groups across England develop as organisations so that they can provide stronger services to their communities.

Rifat also worked as an internal consultant for Haringey Council training and developing teams, departments and individuals so that the residents of Haringey can receive a better quality service.

Reflecting on her career so far, Rifat comments, "There has been a common thread in my career; from being a librarian for architects, to being a fundraising adviser for charities to being an internal consultant for local government and the NHS, I have been able to help organisations and professionals deliver the very best of services to those who need it most.”

Rifat holds a degree in Librarianship, two post graduate diplomas: Women's Studies and Diploma In Management Studies and a MA in Management Practice. Rifat is currently a trustee of two charities: Abbey Community Association, serving the residents and non residents of South Westminster and the Consortium of Bengali Associations, a national charity set up to strengthen the Bengali voluntary sector.