Shabira Papain

Chief Operating Officer
@ Best Beginnings

Shabira Papain
  • Bio

Shabira Papain is Chief Operating Officer of Best Beginnings, a national charity focused on addressing child inequalities across maternity, public health and early years systems. 

Shabira is a global citizen; with roots in Mozambique and India, born in Portugal, grew up in Australia and living in London since 2001. This diaspora has influenced and underpinned her practice and strengthened her commitment to ensuring Black & Minority Ethnic communities are at the heart of decision making across systems particularly in regards to addressing inequity and persistent poor outcomes amongst seldom heard voices.

Shabira is a Strategic Senior Leader with a strong track record of leading high performance operational, evaluation, finance, communications and fundraising teams. Key skills, knowledge and experience in:

  •  Digital Health
  •  Community Health Development
  •  Social Health models
  •  Public Health Innovation
  •  Business Development
  •  Organisational Development
  •  Change Management 
  •  Programme Design

Shabira sits on various boards and committees including; Trustee of Maternal Mental Health Alliance, National Maternity & Perinatal Audit IGA and Advisory Committee for the REACH Trial (UCL & UEL)

Passionate about people and collaboration, Shabira has designed and implemented co-production innovations  that have been sighted in NICE good practice guidelines (maternity, mental health, end of life, self management). 

Shabira has also supported and led the development of several user-led mental health networks such as the People’s Network led by Black men promoting agency and subsidiarity of communities of people with long and enduring mental ill health. Shabira uses both her lived and professional experience to promote the importance of prevention, co-production and equity in maternity, public health and early years systems. 

  • My Previous Events

  • Meeting Mental Health Needs: Practical Interventions to Improve Services

    • 12-12-2018
    • 08:30 - 15:50
    • Mary Ward House Conference & Exhibition Centre, London