Barts Health consultant recognised in the 2020 Timewise Power 50 awards | Our news

Dr Rifca Le Dieu, Honorary Heamato-oncology Consultant and Champion of Flexible Working at Barts Health NHS Trust, and Clinical Senior Lecturer at Queen Mary University of London, has been named in the 2020 Power 50 awards: a roll call of 50 powerful executive in the UK - who all work part-time or flexibly.

The 2020 Timewise Power 50 Awards have been compiled by Timewise (www.timewise.co.uk), a flexible working consultancy and multi-award winning social business, following a nationwide search.

The Timewise Power 50, provides a snapshot of what modern work in Britain is like and challenges the belief part-time work cannot mean ambitious, highly successful nor senior.

The initiative also aims to inspire employers across the country with stellar examples of how flexible working can and should work – by providing trailblazing role models.

This year Rifca has been honoured. She opted to work three days a week  in 2011 to allow her to spend more time with her three children, two of whom are on the autistic spectrum. She has developed a portfolio career over the last few years consisting of a wide range of teaching responsibilities for Queen Mary University and becoming Trust Champion of Flexible Working at Barts Health,  while maintaining an outpatient lymphoma practice.

Rifca said: ''If it was not for the ability to work less-than-full-time I wouldn’t be able to still practice  clinical medicine. It has allowed me the flexibility to give my family the time they need whilst at the same time allowing me to develop a deeply satisfying and stimulating career. It has been a bumpy road but I am delighted now to be in the position to support other doctors who wish to work flexibly.”

Timewise conducted the nationwide call to action for nominations in September, calling upon the public to nominate inspirational individuals they knew, who work part time / flexibly at senior levels.

After hearing from hundreds of people, the judges compiled a list of 50 deemed to be the most outstanding.

Timewise co-founder and judge Karen Mattison MBE, who led the initiative from the start says: “Success doesn’t come in one shape or size. With 9 in 10 people wanting or needing flexibility in their next job – it is vital we find and showcase modern day role models to aspire to. Rifca is blazing a trail in the NHS – all whilst working part-time or flexibly. Achieving serious success, in less days. Not only proving that it can be done – but how. The Timewise Power 50 exists to award innovation like this. Every person who tells their story openly, helps to make change happen. ”