Bianca Ysabelle Castaneda Esmeralda is a Senior Nurse in the Critical Care Division at University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. With 32-year career spanning international healthcare, Bianca has made a profound impact as a leader and published author. Her UK nursing journey started in Manchester in 2001, where she quickly established herself as a passionate leader and educator in acute medicine. Today, she thrives at UCLH's Intensive Care Unit (ICU), championing patient safety through innovative Harm Free Care initiatives, operational and clinical excellence. As a Transgender person, Bianca’s incredible life journey overcoming exclusion, and underrepresentation drives her resilience, tenacity, and passion for diverse leadership.

Her experiences fuel her commitment to promoting equality and inclusion, empowering the team to act courageously, celebrate differences, and foster a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. As a Transgender Subject Matter Expert (SME) and proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, she champions visibility and systemic change through engaging education, inclusive policies, and inspiring speeches at national and international events, including the NHS, private organisations, and global corporations.

Bianca's dedication as an Ambassador for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion is unwavering . Her notable contributions such as co-authoring groundbreaking “Personal Family-Centered care for LGBTQ+ individuals in acute and critical care settings’ highlight her unwavering passion for advancing inclusivity. Her work aligns with the NHS’s mission to deliver positive experiences for patients, staff, and service users. Bianca remains committed to advancing EDI initiatives through cultural, emotional, and gender intelligence, inspiring positive change across healthcare worldwide.