For the next two years, the Lived Experience Reference Panel will participate as Togetherness Champions in ad-hoc meetings and consultations designed to ensure we continue to meet the needs of the UK's diverse communities in Edinburgh, London, East of England, Midlands, North West and North East England.

Our board of advisors

  • Rev. Fujo Malaika

    Malaika has served as an Interfaith Minister for the past 11 years and is actively involved in addressing and mitigating the impact of systemic inequalities and racial discrimination on members of her Afro-Caribbean community.

  • John Kabuye

    John Kabuye is an IT and Maths Lecturer and was recently elected Councillor for Newport Ward, Middlesbrough. He and his wife Irene run the Ubuntu Multicultural Centre in Middlesbrough town centre, which has won a community award at Middlesbrough Council’s Civic Awards.

  • Zahra Ibrahim

    Zahra Ibrahim is the Director of Excel Women’s Association, a charity which supports women by providing a safe space within Barking and Dagenham. The Excel Women’s Centre, where the charity is based, was founded in 1995, when Zahra and a few other local women began monthly meetups as a self-help group.

  • Celso Oliveira

    Celso is the chairman of the East Timorese Association of Peterborough, a non-profit community organisation designed to support the local Timorese community. The organisation tackles social isolation and encourages community integration by participating in many local social and sport activities.

  • Nasrine Akhtar

    Nasrine is the Founder of Awakening Minds, a grassroots community-led and non-profit organisation providing ad-hoc culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health training, care, and personalised support, specifically for BAME underrepresented communities.

  • Brad Young

    Brad Young is a community podcaster based in Suffolk. A former teacher, he has been involved in community radio for many years presenting music programmes on a variety of community stations in Suffolk.

  • Nicky Iginla

    Nicky is a highly-devoted community leader that has dedicated her life to championing racial equality, intersectionality, and the welfare of marginalised communities. She is the founder of the Caring and Sharing Charity Organisation situated in Rochdale, addressing the systemic challenges faced by the BAME community within Rochdale and its surrounding areas.

  • Ali Hussnain

    Ali is the Youth Strategic Director of the Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society. Ali is an advocate of the empowerment of young people, and plays a crucial role in mobilising Scottish Shia Muslim youth in community building activities. Ali graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in Astrophysics, and works full-time as a Director of Technology and Product.

  • Katharina Lützenkirchen

    Katharina is an Undergraduate Theology Student at the University of Edinburgh. The desire to apply her studies in practice has led her to volunteer with organisations like the Edinburgh Interfaith Association, the Cities Faith and Community Forum, and the Council of Christians and Jews.

  • Meg Huber

    Meg is a postgraduate student at the University of Edinburgh studying Religious Studies. Her particular interest lies in multi-faith dialogue's role in peacebuilding and diplomacy. Before moving to Edinburgh, she did her undergraduate work in Virginia, USA, receiving degrees in business, philosophy, and theatre.