Amna Abdullatif
Amna is a community psychologist with over 15 years’ experience in the voluntary sector, leading national and international work to support women and children. A Vital Voices Visionary, she is an international speaker and writer whose published work explores women’s lived experience, social change, and cultures of silence around abuse. Amna was elected as a local Councillor in Manchester in 2019, becoming the first visibly Muslim woman of Arab heritage to serve in the city. She also co-founded The Three Hijabis, a platform tackling racism, Islamophobia and misogyny using football as a catalyst for wider change.
Abdou Sidibe
Abdou is Director of Grants at the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, where he oversees an annual portfolio exceeding £40 million. A steering group member of the Funders for Race Equality Alliance, Abdou worked at The National Lottery Community Fund during the landmark £50 million investment for racial justice whilst leading the England Partnerships team, making him uniquely placed to support our mission.
Anish Saxena
Anish is a Chartered Accountant, MBA and experienced Independent Non-Executive Director with a deep background in global risk management. Currently serving as Audit Lead at Moody's, he brings over 15 years of essential expertise in financial and corporate governance, audit, and compliance that will strengthen our stewardship of the £50 million investment.
Bilal Malik
Bilal is a UK diplomat with experience across East Africa, the multilateral system and Whitehall at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. He has worked on colonial legacy issues in Kenya, humanitarian and political engagement in Sudan, and international development policy, bringing a strong grounding in governance, political analysis and cross-sector coordination. Having lived and worked across Pakistan, Geneva, East Africa and New York, he brings a perspective shaped by communities whose voices are often absent from decision-making spaces. His work reflects a commitment to community engagement, historical justice and widening access.
Florence Nyasamo
Florence is a systems change leader and founder and CEO of Lives of Colour, designing practical ways to shift power, resources and opportunity towards marginalised communities. Her work spans social and racial justice, community wealth building, ethical governance, sustainable finance and digitally enabled participation. She translates lived experience and research into usable approaches for organisations, and brings experience convening communities, funders and policymakers. Florence is also Director of Bay Technology Training Institute in Kenya.
Shelley Bishton
Shelley is a multi-award-winning cultural transformation specialist with over 20 years of experience driving change where culture meets commerce. As former Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at News UK and a trustee of the Black British Initiative, she brings exceptional expertise in inclusive organisational development and community partnership building.
Tayshan Hayden-Smith
Tayshan is a British community activist and garden designer. He co-founded the non-profit Grow to Know, which focuses on "horticultural activism" to make gardening more accessible to diverse and disadvantaged communities. A regular face on BBC’s Your Garden Made Perfect and a published author, he continues to advocate for social justice and environmental equity, famously challenging the traditional exclusivity of the UK's gardening industry.
