Our team

Our staff & volunteers

Malcolm John

Founder & CEO

Malcolm has considerable experience as a trustee/Vice Chair/Chair over 20 years in nine charities working on a diverse range of social justice issues.

He was the Founder of the national campaign organisation, Action for Trustee Racial Diversity, now succeeded by Board Racial Diversity UK, aimed at addressing under-representation of individuals from Black and Asian backgrounds on trustee Boards. One of his key achievements was his production of the Guide, From Here to Diversity.

He’s currently a trustee of the Association of Chairs, the membership body for charity chairs in England and Wales, of the British American Drama Academy and of the Charles Dickens Museum. He’s also an Independent Panel Member of the Ministry of Justice Public Appointments Panel, a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute, Panel Chair of a new initiative, Charity Hall of Fame, and a steering group member of Clore Social Leadership Lighthouse programme

Rozena Nadeem

Rozena (she/her) is a member of the Board Racial Diversity UK (BRD) team. She was delighted to discover BRD in 2021, when becoming a School Governor and researching trustee diversity. She became a BRD member, then a volunteer, then transitioned to freelancing. Previously, Rozena has undertaken various governance-related roles, including trusteeship. Presently, she works in Higher Education, undertakes freelance engagement consultancy, and is an aspiring trustee.

Gemma Sykes

Gemma has worked in voluntary sector governance for more than twenty years and has been a freelance governance consultant since 2017, supporting organisations in the voluntary and sports sectors improve their governance processes, practices, cultures and behaviours. This has included supporting boards to improve their effectiveness, including through more inclusive recruitment practice.

Kandia Appadoo

A first-generation Mauritian-British woman born and raised in Epsom, Kandia has a background in brand strategy, marketing and community engagement. With 15 years’ experience working across different sectors, she has spent the last few months volunteering with us as part of their Changemakers programme, as well as working as a project manager on the BAFCA programme.

Charlotte

Charlotte is a Senior UX Researcher working at Gumtree, who has previously worked as a researcher at South African tech organisation Geekulcha, social impact consultancy Rocket Science UK and the Commonwealth Foundation. She joined us as one of our original volunteers as she believes there is a long way to go in terms of equality and representation in the UK and that increasing racial diversity among trustees in the charity sector (and beyond) will have great benefits for the people and communities it aims to support and society as a whole.

Maryam

A financial service professional with vast experience in Payments, Fintech Business and Partnerships, Digital Platforms and Strategy. She currently serves as a volunteer in the partnerships division, applying her experience to assist in finding black and asian finance professionals for trustee and chair roles. She holds certifications in digital transformation, innovation management and strategy and an MSc in Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship. She is an ardent car enthusiast, loves to travel and read books.

Casey

Casey has a real passion for education, technology and community and loves to give back. He would like to see a fair world for his four children where everyone can live and let live. He does not ask for change, instead he brings change. Malcolm has championed for more diversity at the top of organisations, in particular the trustee boards and Casey believes this initiative will help usher in a better and fairer world for all due to a better understanding of all the different cultures we are lucky to have in the UK. Casey knows IT; Board Racial Diversity UK needs someone technical and Casey loves to help. Nothing in this world is altruistic! Casey gets great satisfaction from knowing he is helping create a better world for his children, and by implication for all children.