Our team

Our staff & volunteers

Malcolm John

Founder and Partnership Development Consultant

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.

Yeme Onoabhagbe

CEO

Yeme (she/they) is a values‑driven leader with a strong record advancing equity, wellbeing and organisational change across the education and charity sector. They have worked with organisations such as Stonewall and King’s College to address social and health inequalities and have served as CEO and trustee of multiple charities. Yeme brings expertise in mental health, anti-racism, social justice, change management, and inclusive supporter growth. They now work as a consultant supporting organisations across the UK to embed inclusive practice into strategy and culture, and to develop effective supporter growth strategies, alongside their role at Board Racial Diversity UK.

Rowan Hillier

Deputy CEO

Rowan has over 10 years’ experience in the charity sector, working at both board and senior leadership level. With expertise in partnerships and operations, Rowan is passionate about developing inclusive, collaborative organisations that deliver meaningful impact. She is currently a board member for the Brighton-based charity, Trust for Developing Communities.

Olivia Hylton

Operations Manager

Olivia is an operations leader who builds systems behind high-impact programmes.

Most recently, she scaled global education programmes at a major international newspaper, expanding media literacy and access to careers in media for students across continents.

Her work also includes a bespoke operating system for a mentoring non-profit and an award-winning community app used by Black women globally.

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.

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.