Chair - Atiha Chaudry

Atiha Chaudry has over 25 years of experience within the public, voluntary and community sectors and has worked for a range of organisations.

Atiha has extensive community and voluntary sector experience gained over many years of voluntary work in the community. She is passionate and committed to the community and voluntary sector and over the years has given her time generously to the sector.

Atiha is currently Chair of the Manchester BME Network, the GM BME Network project and the Manchester Equalities Hub. She is a board member for the Manchester Settlement; the Centre for Local Economic Strategies and The Manchester Partnership. She has served as a Justice of the Peace at the Stockport Magistrates Court since 2001.

Atiha was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester in 2012

Vice Chair - Alicia Henry

Alicia is the Project Manager for Support4Progress based in the West Indian Community Centre in Moss Side. Support4Progress was founded as a self-help service consisting of local black parents coming together to talk about their concerns regarding breakdown of the family unit, work unit, school and their community. It has now evolved into a Counselling Approved Training Centre providing professional counselling and quality training opportunities.

Alicia has been a valuable member of the Network for many years and continues to offer her time to support the development of BME communities.

 (Alicia is currently taking some time out due to work commitments)

Treasurer – Sid Singh

Sid has been with the Network for almost two years.

Sid is currently a Director at AEA CareCall Systems/AEA Medicare Systems.

Sid has been a stalwart within the Sikh community and supports his local temple

Network Secretary - Mark Nesbitt

Mark provides freelance specialist support to organisations to enable them to embed equality and integrate inclusive practice.  Mark aims to ensure that disadvantaged communities and individuals are treated fairly and equally.  He excels in using innovative approaches to community engagement and participation, in particularly with minority groups.

Exec Member – Dr Sylvia Sham

Dr Sylvia Sham has been Director of Wai Yin Chinese Women Society since 1998, during which time she has led the continuous development of the organisation which now employs over 50 staff and delivers 11 services to over 500 people each week from Greater Manchester's Chinese Community and beyond.

Outside of the organisation, Dr Sham contributes to many national, regional and local advisory groups, health and social care organisation to BME business issues.

Dr Sham is always quick to tell people that she 'only' has a PhD in education – not a real doctor!

Sylvia is committed to supporting community organisations across Manchester in order to achieve quality and sustainability in delivering local support services. She is particularly interested in encouraging Chinese people living in Britain to take an interest in social & political issues affecting their lives. Living in a democratic society, like the UK, gives people the opportunity to have an opinion on many matters and to express that opinion through community participation. Additionally, she wants to encourage people to take an active part in groups both locally and nationally so that the voice of the silent minority can be heard in a constructive and informed way

Exec Member - Hanif Bobat

Hanif has been active member of Manchester and Trafford’s BME community for many years. Including Policy Advisor, Race and Health Forum and a Non-Executive Director of Manchester NHS PCT where he provided a strategic overview of Health Services in Manchester with specific focus on BME community member issues

Hanif is currently working has a Development Officer at TB Alert across the North west and Midlands where he supports and capacity builds Third Sector organisation and Statutory agencies regarding TB

TB Alert always try to work through local partner organisations which themselves operate in close collaboration with the TB programme of the government health services. This is extremely important with an infectious disease like TB to ensure that our effort is a part of achieving good treatment for a whole country.

Exec Member - Michelle Ayavoro

Michelle is a textile and community artist of Caribbean descent. Her approach enables participants to explore a wide range of materials and techniques such as screen print, block print, mixed media and stitch.

Michelle is part of the Creative Hands Foundation, a group of multi-ethnic artists providing contemporary and traditional art and craft workshops celebrating different cultures and helping to build and sustain positive relationships. The organisation also aims to raise aspirations and build confidence in young people and adults from disadvantaged communities.

Earlier this year, Michelle delivered art workshops on Myths and Legend with children from Abbott Community Primary School in Manchester, developing understanding of folktales from different parts of the world and creating 3D sculptures of mystical creatures.

In November and December 2010, Michelle delivered workshops at secondary schools exploring Nigerian Cultural Heritage. Young people learned about the traditions of three Nigerian tribes and created their own ceramic pots. They used motifs to decorate their ceramic pots and were given the opportunity to play African instruments and learn traditional dances.

Exec Member - Remi Akinwale

Remi has recently been co-opted onto the Exec Team and brings his 10+ years of chartered accountant experience of working in the financial services sector with various institutions and levels of responsibility.

Remi combines financial analysis, reporting and finance qualifications with strategic planning, leadership and managerial skills to execute functional financial and managerial accounting practices and procedures to achieve cost saving and provide management information.

Remi is a natural Leader, self-starter with proven ability for pioneering capability, business restructuring and development skills. Remi will bring exceptional financial support and resource to the Network.

Exec Member - Tahira Hussain

Tara has a background in Economic Regeneration and now works in Equality and Diversity in the Social Housing Sector.

Tara also recently has been made lead on Domestic Violence for Self Help Services, part of Big Life Company.

Tara is an experienced and qualified trainer – NVQ Level 3 and PTTLS.

Tara is an accredited and experienced Neuro-linguistic Programming Practitioner (NLP) which explores talk therapy and subconscious behaviours.

Tara has been a member of the Network for many years and led its development during the early days when Tung Sing Housing association provided some capacity support services

Founder of Inspired Sisters. In 2002, Tara, fulfilled her personal ambition of creating a Multi-Cultural Women’s organisation on a voluntary basis in order to overcome cultural barriers.

Tara delivers bespoke training in areas of personal development, equality and diversity and corporate commitments across organisations.

Tara also delivers Domestic Violence Awareness Training on a voluntary basis which is a personal commitment. Tara is also a member of the Management Committee for Central Action Women’s Aid.

Exec Member - Chhaya Kanani

Chhaya has managed the Indian Senior Citizens Centre is a Charity Registered (1040167) BME Voluntary organisation for over 20 years. The ISCC provides culturally sensitive Day Resource Services for Indian Older People of city wide Manchester, Trafford, Stockport, Bury and Salford. This started in 1983 in Withington (Gandhi Hall) and was established there in 1988. After running voluntarily for 9 years, it was recognised by Local Authority and Health Authority in 1992.

Chhaya has been a member of the Network executive for over 10 years and continues to support the Network.

Exec Member - Fadley Shenouda

Fadley works extensively within the Sudanese community across Manchester.

Fadley has been a member of the Network for many years.

Exec Member - Imonina Kayoma