Patron
Zerbanoo Gifford
Author, human rights campaigner and founder of the ASHA Foundation and Centre, Zerbanoo Gifford holds the International Woman of the Year Award 2006 for her humanitarian work, which spans over forty five years of grassroots and global activism. In 1989, Zerbanoo was presented with the Nehru Centenary Award for her work championing the rights of women, children and minorities. Pioneer for Asian Women in British politics, she was elected as a councillor in Harrow in 1982 and was the first Asian women to stand for parliament, she chaired the Commission ‘Looking into ethnic minority involvement in British Life’ and was a member of the advisory group on Race Relations to the former British Home Secretary. A former director of Anti-Slavery International, she was awarded the Freedom of the City of Lincoln, Nebraska, for her work combating modern slavery and racism. She is also authored seven books her latest ‘Confessions to a Serial Womaniser – Secrets of the worlds Inspirational women’ highlighted the lives of over 300 exceptional women from 60 countries for which she was awarded a ‘NESTA (National Endowment of Science Technology and Arts) Fellowship’. Zerbanoo’s biography ‘An Uncensored Life’ by Farida Master is published by Harper Collins.
Chair
Mark Gifford
Mark is the Director of the ASHA Centre, a British educational charity. ASHA works internationally for the empowerment of young people, sustainable development and peace and reconciliation. Mark is a qualified solicitor and Interfaith Minister. He holds a Masters with Distinction in Theology and has studied at the Universities of Oxford, Durham and London. Before joining ASHA, Mark was Assistant CEO of an international British based youth and interfaith charity. His passion is the religious cultures of the world, particularly the traditions of India, Iran and China, and has a special interest in the Sanskrit Mahabharata. Mark is married to Monica with whom he has two boys, Sammy and Jimi-Krishna.
Mark Gifford is a founder Trustee.
Vice Chair
Tandy Deane-Gray
Tandy was born in Bermuda and came to the UK firstly to boarding school and then returned to complete her Nursing and Midwifery qualifications. She became a permanent resident in the Church Street area in 1980. Tandy’s background is in health, teaching, and psychotherapy and has practiced as Midwife for 38 years, mainly in the UK. Tandy has also taught Midwifery for 30 years as a Senior Lecturer, Department of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Hertfordshire.
Tandy is a trained counsellor and psychotherapist and had a private practice for 17 years. She is also a certified Infant Massage Instructor and has run small private baby massage groups in the community. Tandy has a passion for travel and has visited Syria, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Iran as well as Indonesia, Thailand and China to name a few.
Joined the Board of Trustees in 2018.
Treasurer
Reza Reshad
Reza Reshad is a fully qualified chartered accountant and holds a MSc in Finance and Accounting from Brunel University. Reza has over 11 years of audit experience in Banking and Consultancy dealing with senior clients in the specialist areas of Banking and Insurance. He is a member of the ICAEW – The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and is currently the Engagement Lead (Senior Manager) – Operational Risk & Governance at Lloyd’s Banking Group. Engagement Lead for audits across Lloyds Banking Group, focusing on Operational Risk Governance i.e. the development and implementation of Operational Risk Appetite Metrics across the Bank. Reza has also held senior positions at Societe Generale, Barclays Bank PLC, Ernst & Young LLB. His interests include: Tennis, socialising, reading and Backgammon.
Reza Reshad joined the board in 2020.
Trustees
Abena Serwaa Boateng
Abena is a qualified Public Health Nurse experienced in providing a Health Promotion services to children, adults, families and communities in a defined population and locality. She holds a BSC in Adult Nursing from the University of West London and has been employed as a Community Public Health Nurse and Nursery Nurse by Central London Community Healthcare(CLCH) for more than 12 years. Abena has been involved in the delivery of numerous health campaigns and has extensive experience of working with families from diverse backgrounds.
Abena originally trained as a teacher in Ghana and continued to build on her professional qualifications by specialising in community public health. She holds a post graduate diploma in community public health.
Joined the Board of Trustees in 2017.
Dr Saima Rana
Dr Rana is CEO/Principal of GEMS World Academy – Dubai, Chief Education Ambassador for the Varkey Foundation and Founding Trustee of The Shahnaz Foundation. With a background in school improvement in inner-city schools, and a PhD in Education, Dr Rana has worked in areas with high deprivation indicators throughout her career, combining traditional school improvement techniques with a commitment to collaboration between the local community and businesses in order to accelerate regeneration and raise standards.
Joined the board in 2017.
Hinda Abbou
Born in Tunisia and raised between Tunis and Berlin Hinda Abbou has a BA in European studies (History/politics) from Queen Mary’s University London and a post- graduate degree from Kings College London. For the last 20 years’ Hinda worked in Global Health for International Organisations, the UN and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations.
Her expertise is in supporting development organisations in preparing and delivering on strategic investments and commitments as well as managing and implementing best governance practice on Board level (the Global Fund to fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria). Her advocacy work focused on ensuring continuous political and financial commitments from governments and funders.
Joined the board in 2022.