Eddie Chan

Chair of the BME Health Forum

Chinese National Healthy Living Centre

http://www.cnhlc.org.uk

I am a founding member and the Chair of London Chinese Community Network and the Chinese Welfare Trust. I am also a skilled manager from the commercial sector with more than 20 years' experience of working in consultancy on infrastructure development worldwide. I have been the Director of the Chinese National Healthy Living Centre since August 2000.

BME Health Forum

Treasurer

I have worked in the health and social care field in London since qualifying as a social worker in the mid 70s. I have worked as a local authority social worker before moving into community development and then service planning in social services, with an increasing emphasis on voluntary sector and equalities. Following a secondment to the Commission for Racial Equality from 2002-2004 I moved into the NHS as Head of Equality and Inclusion for NHS Westminster. I have been a BME Health Forum Steering Group member  since 2004 and treasurer since 2011.

Nafsika Thalassis

BME Health Forum Manager

I have been involved with the BME Health Forum since August 2005. In 2006, I co-authored the Minding the Gaps report and joined the BME Health Forum’s Steering Group. In 2008 and 2009 I coordinated the BME Health Forum’s circumcision and dentistry projects and the Forum’s consultation about its priorities. I wrote 3 reports:, Circumcision: In Whose Care, Commissioning World Class Dentistry in Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster and Improving Access to Healthcare: Lessons from Toronto. Concurrently in 2005-2006 I was the ESOL and Access Coordinator for the Migrants Resource Centre and in 2009 I joined the 4minds team in Kensington & Chelsea Social Council. I have been Manager of the BME Health forum since March 2010.

I am a member of the Steering Group and coordinated the Forum’s Good Practices for Access and Wellbeing (GPAW) programme, which ended in June 2010. I am a resident of the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and active in local democracy and have a particular interest in Community Arts. I have over 20 years experience in the not for profit sector, both in paid and voluntary roles, and a strong track record in community development, management, training and equalities work. My work has included representing clients at police stations, in prisons and at statutory reviews. I have chaired and participated in numerous working and policy groups, and trustee boards, including Kensington & Chelsea CPEG, the Race Equality Foundation, Octavia Foundation, the National Equalities Partnership and the pan London Community Monitoring Network. I am a consultant and trainer for the Kensington & Chelsea Mental Health Carers Association and a Consultant and Board member of Olmec. I am currently the community advisor for the Carnival GOLD group at New Scotland Yard and advise the Commissioner in charge of planning on community issues.

Migrants Resource Centre

www.migrantsresourcecentre.org.uk

I am a project coordinator at the Migrants Resource Centre in Westminster and have been involved with the BME Health Forum since 2007, when I worked on the research project that led to the “Primary Concern” report. I am particularly interested in issues of health inequalities, service provision to disadvantaged communities and cultural awareness. I have been a member of the steering group of the BME Health Forum since January 2009. I am also a trustee of Carers Network Westminster and a member of the Equality & Diversity board of the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust.

I have worked as a volunteer at the Migrants Resource Centre since 2008 as both a mentor and ‘Access to Britain’ tutor. Since January 2010 I have worked there as the Access to England and English coordinator, taking responsibility for the ESOL classes, Mentoring Scheme and Citizenship courses.

I joined the BME Health Forum in March 2009 when I helped out with the BME Health Forum Oral Health project. Shortly after, I began my role as the Forum Administrator.

MIDAYE
Somali Development Network

www.midaye.org.uk

I am the founder of Midaye Somali Development Network, a charitable organisation that works for the benefit of the Somali community in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the City of Westminster and surrounding boroughs.  I am strong advocate and an active member of the Somali community, working with all sectors of the community and delivering essential community focused projects such as health, education, sewing classes, outreach, advice and information.  I run weekly Somali women forum, Supplementary school for children and Health workshops.

I am also the Chair person of the Migrant Refugee Community Forum and a member of the BVOAG (Borough Voluntary Organisations Advisory Group) of Kensington and Chelsea representing voluntary organisations working with the BME communities.

I have been working in the voluntary sector since 1987. I ran a health charity for many years, and have been with the Social Council since 2005. At the Social Council, I work with voluntary and community organisations, mainly helping them to develop partnerships and prepare for public-sector commissioning. I’ve been actively working with the BME Health Forum since 2007, and I’m particularly interested in supporting community groups to have influence, a voice, and access to funding and commissioning opportunities. I believe that we have some fantastic organisations locally, and I have been inspired to see how projects run at a grass-roots level can have a great impact. I am proud to be a member of the BME Health Forum steering group.

Laetisia Staniforth

I have six years experience working in the field of diversity and equalities through roles in the NHS and the Criminal Justice System. My experience ranges from advising on equality and diversity, managing projects and coordinating community engagement. My expert areas include community cohesion, domestic violence/forced marriage/honour based violence, hate crime, health inequalities and mental health.

I am now employed by Central North West London (CNWL) Foundation Trust as a Project Manager in the Westminster Wellbeing Service. I am lead for Equality and diversity across the Trust services for Westminster borough.

The Abbey Centre

www.TheAbbeyCentre.org.uk

Emma became Chief Executive at The Abbey Centre in January 2011, having worked in the organisation since 2004.  The Centre is a successful social enterprise, balancing both the provision of a vibrant community centre for SW1 residents and a busy commercial café and conference business.

Previous to her Chief Executive role, Emma set up and managed ‘A Moveable Feast’ a pathfinder Healthy Living Centre, working with local Arabic and Bangladeshi communities to address health inequalities through improved health, employment, training and leisure opportunities.

Earlier in her career Emma worked for the RSPB, based in Regent’s Park, the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames as their Ecologist, and prior to that was based in various nature conservation organisations in Scotland and Wales.