Dr Vivienne Lyfar-Cissé
Dr Vivienne Lyfar-Cissé Chair NHS BME Network In 1985 having completed a BSc in Biochemistry and a MSc in Clinical Biochemistry I started work with Brighton Healthcare as a Basic Grade Biochemist. In 1987 I won the national Ames Award competition for the young Biochemist of the year and shortly after was promoted to Senior Clinical Biochemist. In 1991 I earned my PhD in biochemistry and was promoted to Principal Clinical Biochemist. I worked for the NHS Trust in Brighton as a Clinical Biochemist for thirty years and after obtaining a MBA in Health Services Management (with distinction) I worked as a senior manager. My fight for racial justice in the NHS, on a voluntary basis, started in 2003 when following the publication of the MacPherson Report the Department of Health directed all NHS Trusts to set up Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Networks, to support the progression of race equality in the workplace. In 2004 I led on the launch of the BME Network for my local trust followed by the launch of the regional Network the “South East Coast BME Network” in 2005. It was evident then and it is evident now that the NHS is in denial about the institutional racism that exists, which blights the lives of BME people (staff and patients) on a daily basis. In 2008 as Chair of the South East Coast BME Network I published the first ever race equality review of the NHS using data from the 27 organisations in the then NHS South East Coast region. My report, which was published exclusively by the Health Service Journal and covered by Channel 4 News, received a hostile reaction from NHS leaders and they refused to acknowledge the regional Network. It was against this hostile backdrop that I led on the establishment of the national BME Network the ‘NHS BME Network’ in 2010 to continue to challenge the racial injustices that exist. Sadly, it has taken the tragic outcomes from the pandemic for the extent of the institutional racism in the NHS and its adverse impact on BME people (staff and patients) to be finally exposed. My activities as described together with my empowerment and defence of numerous BME staff against racial discrimination over the years, made me a “marked black woman” in the NHS and was clearly the catalyst for my unfair dismissal in 2017. My claim against my unfair dismissal is still live in part before the Employment Appeal Tribunal, but the discrimination within the judiciary itself has also been an issue that I have had to content with too. I understood from the outset that my fight for racial justice in the NHS was never going to be easy, but the reason I continue to fight against the odds is because I truly believe that this battle is not mine but the Lords and that He will have the final say! You can read more about my story at justiceforvivenne.org
Carla Zuill
Carla Zuill Carla Zuill hails from the beautiful island of Bermuda and moved to Manchester in December 2016. She is a veteran journalist who has worked in both print and electronic media for close to 25 years. Formerly the Assistant News Director at the Bermuda Broadcasting Company, in 2014, Carla founded the news site www.todayinbermuda.com. After relocating to the UK, Carla decided to shut her site down and in 2018 launched www.shehub.tv, a lifestyle blog dedicated to women, as she felt it aligned better with her mission to uplift women. Carla is the founder of the Women’s Empowerment Summit, an all women’s event which launched in Bermuda just weeks before she moved to Manchester. Thinking that it would be a one-off, Carla had no clue that she would go on to create a brand that has grown in strength from year to year. In November 2022, Carla will be hosting her seventh annual summit, which now has become not only virtual, but translated live in Portuguese as well. One of Carla’s aspirations is to introduce the Women’s Empowerment Summit brand to the UK. While battling severe depression in 2017, Carla decided to change professional gears and decided to pursue a legal degree. After being accepted she deferred but in 2019, she went on to attain a Master’s Degree in Public Relations and Digital Communications. She successfully completed her studies in 2020. In March 2021, Carla launched SheHUB Magazine, whose target audience is the Black community. While the quarterly magazine is available in print in Bermuda, she is determined to make a name for herself as a publisher in the Black British market. Carla is outgoing and loves meeting new people. She is the dedicated mother of three — Daughter Sakile (SAH KEY LAY), 21, and two sons, Ajani, 16 and Na’im (NY EEM), 12. In her spare time she loves to play softball.
Tony Fairweather
Tony Fairweather Mr Tony Fairweather, born 1958 Clapham South London of Jamaican (Windrush) Parents. Tony is an award-winning Marketing Director, Event Manager, Windrush Artifacts Collector, Curator and Author. Tony has achieved numerous accomplishments: Winner of the Lambeth business award Winner of The Diversity award Manager of the Voice newspaper book club, the largest black book club in the UK. Marketing Manager, The Voice Newspaper Residential Social Worker Founder & CEO of Narada Books, Art Gallery and Gift Shop in Brixton Founder & CEO of The Write Thing,Black literary events company The Write Thing produced black literary tours for: Archbishop Desmond Tutu, The most Honorable Mr Michael Manley, Jamaica Prime Minister, Alice Walker, Toni Morrison, Dr Maya Angelou, Terry McMillian, Iyanla Vanzant, Bernardine Evaristo OBE, Alex Wheatle, Jacky Holder, Marjorie Blackman, Courttia Newland, Caryl Phillips, Baroness Benjamin DBE DL, Mike Phillips, Ben Okri, Susan L Taylor, Octavia E Butler, Nikki Giovanni, Rosy Guy, Angela Davis, Bell Hooks, Ntozake Shange, June Jordan, Glora Naylor, Be Be Moore Campbell, Pearl Cleage, Eric Jerome Dickey, Sapphire, John Edger Wideman, Margaret Busby, Rosa Guy, Jean Binta Breeze, Gloria Naylor, Walter Mosley plus many more. Founder & CEO Fairweather Productions, Events Management Company Produced events for: The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) Toured the USA with Essence Magazine CEO Susan L Taylor Croydon Windrush Dinner & Dance Curator of Croydon Windrush Exhibition TWT Brixton outdoor Book Fair Co-Produced the “Atlanta Book Fair ‘in Atlanta Co-Produced the Olympics London link-up with Jamaica Produced “In Celebrations Of My sisters” (ICOMS) – 26 years in production London & the UK, South Africa Founder & CEO – The Windrush Collection and Exhibition Former Chair of The Balham & Tooting Sports & Social Club Building Committee, The oldest Caribbean club in the UK Founder of The Jerk Cookout In Celebration Of My Brothers Co-founder of the Celebration of film Art & Books Founder of the music tours: “The Queens of Lovers Rock” and “The Kings & Queens of Lovers Rock “ Author of Twenty-Eight Pounds Ten Shillings, A Windrush Story
Joseph Charles
Joseph Charles Joseph Charles is the publisher of Soca News which has been going for over 25 years, and specialises in and is dedicated to music, news, culture, carnival and lifestyle. Arguably, Soca News was the first non-academic publication in the UK to take these artforms seriously by publicising and reviewing previously neglected forms of Caribbean music – including from UK-based artistes – and mas (carnival costume). Additionally, Soca News has carried numerous interviews and features on subjects spanning Caribbean art and literature, food, travel, traditions, history and personalities. Joseph is something of a visionary, constantly trying out new approaches to promoting and popularising in the UK distinctive aspects of Caribbean culture – especially soca, calypso and steelpan music, and the carnival arts. In this respect, he has been a strong, if behind-the-scenes, ambassador for these artforms and as a result is widely respected in the UK Caribbean community for his efforts. Joseph’s mantra is all about Spreading Our Culture Around.
Jordan Hamilton
Jordan Hamilton Co-Founder, Care by Jords Hi I’m Jordan, Co-Founder of the natural & organic skincare company Care By Jords. In my past I haven’t always made the right decisions and this led me down a dark path. With that said thanks to faith and the love of my mother I was able to turn my life around. Care By Jords is our attempt to do the same for others. I found that the main reason I did what I did was a lack of confidence. We want to increase the confidence of our customers with our natural & organic skincare products. Which will in turn raise the confidence of our community as whole and ridding us of all of the problems that a lack of confidence brings. Since starting 2 years ago we now serve customers from all around the world. From the UK & the US to Belgium to Kenya we are increasing the confidence of people all over the globe. Recently we were announced as winners at the Natural Health & Beauty Awards for the quality of our entire range of products. Beating well established brands with larger teams and more financial backing than we have. This is just the beginning of our journey and we cannot wait to see what comes next.
CALVIN ANTHONY RATTRAY
Calvin Anthony Rattray Managing Director, Hype Coiffure Hairdressing Group. Calvin Rattray has been associated with the world of hair and beauty for the last two decades. Formally working in a Blue-Chip Company Mr Rattray decided to venture into the world of hair and fashion. After seeing a niche in the market for a modern Afro hairdressing salon using professional stylists’ and branded products, Calvin and his team set about building this vision of a salon that would provide first-class hairdressing services in a welcoming and embracing environment. The first Hype Coiffure salon was launched in Balham South West London in 1995. Soon after a salon in Tulse Hill Brixton was launched and then later their flagship branch in Clapham Junction Battersea followed. Calvin’s main philosophy has been wrapped around the education of his staff in order to give them the ability to operate at a high level not only in hairdressing but also in customer care and in life skills. “I am a true believer of motivating my staff in order for them to progress in their future careers” says Calvin Rattray. Under the leadership of Mr Rattray his team has won over 40 prestigious awards, including the coveted British Hairdressing Award – Calvin has sat on a number of community committees and industry panels and believes in giving back to society to motivate, inspire and empower the youth of today and believes they are our rising stars and the leaders of the future.
Akima Paul Lambert
Akima Paul Lambert Partner, Hogan Lovells Akima Paul Lambert focuses on high-stakes commercial litigation and arbitration. She often works with clients on large, multijurisdictional disputes. She has experience in commercial and investment treaty arbitration, and is dual-qualified in the UK and in the U.S. Akima has significant experience acting for financial institutions, corporations and professional firms in litigation and arbitration proceedings arising out of commercial, banking and financial disputes. According to Benchmark Litigation Europe (2020), Akima is “professional, brilliant and dedicated to the task,” and “a very responsive and diligent lawyer” who is “very capable of handling complex matters and always delivers what she promises.” She has also been listed as an EMpower Ethnic Minority Future Leader Role Model 2020 which recognises worldwide future senior leaders who are making a significant contribution to ethnic minority inclusion at work. Akima is significantly involved in pro bono and has worked on and co-ordinated a range of pro bono matters in relation to international economic development and human rights.
Janet Charles
Her Excellency Janet Charles Acting High Commissioner of the Commonwealth of Dominica to the United Kingdom. Her Excellency is a career diplomat having worked with the Government of Dominica for over 30 years. In 2014 H.E. Charles started her second tour of duty as Acting High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, returning after a two-year visit in 2010. Along with this role the High Commissioner is also Charge d’Affaires a.i. to the: United Nations Office at Geneva and other Specialised Agencies in Europe; World Trade Organisation Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Charge d’Affaires a.i. to France, Germany, Sweden, The Netherlands, Slovenia The High Commissioners passion for the UK began when she successfully completed a BA (Hons) Business Studies – International Business at the University of Westminster, London. When able to find some spare time, the High Commissioner support various voluntary charitable initiatives and has a keen interest in sports; in particular cricket, netball and football.