Built by A Multi-racial Team
From our Trustees to Volunteers, Afrikindness is built by a team of likeminded individuals with the overall goal of teaching kindness to children.
Our People
Building a Kinder World
SUKWINDER BASSI
Trustee (Chair)
Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Non-Executive Director of UK Public and International school systems. Proven in delivering standards of excellence in school leadership, school improvement and business development. Committed to raising aspirations and transforming lives, particularly for the most vulnerable young people.
MANJINDER CACACIE
Trustee (Legal)
Manjinder is a trustee of Afrikindness. As a trustee, she is responsible for all the legal matters of the charity, ensuring that the charity operates within the law, follows good governance and remains accountable to its donors and beneficiaries.
- Board Member - Operated at board level for 14 years in a range of roles including Chief Executive.
ADE BAMIGBOYE
Trustee (Digital)
Ade is the Founder of Mobile Flow. He is an Entrepreneurial Technology Consultant with CTO and Plc Board level experience. He has considerable experience of software and service oriented start-ups and entrepreneurial environments with proven ability to create / deliver innovative solutions and exploit new technologies to meet and enhance business requirements.
DR EDDY WIFA
Trustee (Research)
Dr. Wifa graduated from Rivers State University with a Second-Class Upper Degree and was subsequently called to the Nigerian Bar in 2012. He then proceeded to the University of Aberdeen where he completed both a Masters in Oil and Gas law (Distinction) and a PhD in “Offshore Marine Renewable Energy Risk Governance”.
ANN PALMER
Trustee (Education)
Ann Palmer has over 30 years experience in inner-city schools and established a background in leading and turning around schools in challenging circumstances. Her exposure within the wider aspects of education has been both broad and diverse. She held headship roles in large, culturally-diverse schools in both primary and secondary phases.
UZMA ANSER
Trustee (Finance)
Uzma Anser holds double Master degrees, an MBA and M.Com(Finance) with more than 18 years Finance & HR experience in the Charity and Not- for-profit sector. She is currently leading the finance team at Spitalfields Housing Association. Her career includes working for Policy Connect, Tate Modern, Comic Relief, International Fund for Animal Welfare, General Counsel of the Bar, Landaid and many other charitable organisations.
CAROLYN DICKINSON
Trustee (Education)
Carolyn Dickinson, a UK native, received her early education in both the UK and New Zealand. After completing her formal education in Scotland, she pursued a degree in librarianship at the University of Brighton. Transitioning from corporate communications at Whitbread PLC to education, she obtained her PGCE in secondary education. Carolyn's career progressed in both faith and non-faith schools to headship at Worthing High School. Following a successful Ofsted, she became HMI with Ofsted in the London region. Her current role is the South West Hub Director at Avanti Schools Trust.
MARA MAKONI
Trustee (Strategy & Partnership)
Mara is currently a Consultant at PA Consulting working within their Complex Systems group. She has international experience (USA, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, SA) and over 10 years of professional experience in operational monitoring and due diligence, advisory across sustainable development, renewable energy and transport.
TOLU OWOLABI
Trustee (Finance, Strategy & Partnership)
Tolu Owolabi is a seasoned professional with over 18 years of professional experience across three different continents holding roles in both technical and commercial functions with comprehensive exposure to the technical, strategic, financial and operational sides of running organisations both in the public and private sectors.
BUNMI OWOLABI
Trustee (CEO)
Bunmi Owolabi is a chartered chemical engineer with the Institute of Chemical engineers (IChemE). She holds a Masters in Chemical Process Engineering from the University College London and has over 15 years’ experience working in the Oil and Gas and Air separation industry.
MILDRED OBUYA
Trustee (International Education)
Proudly Kenyan! A strong believer in the African way of life – ‘the village raising the child’. A passionate, creative seasoned educator with a strong focus on early years and education management. A community champion with a track record of mobilising children and caregivers, to participate and engage in play centered activities.
GraceOkoro
Research Team Lead
Dr. Grace collaborates with endocrinology professionals to bridge clinical practice and research. At Afrikindness, she leads research on positive racial identity, mental health, and children’s well-being, developing impactful programs and ensuring Afrikindness promotes positive change for children and youth through rigorous methodologies.
Maleeha Ather Rasheed
Education Team Lead
Maleeha, an educator with over 10 years of global experience and a Fellow in Higher Education, currently at the University of Aberdeen-International Study Centre, designs EAP modules and implements LTAF. At Afrikindness, she provides leadership, coordination, and strategic oversight for education programs in the UK and Africa.
DaveAdebisi
Creative Art Director
Dave excels in copywriting, strategy, graphics, project coordination, and timely delivery. Known for his proactive approach and stakeholder engagement, he specialises in UX research for complex web applications. At Afrikindness, he leads creative direction, brand development, and visual representation, collaborating to execute strategic visions for operations and marketing.
Paula Sampson-Lawrence
Parent Coach & Trainer
Paula, a Certified Parent Coach, Youth Mentor, and children’s book author, empowers women and young girls through resilience and well-being workshops. At Afrikindness, she supports parents with engaging training sessions, individualised coaching, and cultural sensitivity, collaborating with experts to provide tailored guidance for unique challenges within minoritised communities.
Kennedy Yinusa
IT Manager - Website & Apps
With 8+ years in Software Engineering, Kennedy, COO/Technical Lead at Tehilah Base Digital, excels in FinTech, EdTech, E-commerce, InsurTech, and Logistics. A British Computer Society member and EdTech Thought Leader, he drives innovation. At Afrikindness, Kennedy oversees the development and optimization of digital platforms – website and apps.
Chizaram Opara
Legal Secretary
Chizaram, a Nigerian legal practitioner with expertise in company secretarial roles and UK charity law compliance, has 8+ years of volunteer experience in education, poverty, and skills empowerment. At Afrikindness, she provides legal administrative support, manages documentation and governance, and ensures legal compliance. She enjoys reading, writing, and social media.
Nathan Warren
IT Infrastructure Manager
With over 10 years in the managed IT industry, Nathan advises organisations on optimising and securing their technology. A qualified lead assessor for Cyber Essentials certification, Nathan ensures the smooth operation and security of Afrikindness’s technological systems.
Dr. PediObani
Parent Team Lead
Associate Professor of Law, Dr. Pedi Obani, advocates for practical strategies addressing inclusion and sustainable responses to societal issues like poverty and climate change. A qualified Barrister and Solicitor, at Afrikindness, Pedi:
– Advances our mission by fostering engagement and building a supportive community among parents.
– Leads parent facilitators and coaches to develop and implement initiatives.
– Empowers parents in navigating challenges related to racial identity and mental health.
Dr. VivianOkoro
Lead, Neurodiversity and Inclusion Campaign
Dr. Vivian Okoye, a mental health expert with 12+ years of experience, specialises in trauma-informed care, parenting education, and neurodiversity inclusion. Holding a Doctor of Optometry and a Master’s in Clinical Psychology, she is certified in trauma and addiction treatment, Mental Health First Aid, and is a UK-trained facilitator. At Afrikindness, Vivian leads the Neurodiversity Community Programme, advancing our mission through community campaigns and research on neurodiversity and children’s mental health.
RonkeOlojede
Community Liaison Manager
Ronke, qualified in child and family studies, excels at supporting diverse family needs, community engagement, and well-being. Passionate about social event planning and outreach, she works with various practitioners and multi-agencies. At Afrikindness, Ronke fosters positive relationships and community engagement, nurturing strong connections with parents and support systems.
AliceCrawford
Education and Curriculum Specialist
Alice is an Educational Psychologist and teacher with over 25 years of experience in mainstream, private, and specialist education settings in the UK and internationally. She holds a Master’s in International Development and Education and has a keen interest in climate psychology. At Afrikindness, Alice serves as our education and curriculum specialist, also facilitating teacher training workshops in the UK and Africa.
EniolaAkinkugbe
Head of Legal
Eniola is a legal and contract management expert and legal technology entrepreneur passionate about building legal tech products. At Afrikindness, she serves as Head of Legal, responsible for legal compliance, GDPR, and managing all legal matters to ensure the organization’s adherence to regulatory standards.
JerryEbinum
Head of Innovation
With 10+ years of experience in technology, including roles at startups and the public sector, he creates inclusive, accessible digital experiences. As Head of Innovation at Afrikindness, he leverages his expertise in UX, design thinking, and data analytics, and also mentors design volunteers. He holds two IT Master’s degrees, a Bachelor’s in Computer Science, and numerous certifications.
Jessica Sota
Bosoko
Neurodiversity community engagement officer
Jessica, an Afro-Spanish autistic woman and mother of three neurodivergent children, advocates for autism from an Afrocentric and intersectional perspective. She works for Mencap, assisting families with developmental challenges, and is raising autism awareness within the Spanish-speaking community in South London. At Afrikindness, Jessica is the Neurodiversity Community Engagement Officer, supporting diverse autistic individuals and their families across the UK.
Dr. MariyaOmoniyi
Deputy Research Content Officer
Dr. Mariya Omoniyi, a researcher and academic, focuses on employee behavior and workplace well-being, crafting policies to enhance organizational performance. Passionate about supporting young people from ethnic minority backgrounds, she amplifies their voices through her research. At Afrikindness, she serves as Deputy Research Content Officer.
Dr. Babatunde O. Okesola
Chief Research Content Officer (CRCO)
Dr. Babatunde O. Okesola completed his PhD in Chemistry at the University of York and conducted postdoctoral research at Queen Mary University of London and University College London Hospital. Now a Principal Investigator at the University of Nottingham, he leads a research team in the School of Life Sciences. Babatunde has received numerous awards, including the University of York Kathleen Mary Stott (KMS) Prize, the EMBO leadership training award, and was featured as one of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s 175 Faces of Chemistry. At Afrikindness, he serves as Chief Research Content Officer, driving research initiatives and content development.
LovetteMonyei
Education Team Lead
An experienced school leader and a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching (FCCT), Lovette holds two MA degrees in Linguistics and Sociology of Languages from French universities and a third in Educational Leadership and Management from the University of Nottingham. At Afrikindness, Lovette serves as Education Team Lead, overseeing verification and standards, leadership, curriculum development, and strategy.
ChigozirimEdebi
Volunteer Manager
Chigozirim Otefe-Edebi, with a Biochemistry degree from the University of Benin and an MBA from York St. John University, is a Human Resources professional with diverse experience across multiple sectors. She co-founded Gracehill Behavioural Health Services, a psychiatric and substance abuse rehabilitation practice in Nigeria, and is a retired professional event compere and comedian. At Afrikindness, she serves as the Volunteer Manager, coordinating and supporting volunteers to advance the organisation’s mission.
DorianaHarris
Corporate Partnership Lead
Doriana works for Leeds City Council as a Business Administration Assistant, supporting children and families. At Afrikindness, Doriana serves as Corporate Partnership Lead, building and nurturing relationships with corporate partners to support the parent community and develop children and young people.
