Edinburgh & Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC)

Our People

Honorary Members and Observers

Rt Hon Robert Aldridge

Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh

Patron

Honorary Patron of ELREC. Passionate about encouraging good citizenship and encouraging businesses to do their bit for the city in addressing social exclusion and inequality.

Professor Sir Geoff Palmer DSc OBE

Honorary President

Prof Sir Geoff Palmer is ELREC Honorary President.

He became the first black professor in Scotland in 1989 and then a Professor Emeritus after his retirement in 2005.

In 2014 he was knighted with New Year Honours.

Jamaican Honorary Consul. Chancellor of the Heriot- Watt University. Jamaican Commander of Distinction. Chair of Edinburgh Council’s Slavery Colonialism Group. Chair of University’s Colonialism and Race Group.

Board of Directors

Mr Foysol Choudhury

MBE MSP – Chair

Member of the Scottish Parliament, businessman and community activist, involved in various organisations. 

Mr Ehtisham Khan
 

Vice Chair

Ex councillor of Edinburgh Council and long standing community activist.

Mr Rajnish Singh
 

Company Secretary

IT Project Manager by profession. Involved with other organisations such as Scottish Indian Arts Forum, Mela, Edinburgh Hindu Mandir and Edinburgh Diwali.

Cllr Carl John
 

Treasurer

Councillor for the West Lothian Council. Involved as a Board member of different charitable organisations, both in Scotland and Africa.

Mrs Irina Lazarenko

Convenor – Finance and General Purposes Subcommittee

Willing to serve the community with experience and knowledge.

Mrs Azra Sharif-Qayyum

Co-Chair; Convenor – Volunteer Subcommittee more about Azra

Involved in the Board of other organisations. Skills in funding, mediation, governance and others.

Ms Jessica (Zonghong) Yang

Convenor – Membership Subcommittee

Ms Jessica (Zonghong) Yang is originally from Beijing, China. She moved to the UK in 2000.

Mr Mahmood Rajah Khan

Board Member

Rana Shaams
 

Board Member

Co-Founder/Director of Sunoh Scotland, Scotland’s largest Asian radio station.

Mr Shahid Riaz
 

Board Member

A board member of the Pakistan society of Edinburgh and board member of Edinburgh MELA.

Mrs Lesley Hinds

Board Member

Former City of Edinburgh Councillor who held numerous positions in the Council, including Leader, Lord Provost and Convener of Transport and Environment Committee.

Mr Foysol Choudhury

MBE MSP – Chair
 
 

Member of the Scottish Parliament, businessman and community activist, involved in various organisations. 

Mrs Azra Sharif-Qayyum

Mrs Azra Sharif-Qayyum

Co-Chair; Convenor – Volunteer Subcommittee

Involved in the Board of other organisations. Skills in funding, mediation, governance and others.

Mr Ehtisham Khan

Vice Chair

Ex councillor of Edinburgh Council and long standing community activist.

Mr Rajnish Singh
 

Company Secretary

IT Project Manager by profession. Involved with other organisations such as Scottish Indian Arts Forum, Mela, Edinburgh Hindu Mandir and Edinburgh Diwali.

Cllr Carl John
 

Treasurer

Councillor for the West Lothian Council. Involved as a Board member of different charitable organisations, both in Scotland and Africa.

Staff team

Parveen Ishaq
 

Office Manager



Adrian Barbascumpa

Finance Manager / Project Coordinator - Life is Good in Scotland Project.

Mitra Rostami
 

Open Arms Project Coordinator


Franciele Sobierai

Communities' Reduce, Reuse & Recycle Project Coordinator
 

Ewelina Lukaszek

Ethnic Minority Energy Advice Service Coordinator
 

Samira Nouri
 

Administrator


 

Rafa Crombie
 

Project Assistant - Communities' Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Project
 

Swastika Mishra
 

South Asian Workshop Facilitator

 

Said Abbas Hashimi

Project Assistant LiGiS Project
 
 

Alekszandra Szczygielska

Polish Workshop Facilitator
 
 

Martyna Michalak

Conscious Living Project Coordinator

 

Gerry Timoney
 

Cycle Officer
 
 
 

Gurbir Purewal
 

Private Tenancy Support
 
 

Bolyn Alexander
 

Project Assistant (The Creative Kitchen Community)
 

Cadence Yu
 

Chinese Community Link Officer
 
 

VACANCIES
Join the team
Become a member

Becoming a member is easy. By submitting the form below you will become a member of Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council.

If at any point in time, you wish to cease being a member, you can do so by sending us an e-mail on admin@elrec.org.uk