Our People

Rt Hon Robert Aldridge
Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh
Patron

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.
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.

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

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