Dr Les Johnson is the Founder and Chairman of the National Windrush Museum. He is a visiting researcher at Birmingham City University and was awarded his PhD for research into cultural visualisation, entrepreneurship and innovation. He is an alumnus of the Royal College of Art and was CEO of his multi-award winning design, media, marketing and management consultancy firm Equator International. He has worked for; BBC, Channel 4, Carlton Television, The Arts Council, The Tate, the South Bank Centre, Design Museum, IBM, BPI, Clydesdale Bank, Virgin and Sony among many other cultural development organisations including local, regional and central government. Dr Johnson has served on a range of boards, has been a Non-Executive Director and consultant for public and private sector organisations at local, regional and national levels in the U.K. He works internationally as counsel, lecturer and a consultant in business development, crisis management, sustainability in the Blue Economy and across cultural industries.

Denize Ledeatte as the National Windrush Museum director, is skilled in organizational management, strategic planning, and fundraising. Her leadership and analytical skills enable her to navigate complex challenges and opportunities, while her personable nature allows her to build strong relationships with stakeholders and partners.

She has a talent for identifying and communicating complex historical and cultural themes in ways that engage and inspire diverse audiences. Her passion for the arts, heritage, and social justice, along with her diverse range of skills and experiences, fuel her Innovative approach to solving problems. She is committed to using her talents to preserve and promote the rich cultural heritage of the Caribbean and to advance social equity through education. As a fine artist her signature style Grande Visual Narrative© combines poetic and painted abstraction using the concept of the Art Book as a canvas.

Dr Barbara Adewumi- Senior Research Fellow for Student Success in the Centre for the Study of Higher education, University of Kent

Barbara spent her childhood in Trinidad and returned to Britain aged ten and lived in North London with her parents. She acquired a BA (Hons) in Sociology and Development Studies from Middlesex University and a Masters in Contemporary Caribbean Cultural History from Goldsmiths College, University of London and a PhD in Sociology at the University of Kent. She lectured in Sociology at the University of Kent and is now a Senior Research Fellow. Her research focuses on academic progression, closing the awarding gap, sense of belonging and engagement of racially minoritised and widening participation students. Barbara’s research interests include aspirational strategies by Black middle-class parents in education, the Caribbean student experience, decolonising and diversifying the curricula and critical race theory. She is a founder and Co-Chair of the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) staff network. Barbara is co-editor of the book Race, Capital and Equity in Higher Education, Palgrave Macmillan.

Dr Carlton Brown is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience who has played a pivotal role in formulating growth strategies for businesses. His rich insights come from his leadership roles in FTSE100 companies and successful startups. He has refined high-performance teams by imparting structured skills, knowledge, and strategies. Among his many accomplishments, he has published peer-reviewed articles on business performance, supplier diversity, and the Black Entrepreneur Report. He is also the author of The Race Paradox, which explores why organisations fail on race. Dr Brown is the founder of the UK Black Business Entrepreneur Conference, CEO of Aspire Consultancy, and the founder of Marshall & Brown. His expertise spans from the support service sector, where he has served companies like Rentokil Initial PLC, to academia, where he lectures at renowned institutions. His PhD in Business Performance Management underscores his commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion. His contributions to the business sector have been widely recognised, including his company, Marshall & Brown, winning 4 UK Great Taste Awards.

Elizabeth, the founder of Event Connoisseurs LTD, is dedicated to highlighting Caribbean cultural heritage through meticulously organised events. Her goal is to foster a deep understanding and respect for the Caribbean region and its people, regardless of their location. A significant event she manages is the Black-Tie Spirit of the Caribbean Annual Ball & Black Honour Awards, which began in 2022. At the same time, she holds a position as a Programme Manager with NHS England's National Urgent and Emergency Care Team. She also serves as the Editor-in-Chief of One Caribbean Magazine™, a free quarterly publication. Her ambition is to inspire individuals of Caribbean descent to reconnect with their heritage and embrace their unique identities. Elizabeth's mission involves presenting an authentic Caribbean perspective to a global audience, showcasing its rich culture beyond common stereotypes.

Bertram  Leon born in St Lucia, migrated as a child during the Windrush era. He is a former President of the Union of St. Lucian Overseas Association (USLOA), with members in USA, UK, Canada, St Croix, Barbados, and St Lucia. He has worked in the public and private sectors for over 35 years, holding several senior positions including co-director of the Caribbean Diaspora Skills Directory CIC. He has campaigned for more sustainable trade in the Caribbean region in partnership with Caribbean islands, NGOs and other bodies. He received several national honours, including the Order of Saint Lucia and an OBE awarded for his long and meritorious service, promoting loyal public service, national welfare and strengthening community spirit nationally and internationally.

Mia Morris OBE, a cultural community activist, has dedicated her life to recording Black contributions to the UK. Over two decades ago, she launched the first Black History Month website, embarking on her activism journey with the BBC Radio show, Black Londoners, in the 1980s. Born to Grenadian parents in the late '50s, Morris was raised in a multicultural part of Hackney, developing a strong interest in intellectual exploration. Post-education, she occupied various roles, including a project manager at TS2K and the Black Cultural Archives. Morris began her entrepreneurial journey with Well Placed Consultancy, where the focus was on corporate social responsibility. The concept for the Black History Month website was inspired by publishers Eric and Jessica Huntley. Morris continues to highlight Black life through initiatives such as Black History Live, Black History 365, and a speaker’s bureau for African and Caribbean authors. Currently, she heads the Canerows peer support project for Sound Minds in London, addressing mental health issues amongst black and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Linford has a background of 25 years in music development including  the creation and championing of the Maestro music and multimedia. He delivered NVQ qualifications for school leavers seeking careers in the music business in 1995. He was instrumental in breaking new ground by achieving private sector sponsorship and endorsement as a Director at The Equator Group. He was also central to Equator’s Enterprise Focus 1997 at the Barbican, which was a major exhibition highlighting African, African- Caribbean and Asian markets. He is currently working on a series of music related initiatives including Crimson Wave and the Rap Choir.

In recognition of the challenges that women face in bringing novel and commercially viable products to market, Dr Bola Olabisi, set up the Global Women Inventors & Innovators Network (GlobalWIIN) in 1998. She raises awareness of the importance of intellectual property in relation to empowerment and emancipation with a special focus on gender diversity and inclusion. Bola continues to unveil unsung ingenious women across the globe and works with government departments, educational institutions, leading industry experts, voluntary organisations, and enterprises. In 2022, Bola became a Director of the Intellectual Property Awareness Network (IPAN) and in 2019, Bola was recognised by the Mayor of London as one of the 100 WOMEN THAT MAKE LONDON GREAT. Prior to this, she was recognised by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as a ‘Pioneer to the Life of the Nation in 2003.

Zak Offe-Buroby is a serial entrepreneur. His businesses include magazine publishing, events promotion, television station operation, record production and media consultancy. Zak has conducted a continuous campaign from the 1970s to energise our community in the UK; through entrepreneurship in media, music and entertainment all designed to encourage aspirations and provide inspiration. Many outcomes were achieved including the deregulation of the UK airwaves with licenses for radio and television stations being made available. An important vehicle for these endeavours has been the pioneering radio station LONDON WORLD RADIO (LWR) formerly an independent free radio station which Zak has commandeered since 1983.

Rachel has enjoyed a successful career working in the Media industry since 2006. She has a BA Hons in Communication Studies and has been a part of teams and managed teams at The Guardian, CBS Outdoor, Bauer Media and now Global Media & Entertainment.

She has expertise in Print, Digital, Radio, Social Media, Programmatic and Outdoor advertising. This enables her to create and recommend well-rounded advertising and marketing solutions. She brings these expertise and her experience developing partnership and business relationships to all of her roles. Rachel also led the Race Equality Steering Group for Bauer Media UK for a number of years.

Her other current roles include being a Trustee of The Black Society CIO and she is delighted to be appointed as a Board member of the ground-breaking National Windrush Museum.

As a Director and Co-founder of Recognize Black Heritage & Culture, Black Heritage Walks Network, and the Windrush Caribbean Film Festival, Garry has played a pivotal role in advocating for the recognition and celebration of Black heritage through educational initiatives and cultural events. Having earned his degree in Black Studies at BCU (Birmingham City University), he brings a wealth of academic knowledge and expertise to his work, further enriching efforts to promote awareness and understanding of Black history and culture. Garry's commitment to advancing the cause of Black heritage is unwavering, inspiring others to join in creating a more inclusive and equitable society. Garry is also a Fellow of the RSA.