The Team
Jude Lancaster (MA HRM, FCIPD) is an experienced and effective HR strategist and equality and diversity adviser. Her work in these fields spans nearly three decades during which time she has supported a wide range of both large and small public, community and voluntary sector organisations. For the past 10 years, she held the post of HR Strategist at Kirklees Council and led their employment-related diversity strategy. Her specialisms include strategy and policy development and coaching in terms and conditions, recruitment and retention, employee relations, work-life balance, attendance improvement, change management, organisational development, conflict management, team building and leadership development. Recently she has worked with small and medium sized private sector organisations to help them develop robust HR and Quality Assurance practices.
David Dowse has 30 years experience in human resources, as a manager, board member and policy maker. Working mainly in large public authorities, where equalities and diversity were high on the agenda, he has practical experience of successfully delivering business objectives. He specialises in contract evaluation, TUPE and commercial issues; trade union and employee relations; grievance and discipline; and selection assessment. He sits as a Special Member (Race) on Employment Tribunals and as an Independent Member on the West Yorkshire Police Authority Misconduct Panel and has supported a number of voluntary organisations.
Lynne Harris is a highly experienced black youth and community worker with over 20 years experience of field work and management of informal and community education, including early years provision, youth development projects, employment and training initiatives, organisation development and project management within community settings. She has extensive experience of working with disadvantaged groups, of promoting good practice and anti-discriminatory practice in the broad fields of youth and community at local, regional and national level. She was responsible for the development of a national network of women workers in the field of crisis support and social/care work with abuse survivors.
Rob Good (BA LLB) – former partner and head of Employment Law at London solicitors Hodge Jones and Allan. Also specialised in social security and mental health law and work with the voluntary sector. Before becoming a solicitor, he had 15 years experience of working in and with the voluntary sector in London. Recently he has been involved in delivering the Change Up programme for the London Council for Voluntary Service, Islington Voluntary Action Council and the Central London Council for Voluntary Service. He is a member of the Law Society Mental Health Panel and a part-time chairman of the Mental Health Review Tribunal and the Appeal Service. Rob is a member of the British Psychological Society and sits on the Executive Committee of the Division of Clinical Psychology. Rob has extensive experience of providing training in employment law and practice and has been a part time university lecturer. He offers advice on all aspects of employment law including representation at Employment Tribunals. He is a regular contributor to Voluntary Voice on aspects of employment law and personnel management.
Laiqa Sheikh is currently working for the Open College Network in Leeds and undertakes consultancy work in her spare time. Until recently, she was a senior lecturer in the School of Teaching, Health and Social Care at Bradford College, responsible for teaching community development and teacher education on the F.E. programme. Her teaching programme included: Teacher Training, Race and Cultural Studies, Multiculturalism, Religious Studies, Community work/Social work, Social Inequality, Interpersonal and Communication Skills, Professional Studies, Anti-racism and Education, Ethnic Relations and Dealing with Diversity. She has an in-depth knowledge of the Bradford community organisation arena and works locally, nationally and internationally to promote equal opportunities and to challenge discrimination.
M. Ibrahim started his career in the Aviation industry in 1980 working at different airfields in the UK. He then trained to become a Careers Adviser, working for various Local Education Authorities and also worked for Education Bradford as a Governor Development Officer, where he developed and delivered all aspects of training to school governors on governance matters. He is currently working at the West Bowling Community Advice &Training Centre as the Business Development Manager. Ibrahim has wide and extensive experience of community work locally and nationally, but his particular interest has been equality, diversity and education. He has achieved MSc Cert.in Diversity Management in 2008.
He is a Trainer with NIACE delivering Faith Community Development accredited qualifications. He has served on Governing Bodies and has gained many awards for outstanding contribution as a Community Governor. He has a very longstanding involvement with Feversham College, and has been Chair of Governors for the last 10 years. The highlight of his achievements has been securing the Voluntary Aided Status Funding for Feversham College (First Muslim Girls Secondary School in the country). He is regularly consulted on issues of Faith Schools both locally and nationally.
El-Fabbeh Husein has worked as a community activist, youth worker, teacher, Head of Department in an inner city comprehensive, Advisory Teacher, Education Adviser and Inspector, Senior Lecturer in Applied Social Science and a Course Tutor for a postgraduate course entitled Youth and Community Development. Throughout this time he undertook voluntary roles in community campaigns and development and consultant to a range of governmental and voluntary sector organisations in the field of racial equality and education. His final full time job involved being a Director of EMA Strategies for a large Northern Local Authority. He continues his voluntary and consultancy work in Community Development in his retirement. He is now on the Regional Forum BME VCS Panel focusing on the theme entitled Learning Community, Equalities and Empowerment.