The people who lead,
support and
champion our work.
South Asian Heritage Trust is guided by an experienced Board of Trustees, supported by a skilled team of programme leads, regional coordinators and advisors, and championed by distinguished patrons who share our mission.
Board of Trustees
Our trustees bring expertise spanning law, medicine, community cohesion, inclusion and communications, providing the strategic oversight that ensures the Trust operates responsibly and delivers meaningful public benefit.
Jasvir Singh CBE is a family law barrister with almost two decades of experience, based in London. A respected community leader and regular contributor to BBC Radio 4's Thought for the Day, he is a trustee and patron of organisations including City Sikhs and the Kaleidoscope Trust. As Co-Founder and Chair of Trustees, he provides strategic leadership and governance oversight for the Trust's national growth. Awarded an OBE in 2017 and a CBE in 2023 for services to community relations, and given the Alumnus of the Year award by King's College London in 2023.
A Consultant Respiratory Physician in the North West of England, Dr Kane co-founded South Asian Heritage Month and established the Partition Education Group to embed British South Asian history in school curricula. A contributor to the BBC documentary My Family, Partition and Me, she is a respected voice in diversity, equality and inclusion, named on the Diversity Power List 2024/25. She also champions inclusion in healthcare for people with chronic illness and disabilities.
A creative strategist and award-winning DEI expert, Laks made history as the UK's first openly gay South Asian and Sikh police officer. Founder of Gaysians UK and a Mayor of London appointed EDI Advisor, he is named in the UK's Top 100 Influential People 2025. Awarded an MBE in 2024 for services to charity, integration and LGBTQ+ communities, and named LGBT+ Trailblazer 2024 at the British LGBTQIA+ Awards.
A communications specialist, writer and D&I consultant, Natasha is the founder of South Asian Writers, a hashtag that reached millions of people in a single weekend and went viral in 2017. She has spoken on BBC Woman's Hour and the BBC Asian Network, leads the literary arm of South Asian Heritage Month, and brings expertise in strategic communications, audience engagement and cultural programming to the Board.
The people who make it happen
From operations and business development to education, sport, literature and regional delivery, our team brings specialist expertise and lived experience to every part of the Trust's work.
An experienced operations and administration professional with a proven track record of building and managing high-functioning systems for organisations that matter. Joining SAHT in 2024, Rachel brings a background spanning executive support, operations management and project delivery. She is direct, dependable and deeply committed to work that matters. Outside her professional life, she is a published author and devoted mother of two.
Joined SAHT in June 2022, combining technical expertise with a passion for promoting South Asian heritage. A Software Engineer and Informatics graduate, Umran was recruited as Senior Analytics Lead by a Fortune 500 company, becoming the youngest and only South Asian person at board level. He has worked with major global brands and devotes time to volunteering with schools, prisons, charities, communities, refugees and the homeless.
With over five years in the community sector, Harvinder's work is rooted in creating inclusive, authentic spaces that reflect the richness and diversity of South Asian communities. At SAHT, she oversees communications and campaign strategy, manages 30 or more volunteers, and builds partnerships to ensure South Asian Heritage Month is impactful and reflective of lived diaspora experience.
Over 25 years in the charity sector with a strong track record in fundraising, strategic leadership and business development across private, public and third sectors. Aleya's expertise spans research, project monitoring, infrastructure development and policy formulation, driven by a passion for social change and community empowerment.
A multidisciplinary artist working with print, textile and poetry. In 2024 she founded Third Space, a platform for South Asian poets, which has produced two anthologies from poets across the globe. A child of Partition refugees, her practice explores displacement, heritage and memory. She teaches workshops at the Fitzwilliam, Warwick Arts and UCL East, and has an exhibition at UCL East in July.
A podcaster and Chair of BAME Hammers, an officially recognised West Ham United fan group. Apu produces Our Game Too, a podcast focused on Asians in football. Driven by a lifelong passion for sport and equality, he works to challenge discrimination and make sport truly accessible to South Asian communities.
A PR professional in finance, women's health coach and personal trainer working predominantly with South Asian women. Mara works with sports brands and organisations to increase diversity and has appeared on the BBC. She uses her platforms to raise awareness of the obstacles women of colour face in sport and to encourage women to take on new challenges.
A Chief of Staff at a national government arms-length body with over a decade leading strategic transformation across policing, healthcare and government. Known for inclusive leadership, political acuity and groundbreaking EDI initiatives, Misha is a trusted advisor, budget holder and mentor who champions innovation in public service.
A former Head of Science and founder of The Science Tutor and the National Education Diversity Awards, the UK's first national celebration of diversity in education. Joining SAHT in 2025, Jagdeep is committed to platforming South Asian heritage that inspires pride, progress and belonging from the classroom to the boardroom.
A teacher, middle leader and creator of SAHM toolkits focused on decolonising the curriculum. Regional NEU Black Educator's Officer, Chartered College of Teaching CPD contributor and peer reviewer of Impact Journal. A qualified Alima, completing her Alimiyyah degree at Jamea Al Kauthar in Lancaster, Rahima also serves on SACRE as a community link.
Co-founder of The Mentor Ring and Honorary Air Commodore for 614 Squadron. A solo glider pilot and former cricket and chess player, Sujatha leads efforts to showcase South Asian stories and culture through events and partnerships across Wales. She chairs Aurav Disha, promoting mental health and multicultural harmony.
Founder and Director of the Belfast Asian Women's Academy, Ana is a passionate advocate for migrants and women facing systemic racism and discrimination. An LLB graduate settled in Northern Ireland since 2009, she hopes to see a society that thrives fairly and equally for all.
Over 20 years in senior third-sector roles including Diabetes UK and Marie Curie, now at Oxfam leading national inclusive volunteer engagement. A storyteller and radio presenter, Premal produces the Phonic Mango show celebrating South Asian artists and regularly organises community events across Exeter with his two daughters.
A consultant with 25 years in higher education, public health and arts. Director of the UK Public Health Register and an award-winning playwright and screenwriter. Born and raised in the Black Country, Dr Khutan is passionate about South Asian communities across the West Midlands and serves as audience ambassador for the Grand Theatre Wolverhampton.
A third-generation British Asian woman from the Black Country, dedicated to youth empowerment, equitable governance and decolonial practice. Mya champions intersectional approaches that make space for young people to lead, embedding the complexity of South Asian experience across class, caste, gender, colourism and religion into inclusive practice.
A social entrepreneur, Managing Director of a multi-award-winning social enterprise and co-curator of Manchester Museum's South Asia Gallery, the UK's first permanent South Asia gallery. Numan founded Manchester South Asia Centre and the South Asian Language Centre UK, promoting heritage, culture and the diverse languages of the diaspora.
A well-known British Nepalese personality who championed the celebration of 200 years of UK-Nepal friendship in 2016. Born in Nepal, raised in India and settled in the UK, Prashant is a business consultant and advisor who believes sport and culture build communities and strengthen relationships across nations.
Jasmine is the founder of Inquilab, a workplace culture consultancy helping organisations take a data-driven approach to managing employee retention and engagement. She also runs the South Asian Workplace Collective, helping professionals understand and master the “unwritten rules” of the UK workplace.
A communications specialist with senior roles at the Department of Health and Social Care and UCL's The Bartlett. Operational Lead for SAHM 2021, Manpreet now provides ongoing strategic communications advice, drawing on expertise in strategy development, institutional launches and stakeholder engagement.
A curator, material researcher and textile workshop facilitator whose practice centres on the visual and material cultures of the British South Asian home. Museum Lead for SAHM 2021, Tiya's research explores multigenerational storytelling through collections, and she leads interdisciplinary workshops across London's galleries and studios.
A digital and marketing specialist with two decades across arts and culture, working with the National Theatre, Melbourne Theatre Company, Alzheimer's Society and Royal Albert Hall. Now training as a physiotherapist, Dee brings a unique blend of digital expertise and community research perspective to the Trust's advisory work.
Our Patrons
Our patrons are distinguished public figures who lend their voice, profile and platform to amplify the Trust's mission and extend our national reach.
A British actress whose career spans film, television, theatre and radio nationally and internationally. Currently playing the villainous Suki Panesar in EastEnders, Balvinder is an Associate Artist with Play On Words Theatre and a regular contributor on BBC Radio Kent's arts and culture show.
Novelist, screenwriter and editor of the bestselling essay collection The Good Immigrant. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and co-founder of The Good Literary Agency, named one of Time Magazine's cultural leaders and Foreign Policy's 100 Global Thinkers.
Former Chief News Presenter for BBC News and author of the award-winning The Corner Shop, BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week. She presented BBC Two's Dangerous Borders: The Story of India & Pakistan and received the Asian Achievement Award for contributions to Media, Arts and Culture.
Over two decades at the BBC across Radio 1, BBC 6 Music and BBC Asian Network, championing South Asian music from around the world. A multiple Sony Radio Academy Gold Award winner, recognised globally as the premier expert on Desi Beats.
A mathematics teacher, broadcaster and author born in east London to parents from Kerala. Rose to prominence on University Challenge, co-presents BBC's Monkman & Seagull's Genius Guides, writes for the Financial Times, and is a passionate advocate for education and South Asian identity.
An NHS doctor and familiar television presence on BBC Breakfast, Lorraine and Good Morning Britain. Author of bestselling memoir The Doctor Will See You Now, Senior Lecturer at Leeds and Bradford, and named GP Trainer of the Year 2018 by the Royal College of General Practitioners.
A practising NHS Consultant Emergency Paediatrician, BAFTA award-winning television presenter, Sunday Times bestselling author and ITV This Morning resident doctor. Co-creator of CBeebies' Get Well Soon and a prominent advocate for diversity and South Asian visibility in public life.
Volunteer with
South Asian Heritage Trust
Are you passionate about South Asian culture, history and community? Volunteering with SAHT is a chance to give back, build community and celebrate the rich diversity of South Asian heritage in the UK.
As part of a national movement, you will join a warm, welcoming network committed to cultural pride, inclusion and social impact. Whether you have an hour a week or can support an entire campaign, your contribution helps amplify voices and stories that deserve to be heard.
Volunteering is not just limited to one month. We run activities all year across events, digital content, archiving, education outreach, research and campaign coordination. You pick the tasks that suit your time, skills and interests, with full support and guidance throughout.
Volunteer With Us
