We are thrilled to welcome three new Board Members to join us in 2020. Each new member brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in various sectors and industries.
Abhishek Gupta
I have currently taken a year out of Medicine at the University of Birmingham to pursue Human Neuroscience. This degree has taken me to explore emotions and the human psychology of relationships, a field which I thoroughly enjoy reading around. Alongside this, I sit on various committees at University. I am a member of an organisation working to improve awareness and access to healthcare for undocumented migrants in Birmingham. I am also a tutor, assisting students in their own applications to higher education.
Part of my clinical placement introduced me to the many stories of people that I met in City and Sandwell hospitals, which has brought me to Sampad. I have always been inspired by those stories, of people who migrated to the West, bringing their heritage and culture, which over time has become so prominent in and around Birmingham. I am especially keen to develop projects around mental health which has been a key part of my education.
Roma Saimbi
Roma has worked in the not-for-profit sector for over 10 years. With a solution sales and marketing background, Roma is currently a Business Development Manager at BSI, a global business improvement partner where she helps organisations to embed excellence, build competence and capability for sustainable growth.
She has extensive experience in building partnerships, stakeholder and volunteer management and leveraging relationships to achieve mutual goals with a range of clients across multiple sectors.
Roma’s academic background includes a Postgraduate Degree from the University of Warwick on International Cultural Policy and Management which focused on ‘arts, culture and heritage’ in the public, private and voluntary sectors.
Through her experiences, Roma has developed a good understanding of the challenges that face not-for-profit organisations/charities and she brings experience of product launches, marketing campaigns and sales and partnerships to help maximise Sampad’s reach.
Prof. Upkar Pardesi OBE
Upkar is Emeritus Professor of Enterprise Development and was formerly the Director of Corporate Social Responsibility (2008 to 2010) and the Dean of Birmingham City BusinessSchool (1996 to 2008). He is co-founder and CEO of MyEd.com – a comprehensive resource for parents and students to make informed education choices.He has extensive senior management experience of UK education in general and of the higher education sector in particular. Upkar worked in Ethiopia for four years where he directed the development of the country’s first international Business School at Addis Ababa University and managed €20m budget. He is the former Vice Chairman of the Nishkam Schools Trust (a multiple Academy) with 3 Primary Schools and 2 Secondary Schools) and has extensive knowledge and experience of governance, leadership and management of nurseries, primary and secondary schools in England.
Upkar has been supporting local communities in Birmingham and West Midlands for 30 years and plays an active role in several social enterprises and faith-based organisations. He was the Chairman of The Drum (one of UK’s leading Art Centres for Asian and African-Caribbean performing arts) for 13 years. He is also Vice Chair of Nishkam Civic Association (The Nishkam Centre) and Trustee of Kyra Education and Training.
In 2006, Upkar was awarded the OBE for services to higher education. In 2005 and 2007, Upkar was selected to be included in Asian Power 100 list, which recognises 100 most influential Asian men and women in the UK.
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