Our directors
Our Directors are drawn from our full membership and include representatives of organisations and individuals. As members of the Trustee Board they agree to work for the good of the organisation and not to promote individual interests. The majority of Trustees are volunteers but we also invite consultant observers from various bodies to advise the board.
Board of Directors & Honorary Officers
Jaswant Singh
Chair
Mr Singh is a committed member of Race Equality First. He has a vast array of experience in equality issues and community engagement. At present he is the Councillor for Riverside; a member of WCVA; VAC; BVSNW; the Police Advisory Committee Bridgend and Cardiff Bay; and SRCDC. He is also the governor for two schools. Mr Singh is also a qualified social worker and practiced as a magistrate for 20 years before retiring.
John Gorwill
Vice Chair
Mr. Gorwill is employed by Cardiff Council, working in equalities since 1981. He has worked professionally with Race Equality First and its predecessors since that time. Over the years has worked directly with Cardiff’s Community Cohesion groups, promoting their interests with the Council and its partners. Mr. Gorwill has worked with special interest groups across all the equality stands & continues to do this to the present time.
Siva Sivapalan
Treasurer
Mr. Sivapalan is a Chartered Civil Engineer, with over 30 years of experience in local government. Having taken up early retirement in March 2010 currently, he is seeking opportunities to re-enter the employment market.
Mr Sivapalan is married with two children, and originally from Sri Lanka. He has lived in Cardiff since 1973. He is involved with a number of charity organisations and has always been interested in promoting community cohesion and bringing down barriers which exist in our society.
Mian Majeed
Mr Majeed is a qualified lawyer by profession, but has since retired. He has been a member of Race Equality First since 1987, and has served as chair a number of times over this period. His commitment to the organisation is un-faltered, with 100% attendance for all the meetings..
Jeremy Rees
Jeremy Rees is a Senior Officer at Cardiff Third Sector Council (VAC) and leads on Diversity. He has worked in the voluntary & community sectors in both Wales & England since 1981, and in his current role he is a member of the Equalities Coalition for Wales; Cardiff Community Cohesion Working Group; The Cardiff & Vale Equality & Human Rights Network; the East Cardiff Multicultural Network and the Black History Month Steering Group. Jeremy is also a presenter on the local community radio station, Radio Cardiff.
Asghar Javed Ali
Mr. Ali was first elected executive member of Race Equality first in 1991, and has since continued to give his free time and support, for the benefit of the organisation over the years.
Ibraham Harbi
Ibrahim studied International Development and has extensive experience of working with BME communities. He worked for the London Training Agency for four years and has, since relocating to Cardiff, designed many innovative projects for the benefit of BME communities in Wales, including the “Somali Integration Project”, funded by the National Assembly for Wales; the “I Am Me Project”, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the DFID sponsored “Schools Project” to name a few.
Ibrahim is a leading figure in the quest for improved integration within the communities of Welsh Society.
Audrey Jones
Ms. Jones has a vast array of experience having worked in education with associated activities, including Liaison Committee with the local authority. She has been a trustee of Vale Council for Voluntary Services from 1996 – 2010; member of Women’s National Commission from 1999 – 2003; member of Wales Third Sector Partnership Council 1999 – 2003. She currently she is on the Vale of Glamorgan Equalities Committee; a Trustee for Women’s Arts Association; a Trustee for Violence Against Women Action Group; a Representative of Wales Assembly of Women at the United Nations Global Conferences, Beijing; and a representative for annual meetings of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, New York.
Angela Kwok
Born in Hong Kong I immigrated to the UK in 1972. I am now a successful business woman. I formed the South Wales Chinese Women's Association in 1983. I am Chair of South Wales Chinese Association which promotes Chinese culture in Cardiff and Secretary of Shuen Wan Joint Village Overseas Association.