:: 4 July 2008
Currently there are ten Directors out of which five are from minority ethnic groups. Four are female.
Nicholas Flavin (Chair)
Nick Flavin has been Director of Edinburgh University Settlement for the past 23 years. The Settlement is currently celebrating its Centenary and is the oldest multipurpose charity in Scotland. The Settlement maintains a vibrant programme in adult education, mental health and community development. A number of organisations of national and international significance can trace or owe their origins to the Settlement’s Community Development Policy, such as, LEAD Scotland (Linking Education And Development Scotland), Scottish Gipsy Travellers Association and The Craigmillar Festival Society. Nick is a co-founder of the International Federation of Settlements and Neighbourhood Centres Europe and a former treasurer and board member of IFS, a federation of over 5,000 members worldwide.
Nick was educated at the Seminary of the Society of African Missions and studied a prescribed course in philosophy and theology leading to the priesthood in 1968. He spent 9 years in Nigeria and worked chiefly among the Kamberi tribe of North Borgo. He is fluent in the Hausa Language, is familiar with Yoruba and performed liturgical translations into Kamberi, a hitherto unwritten language. (He taught spoken Irish at Edinburgh University extra mural programme). Nick was a Commissioner for Education in Kwara state in Nigeria during the introduction of universal primary education in the early 1970's. He was honorary chaplain to the Nigerian army at New Bussa and the Catholic Church's Chief Development officer for the area. He established a rural health service and a vibrant adult education programme. He was recently invited back by the Kamberi people as a special guest. Nick spent a short time as a Community Development Worker in the Maryhill Corridor Project in Glasgow, during which time he was Chairman of the West Central Scotland Community Development Group.
Before coming to the Settlement he spent two very enjoyable and productive years working with Scotland's travelling people in Central Region. He has held office in a number of voluntary organisations over the years. And through his efforts Edinburgh University Settlement continues to play a very active role in a broad network of organisations, which include the British Association of Settlements and Social Action Centres (BASSAC), and engages a number of partnership projects through various European initiatives.
Nick feels very proud to have been associated with LINKnet from the beginning and privileged to be invited to be Chair for this current session.
Devendra Kainthola (Vice Chair)
Devendra is a Chartered Engineer with 20 years experience with multinational companies. He has attained a Strategic Organisation Development focused MBA from University of Strathclyde. He has advised and helped Scottish Enterprise clients on effective trade development with India, as well as being a Mumbai based, in-market consultant to Scottish Enterprise. This work included bilateral trade facilitation with effective addressing of communication, legal, and commercial issues.
In his current business life he is Director of Kainthola and Associates Limited and AL Project Services Limited. His voluntary work has included the creation of a Strategic Vision for Socio - Economic Development of Uttaranchal, a new central Himalayan state. It identifies lateral approaches for Integrated Development. Other positions of responsibility he holds includes, being Europe Convenor for Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee and a Board Member of Edinburgh International Centre for World Spiritualities.
He talks and gives presentations on India and Hinduism related issues in a variety of forums, including the BBC.
Tricia Cochrane
Tricia has worked for Lothian and Borders Police for six years in Personnel and the last four have been as the Force’s Equal Opportunities and Diversity Advisor. She has a post - graduate degree in Personnel and is a Chartered Fellow of Institute for Personnel Development.
In addition to her Board activities at LINKnet, she is the Chair of the Planning Committee for Lothian Employers Network for Disabilities (LEND).
Tricia has a love for helping others and strives to change people’s attitudes and prejudices through education and example, to eliminate discrimination.
Anna Dickie
Anna has twenty eight years of experience of management and policy posts in the Civil Service. This has included work in the areas of social security, vocational qualifications, and development.
Latterly she has been dealing with policy initiatives to help alleviate and eradicate homelessness and rough sleeping in Scotland. She has extensive experience of Challenge Funding and working constructively and collaborativly with the voluntary sector to help deliver central Government objectives.
She is also a member of the charitable trust which owns and maintains a 17th century style public garden in East Lothian.
Lucy Proctor
For the last five years Lucy has worked with Edinburgh University Settlement’s Mental Health Programme - Stepping Stones. Her present position is Programme Co-ordinator. Her duties include managing an innovative programme of educational and creative arts, accessed by people who are recovering and enduring mental ill health.
She is an artist and has studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee, gaining a BA Hons Degree in Fine Art. She majored in sculpture, drawing and painting and has exhibited and worked on commissions while working as a community artist with many voluntary and statutory organisations.
She has travelled in South East Asia and in Australia worked as an Artist and community worker. On returning to Scotland she continued to exhibit her work and completed a post-graduate Diploma in Art Therapy at Queen Margaret University College. She then worked as an art therapist, arts tutor and community artist for various arts and mental health agencies in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Brian Smith
Brian Smith has thirty five years of Commercial Business experience. He moved from an executive post in the Civil Service into business management, eventually becoming a Sales Director and a Managing
Director.
His specialised knowledge includes engineering, business costing and organisation, and personnel recruitment. For over twenty years he has directed and led a team of professionals in the process of Design and Construction of Restaurants throughout Britain and Ireland.
He is an honorary member of the Institutes of Business Management and Administrative Management as well as an Associate Member of Institute of Personnel Management. He is honorary secretary of his Golf Club.
Denboba K. Natie
Denboba is developing his career in the area of Public Health. He has a range of qualifications in this field leading to a BSc in ‘Senior General Clinical Nursing’, BA in ‘Education Administration’, and an MSc in ‘International Health’. Currently he is studying for a Diploma in ‘Management’ with the Chartered Management Institute.
Denboba has worked as manager and administrator in various capacities, including peripheral health and social service. He is President of the National Health Professionals’ Association. He was one of the key players in Ethiopia, developing national policies in the areas of, women and children, and mental health issues. Denboba has also worked as managing director in the private sector and for an NGO.
He is a board member of various ethnic minority voluntary organisations here in Scotland, including Africa Centre Scotland, and Ethiopian Community Scotland, of which he is a founder. He is also involved in various advocacy groups including: the Edinburgh Race Equality Forum; Connections for Development; International Inter-religious group for World Peace, and is a member of Pressure group for Global Justice.
He currently works for one of Edinburgh’s Voluntary organisations. He is married and lives with his wife and baby daughter in Edinburgh.
Chicco Rami
Chicco is a skilled marine engineer, with both practical and managerial skills, gained through 29 years working experience with eight years at senior management level. He is a graduate of language skills which he has developed through both formal study and extensive travel. His marine experience covers, being a captain of a supply / tug boat, Port captain and company representative with experience in offshore oil related vessels.
He has worked also as volunteer with Minority Ethnic Carers of Older People Project & Minority Ethnic Learning Difficulties Initiative. Currently, he is a freelance Interpreter with (Alpha Translating & Interpreting Services Ltd.), interpreting in French, Spanish and Arabic.
Roy Parekh
Roy came from Kenya in 1956 to study Medicine to the UK with every intention of returning. However, after Higher Education in Manchester and London he began his career with a research job with a pharmaceutical company. His career, spanning more than forth years, included research, academic, medical and Civil Service posts, as well as some time in the commercial world.
Since retiring from University work, he has helped out as a volunteer for several charities. He has travelled extensively: in Australia and New Zealand, U.S.A, South East Asia, and East Africa. Recently, seeking more leisure time, he is enjoying his garden, his house and has joined adult community classes in joinery, painting and computing.
He has joined the Linknet Board because he sees it as dynamic and forward looking and that the hard working and dedicated staff have put this institution on the map and that it is going places. He feels he can contribute something and one day he can say - I was there!
Rana Sallam
Rana Sallam, MSc degree Information Technology, ECDL Expert Certificate, Advanced ECDL, Core ECDL, BSc Diagnostic Radiography.
Rana has an extensive experience in the IT, teaching fields and supporting Blsck and Ethnic Minorities (BME). Rana has been working extensively with Voluntary sector organisations and she is currently the Project Co-ordinator for the Skilltech Programme at Nisus Scotland. She has been a course assistant for Women Onto Work (WOW) BME course, was also involved with Wise Move Project (part of Wise Group), guest speaker at WOW certificate ceremony, volunteered at the EUS community learning centre, volunteered at NKS, is an ex-member of the board of directors for WOW.
Rana has been the recipient of several awards and has a range of practitioner skills relating to employability, partnership working with other BME projects, training and project development.
Rana has strong commitment to multiculturalism and community service, which is evident in her work at WOW and Nisus Scotland.
