:: 31 July 2010
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.
Melanie Vowels
Melanie Vowles has worked continuously within local government for 27 years. She commenced employment in the Planning department as a filing clerk in 1983 and has risen through the ranks to reach the post of Team leader in the Planning Archives section with additional responsibility for committee work preparation and Freedom of Information requests.
She also received a customer care award for her work at the public counter of the Planning office.She is an associate member of the Institute of Administrative Management (an organisation that has direct links with students studying a variety of management courses both here and aboard) where she gained an international diploma and certificate in administrative management. She is also the acting treasurer of the local branch based in Edinburgh.
She is also a member of the charitable trust which owns and maintains a 17th century style public garden in East Lothian.
Helen Cambell
Helen Campbell spent 38 years in senior management as accountant/financial controller in commerce, industry and the national performing arts. Latterly she was with Scottish Chamber Orchestra and The Scottish Ballet. In 1987 Helen found homeopathic medicine and has been consulting, training, teaching and furthering the use of homeopathic medicine since qualifying in 1992.
She is a member of General Council of Edinburgh University and serves on their Academic Standing Committee. She now works with several Charities across the Central Belt of Scotland (Edinburgh University Settlement Homeopathy Projects, South Lanarkshire Carers, P.E.T.A.L., Dementia Carers UK, Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh). Previously Helen was involved in Mentoring for Edinburgh University women students who could be expected to go through the glass ceiling.
Her present objectives are to promote the use of homeopathic medicine as a way of improving health and empowering people to look after their own health. Has previously been involved in West Lothian Ethnic Minorities Group and with connections to the Central mosque has many patients from there who have benefited from the use of homeopathic remedies. Homeopathic medicine is a holistic medicine which integrates mental, emotional and physical symptoms to determine which remedy is indicated. Most of the work she does now is Voluntary work to move the work of homeopathy forward.
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 Black 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.
