Meet our leading members
Click on a profile picture below to find out more about the lead member.
Dr. Ava Kanyeredzi
Dr. Ava Kanyeredzi is a Senior Lecturer on the Forensic, Clinical and Community Psychology programmes at the University of East London.
Her research interests include, intersectional feminist perspectives on experiences of the body, violence and abuse, gender, race, culture, faith, mental distress, and forensic psychiatric facilities using qualitative, visual/creative methods.
Ava arrived at this project from carrying out research with African and Caribbean women with experience of violence/abuse all of whom shared their faith religion/spirituality as important in their journeys towards safety/recovery.
She is the author of Race, Culture and Gender: Black Female Experiences of Violence and Abuse (Palgrave Macmillan, 2018).
Dr. Ava Kanyeredzi
Dr Robert Beckford
Dr Robert Beckford is an eminent British academic theologian and currently Professor of Theology and Culture in the African Diaspora at Canterbury Christ Church University.
His documentaries for both the BBC and Channel 4 have provoked debate among the Christian and British religious community. Robert studied religion and sociology at Houghton College, New York. He then studied at the London Bible College, Middlesex. After a year in the community, Robert studied for his PhD while also working part-time at The Queen's Foundation, Birmingham, where he became Britain's first tutor in black theology.
Professionally, Robert has spent his career in academia, beginning in 1999 as a research fellow at Birmingham University , then becoming a lecturer in African Diasporan Religions & Cultures. For two years he was Reader in Black Theology and Popular Culture at Oxford Brookes University and then a visiting Professor of Sociology at Goldsmiths, University of London.
Dr Robert Beckford
Marcia Dixon
Marcia Dixon is one of the most well-known Public Relations specialists within the black Christian community. For over 30 years she has used her exceptional journalistic talents to champion and promote important developments within the black majority church community and in so doing she has utilised her excellent relationships with key movers and shakers within the church, as well as the media, to good effect.
She is the owner of MD Public Relations and in 2005, the African Caribbean Evangelical Alliance included Marcia Dixon in their list of 21 people who have contributed greatly to the development of Britain's black Christian community.
In 2010 Ms Dixon was appointed as a Faith Advisor to the British Government, and was a member of a panel comprised of 13 faith advisors who acted as a 'sounding board' to advise the government on effective engagement with faith communities.
Ms Dixon is editor of Keep The Faith, Britain’s leading publication about the black Christian community and is a columnist with The Voice, Britain's best-selling black newspaper.
Marcia Dixon
Rev. David Shosanya
Rev. David Shosanya is renowned across all Christian denominations as an extraordinary leader, communicator, and thinker.
David is co- founder of the nationally acclaimed Street Pastors, and Founder of the Ministers Appreciation Ball - an annual event to acknowledge and celebrate the unsung heroes in Britain's churches.
David is host of the State of Black Britain Symposium and the National Leadership Summit. He is a regular contributor to 'Keep The Faith' magazine and to 'Word for the day' on Premier Radio. David has also been featured on several BBC television and radio programmes. He is a legendary advocate for change and has led and established many initiatives to shift the paradigm of abnormality with our communities.
Rev. David Shosanya
Dr Jennifer Obaseki
Dr Jennifer Obaseki is a multi-award-winning solicitor, businesswoman and renowned legal expert with over 17 years’ experience as a practicing Solicitor and the Managing Director of Obaseki & Co. Solicitors. She is a consultant, mentor and a passionate advocate and influencer on human rights issues, chairing both the Affirm Human Rights NGO and the Professionals Against Gender Based Violence organisations, which support migrants and vulnerable people around the world.
Regular TV guest and columnist on the topic of immigration and human rights, in particular; international speaker and lecturer on bilateral trade and human rights for Government NGOs and other institutions, including the United Nations, Amnesty International, and Oxford University.
She was awarded an Honorary PhD by the Academy of Universal Global Peace in 2018 due to excellence in humanitarian work.
Dr Jennifer Obaseki
Dr Joanne Wilson
Dr Joanne Wilson received her doctorate from the Child and Women’s Abuse Studies Unit (CWASU), and has worked on several highly sensitive research projects with women and marginalised groups in the UK, in relation to child sexual abuse/ sexual violence.
She has over 10 years’ experience as a social researcher. Her research specialisms also include: working with racially/ classed, gender, migrant communities, and feelings of belonging and citizenship with marginalised and disempowered groups in the UK.
Dr Joanne Wilson
Rev. Kim Bacchus
Rev. Kim Bacchus is the founder of Kim Bacchus Solutions. She is a life coach, public speaker, trainer, author and an activist and advocate for ending domestic abuse.
A survivor of many years of domestic violence, Kim is passionate about bringing about change in black majority churches for a better response and zero tolerance approaches to domestic abuse. Kim designs and delivers training programmes aimed at church leaders in black majority churches on eradicating domestic abuse in their church communities.
She is at present a committee member of WAFFE (Women Worldwide Advancing Freedom and Equality) at the House of Common. Kim is also the author of Stop Hurting Me: Time to Get Out- How to identify and eliminate physical and emotional abuse.
Rev. Kim Bacchus
Dr Zina Arinze
Dr. Zina Arinze (DD) fondly known as “The Reinvention Queen” is an accredited Ministry Leader with CiC Intl. (Churches in the Community International), a multi-award winner, International Transformational Speaker, Lawyer, Best- Selling Author, An International Gender Empowerment Strategist, Radio Broadcaster, as well as a Reinvention and Personal Effectiveness Coach. She is the Founder of Believe and Live Again Divorce Recovery Coaching and Mentoring, a service dedicated to helping women of faith and female professionals swiftly move from “we to me” and heal from the pain of divorce, so that they regain their positive sense of self to reinvent themselves, rediscover their hidden talents, and rebuild in order to create sustainable income growth for themselves and their families.
Dr. Zina is also the CEO of The Reinvent YOU Experience for Personal Effectiveness and Transformation focused on helping women who are disillusioned and unfulfilled get unstuck to create profitable legacies after a traumatic life transition.
As the CEO and Lead Consultant in CrystalJade Project Management Consultancy, Coaching and Training delivery of powerful Technology bespoke solutions to project teams, small businesses, communities, groups and Individuals.
A fellow and active member of the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs, Dr. Zina sits on several boards and panels providing astute leadership, expert comment, strategic direction, career guidance and entrepreneurial mentorship to Business schools, SMEs, Not for Profits and Individuals.
In 2018, Dr. Zina, launched The Reinvent YOU! After Abuse Foundation (TRYAF), a charity and women in ministry led organisation of financial professionals and experts passionate about ending the stigma and trauma of domestic violence through financial education and empowerment, thereby providing survivors and their families with the education, resources and signposting needed to get back on their feet financially after abuse.
Dr. Zina sits as the Chair of PAW Africa UK an international NGO focused on empowering African women and young girls in the diaspora impacted by trauma including GBV, Domestic Abuse, Mental Health Conditions, Racism, Modern Slavery and the Socio, Political and Emotional Effects of Covid-19.
As a member of the Black Churches Domestic Abuse Forum (BCDAF) Dr Zina, serves on the planning board and as one of the three trainers responsible for delivering capacity building and domestic abuse awareness training to pastors and leaders in black majority churches across the UK.
Dr. Zina Arinze