MEET THE TEAM
Staff and Trustees
Lady Gilda Levy
Chair and Co-Founder
Gilda Levy was born in London, the daughter of Jewish immigrant parents who came to Britain from Vienna to escape Nazi persecution. She qualified as a teacher of English and drama and spent many years as a governor of a local primary school and teaching children with learning disabilities. Gilda also worked in a residential home for younger disabled people, running a literary and drama discussion group, in a voluntary capacity. Gilda says, “My family history had a deep impact on me and I have always felt that bigotry and prejudice are the greatest evil. WIN is my way of trying to combat these and by bringing communities together make a more respectful and humane society.”
Marion Waruguru
CEO
Marion has been involved with WIN since 2005 in various capacities, most recently as CEO. She has worked extensively within the gender equality charity sector and through WIN, she has been proud to be involved in and contribute to building a society that lives together in harmony across divides. Marion says her time at WIN has introduced her to many amazing and inspirational people “who are passionate about promoting peaceful co-existence and building a society free of hate, bigotry and prejudice in our communities”.
Guilda Navidi-Walker
Trustee
Guilda, a practicing Baha’i, has been involved with WIN for over ten years. Educated at the Lycee of Monte Carlo, she completed her first degree at Notre Dame University California in 1969, then went to Stanford where she completed her Masters in Communications and lectured in philosophy at the University of Mauritius. She then worked for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Lome, Togo. In 1976 she moved to the UK and worked at Sotheby’s in the research department on the provenance of paintings. She is also on the Council of Ambassadors for the conservation organization WWF.
Dr. Maryyum Mehmood
Trustee
A firm believer in community cohesion, Maryyum has over a decade of experience in interfaith dialogue. She was the Associate Director at the Edward Cadbury Centre for the Public Understanding of Religion, University of Birmingham, and Research Associate at St Benet’s Hall, University of Oxford. Maryyum holds a PhD in Antisemitism and Islamophobia from the Department of War Studies, King’s College London. Through her YouTube channel The SHIFT with Maryyum, she curates content to increase religious literacy and foster social harmony.
Sorcha Connell
Trustee
Sorcha is a communications specialist and project leader working with faith and interfaith organisations. Born in Belfast but raised in Kent, Sorcha is a strong advocate for opportunities for dialogue in community & faith spaces. She has lived in various ecumenical community projects across Europe – most notably for the Taize Community in France, Poverello in Brussels, and currently in the Community of St Anselm at Lambeth Palace. Sorcha’s varied career has given her experience in communications, fundraising, project management, digital marketing strategy and community development. She has a BA in Philosophy-Theology & Religious Studies from the University of Leeds, and is currently completing an MA in Theology at KULeuven in Belgium.
Dr. Dharshana Sridhar
Trustee
Dharshana is a geneticist and medical doctor with a PhD in socio-legal studies from the University of Oxford. She is currently a senior development advisor to the University of Oxford’s Centre for Hindu Studies and a member of the current UK delegation to the UN. As a community ambassador for Women’s Aid, Dharshana has been a senior civil servant for over 20 years, especially as part of the Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology. A practicing Hindu, she is a strong advocate for interfaith cohesion and the uplifting of women and children, reflected in her work as Co-President and Trustee of Sri Gnanananda Giri Peetam (Gnananandam Mission) – working with Governments worldwide to encourage service to humanity and interfaith dialogue – and as the founder of ‘Samraksha’, an organisation that helps women and girls from minority ethnic communities who are victims of domestic and sexual abuse. She is also a Parish Councillor and the Vice Chair of Governors on the Primary Schools Board.
Reverend Michelle Nunn
Trustee
Michelle is Lead Pastor of a community church in the North West and the first woman to serve as a national leader in the Elim Movement. Michelle entered full time ministry as a church pastor and hospital chaplain in her 30’s having had a successful career leading in the private, public and charities sectors. Michelle oversees various ministries and is involved in mentoring and developing leaders, she is passionate about building healthy community and believes diversity and interfaith dialogue can strengthen and enrich our communities. Michelle has an MA in Practical and Contextual Theology and is undertaking further research in building communities of equals.
Dr. Tahirih Danesh
Trustee
Tahirih is a Human Rights Law Professor, a serial civic entrepreneur, an advocate of the United Nations Global Compact Principles and a member of The 30% Club, a global campaign led by Chairs and CEOs taking action to increase gender diversity at board and executive-committee levels. Tahirih was raised and inspired by some of the most impactful figures who helped shape the rise of her native Iran, following her escape to the West, she has lived and worked with many of the world’s cultures. She is particularly passionate about working with young marginalised and minority communities.
Jackie Goymour
Advisory Board
Jackie has been involved in interfaith dialogue for over fourteen years and with WIN for over ten years. Having formed WIN’s Barnet Group, she took on the position of Chair for three years, the group has recently celebrated their ten-year anniversary. Jackie has had a number of roles at WIN including managing group development, she is currently on WIN’s Advisory Board.
Tara Corry
Operations and Projects Manager
Tara graduated from King’s College London in 2016 with a degree in Religion, Politics and Society. She joined WIN as an intern shortly after graduating and now supports the team in her role as Operations and Projects Manager, Project Coordinator of the All of Us project and co-founder of the award winning Faiths Against Domestic Abuse campaign.
Maeve Carlin
Project Development & Communications Officer
Maeve graduated from SOAS, University of London in 2019 with an MA in Religion in Global Politics. After joining as an intern in early 2020, she now works as Project Development and Communications Officer assisting the team with WIN’s project work and leading on WIN’s communications and social media presence.
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Our work is only possible through the support of our patrons, we are thankful for the support of the following organisations and individuals:
Dangoor Education
Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
The Right Honourable Lord Falconer of Thoroton
The Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust
Graham Edwards and Georgina Black
Michele and Keith Freedman
Sir Victor and Lady Blank
Lord and Lady Harris
Michael Spencer
Sue and Leo Noe
The Drayson Foundation
Rachel Charitable Trust