Board

Nyanchama Okemwa

Chair

Nyanchama is ENAR Foundation's Chair. She is a decolonial expert, Pan-Africanist, anti-racism activist, and defender of human rights. Academically, she has two master’s degrees, one in education and the other in social and cultural anthropology and is currently pursuing a PhD in philosophy. Professionally, she works as an outreach consultant and campaign coach for the non-profit organisation Hand in Hand against Racism based in Belgium.

She has more than 30 years of experience in voluntarism, activism, social mobilisation and advocacy in many civil society organisations and is a board member of several national and pan-European organisations.

Zlakha Ahmed

Vice-Chair

Zlakha is the first Vice Chair of ENAR Foundation. She is the Founder and current chief executive officer for Apna Haq, a feminist anti-racist survivor-led organisation that supports women and girls, from black and minoritised backgrounds in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, UK, who are experiencing or have experienced any form of violence and abuse.

Zlakha has over 30 years of experience developing and overseeing violence against women support services at a local level, while influencing strategy, policy and procedure at a regional, national, and European level. Within her work she is outspoken on issues of racism and Islamophobia.

Anne Nolan

Vice-Chair

Anne became Vice-Chair of the Board of the ENAR Foundation in 2023. She has been a humanitarian supporting people seeking safety and asylum since 2006. As Human Rights practitioner and founder of Waterford Integration Services, she ensures that Ireland lives up to its commitment to fully protect and serve those who are fleeing global persecution and war. With a BA in Social Science and an MSc in Rural and Community Development from University College Dublin, she has extensive experience in project development and management providing technical expertise and leadership in this sector and promotes interagency working to maximise service outcomes within the community. She is an experienced lecturer and a skilled researcher, policy developer and implementer and can adapt and interact in a multi-cultural environment. Anne is now focusing her work through effective Diversity, Equity and Inclusion projects and community building strategies which is evidenced through recognised programmes Regionally, Nationally, and Internationally.

Shaban Sidratu Jah Sesay

Treasurer

Shaban Sidratu (often called Sidra), is the current treasurer of ENAR Foundation. She is the founder and Executive Director of the European Network of Women of African Descent, a black led network with 11 member organizations advocating for social justice, gender equality, equal treatment,  empowering black vulnerable  black women  and Muslim women/ young people and socially excluded immigrant women and girls in Spain. 

Shaban also works as a consultant policy adviser on ethnic minorities and inclusion policy for the Catalan Government and on anti-discrimination and human rights issues in Spain and West Africa.

Shaban is an aspiring Barrister at Law.  She is currently studying for the British bar and is pursuing concurrently a Master's in Law.  Sidra hold a Bachelor's degree in business administration and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Development a (PMD) where she studied management and value innovation between INSEAD France, and ESADE Business and Law School in Barcelona, Spain.

Giulia Frova

Board Member

Giulia is a current Board Member of ENAR Foundation. Giulia is Program Manager at Il Razzismo è una brutta storia (Racism is a bad story). The organization was launched by Feltrinelli Publisher’s Group after the racial killing of young Abba in 2008 in Milan, with the mission of working towards the elimination of racism and discrimination through education, culture and advocacy.

Giulia holds a BA in International Relations and Development Studies at the University of Sussex (UK) and an MA in Social and Community Theater at the University of Turin (IT). She was selected for the International Vistors Leadership Program (IVLP) by the U.S. State Department in 2018.