Elevate Board

Meet The Board

Alina Shafiq

Age: 22 

Borough: Tower Hamlets 

LinkedIn: Alina Shafiq | LinkedIn 

Being an East Londoner, from Tower Hamlets, has fundamentally shaped the trajectory of my life. Growing up amongst a diverse community with a legacy of activism and immigrant struggle has emboldened me to push myself and uplift those around me. I currently work in education access and have been part of Elevate voice since 2018, now sitting on the Board, I'm committed to challenging tokenistic engagement, ensuring decision making spaces are truly equitable.

My History and Politics background, alongside my lived experience, has deepened my fascination with how the same concepts, like prosperity, are felt and understood differently across demographics. I’m drawn to how we can construct narratives and systems of opportunity so that communities can genuinely take ownership of and be served by them. For me, this is grounded in co-design that cultivates safety, access and cultural belonging. Informed by my work in the education sector, I’m also passionate about helping young people overcome hidden barriers and feel truly confident in what their lived experience brings.

Through Elevate, I hope to contribute to more authentic storytelling that truly centres underrepresented voices and apply my intersectional lens to bridge grassroots work to structural change - in policy and in how systems operate more broadly.

Bhav Ghedia, Chair

Age: 27 

Borough: Barking and Dagenham 

LinkedIn: Bhav Ghedia | LinkedIn 

I am a born and raised East Londoner, based in Barking & Dagenham. My interests sit at the intersection of architecture and design, community engagement, arts and culture and civic participation. I’m particularly interested in how governance and decision-making can act as catalysts for more inclusive and equitable growth. Through this lens, I explore how the built environment, cultural spaces, and public institutions shape people’s sense of belonging and opportunity, with a strong focus on intersectionality and ensuring diverse perspectives are reflected in conversations about design, policy and urban development. 

Experiencing and observing barriers to opportunity has motivated me to advocate for greater access to resources, mentorship and pathways into leadership. This has been through my passion for ensuring that young voices are put in spaces to be heard and that communities are able to actively shape the decisions that affect their futures. 

Through Elevate, I am excited to collaborate with others to amplify community voices, advocate for those that may not always receive these opportunities and contribute to more inclusive and participatory civic spaces. 

Carlton Fontaine-Nowell

Age: 26 

Borough: Tower Hamlets 

LinkedIn: Carlton Fontaine-Nowell | LinkedIn 

I am a Cultural Producer and freelance Photographer working across the cultural sector and the public realm with a focus on cultural activation, social value and environmental equity. Most recently supporting the delivery of the first biennial Royal Docks Originals Festival launched in September 2025, developing and delivering a diverse cultural programme that strengthened community participation, collaboration and championed the vision of the Royal Docks as London’s Cultural Engine. 

I have experience as a Co-Designer for the Migration Museum’s People’s Panel and Barbican Renewal Programme, supporting the future development of their facilities, exploring potential for cultural activation and designing wayfinding, and later representing Barbican Renewal at the RIBA Festival of the Future and London Festival of Architecture. 

I am a passionate advocate for youth-led change and climate action, contributing to climate adaptation research with London boroughs and the Greater London Authority, I am also a member of the Young Emerging Leaders Collective, a global majority-led initiative challenging environmental injustice through creative campaigning. 

I am most excited to champion youth leadership and the empowerment of young people through Elevate, supporting them to understand how they can use their lived experience to contribute to high-level decision making and make a difference in their local area.

Celine Nithila-George

Age: 27 

Borough: Waltham Forest 

LinkedIn: Celine Nithila-George | LinkedIn 

I am a Waltham Forest resident and innovation expert with a strong passion for and experience in inclusive prosperity and smart and sustainable city design. Through opportunities such as the London Commonwealth Youth Summit, I grew a strong passion for working with other young people to effect positive change and I continue to advocate for young people in my personal and professional life. 

I am most excited to ensure that local voices are represented in strategic governance decisions and that resources go to the causes people care about, realising the long-term benefits of regeneration for those in the surrounding area and beyond. My work focuses on bridging the gap between innovative solutions for social challenges and lived experience, ensuring that innovation serves communities rather than displaces them. 

Having held board and strategic governance roles for over three years, I bring both youth perspective and technical expertise to decision-making tables. I believe meaningful change happens when we combine strategic thinking with genuine community co-design. I'm committed to supporting pathways for the next generation of leaders while ensuring today's decisions create lasting, equitable impact for the communities I serve. In my final term on the ELEVATE board, I hope to continue to fulfill this legacy to the best of my ability. 

Emmanuel Lawal

Age: 23 

Borough: Barking & Dagenham 

LinkedIn: Emmanuel Lawal | LinkedIn 

Growing up surrounded by diverse communities has deeply shaped my outlook, values, and ambitions. My journey has taken me from performing at The Royal Ballet School, to competing in national athletics competitions, to working as an Assistant Producer at TALK, News UK, and now building my own venture as the Founder & CEO of intotheopen, an AI-native startup focused on transforming how organisations approach content strategy. 

These experiences have reinforced a belief that with determination and the right support, young people are capable of achieving extraordinary things. I am particularly passionate about helping young people find their voice in spaces where they are often overlooked, and about supporting underrepresented founders to unlock their full potential. 

Through my role on Elevate, I hope to inspire the next generation to advocate for the issues that matter most to them, while championing a new approach to decision-making that meaningfully embeds young people in shaping the future of London. 

Emily Cornaud

Age: 25 

Borough: Newham 

LinkedIn: Emily Cornuaud | LinkedIn 

Born and bred in Newham, I’m a creative, designer, and cultural producer rooted in the local community. 

Following my graduation from Central Saint Martins, I began my career as a service designer working across the third and private sectors. With a growing desire to pursue a more socially engaged practice and contribute to local engagement in the arts, I began training as a Cultural Producer through the Creative Newham programme in 2024. I now split my time between my role as an Emerging Creative Producer, my freelance creative practice, and serving on panels for the Natural History Museum and the Elevate Board. 

As someone who has experienced first-hand the impact of the Games and the legacy of it (I was a ‘Petal Child’ during the London Olympic Opening Ceremony!), I feel very privileged to be part of the Elevate Board. I hope to use this experience to advocate for codesign and design-led thinking, to empower those with lived experience and to foster supportive relationships with incredible grassroot organisations within the Growth Boroughs.

Fahmida Nidhi

Age: 21 

Borough: Newham 

LinkedIn: Fahmida Nidhi | LinkedIn 
 

I have been part of the Elevate youth voice since 2021 and become a Board Member in 2024. Since 2024, I have worked alongside senior policymakers and stakeholders to inform inclusive development strategy across the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. I have co-led a major stakeholder event with over 200 attendees and contributed to strategic recommendations that strengthen community voice within long-term planning. I am based in Newham, with a strong interest in regeneration, civic participation and equitable growth. 

Growing up in East London, I have seen how regeneration can create opportunity but also exclusion when communities are not meaningfully involved. This has driven my commitment to ensuring development delivers real benefits for local residents, especially young people, rather than being imposed on them. I am passionate about inclusive growth, youth representation in decision-making and regeneration that values social infrastructure alongside economic investment. I also care deeply about creating accessible local routes into work and ensuring young people have genuine influence over decisions shaping the built environment and economic opportunities in their own communities. 

Through Elevate, I am most excited to strengthen youth influence in strategic decision-making and help shape regeneration that is ambitious, inclusive, and genuinely community-led. 

I am a Newham resident, having studied Sociology; this background has enabled me to realise the importance of the frameworks through which we view the world. For example, how culture intersects with identity, or what constitutes the term ‘identity’- these ideas have shaped the lens through which I view society. 

Jade Abbey

Age: 22 

Borough: Newham 

LinkedIn: Helen-Jade Abbey | LinkedIn 

I am a Newham resident, having studied Sociology; this background has enabled me to realise the importance of the frameworks through which we view the world. For example, how culture intersects with identity, or what constitutes the term ‘identity’- these ideas have shaped the lens through which I view society. 

My interests lie in research on social and economic issues (the social capital gap), and utilising findings to create real solutions for communities. This stemmed from being a part of the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony as a child, jumping on a bed, and getting tickets to watch the games. I realised I was experiencing the end result of decision making, rather than being included in the rooms it happened in. Also, having understood that the existence of opportunity and knowing how to access it are very separate things, something I believe a lot of young people struggle with. 

Elevate is a catalyst to challenging both - guiding communities, especially young people, overcome disempowerment and build the cultural and professional capital to not just access opportunity, but to shape it. 

Jeanice Zoradey

Age: 21 

Borough: Newham 

LinkedIn: Jeanice Zoradey | LinkedIn 

I am a second-year student at the University of Warwick with a strong interest in the built environment and women’s safety. Having grown up in Newham, I have witnessed significant regeneration taking place around me, which has shaped how I think about cities, public spaces and who they are designed for. 

Seeing rapid change in my borough has made me aware of how redevelopment can both benefit and overlook local communities. My lived experience has motivated me to advocate for safer, more inclusive urban spaces, particularly for women and young people. I’m passionate about ensuring that the voices of those who grow up in regenerating areas are included in conversations about the future of their communities. 

Through Elevate, I’m most excited to help bring young people’s perspectives into discussions about the built environment while contributing to shaping the direction of future cohorts and creating space for others to express their experiences. 

Kevin Osei BEM

Age: 27 

Borough: Newham 

LinkedIn: Kevin Osei BEM | LinkedIn 

I am the Founder and CEO of Bridging Barriers, an award-winning charity supporting young people from underrepresented backgrounds to become work-ready through mentoring, skills development and access to networks. I am particularly passionate about inclusive growth, youth leadership and creating clear pathways into employment, especially within spaces that are physically close to young people but often feel socially distant. 

Growing up in East London, I experienced first-hand how postcode, networks and access can shape opportunity. That lived experience drives my commitment to ensuring regeneration and investment genuinely benefit local residents. I am motivated by bridging the gap between institutions and community, making systems easier to understand, navigate and influence. 

Through Elevate, I am most excited to influence how opportunities across Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and East Bank are made visible, accessible and genuinely attainable for local young people. 

Lamisa Worthy

Age: 21 

Borough: Tower Hamlets 

LinkedIn: Lamisa Worthy | LinkedIn 

 
My journey with the LLDC began in 2021 when I joined the Youth Voice programme, where I developed a strong interest in how young people can meaningfully shape the built environment. Through my involvement with the park and wider LLDC infrastructure, I have become passionate about ensuring that young people are not only consulted, but genuinely included in decision-making spaces. 

As a woman of colour from East London, my lived experience has shaped how I navigate the built environment and engage with governance in my community. Therefore, I am particularly committed to advocating for inclusive and safe spaces for women and young girls, and to amplifying voices that are too often underrepresented. 

Through my work on the Board, I hope to see Elevate evolve into a leading model of youth governance in London, ensuring that this platform acts as a genuine bridge between institutions and the community, and that young people are not simply a sounding board, but active partners in shaping the decisions that impact their futures and the spaces around them. 

Lola Martinez-Rufete

Age: 24 

Borough: Hackney 

LinkedIn: Lola Martinez-Rufete | LinkedIn 

Born and raised in Hackney, I work at the intersection of regeneration, governance, research, and community voice. As Former Chair and current member of the Elevate Board, I have sat on the London Legacy Development Corporation Board and now contribute to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Innovation Board and Climate Action Group. I have also co-designed and delivered research with partners including UCL, Kaizen and ARUP.  Alongside this, as Governance & Operations Lead at BADU CIC, I lead on governance, operations, and data and impact. My work focuses on bridging strategic decision-making spaces with community-led knowledge and lived experience. 

I have witnessed first-hand the rapid gentrification of East London and the uneven ways it has impacted long-standing communities. For me, it’s important to ensure that progress is defined not by the delivery of new and ambitious infrastructure, but by whether it's accountable to the people who call the area home, and whether existing communities feel safer, seen, and able to thrive alongside new ones. 

Through Elevate, I am most excited to deepen community-led research and step further into the innovation space, ensuring new solutions directly respond to issues raised by local communities and translate lived experience into tangible, systemic change.

Malaika Mkhosi

Age: 26 

Borough: Newham 

Informed by my background and work, my areas of interest span youth development, institutional leadership, and creating pathways for social mobility. This is specific to how policy, governance, and community leadership intersect to shape opportunity and long-term societal outcomes. 

My lived experience has shaped a deep belief in generating access, representation, and structured opportunity. I am passionate about advocating for equity in leadership and decision-making spaces, particularly for young people who may not yet see themselves reflected in those environments. 

Through Elevate, I have taken a lead in delivering Future Me, Future Youth, a conference connecting young people to employers and meaningful opportunities, as well as leading stakeholder mapping to build and strengthen the relationships between Elevate and the institutions it works alongside. As part of my final term, I am most passionate about strengthening governance, expanding strategic partnerships, and ensuring young people are not just participants, but leaders shaping their communities for the better. 

Rachael Olumuyiwa

Age: 23 

Borough: Newham 

LinkedIn: Rachael Olumuyiwa | LinkedIn 

I was born and raised in Newham and was lucky enough to benefit from the amazing work of our local youth zones and youth workers. These experiences have shaped my passion for youth work. My journey began when I became a Peer Mentor for Headstart Newham, working to improve mental health resources in schools, which I have always been passionate about. That passion is what led me to work with the National Lottery, where I had the opportunity to support and fund youth voice projects across the UK that champion young people who make decisions that affect their lives. What drives me constantly is making sure that youth voices are embedded in governance, policy, employment and decision making. 

Today I work in the tech industry, where more and more young people are stepping into STEM. I’m all about helping others access these opportunities and often support young people who want to start their careers in tech!  

As an Elevate Board member I’m excited to give back to the community that raised me and provide a safe space to uplift other young people. 

Samuel Oshodi

Age: 22 

Borough: Waltham Forest 

LinkedIn: Samuel Oshodi | LinkedIn 

Growing up in Waltham Forest with Canary Wharf on my doorstep, I saw firsthand how much your local environment can shape your aspirations. Being surrounded by some of London's most iconic skylines sparked a deep passion for the built environment and set me on the path to pursuing a career in construction  

As a third year civil engineering student, my lived experience has highlighted to me that where you grow up quietly determines what careers feel possible, not through any conscious choice but rather through what you are allowed to experience. In my case, the proximity of my location gave me the privilege of having construction being put in front of me, which is a luxury that not everyone shares and this is exactly what drives me to do something about it.  

I care deeply about youth empowerment and making communities feel genuinely included in the spaces being built around them. Through Elevate, I'm most excited about helping bridge the gap between the construction industry and young people who don't always see themselves represented in it. 

Seeham Rahman

Age: 26 

Borough: Hackney 

LinkedIn: Seeham Rahman | LinkedIn 

I am an arts and culture professional based in Hackney, currently working at UCL East as a Community Engagement and Public Arts Assistant. I have a strong interest in community arts spaces, particularly how culture, access, and enterprise intersect for underrepresented communities and have enjoyed bringing this interest to a variety of roles in the sector, including Elevate. 

My lived experience has shaped my understanding of the structural barriers that often limit who can access opportunities - particularly within the creative industries. I am passionate about advocating for more inclusive, accessible models of support that recognise different starting points and definitions of success, especially those that have an understanding of ways these intersect. 

Through Elevate, I look forward to helping shape more equitable community support by leveraging my professional and lived experience expertise, enabling people across QEOP to build healthy, sustainable futures. 

Tyler Ebanja, Vice Chair

Age: 26 

Borough: Hackney 

LinkedIn: Tyler Ebanja | LinkedIn 

I am an architectural designer having grown up in Hackney. I studied Architectural & Interdisciplinary Studies at The Bartlett School of Architecture and completed an MA in Architecture and Urban Design at Umeå University in Sweden. This spanned traditional architectural design, participatory practice and youth-led placemaking, grounded in a belief that the built environment should reflect and empower those it serves. I have founded my own practice, CommonGround Architecture & Design, focused on community-led design approaches. 

My time across the UK and Sweden exposed me to how race, class and representation shape who feels entitled to occupy professional and academic spaces. As a young Black female designer navigating elite institutions, I have experienced racism and the subtle ways in which voices like mine are treated as less legitimate - thus I have actively expanded my voice within architecture. For example, co-hosting Can Architecture Be More Horizontal? as part of The Bartlett International Lecture Series, delivering guest lectures and facilitating workshops, to demonstrate that people like me have agency and expertise. I am driven by a commitment to shifting representation from symbolic inclusion to structural influence. 

Through Elevate, I am most excited to help shape strategy in ways that actively embed authentic youth voices into systems, ensuring decisions are made with young people, not just for them.