BAME Staff Network
Community, career support, and a say in the decisions that affect us. Open to all Black, Asian and minority ethnic staff at Greenwich.
Our aims
- Promote the interest of BAME staff employed at the University of Greenwich
- Provide a safe, supportive and confidential environment for members to discuss their experiences and issues faced in the workplace
- Ensure the provision of diverse perspectives on all professional issues in recruitment, employment practices, as well as training and development
- Work with senior stakeholders towards developing an inclusive culture and fairness for all
- Act as a channel for communication and consultation between staff and senior stakeholders
- Assist in embedding equality, diversity and inclusion through implementation of University EDI policies, strategy and action plan
- Assist the University in meeting its statutory obligations regarding its duty under the Equality Act 2010
- Provide an opportunity for members to share information on local and national policy and developments
- Influence policy development to ensure that the diverse equality perspectives are proactively considered
- Support the University with the training of staff at all levels so they can better understand the perspective and needs of staff from diverse backgrounds
- Gain and share an understanding of the experiences of staff from diverse backgrounds, and highlight any inequalities that influence learning, teaching, or working life
- Celebrate the diversity of the workforce by participating in national and local events such as Black History Month (October) and other bespoke events created to aid the promotion of the Staff Network
- Promote opportunities for social networking, as well as engaging with other Staff Networks within the University
Events
Joining the network
Membership is free and open to all University of Greenwich staff who identify as Black, Asian, or minority ethnic. Allies are welcome at our open events.
If you have any questions about the network or would like to join, email us at bame@greenwich.ac.uk
Executive Officers
Dr Sandhiran Patchay
Chair
Dr Sandhi Patchay is an Associate Professor of Movement and Cognition in the School of Human Sciences and Centre Leader for the ILD Centre for Thinking and Learning. Trained in Neuroscience at the University of Marseille (France), he has held research posts at CNRS and La Timone University Hospital in Marseille, Royal Holloway and the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience.
He teaches across cognitive psychology and neuroscience and has been nominated for multiple teaching excellence awards. His main research centres on gait initiation and falls risk in older adults, alongside interests in cross-cultural emotion regulation. He also contributes nationally as an external examiner.
Dr Faith Adobamen
Deputy Chair (Academic staff)
Dr Faith Adobamen is a Senior Lecturer in International Business and MBA Programme Leader at Greenwich Business School, and she presently serves as the Deputy Chair of the University of Greenwich BAME Staff Network. In her role as Deputy Chair, she actively advocates for equity, representation, and institutional inclusion, working collaboratively to support staff development, amplify diverse voices, and foster a strong sense of community across the university.
Furthermore, she collaborates with external partners and professionals to strengthen organisational relationships and visibility. Alongside her leadership within the network, she brings a deep commitment to belonging and empowerment directly into her advocacy and academic practice.
Abhiram Satheesh
Communications and Publicity Officer
Abhiram Satheesh is a Digital Content Officer at the University of Greenwich, where he develops engaging digital content that brings ideas to life across web and multimedia platforms. A Greenwich alumnus with a Master’s in Marketing, he merges his professional expertise with a passion for art, video, and visual storytelling.
Dedicated to creativity and inclusion, Abhiram aims to create content that speaks to diverse audiences. As a new member of the university’s BAME Staff Network, he looks forward to supporting initiatives that amplify underrepresented voices and help foster a culture of belonging within the university community.
Dr Ghofran Salah
Communications and Publicity Officer
Ghofran is a Senior Lecturer in Engineering Management and Programme Leader for several undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at the University of Greenwich. Her work focuses on engineering management, sustainability, supply chain management and supporting students through teaching, supervision and mentoring. She also represents the University through the Women’s Engineering Society and is passionate about equality, inclusion and creating opportunities for colleagues and students from diverse backgrounds.
Akshya Kumar Shrestha
Membership Officer
Akshya is a Developer in Product Development, where he builds and improves digital systems and helps solve technical problems across the University. He enjoys helping colleagues with technology, sharing his knowledge and finding practical solutions when he can.
As Membership Officer, he is keen to make it easy for colleagues to get involved with the BAME Staff Network and is always happy to hear ideas about how the network can better connect with staff.
His connection with Greenwich goes back to his time as a student, when he founded and served as President of the Nepali Society. Since returning as a member of staff, he enjoys finding new ways to contribute to the Greenwich community.
Manisha Dhaliwal
Engagement Officer, Medway Campus
Manisha is a STEM Recruitment and Outreach Officer in the Faculty of Engineering & Science, based across the Greenwich and Medway campuses. She spends her time connecting prospective students with STEM subjects through school and college outreach, events, Open Days and applicant engagement. She is often the person colleagues come to for support with STEM events, school engagement and recruitment activities.
Outside work, Manisha volunteers at her local Gurdwara, helping with the community and events. She also enjoys arts and crafts and takes on creative projects with great enthusiasm - the only struggle is finding somewhere to store all the materials!
Kelvin Adetunji
Engagement Officer, Avery Hill Campus
Kelvin Adetunji is a passionate compliance professional and Staff Visa Compliance Manager at the University of Greenwich, where he leads efforts to ensure the institution meets its immigration and employment law obligations. With extensive expertise in UK Visas and Immigration compliance, sponsorship management, and Right to Work requirements, Kelvin works collaboratively across the University to strengthen compliance frameworks, mitigate risk, and drive continuous improvement.
Known for translating complex regulatory requirements into practical solutions, he delivers training, develops policy, and supports strategic decision-making. Kelvin is committed to fostering a culture of compliance that enables both operational excellence and an outstanding staff experience
Jacqueline Chan
Engagement Officer, Greenwich Campus
Jacqueline supports international students throughout their studies, helping them adapt to academic life in the UK and make the most of their university experience. She spends much of her time working with students on academic skills, confidence-building, progression, and navigating the challenges that can come with studying in a new country.
Outside work, she is completing a Doctorate in Education (EdD), researching student experiences in higher education. Having studied and worked across different areas of the educational sector, she is particularly interested in widening participation, student success, and creating a sense of belonging for learners from diverse backgrounds.
Peterson Okereke
Engagement Officer, Greenwich Campus
Peterson looks after the Business School's website, social channels and student case studies, so if you've seen a GBS reel or read an alumni story, that was probably him. He came to Greenwich as a student, did his MA here, then worked at the Students' Union before joining the faculty, so he's seen the place from three different sides.
Outside of work, he runs Nkuzicode, a small platform teaching people to code for free.
Dr Sadaf Ashraf
Secretary / Minute Taker
Dr Sadaf Ashraf is a lecturer at the Medway School of Pharmacy. She gained her PhD from the University of Nottingham in Academic Rheumatology and has held research posts at several UK universities prior to joining the institution in 2022. Sadaf’s research work combines the areas of neuro-stromal-immunology to better understand the central and peripheral mechanisms of pain associated with age-related and chronic inflammatory conditions.
Are you a student?
If you are a student or prospective student, Greenwich Students' Union runs societies and support for Black, Asian and minority ethnic students. You can find out more on the Greenwich Students' Union website.