Trustees

Farmida Bi CBE | Chair

Farmida Bi is a banking lawyer based in the London office of Norton Rose Fulbright, where she is European Head of Islamic Finance. She has specialised in capital markets and Islamic finance for over 20 years, and speaks frequently in academic and professional forums. She has recently spoken at Cambridge University, Harvard University, Cass Business School, the London School of Economics, University College Dublin and Nottingham University. Farmida is a graduate of Downing College, Cambridge and is qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales and a New York attorney.

Farmida has collected many accolades for her work. In 2019 and 2020 she was listed as one of the Financial News’ 100 Most Influential Women in European Finance, and one of HERoes’ Top 100 Role Models. She has twice been awarded ‘Best in Banking and Finance’ at IFLR’s European Women in Business Law Awards; named one of the five most powerful Muslim women in the UK at the inaugural Muslim Women Power List published by The Times; and named Commercial Lawyer of the Year by the Society of Asian Lawyers.

Sarah Healey CB CVO

Sarah Healey was appointed Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on 7 February 2023. Prior to this, she was Permanent Secretary of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) from 2019 and before that worked in the Cabinet Office where she was the Director General overseeing the development and implementation of economic and domestic policy following two and a half years working on negotiations and preparations for the UK to leave the EU. Previously, Sarah was Director General in DCMS, where she led on integrating all digital responsibilities into the organisation, Director of Private Pensions at the Department for Work and Pensions and Director of Education Funding and of Strategy at the Department for Education. Sarah joined the civil service in 2001 to work in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit. She has degrees from Magdalen College, Oxford, and the LSE.

Harris Bokhari OBE

Harris founded Patchwork Foundation in 2012, recognising the vital need of a vehicle by which to promote the political and democratic engagement of under-represented communities. His wide range of roles include Chair of the National Citizen Service Trust (The UK Government’s only Arms Length Body dedicated to young people), Board member at the Natural History Museum (Chair of its Audit and Risk Committee) and Board member at The Royal Parks. He is an elected council member of the National Trust and he is an ambassador for the British Asian Trust. Harris served as an Independent Member of the Community and Voluntary Service Honours Committee for over seven years and his impactful outreach work significantly increased the number of women and minorities awarded honours. He is the current Chair of the Public Service Honours Committee and an Independent Member of the King’s Award for Voluntary Service Committee. Harris was awarded an OBE in Her Majesty’s 2015 Birthday Honours List for services to young people and interfaith relations; named as one of London’s most influential figures by the Evening Standard’s Progress 1000 List; and awarded Imperial College’s inaugural Distinguished Alumni.

Sir Simon Fraser GCMG

Simon Fraser is Deputy Chairman of Chatham House and serves as Adviser to the Europe Programme. He is also Managing Partner of Flint Global. He previously served as Permanent Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Head of the UK Diplomatic Service from August 2010 to July 2015.

Prior to that he was Permanent Secretary at the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. He has also served as Director General for Europe in the FCO; Chief of Staff to European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson; Political Counsellor at the British embassy in Paris; and Head of Policy Planning in the FCO. He is currently Visiting Professor at King’s College London and Adjunct Professor at Sciences Po.

Poppy Mitchell-Rose

Poppy started her career in journalism, before working in Parliament, Downing Street and HM Treasury as a Special Advisor to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, working alongside the Prime Minister, Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet. She delivered media strategies, campaigns, and global business relations, including international trade missions to promote the UK overseas.

At freuds she works with global investment clients as well as philanthropists, foundations and NGOs.

Sheikh Aliur Rahman

Sheikh Aliur Rahman is the Chief Executive of the London Tea Exchange. Prior to joining the London Tea Exchange he worked for a leading investment company in the City and has extensive senior management experience. He still acts as a senior advisor to a number of high profile clients on major developments across London and recent projects include delivering three of the tallest residential towers in Europe. Aliur currently holds various advisory roles at a local, regional and national level and remains active in urban regeneration programmes across Europe and Asia.

Makedah Simpson

Makedah was a graduate of Patchwork’s Masterclass programme in 2016 and currently works for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in the Smart Metering Implementation Programme on Consumer Protection. As an advocate for better mental health provisions in the UK, she is also a trustee for the mental health charity, SAIE. Prior to working in BEIS, she worked for the Health and Safety Executive and for the Confederation of British Industry.

Mustapha Ogun