Meet the team
The work of Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum is led by the Forum Coordinator, supported by the trustees, of which there are currently six. The trustees are unpaid and are appointed at Annual General Meetings, with a third of the trustees standing down each year.
If you are interested in either volunteering with Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum or becoming a trustee, please see Jobs, Volunteering and Partnerships or otherwise get in touch by email
Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum Coordinator
Ilaria Esposito is a Harlesden resident with extensive experience across international organisations and a proven track record of supporting youth work development in Brent through strategic partnerships. Throughout her career, she's successfully facilitated dialogues with families, children, and young people, delivered human rights education programmes, and written educational publications on human rights, gender, and sustainable development.
Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum Trustees
Sandra White, Chair, has been a Harlesden resident for over 20 years. Sandra is passionate about Harlesden, its talent, potential, and diversity, especially its young people. She looks forward to helping shape the youth sector and local services into a solid and effective platform for Harlesden's and its residents' personal and social development. She joined HNF because she feels that, as community members, we can engage in our community's economic, environmental and social regeneration. Sandra believes that community-owned enterprises and decision-making is the way to build strong and sustainable communities.
Ebrahim Piperdy, Treasurer, has worked in social housing for the past 17 years and admires how the Forum is community-focused. A qualified financial and forensic accountant who recently started carrying out charity examinations. Ebrahim seeks to help the Forum in his capacity as treasurer.
Amandine Alexandre is a journalist, copywriter and climate solutions communicator. She arrived in London in 2008 and has been an active member of her community almost ever since. Since 2016, Amandine has been campaigning for clean air in Brent because air pollution is high in our borough and negatively impacts children. It stunts their lungs and affects their well-being and their ability to learn. That's why Amandine is determined to raise awareness about air pollution in Harlesden and clean up the air in our local area.
Julieta Marlene Galarza has lived in Harlesden for 10 years and attended local school. She works with a local, national and international charity called Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Urban Key London. YWAM offers training programmes for young people worldwide and coordinates community-focused activities. On the other hand, she has her own creative event-planning business, which involves floristry, decorating, photography, and filmmaking. Her heart is to work and engage with young people through creative means in whatever way possible.
Andrea Burris works in product development and research and brings NED experience. Over the years, she has used her expertise to work on various non-profit initiatives to improve the experiences of marginalised groups.
As someone who lives locally in Harlesden, Andrea is keen to support the local community in developing and ultimately thriving.
Duane Pearson has worked in the entertainment industry for over 25 years as a dancer, singer and actor. Duane has also been involved in youth work and education for over 10 years and seeks to help the Forum showcase the untouchable side of Harlesden’s rich foundations.
Planning team
Colin George has lived in Brent for over 40 years and has been involved in Harlesden regeneration projects since 1992. His interests are the environment and planning, events and the reinvention of the High Street. As well as the Forum, Colin actively networks across a broad range of local voluntary groups. Colin runs his own Harlesden-based marketing and communications agency.
Philip Fry, Colin Dallas, and Nathan Georgis also volunteer on the planning team.
