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.

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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

 

Chief Executive Officer

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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.

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Board of 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.

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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.

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​​​​​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 with and engage young people through creative means in any way possible.

 

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Andrea Burris works in product development and research, bringing 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.

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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.

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Romael Ferguson is a video director and founder of RVF Academy, a community-led organisation supporting young people into the creative industries through film, media and enterprise. With strong roots in Harlesden, he is passionate about creating opportunities for local young people to build skills, confidence and career opportunities. His work also explores creative approaches to climate awareness and Dementia engagement, using storytelling to drive social impact.​

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​​​​​​Carol Morris, who has lived in Harlesden for over 50 years, is a mother of two and deeply passionate about helping families and the wider community thrive in Brent. With over 30 years of experience in public service, alongside her work with the London Renters Union, Carol specialises in housing advocacy, conflict resolution, and guiding individuals through complex situations.

As part of a strong and vibrant community, she is committed to listening to residents’ needs and representing their voices with integrity.

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Sonya Stewart is a proud local resident of over 50 years.

Brent has been her home all her life. Harlesden is where she grew up, went to school and college, and later started working. Sonya defines herself as MADE IN Brent. She describes Harlesden, a place where many come together. Her background across youth work, social care, and the NHS, and her ability to connect services and people effectively, will support the team and residents in the community in providing information, advice, and support in making decisions about the environment, business, and life in Harlesden for all.   

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Planning team

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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.

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Philip Fry, Colin Dallas, and Nathan Georgis also volunteer on the planning team.

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