Meet the Team
Photo Credit: Tasha Hylton • Team2019
Dr Mena Fombo
Founder and Managing Director of BGC
A powerhouse, a global speaker, a film Director and co founder of Blak Wave Productions, Co Owner of Bristol African and Caribbean Culture Space. She is the International ambassador for the city of Bristol, holds an honorary doctorate for work in equalities and in 2019 she was Bristol247’s woman of the year!
Bobbi O’Gilvie
Branding and Website
Creative Director of Ready to Blog, a design studio for passion-focused businesses. With a background in advertising and a passion for gorgeously constructed web design, she has spent the last eight years helping business owners and content creators bring their visions to life via digital and print channels.
Janelle John Henry
Board Reference Group
Having worked in Employability for nine years, Janelle John is passionate about supporting others to reach their potential. With an interest in history and a strong belief that knowledge is power, she consequently founded the now defunct, We Be Bookin', a socio-political book club which exclusively explored Black perspective.
Parys Gardener
Board Reference Group
An award-winning contemporary digital illustrator based in Bristol whose passion is increasing the visibility of Women of Colour and empowering them to feel seen and represented. Her style of work is most easily described as pop art with a modern edge and has been commissioned by Nike, BBC Stories, Footlocker, Scoop and gal-dem Magazine. Parys was the recipient of the 2019 Precious Lifestyle Award for Visual Artist of the Year.
Josie Gyasi
Board Reference Group
An everyday activist and creative in many other forms; designer, maker and thinker - Josephine strives to ensure equality, inclusion and diversity is implemented at the heart of everything she does. She is Creative Producer at Knowle West Media Centre and is Head of Event Production for Club Djembe.
Tanya Muneera Williams
Board Reference Group
International Poet, Cultural Producer, Writer, Broadcaster and TEDx speaker. She co-foundeed the Muslim Hip-Hop Poetic Pilgrimage and she is a co-founder of Black Muslim Women Bike. She conducts workshops, shares art, lectures, and finds alternative ways to tell stories, build community and exchange ideas.