ubuntu scotland • bringing equity to education
Who we are > Meet the team
Meet the team
Sameeha Rehman
CEO and Founder
Stephen Kirley
Chair of Board of Directors
Stephen qualified as an optometrist in 2005 and at present is based in an independent practice in Lanarkshire. Throughout his career, he has practiced in community, care home and hospital settings. He has also worked within the Scottish Prison Service providing eyecare to inmates. As a parent of two young children, Stephen is passionate about their education and as a result, is the chairperson of St Augustines Primary School Parent Council and a member of the North Lanarkshire Parent Council Consultation Group.
Stephen is a keen cyclist and runner who regularly raises money for charities including the Beatson Cancer Care and Tiny Changes Mental Health Charities. He enjoys spending time with his wife and two children.
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Katy Martin Salkow
Secretary of Board of Directors
Katy has twelve years’ experience working in the not-for-profit sector with the Red Cross here in Scotland and internationally, and is now employed as Head of Income Development with Quarriers.
Previously, Katy worked as an accountant for Shell Oil, Land Rover and Vascutek. She also enjoyed some years teaching English in South Korea and South Africa. Katy holds a MSC in Logistics and Supply Chain Management with a focus on international aid.
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Katy enjoys travelling with her husband and two young children.
Sarah-Jane Crews
Director
SJ is a service manager for an advocacy organisation and works to support young people with issues they need help and support with. She's been working with young people in education for almost 4 years and has a particular interest in young people with additional support needs and their experience at school and getting the right support. SJ also works to support young people who are detained in either secure residential care or in hospital for mental health reasons. She has a lot of experience working with young people in their day to day life and within a children’s mental health charity Childline where young people talk about what is going on for them, developing her really great listening skills.
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SJ enjoys spending time with her Fiancé, family and friends. She loves her dog and going for walks with him and enjoy all things Disney and Marvel.
Sameeha has a strong background in public affairs, with a degree in Law, Politics and International Relations, and is currently employed as a Chief of Staff in the UK Parliament. She has extensive experience working in the third sector, particularly with asylum seekers and refugees with ongoing roles with the Scottish Refugee Council, Glasgow Afghan United, and utilising her COSCA and TEFL qualifications to provide ESOL and counselling support to New Scots. She is an active member of her community, as the Stepps & District Community Council secretary, Director for the Glasgow ESOL Forum and chairing a number of local organisations. She was awarded Scottish Young Achiever of the Year 2019 as recognition for her volunteer tutoring to children in kinship care.
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She loves her cat Minni.
Naveed Noormal
Director
Naveed has extensive experience in Foreign Policy development and Strategic Communications with a Bachelor's degree in Law from India, Masters in Conflict Management from the USA, and an MBA from the UK. He is a Fulbright Scholar and a Foreign Service Officer and has served in different capacities including at the Embassy of Afghanistan in London, Office of the Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister, US Embassy in Kabul and non-governmental organisations. His passion for education started with his first job as a Program Manager to educate vulnerable young girls and boys in Afghanistan. He is a fellow at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative and Asia Foundation Development Program.
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Naveed stays with his family in London and enjoys outdoor activities.
Sadie Prior
Director
Sadie is an experienced community activist, who has played an active role in a number of campaigns and local organisations for many years. She is a kinship carer to her 16 year old granddaughter and provides advice and support to others in her position. Sadie is the Chairperson to the Kinship North group and a committee member of the Scottish Kinship Care Alliance. She also plays an active role on the Board for the Family Addiction Support Service.
Sadie is passionate about the extension of educational support beyond the normal academic realms and to see more kinships kids furthering their career prospects and aspirations.
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Sadie stays with her family in Glasgow and contributes greatly to her local area.