Staff
Anastasia Maria Tariq
Development Officer for Arts
anastasia@maryhillintegration.org.uk
Anastasia joined MIN as Development Officer in 2021. She is responsible for developing our arts and cultural projects as well as coordinating our community events and outreach activities. Before joining the team she had been volunteering with MIN for 6 years as part of our dance and performance projects, she also teaches Capoeira.
Aymen Al-Khawlani
Campaigns & Advocacy Officer
aymen@maryhillintegration.org.uk
Aymen joined our team in 2024 as Campaigns and Advocacy Officer. He is responsible for developing MIN’s campaigns as well as supporting our members and advocating for their rights . Aymen previously volunteered as part of the MIN Voices group. He is excited to be working towards progressive policy change, from a grassroots level in Scotland, through his role.
Beatriz Pinharanda
Social Media Officer
beatriz@maryhillintegration.org.uk
Beatriz joined the MIN staff team in 2022.
She is responsible for developing and posting content for the social media channels as well as creating design work if needed. Her background is in both Graphic Design (Bachelor’s degree) and Community Development (Masters of Education). She is interested in pursuing a path in life where she can promote social justice in any way she can.
Boatemaa Ofori-Frimpong
Volunteer Coordinator
volunteers@maryhillintegration.org.uk
Boatemaa joined the MIN staff team in 2020. She is responsible for supporting MIN’s volunteers in their roles, as well as welcoming new volunteers and connecting them with other opportunities across the city. She has previously been part of MIN’s Joyous Choir and enjoyed taking part in various performances.
Fatma Elaraby
Admin Officer
hello@maryhillintegration.org.uk
Fatma joined the MIN staff team in 2023. She is responsible for day to day administration and welcoming people to the organisation. Fatma is also a Human Rights Activist, fighting for asylum seekers and refugees rights; especially on the campaign for the right to work. She is a member of Glasgow West Amnesty Group, and volunteers with MIN Voice’s Group and Just Right Scotland. She recently joined the board of trustees of Asylum Matters.
Hadi Jafarizadeh
Development Officer
for Skills & Learning
hadi@maryhillintegration.org.uk
Hadi joined MIN in 2021. His role is to support activities which enhance our digital engagement and online services. Hadi first started volunteering with MIN in 2016 as part of our Echo Dance Production Project with Barrowland Ballet. He comes with a background in computing and has a BSc Degree in Programming and Software Engineering, he is currently studying for a BA degree in 3D Animation and Visualisation.
Ismail Yagoub
Development Officer for Wellbeing
ismail@maryhillintegration.org.uk
Ismail joined MIN in 2022, his role focuses on enhancing the wellbeing aspect of our strategy and developing the Men’s Group activities. He has a degree in Psychology and is currently in his 3rd year studying Community Development at the University of Glasgow. Ismail has over 15 years experience in protecting and advancing the rights of refugees and aims to bring about positive transformations in community health and wellbeing as part of his role at MIN.
Liane Coia
Operations Manager
liane@maryhillintegration.org.uk
Liane has been part of the MIN team since 2007 providing administrative support. She is now responsible for the organisation’s essential operational and financial tasks. With over 20 years experience of volunteering and working within community organisations in Maryhill, Liane was recognised as one of the area’s Unsung Heroes at the People Make Maryhill Awards in 2017.
Munir Emkideh
Support Worker
munir@maryhillintegration.org.uk
Munir joined MIN in 2017. He is responsible for connecting with families who are new to Glasgow and encouraging them to access our Family Nest project and MIN’s other services, as well as supporting them with Arabic interpreting. Munir also volunteers with Citizens Advice Bureau.
Pinar Aksu
Human Rights & Advocacy Coordinator
pinar@maryhillintegration.org.uk
Pinar joined MIN in 2017 and is responsible for coordinating the MIN Voices Group. She also develops our educational outreach projects, facilitates talks and workshops on topics related to our areas of work, and supports collaborations and research projects with partners across the sector. Pinar is interested in social justice, human rights and refugee rights. In 2023, Pinar was shortlisted in the Campaigner of the Year Category at the Sheila McKechnie Foundation’s Awards.
Rose Filippi
Development Manager
rose@maryhillintegration.org.uk
Rose has been part of the MIN team since 2008, progressing through various roles in the organisation. She is currently responsible for fundraising, evaluation, and the strategic development of the organisation. In 2017 she travelled to Europe as part of a Churchill Fellowship and visited organisations developing innovative integration projects in Germany and Belgium.
You can read her report here.
Remzije Sherifi
Former Director
Community leader, author and activist, Rema,was a core member of the MIN team between 2004 – 2021. Originally from Kosovo, Rema was motivated by the many inspirational stories of MIN’s service users over the years, and was committed to the development of MIN’s shared space as a unique and welcoming source of creativity, hope and opportunity. Rema received wide recognition for her work through various awards and accolades such as Glasgow’s Community Champion of Champions, UK Migrant Women of the Year, and was recognised by the Saltire Society as an Outstanding Woman in Scotland.
Trustees
Emma Hill
Emma is a research fellow at St Andrews School of Geography and Sustainable Development, where she specialises in integration, governance, and central and local government policy relating to refugees and asylum seekers. Emma was previously part of the GLIMER Project (Governance and the Local Integration of Migrants and Europe’s Refugees) at Edinburgh University and supported MIN to create our 20 Year Anniversary Report, read more about this on the GLIMER blog. Emma enjoys being one of MIN’s trustees because it connects to her research interests.
Helen Martin
Helen teaches on the Glasgow University BA (Hons) Community Development programme and is the Programme Co-ordinator for Activate, the University’s Community-based introduction to Community Development practice for local community activists, volunteers and practitioners. She has previously held the post of Service Manager for a 3rd sector Community Development organisation and Development Officer for a national anti-poverty agency. Helen has a real passion for working with local communities in addressing inequality and injustice and has a background in community activism, which is something that has inspired her to become a trustee of MIN.
Jim Hamilton
Jim is Deacon of Maryhill Ruchill Parish Church and is currently MIN’s longest serving trustee. Formerly chair of the board of trustees, Jim is an active member of the Maryhill community. He takes pride in being one of MIN’s trustees and has enjoyed seeing the progress the organisation has made over the years. Jim is also part of the committee for the Maryhill Activity Directory.
Mary Munro
Chair
Mary has served as a volunteer and board member at MIN since 2018. Before full retirement, she was a Visiting Senior Fellow at Strathclyde Law School, where her particular interest was in developing restorative justice policy in Scotland. Mary is privileged to be a trustee because of the difference MIN makes to all the amazing people who participate in MIN’s groups and activities. She is also vice chair of Scottish Detainee Visitors, supporting people in immigration detention in Dungavel.
Nick Hawkins
Nick joined MIN’s Board of Trustees in September 2017 and served as Chair between 2019 – 2023. He joined MIN in 2016 as an ESOL volunteer and has also been involved with outdoor activities such as walks, camping and picnics. Nick also enters the Kiltwalk every year to raise funds for MIN. Nick’s career was in theatre management and then production business management for BBC Scotland. He hopes his skills will ensure MIN continues to be a progressive and well-governed charity, serving the changing needs of our members.
Paria Goodarzi
Paria is a visual artist and social art practitioner. She is a member of UNESCO RILA Affiliated Artist Network and the Young Academy of Scotland, Studied fine art at Glasgow school of Art and graduated with a Masters in Adult Education, Community Development & Youth Work from Glasgow University. Paria has always had a keen interest in public and social engaged art, this has led her to undertake different roles with organisations, such as MIN, since 2013. Paria was keen to join the board of trustees at MIN as it ties in with her interest in exploring social issues through participatory engagement and creative thinking.
Robert Swinfen
Treasurer
Robert has a long history of activism and supporting asylum seekers and refugees in Glasgow. Since joining MIN’s Board of Trustees in 2020, Robert continues to be impressed and excited by the different activities and projects which MIN undertakes. He enjoys the contributions to the cultural life of the city made by MIN and admires the campaigns which the organisation has led on over the years. Robert is a qualified Accountant who has worked for charities for many years – currently at the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund – and has experience serving as a Treasurer for other charities also.
Samson Bisiriyu
Secretary
Sam first joined MIN in 2018 as a member of the MIN Voices group, where he played an instrumental role in the Right to Vote Campaign. Sam has volunteered in various projects with MIN and continues to be an active member of the community through his voluntary roles and professional life. Sam has recently completed PDA in Leadership and Management for care services, and has since completed a HND in Administration and IT. Sam’s background is in teaching and business, he was excited to become a trustee of MIN to give back to the community and use his skills to support a charity whose mission he believes in.
Our strategy
Recent years have proved to be significant in terms of growth and consolidation for MIN. This has allowed us the time and space to reflect on where we are, and also where we’d like to be. Our new strategy sets out the ambitious next stage in our development, as we continue to reach out further to those who need our services the most, whilst at the same time maintaining our reputation as one of the organisations at the heart of Scotland’s extended welcome to those seeking sanctuary and the opportunity to build a new life in Glasgow.
