Meet The Team

Dr Maryyum Mehmood has over 15 years of experience in intra and inter faith engagement and is the Founding Director of The SHIFT, which enhances religious and cultural literacy, and tackles spiritual abuse, gender-based violence and racism. She is advisor to the Domestic Abuse Commissioner of England and Wales, leading on BME, deaf and disabled and elderly survivors. She was formerly the Associate Director of the Edward Cadbury Centre for the Public Understanding of Religion, University of Birmingham, and holds a PhD in Antisemitism and Islamophobia from the Department of War Studies, King’s College London.

Sorcha is a communications specialist and project leader working with faith and interfaith organisations. Born in Belfast but raised in Kent, Sorcha is a strong advocate for opportunities for dialogue in community & faith spaces. She has lived in various ecumenical community projects across Europe – most notably for the Taize Community in France, Poverello in Brussels, and currently in the Community of St Anselm at Lambeth Palace. Sorcha’s varied career has given her experience in communications, fundraising, project management, digital marketing strategy and community development. She has a BA in Philosophy-Theology & Religious Studies from the University of Leeds, and is currently completing an MA in Theology at KULeuven in Belgium.

Dharshana is a geneticist and medical doctor with a PhD in socio-legal studies from the University of Oxford. She is currently a senior development advisor to the University of Oxford’s Centre for Hindu Studies and a member of the current UK delegation to the UN. As a community ambassador for Women’s Aid, Dharshana has been a senior civil servant for over 20 years, especially as part of the Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology. A practicing Hindu, she is a strong advocate for interfaith cohesion and the uplifting of women and children, reflected in her work as Co-President and Trustee of Sri Gnanananda Giri Peetam (Gnananandam Mission) – working with Governments worldwide to encourage service to humanity and interfaith dialogue – and as the founder of ‘Samraksha’, an organisation that helps women and girls from minority ethnic communities who are victims of domestic and sexual abuse. She is also a Parish Councillor and the Vice Chair of Governors on the Primary Schools Board.