Our Team

Meet our board members. Our team is made up of people who share a passion for safer, more connected communities. We are guided by people from our communities, for our communities.

Michelle Mascoll

Secretary & Co-founder

Originally from London with Afro-Caribbean roots, Michelle is now based in Auckland. An active and committed community member, she served as Vice President of the Waitakere Ethnic Board. Michelle is also the founder of Same Same But Black, and co-founder of both Ethnic Rainbow Alliance and Black Sound Society. She is driven by a passion for creating better outcomes for all.

Shay Singh

Trustee & Co-founder

Shay Singh is deeply committed to creating safe spaces for the ethnic rainbow community. As the co-founder and Chair of Indian Origin Pride New Zealand, Shay leads efforts to empower rainbow people of Indian origin, ensuring that identities, cultures, and heritage are celebrated together. Originally from Fiji, Shay moved to New Zealand at 13 and has spent over 15 years working in sustainability, sustainability finance, and senior management.

Rafiqah Abdullah Sulaiman

Board Member

Rafiqah Abdullah Sulaiman (she/her) is a Filipina trans woman based in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) since 2002. She is also involved with Rainbow Path and the Rainbow Violence Prevention Network. A passionate social justice advocate, Rafiqah focuses on mental health disparities, LGBTQIA+ rights, anti-racism, and promoting equity for all.

Dr. Camille Nakhid

Board Member

Dr. Camille Nakhid is an Associate Professor at AUT's School of Social Sciences and Public Policy. Her research spans Māori and Pasifika educational achievement, migrant resettlement, and culturally relevant methodologies. She was the inaugural Chair of the Auckland Council’s Ethnic People’s Advisory Panel and currently chairs AUT’s Pacific Media Centre Advisory Board and the Migrant Action Trust. Dr. Nakhid also leads research on ethnic rainbow communities in Aotearoa, manages the Caribbean Southern Stars Steelband, and serves on the Executive Advisory Board of the African Communities Forum.

Kirsty Fong

Board Member

Kirsty Fong (she/her) is a Te Tiriti o Waitangi facilitator with Tangata Tiriti – Treaty People and a member of Asians Supporting Tino Rangatiratanga, a tauiwi group standing in solidarity with Māori self-determination. She is involved in projects that engage Asian communities in the journey toward constitutional transformation, as envisioned in Matike Mai.

Mary Adeosun

Board Member

Mary Adeosun is a passionate Braided Hair Artist with four years of creative collaboration within the Black and queer communities. Her work has been featured at StudioOne, ALLGoods, Great North Gallery, and the Vocal Roots 'There Were No Photos' Africa Month exhibition. Through her art, Mary celebrates the beauty of the diaspora by embracing ancestral practices. When she’s not designing her latest braid, she’s likely catching some well-deserved rest.

Mwangileni Kampanga

Board Member

Born in Zambia, raised in Tāmaki, and flourishing in Wellington.