Meet the Team

I have lived in Sheffield for my lifetime and worked and studied at the University for over 7 years, and have seen the city's economy, society and demographics change throughout the years. My background is in Education, and I have studied factors influencing educational achievement in the Asian community for my Masters degree. I would like to understand the interplay between factors that affect unequal ageing in ethnic minorities and how this project can help make a difference on a local scale. 

Azizzum Akhtar 

Co-Investigator

Chief Executive Officer, Rotherham Ethnic Minority Alliance (REMA)

I am a dedicated community researcher and development worker with 8 years of experience. My work revolves around actively engaging with women from diverse nationalities within the BAME communities. Through consultation research, I listen to their perspectives and ensure their voices are heard. I plan and deliver activities aligned with their interests and needs, constantly learning and growing through these interactions. Fluent in Punjabi, I connect deeply with the BAME community, fostering mutual respect. My passion lies in making a positive difference in the lives of marginalized ethnic minorities and women. I am dedicated to empowering them, advocating for their rights, and creating an inclusive society where everyone feels valued. Together with the community, I strive to foster belonging and drive meaningful change, amplifying their voices for a more equitable future 

 I am currently working as a Senior Support Worker for individuals of 50 years of age and above from Black and Ethnic Minority Muslim communities in Rotherham. Furthermore; having lived in Rotherham for 27 years and being of a Pakistani Heritage I believe has contributed extensively in both gaining a deeper understanding of this long-standing community and has enabled me to create strong links in my local community. As Rotherham has become more diverse and multicultural my employment at YAWR (You Ask We Respond) Services over the previous 8 years has enabled me to work with people from other communities allowing me to gain deeper understanding of how needs, requirements and expectations can at times differ.  My primary role (but not limited to) has been to provide advocacy/ befriending support to vulnerable patients and clients with full support in enabling them to lead more healthier and independent life; I am passionate about making a difference to my local community.

Matt’s research interests are in inequalities and wellbeing outcomes of care and improving the data and analytical infrastructure in social care. His expertise is in linking and analysing large-scale surveys and administrative datasets using advanced statistical methods. Matt works closely with Carers UK and the Office for National Statistics to better understand inequality and wellbeing outcomes for unpaid carers. Matt’s social care research (both academic and co-produced with Carers UK) has consistently featured in the national media and has been debated in the House of Lords.

I am researcher who is interested in people's everyday experiences. I have a PhD from the University of Manchester where I have looked at experiences of race, religion and gender for Muslim women. I am interested in people's stories of their daily lives, how they connect to others, the places they live and work in and the way they experience feelings of belonging across time and place. 

Jo is committed to collaborative research which challenges ethnic and racial inequalities and furthers social justice. Her research has a sustained focus on sensitive, challenging topics and she has carried out projects in different policy areas, including the criminal justice system and the voluntary and community sector.

Helena has a particular interest in mapping injustices in social and health outcomes that can drive policies to improve the lives of people lying at the intersection of multiple axes of inequality. 

I am a Czech Roma activist, consultant, and researcher. I have years of experience in community development work. I was involved in several projects led by the University of Sheffield, the University of Salford, and well-known NGOs like The Roma Support Group and Migration Yorkshire. My work or contributions have always evolved around the integration of Roma migrants in the UK and identifying policy problems impacting the processes of Roma integration. 

My name is Lucia Ginova. I am a Czech Roma, Community researcher and entrepreneur. I’m passionate about helping the Roma Community and to represent their voices in a fight for equality.

Mark is interested in the drivers of social and spatial inequalities in health and wellbeing, including how we can integrate intersectional thinking into quantitative analyses of these issues.

Dr Daniel Holman

Co-Investigator

Dan's research focusses on health inequalities especially in relation to healthy ageing and its social determinants.  He mostly uses quantitative approaches and has a particular interest in intersectionality.

Majella is a qualitative researcher working at the intersection of migration, family and care studies, including a focus on life-course dynamics. She researches with groups traditionally marginalised, excluded and/or disadvantaged, including older people with a migration background. Her research is grounded in partnership working, and she uses creative and participatory approaches to research lived experience with the aims of engendering inclusion, respect and esteem. 

Lois is a Wellcome Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Sociological Studies at the University of Sheffield. Her research questions the way we understand inequalities in health, particularly as experienced by racialised groups. Recent work has involved developing critical methodologies that help us think differently about the ‘problem’ of ‘Roma health’ and the types of knowledge that inform how it is understood/addressed. She has developed innovative ethnographic approaches to explore the complex interplay of micro and macro level processes that underlie health inequalities. Lois’ research is grounded in partnership working, using creative and participatory approaches with groups traditionally seen as ‘disadvantaged’, ‘excluded’ or ‘marginalised.’ 

Aneta is a mixed-methods sociologist and her research spans disciplinary boundaries. Her research is on ethnic diversity, socio-spatial segregation and social cohesion, attitudes towards immigration and ethnic minorities, and methods in migration research. 

Olivier main focus is to know how much community information (Voice Forum) about the research project (Ethnicity and Unequal Ageing) can be retrieved to design an effective  wellbeing delivery model. More simply, how well do we understand the wellbeing system?

Alan has been researching and writing about ageing policy issues for more than 40 years.

He also has long associations with organisations representing older people. He chaired the Sheffield Fairness Commission.

Jesse Ransley

Co-Investigator

ONS

Hawa Yatera has a PhD in Public Health Community Education and Leadership. Hawa is interested in addressing Social Determinants of Health, Advocating for Social Justice, and reducing inequalities within and between community groups. 

A dedicated receptionist/ administrator at a vibrant community centre, where I ensure a welcoming atmosphere for all. Beyond my administrative role, I am actively engaged as a volunteer support worker, providing assistance and fostering community connections. As a passionate peer researcher and freelancer interpreter, I navigate diverse perspectives, contributing valuable insights and facilitating communication. Committed to making a positive impact, I thrive in the dynamic intersection of community support, research, and language interpretation.