Meet our leadership team

My experience of the UK’s ‘hostile environment’ was stark enough as a white, middle-class, English-speaker that I’ve been committed to supporting refugees in my country of adoption for many years. ACH does great things in the refugee space, not just locally, but nationally, and I love being a part of it.

What gets me up in the morning is my curiosity. I love any opportunity to learn, but I am most fascinated by people.

There is only one hobby I consistently find time and energy to do on cold, wet Thursday evenings when sensible people are tucked up under a duvet: non-executive board work! And I’ve had the great privilege to work with some absolutely phenomenal organisations, including this one.

I am a senior leader with 15-years’ board experience and particular expertise in the higher education and charity sectors.

I joined ACH at the start of January 2024 as NED and Chair Designate. 

I have held a wide portfolio of senior roles including with charities, local and central government, including Ministerial appointments on public bodies spanning education/skills, NHS and care services, housing/regeneration and pensions/consumer finance.

My executive career included a period as a Senior Civil Servant at the Cabinet Office and in management consulting. Until recently I was Chair of Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees's Commission on Race Equality.

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My academic and professional journey has been grounded in my commitment to social justice, human rights, and community empowerment. I developed a keen interest in law, particularly Immigration Law, influenced by my own experiences navigating the asylum process in the UK. This background has fostered my understanding of legal systems and reinforced my desire to support vulnerable populations through advocacy and direct assistance.

Professionally, I have worked with various organisations dedicated to supporting refugees and migrants, including serving as a Trustee with Stories of Hope and Home, where I contributed to governance, strategic planning, and advocacy for migrants’ rights. My internships with legal firms have equipped me with research and analytical skills essential for supporting community-focused initiatives. My ultimate goal is to continue working within the legal field, using my knowledge and experience to empower marginalized communities and advocate for social equity.

I’m thrilled to join ACH as an independent committee member for Housing Strategy.

Living in Bristol, I appreciate the city's multicultural society and believe in the importance of welcoming diverse backgrounds. During a decade in social housing, I have witnessed the importance that a safe and secure home has for people regardless of their background. It is a foundation stone that must be in place to allow people to fulfil their potential.

My expertise is primarily in asset management, property management, maintenance and compliance. My Non-Executive Director roles at two other Bristol charities have provided me level experience in finance, governance, remuneration, audit, and risk management and given me valuable insights into housing the homeless and working with marginalised communities.

I truly believe that everyone should have access to good quality yet affordable housing, for me its a basic human right. ACH are at the forefront of this provision and since their creation have continually focused on and delivered against this goal for one of our most vulnerable communities, refugees and asylum seekers. Their work and reputation have grown in stature and importance as has their stellar reputation in both the Bristol and West Midland regions. I am therefore very honoured and proud to have been asked to join the ACH Board and look forward to working with the Team as they continue to grow and offer innovative solutions in respect to the increasing demand for their services. 

I have considerable Senior Management and Board experience gained across the Public, Private and Charitable sectors. I have been a NED previously with 2 Housing Associations so bring first hand knowledge of the Governance requirements of a Registered Housing Provider along with a good understanding of the role and responsibilities of a NED. Listen, counsel but never do! I have sat on Audit and Risk Committees (ARC) so will bring a strong background in this space to ACH as they increase their focus and commitment to best in class Governance and Compliance practises – all crucial elements on their rapid growth journey.

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I bring to ACH significant, strategic advisory governance experience across public, private and third sector organisations, and with a key focus on social housing. Alongside my governance specialism, having many years experience of start up companies, I also really enjoy supporting start-ups (particularly those based in technology) with their strategy, growth and investment plans. I am a trusted mentor who believes strongly that we should support each other within our communities and share our skills where possible. I have also volunteered throughout my life and this has been integral to the paths I have taken in my personal life and my career.

I joined ACH, initially as an independent member of the Audit & Risk Committee to help it manage the challenges of growth and also to get to know the organisation, its people and the incredible work it carries out

I am keen to live in a society where people, from all backgrounds, want to and are given the chance to participate fully in that society. ACH uniquely helps to deliver a happier, stronger and more integrated society.

My early career was principally in banking and management consultancy, where I was a partner in a major consultancy before setting up my own company to deliver performance improvement for a wide range of service sector clients. I helped to found Bristol & Bath Regional Capital (BBRC), a social investment and impact fund, which has delivered over £60m of local investment in the West of England. AT BBRC, I was a non executive director, chairing the Projects and Remuneration Committees and a member of the Finance and Strategy Committee.

I am a Chartered Accountant and have an MBA from London Business School/Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

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Director / Co-Founder of MCSI CiC, Leading on Strategy, Governance and Infrastructure support for minority led civil society organisations. Civil Society Social Impact leader and Strategic Advisor with over 30 years' experience in leading a diverse range of civil society organisations across the UK, USA, and South Asia. My work strives to position and amplify the role of minority-led organisations in strengthening civil society.

My previous roles have included serving as a Strategic Adviser to UNICEF South Asia on philanthropy and diaspora engagement, as well as directing the Voluntary and Community Sector Emergencies Partnership (VCSEP) at the British Red Cross during the COVID-19 crisis. I have also led various civil society organisations developing org strategies, growth and their social impact.

I hold various Board and Commissioner positions, including at the Cardiff Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK, the Commission for the Integration of Refugees at The Woolf Institute, the DCMS Cost of Living Crisis Community Fund, the West Midlands Combined Authority Faith Strategic Partnership Group, the WMCA Inclusive Communities Fund, the National Emergencies Trust, and the Birmingham Children's Commission.

Patty Miranda is a law and policy researcher in Bristol, a licensed attorney in the Philippines, and a public health advocate with over twelve years of leadership experience at the intersections of global health, human rights, and gender justice in the UK and globally.

Patty has worked with local and international organisations to lead award-winning campaigns on women’s economic empowerment and health promotion in communities disproportionately affected by disasters, conflict, and fragility. In the Philippines, she has contributed to landmark health reforms, including legislation and policies on tobacco control, WASH in emergencies, the prohibition of child marriage, sexual and reproductive health, access to affordable medicines, and unpaid care work. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Law at the University of Bristol with a full scholarship from the ESRC South West Doctoral Training Partnership. Her research explores the tensions between the right to health and mental health laws and policies, focusing on the lived experiences of Filipino migrant women in England.

Having migrated to the UK herself, Patty combines lived experience with academic expertise to advocate for the rights of people on the move. She is committed to bridging the gap between law, public health, and migration by championing inclusive policies and developing initiatives that uphold dignity and support migrant communities in empowering themselves, reflecting ACH’s vision and mission.

CIPD qualified HR professional by background with over 10 year's experience in HR, working as an Executive Director for a housing association in England. I have worked in many sectors including retail and utilities and have a real passion for developing great places to work cemented in health organisational cultures.

Having grown up in social housing as a “product” of a broken family and leaving school with minimal qualifications I have become very familiar with lived experiences of inequality and prejudice based on your background and social status. I have spent most of my professional career trying to break down these barriers, striving to ensure that people are treated as human beings and assessed on their values, commitments and ethics as opposed to their social status, education and background. I am passionate about equal opportunities and the work that ACH does to address this really inspires me.

Alongside my other trustee commitments, when I do have any spare time, I enjoy renovating my house and long-distance walking (both of which are activities I rarely actually get to cram in alongside a busy family life! 

A strategic business leader with over 20 years of experience in the energy sector, Ami has expertise in power generation and transmission, both in the UK and internationally. He has held senior roles in FTSE 250 companies such as SSE plc and Balfour Beatty plc, as well as in renewable energy organisations like Ethical Power Connections Ltd. Having transitioned from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship, Ami has founded and is developing several ventures in renewable energy.

Ami is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and serves as a Non-Executive Director at Zero Waste Scotland. He is also a dedicated Board Member of two non-profit organisations—Lintel Trust and Streetfit Scotland—and mentors aspiring professionals through The Migrant Leaders and Aberdeen Young Professionals (AYP) programmes.

Ami holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical), a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with Distinction, and a Diploma in Asset Management.

Outside of work, Ami enjoys playing and watching cricket and spending quality time with his young family.

Prask Sutton is a seasoned entrepreneur with a strong background in technology and digital innovation. Before founding Onvi, he developed expertise in digital product development and led strategic initiatives for technology-driven solutions across various sectors. Prask's approach has often focused on harnessing technology to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency, especially for small and medium-sized businesses in traditionally underserved sectors. His work has included projects aimed at minimising waste, maximising operational scalability, and leveraging data for strategic decision-making. In recent years, Prask's leadership with Onvi has highlighted his commitment to addressing industry-specific needs, but his broader career remains centered on innovative solutions that combine accessibility, practicality, and advanced technology to drive business growth.

I joined ACH to contribute and help the integration of refugees and new migrants via the promotion of the social and cultural capital they bring with them, coupled with my lived experience.

Improving, innovating the governance system that provides tools for the leadership and management of the organisation is what gets me up in the morning.

In my spare time, I enjoy reading and writing, and community activism particularly giving a voice to the youth and the elders.

I have skills and experience in community development, teaching and training, governance and policy, community journalism, and curiosity for positive habit development and leadership studies.

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