Dr Nazia Khanum has a BA (Hons) and MA in Political Science from Dhaka University and a PhD in History from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. After performing senior roles in five English local authorities, she became founder Director of Equality in Diversity - an independent management, research, training and community empowerment Community Interest Company. She is Chair of Luton British Bangladesh Helping Hand, Luton Multicultural Women’s Coalition (1996 to date) and Purbachal – the eastern sky. Her previous jobs included: lecturer in Political Science at the University of Dhaka; Commonwealth Speaker and Teaching Fellow at Commonwealth Institute, London; Education Officer at Luton Community Relations Council; Senior Health Promotion Officer in Bedfordshire Health Promotion Agency. She is the first Asian woman to become a Deputy Lieutenant of Bedfordshire in its 500 year- history.

David Cheesman's first job was as a Lecturer in English at the University of Constantine, Algeria. He has a PhD in South Asian history from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and has published academic articles and a book on the economic and social history of Sindh in Pakistan, as well as papers about decolonisation in Africa, community cohesion in the UK, and Islam and secularism in Britain and France. He was an external examiner and later Visiting Professor of Society and Development at Sheffield Hallam University.  He now works in financial services and is a Director of Equality in Diversity, an independent research, management and training consultancy. He is a board member and former chair of Squared Housing Association.