Magic happens when a team comes together.

Jak Beula is an artist, musician, inventor, publisher and Ceo of Nubian Jak Community Trust. He founded the Nubian Jak Group in 1994, inspired to pass on historical knowledge that he had gained while creating the award-winning Black HIstory board game “Nubian Jak”. The Nubian Jak Community Trust is an international plaque and sculpture scheme which concretely honours Britain's diverse past.

Along with numerous plaque unveilings, he created the African and Caribbean War Memorial aka Brixton Cenotaph on Windrush Square, Brixton, London on 22nd June 2017. Over 2000 people along with government ministers, military and marching band attended the official unveiling.

Jak also designed the NHS Windrush and Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Memorial statue, which was installed at Whittington Hospital in July 2021.

It takes a team to do all this, and behind the scenes are a lively team of NJCT associates and volunteers. To them all, past and present, there is endless gratitude.

Board Members

Vincent Onuchi Treasurer

Vincent Onuchi is an independent financial professional specialising in corporate governance, compliance and technical accounting matters with a particular focus on the respective financing and fundraising needs of scaling, global fin-tech businesses and non-for-profit organisations. He is also a School Governor as well the Treasurer for the Nubian Jak Charitable Trust.

Nairobi Thompson

Trustee

Described as a poet of our time Nairobi is a published writer, academic editor and a passionate performance poet. She is a PhD student studying racialised behaviours in the workplace and is an ardent anti-racism educator.

Professor Gus John

Honorary President

Augustine John is a Grenadian-born award-winning writer, education campaigner, consultant, lecturer and researcher. He has done notable work in the fields of education policy, management and international development and currently resides in Wales.

Portraits of trustees of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award International Foundation and more relaxed portraits of staff, 10th May 2012

Paul Boateng

Patron

Baron Paul Yaw Boateng is a British Labour Party Politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Brent South from 1987-2005. He became the UK's first Black Cabinet Minister in 2002. when he was appointed as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. When he left the House of Commons he served as the British High Commissioner to South Africa from March 2005 to May 2009. He was introduced as a member of the House of Lords in 2010.

Professor Doirean Wilson

Chair

Dr Doirean Wilson is a Senior Lecturer specialising in Strategic HRM, Professional Practioner and Community Engagement at Middlesex University.

Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE

Ambassador

Yvonne Thompson, CBE, FRSA, is a British business leader, who was a founding member of radio station Choice FM, music editor of Root Magazine, managing director of marketing and PR company ASAP Communications.

Dr Margaret Busby

Patron

Margaret Busby, CBE, Hon. FRSL, is a major cultural figure in Britain and around the world. She became Britain’s then youngest and first black African woman publisher when she co-founded Allison & Busby in the late 1960s. A writer, editor, critic and broadcaster, she edited the pioneering Daughters of Africa: An International Anthology of Words and Writings by Women of African Descent (1992) and its 2019 follow-up New Daughters of Africa.

Herman Ouseley

Patron

Lord Herman George Ouseley, Baron Ouseley is a British parliamentarian, who has run public authorities, including local councils and is an adviser and reviewer of public services organisations.

Joanne Jarrett

Acting Finance Manager

Joanne previously ran a business support agency and currently works on various diverse projects. As one of NJCT’s trustees, Joanne helps to direct and develop existing and future schemes – as well as assisting the Treasurer with the financial running of the charity.

Duwaine Brown

Trustee

Duwaine Brown is an accomplished local government senior Manager with over 15 years’ experience in finance, particularly specialising in revenues for local government taxation and property valuation. Currently serving as the President of IRRV London and Home Counties, Duwaine is dedicated to advancing the sector in revenues, benefits, and valuation. Duwaine is one of the founding members of the Islington Black History Working Group [BH365] and served as the chair for 3.5 years. He has collaborated with various esteemed professional speakers and organisations to organise educational events and sessions around “Challenging Inequality” – focusing on celebrating Black History, Culture, and its associated factors 365 all year-round.