Meet The Board

Elizabeth Chappell

Chair

Elizabeth is a practicing Buddhist and member of the Nichiren Buddhistorganisation Soka Gakkai International (SGI). SGI-UK’s motto is `Trust through friendship Peace through Trust’. In her professional life Elizabeth is a published author, academic researcher and educator.

Merium Bhuiyan

Vice Chair

Merium Bhuiyan is Vice Chair of Islington Faiths Forum and Trustee of the Holloway Educational and Cultural Centre. Through these roles she speaks publicly on a variety of issues. She is the founder and CEO of CakeFace Makeup, a makeup services company that champions confidence building through workshops and events sharing expertise. Merium holds a Masters in Education and is interested in inclusion and social mobility. She advises on several boards and committees in the community.

Mohammed Kozbar

One of the most prominent Islamic centres in the UK

Mohammed Kozbar is a Trustee of Islington Faiths Forum representing the Muslim Community in North London and the chairman of Finsbury Park Mosque, one of the most prominent Islamic centre in the UK. He is also a member of the National Council of MCB. Mohammed holds a masters degree in Charity Management at St. Mary’s University. He was a regular IB Times UK columnist and now sits on the diversity panel of the ITV London news. Mohammed is a member of the Police Islington Advisory Group (IAG) and a member of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) London Scrutiny and Involvement Panel in hate crimes. 

Rev Tamsin Merchant

Rev Tamsin Merchant, Area Dean of Islington, Vicar of St Mary Hornsey Rise, previously working as a University Chaplain in Gloucestershire. Tamsin trained at an Art College in Archway before going on to train as a priest in the Church of England. She has been ordained since 2001 and loves living in Islington. She is married, has 2 sons, and 2 wire-haired dachshunds who are in charge of the house.

Revd. Dr. Temilolu Odejide

Rev. Dr. Temilolu Odejide sits on the IFF Board and is a medical doctor by training, but now a reverend of the House on the Rock London. House on the Rock (The London Lighthouse) is a registered charity (no. 1102396) and a Protestant Evangelical church, affiliated with Churches Together in Britain and Northern Ireland (CTIB) and the Evangelical Alliance. It is housed at The Rock Tower, 49 Tufnell Park Road, Islington N7 0PS. Rev. Odejide and the Church are very passionate about serving the community, they run a youth club and are one of the largest single givers to the Islington food back. Rev. Odejide is happily married with three children. 

Revd. Jennifer Potter

Revd Jennifer Potter was the Chair of the Islington Faiths Forum for some years before her retirement from her ministry at Wesley’s Chapel in the south of the Borough of Islington. She continues her link with the IFF as a Trustee. Although officially retired and living in Croydon, Jennifer has a role as a part-time Chaplain in a Care Home but also keeps up her many links with Islington.

Mrs Thayanithy Rajakulasingham

a trustee of Islington Faiths Forum

Mrs Thayanithy Rajakulasingham is a trustee of Islington Faiths forum as the Hindu representative. In addition, she is currently the administrator at Highgate Hill Murugan Temple and a lifetime member of British Hindu Temple Trust (B.H.T.T.). She holds over 30 years of experience at the NHS as a senior phlebotomist, with special expertise in Antenatal. This allowed her to provide her knowledge at a highly regarded teaching hospital that supports the local community with a range of services, where through provision of supervisory leadership, she could coordinate the hospitals Phlebotomy team and service.  Mrs Rajakulasingham believes in the importance of serving the community.