Meet our Board

Deirdre LaBassiere is a dynamic leader, governance professional, and advocate for social justice with over two decades of experience. Renowned for her impact on communities affected by inequality, she focuses on women’s empowerment, domestic abuse support, and reintegration of ex-offenders. Deirdre brings strategic insight to roles across charities, housing, and private sectors, driving governance, compliance, and equity.

He is the CEO at 7E Youth Academy, and Chairman of The Legacy Centre of Excellence, Europe’s largest Black owned Arts and Business Centre whilst standing as a trustee and Chair of several professional organisations, a business advisor to aspiring entrepreneurs, and has over 20 years of experience in youth engagement.

Paul A. Knight is the Co-Founder and Director of the Legacy Centre of Excellence, where he leads the business and commercial development of the Legacy brand. His focus is on ensuring the Centre’s long-term sustainability as a hub for arts, media, culture, education, and business, benefiting the local community.

Ian is a highly respected and well-connected leader with thirty years' experience of local government and the public sector. Serving as both Leader and Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council between 2012 and 2023, Ian was instrumental in successfully leading Birmingham’s bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games. The Games delivered infrastructure investment of nearly £1bn and transformed Perry Barr in the north of the city. A key member of the Organising Committee, Ian played a pivotal role in what were the most successful Commonwealth Games held in the UK.

As CEO of Business Boxxed, Laura leads a team developing AI-powered digital products that optimise client onboarding and branding for businesses. With a global customer base of 2,000+ and sales surpassing $85,000, the platform supports businesses in over 50 countries whilst partnering with influencers to launch impactful digital products. Laura's mission is to inspire others to become the CEO of their own lives by using strategic and intelligent processes and decision-making tactics. She shares her expertise in branding, marketing, operations, AI and resilience through her online platforms, workshops, board positions at TEDx Ladywood; Birmingham female-lead TEDx event, and The Legacy Centre; Europe’s leading black arts and business organisation and speaking engagements at business accelerators and universities.

I am a qualified teacher with over 20 years of experience in education, teaching within schools and supporting family’s in and around the Handsworth and Newtown area of Birmingham. My current role is an Assistant Headteacher and SENDCo within an independent school, this allows me to support children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).  ​

This always been my passion and over the years, I’ve held SENDCo roles in multiple schools and worked as a manager within the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) team at Walsall Council. I’ve served as a specialist SEND teacher for Pupil and School Support Services (PSSS), working across mainstream primary, secondary, and further education settings.  

​

Blessing has a first-class BA in Creative Enterprise and a Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship, and through her educational background, she channels her passion for Equity and Inclusion. Blessing is the Business Inclusion Programme Manager at NatWest where her focus is breaking down barriers to enterprise for Ethnic Minority owned businesses across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Blessing is also a global co-lead of the NatWest Group Global Multicultural Network Comms and Strategy team which promotes inclusion and allyship for employees working within NatWest across all the bank’s global offices.

-

-

Beverly Johnson is a visionary entrepreneur with over 44 years of expertise in International Trade, Shipping, and Logistics. As CEO and Managing Director of the JLB International Group of Companies, she leads operations in Jamaica and the UK, including JLB International Ltd, JLB Shipping & Logistics Ltd, and Isocon-JLB International Ltd—home to the Caribbean’s first ISO-Tank Maintenance Facility. Her companies offer end-to-end logistics solutions and promote Caribbean trade globally.

Mykal “Wassifa” Brown MBE didn’t just build a sound system. He built a movement, a memory bank, and a community.

 Founder of the legendary Wassifa Showcase International, Mykal Brown has been at the heart of Birmingham’s sound system culture for over five decades. From block parties to international stages, his work has championed reggae as both art and activism—amplifying voices that mainstream venues and institutions often ignored. Born and raised in Birmingham, Mykal Brown created space where none existed: spaces where young people could dance, learn, and belong. In the 1970s and 80s, his pioneering sound system became a lifeline for a generation of Windrush descendants navigating racism, exclusion, and economic hardship. Wassifa wasn’t just about bass—it was about belonging.

Harjinder Paul serves as the Governance Lead at the Legacy Centre of Excellence (COE), where she provides an oversight and strategic support to ensure the organisation operates with transparency, care, and accountability. With a background in senior banking, compliance, and education leadership, Harjinder brings over 20 years of diverse experience, helping to guide Legacy COE with integrity, resilience, and a strong sense of community purpose.

She is deeply committed to creating inclusive, empowering spaces and plays an important role in shaping governance practices that reflect the organisation’s mission to uplift and inspire through culture, equity, and community impact.