MEET THE 2022 JUDGES
The judging panel will need to ratify the application before an award will be made. It’s possible in some cases that additional information may be sought and this can be supplied by email in most cases. This robust process ensures the award is meaningful and well-deserved.
Note: All listed MP’s, Judges and Presenters have kindly agreed to attend this event, however, due to Parliamentary changes and Covid complexities, changes to this line-up may be inevitable.
Nominees will be chosen from a shortlist produced by the BLAC Independent Judging team.
All nominations received will be carefully considered for the BLAC Awards 2020.
Corporal Elloise Messam
Royal Air Force Police. Lance Corporal
Corporal Elloise Messam
Royal Air Force Police
Elloise was born in Coventry in 1995 and attended Coundon Court School and Community College, where she studied for her GCSE’s and A-Levels.
Whilst studying for her exams, she was a member of the Air Cadets youth organisation where she achieved the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, a NVQ in Public Services, completed her Gliding Scholarship as well as the Junior Leadership Course. She also won Warwickshire and Birmingham Wings Sports Cadet of the Year, taking part in Swimming, Cross Country, Athletics, Netball and Hockey.
Emma Dent Coad
Labour Cllr, Kensington & Chelsea
Emma Dent-Coad
Labour Cllr, Kensington & Chelsea
Before entering politics full time, Emma spent 30 years working as a journalist and researcher working in design, architecture and planning. In her 13 years as a Councillor for Golborne Ward in North Kensington, she has challenged the Conservative led Council’s spending priorities and their plans for handing over public assets to private companies, by sale or lease. Four days after her election in 2017, the Grenfell Tower fire atrocity devastated the communities with huge loss of life.
Emily Lewis
Founder & CEO, I Found Me Counselling
Emily Lewis
Founder & CEO, I Found Me Therapeutic Counselling
IFM Therapeutic Counselling was founded in 2018 By Emily Lewis. The idea was to ensure that counselling could be made accessible to all regardless of financial status, culture or ability. IFM was started in East London and expanded to cover London as a whole with a view of offering a national service. IFM Therapeutic Counselling provides a safe and confidential space, where you can share and explore your thoughts, worries and feelings. In this space, you can explore the issues that feel important to you.
Flt. Lt. Salim Hill
Royal Air Force, Engineering Communications Officer
Born in Edgware, North West London, Salim hill left Secondary education in 2002, having gained 9 GCSE’s and 3 A Levels. Throughout his secondary education his biggest passion was sport. His love for sport was a major contributing factor for him joining the Royal Air Force due to the potential for pursuing sporting opportunities at the same time as a developing career and continuing education.
John Skyers
Head Coach, Miguel's Boxing Gym
John Skyers
Head Coach, Miguel's Boxing Gym
John Skyers is the Head Coach at Miguel’s Boxing Gym, which was established in 1999 in the heart of the vibrant multi-cultural inner city area of Brixton, South London. They cater to men, women, and children of all skill fitness levels and their club requires all members of the training team to have experience in the ring because they believe that regardless of whether you want to just get in shape or eventually step into the ring, it’s important that you have confidence in knowing that you’re learning from those who have been through it.
DR. David Michael MBE
Ret. Detective Chief Inspector, Scotland Yard
Dr. David Michael MBE
Ret. Detective Chief Inspector, Scotland Yard
Dr. Michael joined the Met. in December 1972, and was posted to Lewisham borough in 1973 to serve at Ladywell police station. He was the first officer of African heritage to serve in Lewisham in modern history, and at the time was one of only 11 black police officers in a force of more than 22,000. Dr. Michael had a successful and productive police career retiring as a Detective Chief Inspector at Scotland Yard after 30 years of police duty. .
Dr. Dwain Neil OBE
Chairman, Reach Society
Dr. Dwain Neil OBE
Chairman, Reach Society
Dr. Dwain Anthony Neil was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2019 for services to the British African Caribbean community. He was the managing director of Leriko & Associates (founded 2002), which provided social research, project management, executive coaching, mentoring & motivation and recruitment management consultancy. Previously he was director, operations & performance management, for two years at Focus Consultancy Ltd (Oct 2000 to Sept 2002).
Rosamund Kissi-Debrah
Co-Founder, Ella Roberta Family Foundation
Rosamund Kissi-Debrah
Co-Founder, Ella Roberta Family Foundation
Rosamund is Ella Roberta’s mum and the Co-Founder of the ‘Ella Roberta Family Foundation’ that was set up after the death of her beloved daughter in 2013 from a rare and severe form of asthma. The aim of the Foundation is to improve the lives of children affected by asthma in South East London by raising awareness of asthma, campaigning for better treatment of asthma and campaigning for clean air as it is everyone’s fundamental right to breathe clean air.
Shelby Bootle
Theatre Mentor, Bridge The Gap Studios
Shelby Bootle
Theatre Mentor, Bridge The Gap Studios
19 year old Shelby Bootle from Peckham in South East London is currently in her last year of college , finishing studying in Performing Arts and is deeply passionate about working with young people , especially through Performing Arts , which allows them to create a safe platform for them create and express as well as a platform for their voices to be heard and listened to.
