Sheila Arthur
Sheila has worked for housing organisations for 30 years – including five years as the director of a community based housing association in the West of Scotland. Sheila has worked tirelessly and consistently as a volunteer with refugees since dispersal to Glasgow began in 2000. She also conducts and facilitates community research on a broad range of equalities issues and is currently involved in a major research project into the trafficking of young people into Scotland. Sheila has a degree in Sociology and a Diploma in Housing Studies, and is a Board member of Positive Action in Housing.

Michael Collins
Michael worked as a tenant adviser and in housing management in Scotland before moving to Kent in the late 1990s, where he worked with a housing association and volunteered with a project supporting young asylum seekers. In 2002 he returned to Scotland to lead the Housing and Welfare Team at Scottish Refugee Council, managing the housing rights service, developing training programmes and working with the Scottish Executive, local authorities and the voluntary sector to develop refugee housing and support policies and practice. As a consultant Michael continues to deliver targeted training and develop innovative responses to meet the needs of disadvantaged communities, particularly focusing on migrant and refugee rights.

Ghazi Hussein
Ghazi arrived in Scotland to seek asylum after years of persecution for ‘carrying thoughts’; experiences related in his acclaimed 2006 play “One Hour before Sunrise” – a “frightening reminder of what human beings and even our own government are capable of”. Despite being frequently imprisoned over 23 years Ghazi was never charged or tried whilst in the Middle East, but has recently been convicted in his absence for sedition. Now a British Citizen, his performance poetry, plays, and short stories raise awareness of the legacy of torture and of human rights, demonstrating that the pen is mightier than the Kalashnikov. Ghazi has degrees in Arabic and Philosophy, and delivers poetry, short-story, Arabic, and calligraphy workshops. He was writer and co-director of the 2008 Theatre Workshop/BBC film “Trouble Sleeping”, which won the BAFTA Scotland New Fiction award.

Alison Davis
Alison helps to develop skills in not-for-profit organisations by developing and delivering training and support. Her experience as a teacher of English As Another Language enables her to tailor training in areas such as financial management, business planning, and management to the needs of people who are learning English or face other barriers to learning. Alison has participated in research on equalities issues, worked as a volunteer on asylum cases with asylum seekers and solicitors, and raises awareness of issues relating to torture. She has a degree, a TESOL qualification, and a Diploma in Public Administration.

Sorour Kazemi
Shortly after she arrived in Glasgow as an asylum seeker, Sorour put her survival skills to good use as a volunteer at Victim Support. When allowed to work Sorour continued as a paid employee at Victim Support. Now a British citizen she continues to use her experiences to help other people, is studying for an M. A. in Social Work and is a Director of Food For Thought Glasgow.