Introducing...our new Diversity Forum Associate!

Since August 2021, Salma Perveen has joined the Diversity Forum as our new Associate. Our Chair, Amir Rizwan, finds out more in this short Q & A.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your background

Hey, I’m Salma. I was born and raised in north-east London and currently live in Brighton. I studied international development at university and have since spent my career working in the charity sector across youth, volunteering, mental health and equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). I enjoy reading, watching comedies and sitting by the sea.

What does diversity, equality and inclusion mean for you?

For me, diversity, equality and inclusion is about disruption & liberation. It’s about changing the ways we think, act and behave to become more conscious so that we actively work against the systemic discrimination that exists within our current economic, political and social structures. The goal, in my opinion, is for people to exist freely with equitable access to opportunities to influence and shape their own lives. Doing ‘the work’ means consistently asking yourself how the thing you are doing does/does not contribute to these systems and what you can do to change it.

My understanding of EDI is also inextricable from mental health. Our language, actions and behaviour directly contribute to a culture that leads to not only the physical violence and fatalities of marginalised communities but also individual and collective trauma across multiple generations. These communities need space and time to heal. I see it as both our individual and collective responsibilities (as workplaces, organisations and sectors) to educate and inform people to learn about how they contribute to these atrocities and how we can work towards a more inclusive culture collaboratively. This is important to not only stop adding to the damage that has already been done but also to empower individuals and collectives to dismantle these structures, find new ways of working and create sustainable change.

Why did you decide to join the Diversity Forum?

The main appeal to the Diversity Forum for me was the recognition of the need to look internally before trying to change the world around us. I think this is true for individuals and organisations and it was the reason I applied for this role. Without first identifying our own flaws, biases, misunderstandings and gaps in knowledge, it is not possible to teach or guide others in what they should do. I think a crucial aspect to diversity and inclusion is maintaining this openness and accepting there is always room to learn more.

What are your initial thoughts about the social investment sector when it comes to the issue of diversity?

My initial thoughts about diversity in this sector are that there is a huge potential for meaningful change as leaders tend to be well intentioned regarding EDI but just don’t know where to start. I think there is a lack of education about EDI generally within this sector and a need to develop comfort discussing EDI in greater depth. There are also pockets of incredible work such as the Addressing Imbalance programme at Good Finance where best practice could be shared. There is also scope to learn from other sectors in terms of mistakes made and lessons learned to try new ideas and ways of working. Overall, I see this as an exciting opportunity for collective learning and growth in a meaningful and collaborative way.

Who are your heroes and influencers in life?

I wouldn’t refer to anyone as a hero but I am mostly influenced by friends and individuals with great life stories. I’m a big fan of Dr Brene Brown and the motto ‘vulnerability takes courage’ from her TED talk means a lot to me and inspired me to work in social research. My friend Cassie (@soapsub) has recently started campaigning for disability rights and her fearless honesty always has a big impact on me. Another person is Ifeoma Ozoma (@ifyozoma) who recently created and successfully campaigned for the Silenced No More bill in California and created a handbook for other whistleblowers in the tech industry as a survivor of intersectional abuse and whistleblower herself. Her courage is limitless and her impact in protecting others by learning from her own lived experience is an inspiration. Other than Beyonce, I follow a lot of activists on Instagram, some of my favourites being @dr.thema, @theworldwidetribe, @poornabell, @iranian_nomad @thenapministry and @diversifyournarrative.  I also follow a lot of news outlets such as @them and @impact. I am a big reader and some of my favourite authors are bell hooks, Albert Camus and Dr Gabor Mate.

What are you hoping to achieve during your time with the Diversity Forum?

I am really keen to create safe spaces for conversation amongst different groups within this sector as well as spaces for representatives from these groups to work together on meaningful programmes of work to create change. For instance, I would quite like to set up an Investee Forum and use Design Thinking principles to create a working group to first establish our new manifesto and later engage in research and longer term projects. I’m keen to initiate work for the current generation, for example around promoting marginalised people within social investment; and also work with future generations by, for example, raising awareness of social investment amongst diverse groups of young people.