We’re delighted to announce that three new trustees have joined LEF’s board, bringing with them a wide range of skills, knowledge and experience.
Chrisann Jarrett MBE is a social entrepreneur and founder of We Belong, a UK charity advocating for young migrants and systemic immigration reform. A law graduate from LSE, she previously founded Let Us Learn, which influenced a landmark UK Supreme Court case, improving student finance access for over 2,000 young people annually. She has served as Policy Advisor to the Deputy Mayor of London for Social Integration and spoken at the UN. Chrisann is a Trustee of the Allen & Overy Shearman Foundation, Advisor to the UCL Policy Lab, and part of The Ordinary Hope Project.
Chrisann says: “I have always thought that the law is an ultimate tool to accelerate social change and so the focus on the potential of the law to unlock lasting change drew me to the foundation.”
Fiona Mactaggart served as chief executive of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) from 1982 until 1986, when she was elected as a local councillor. She became a teacher and university lecturer and continued to campaign for human rights and justice. She was elected to parliament in 1997; from 2003 to 2006 she was a minister in the Home Office. After 20 years as an MP she stepped down. Since then, she has served as chair of the Fawcett Society and Agenda Alliance and as trustee of Anawim, all organisations serving the needs of women. She helped found the Alf Dubs Lecture Trust and serves on the board of family grant-giving trusts.
Fiona says: “In almost every campaign I have been involved with, I have collaborated with lawyers. It has often been their actions which have delivered victory: in the 1980s foreign-born British women whose husbands were not allowed to live with them in Britain won that right with the support of JCWI, and as an MP many of my individual constituents got justice when lawyers were involved. But there are not enough social justice lawyers and organisations need support to use the law for social justice. LEF is remedying that and I look forward to helping.”
Maxine Thomas-Asante FRSA is a racial justice practitioner and Lead of the Power of Pop Fund, a pooled fund supporting organisations who use arts, creativity and the entertainment sector to advance racial and migrant justice. Maxine has worked in racial justice as a researcher, consultant, facilitator and now, funder. Her work proactively centres the voices of communities experiencing social challenges, from her earlier days in student politics to, now, championing communities in a broader purview.
Maxine’s academic background is in law and policy. Her award-winning masters at the London School of Economics and Political Science asked: To What Extent Can the Equality Act 2010 Be Considered a ‘Radical’ Act, Contributing to Black Liberation and Recognition in Britain?
Maxine says: “Throughout my career, I have been deeply motivated by a desire to reimagine our institutions in ways that could lead to empowering and liberatory social infrastructure. LEF’s approach to supporting engagement with the law as a tool for social justice resonates deeply. LEF has committed to a social justice focus not just in theory but in practice, developing methods for lived experience leadership, as well as funding justice in meaningful and transformative ways.”
LEF’s Chief Executive Matthew Smerdon says: “We are excited to welcome our new trustees. They each bring terrific personal and professional insight into our mission and join us at an important time as we move into our new strategy. They will help to challenge our thinking and strengthen our support for the partners and communities we serve. We are delighted to have them with us as we take this work forward.”
