Introducing the Guardian's Legacies of Enslavement Programme Team
A dynamic and diverse team of nine professionals is spearheading the coordination of the Guardian's ambitious 10-year Legacies of Enslavement programme, a restorative justice initiative dedicated to addressing historical injustices and fostering social equity. This comprehensive effort integrates policy advocacy, editorial leadership, and community-driven projects to make a tangible impact on descendant communities globally.
Leadership and Editorial Expertise
Ebony Riddell Bamber serves as the programme director, bringing over two decades of experience in social justice policy and advocacy. Her extensive background includes senior roles in global advocacy coalitions, international NGOs such as Care International and Save the Children, and the UK public sector, with expertise in human rights, gender-based violence, and community engagement.
Joseph Harker, the senior editor for diversity and development, is a co-founder of the Legacies of Enslavement programme. In addition to his editorial responsibilities, he works to embed diversity and inclusion across the Guardian's coverage and manages its positive action scheme, which provides enhanced work experience for aspiring journalists from ethnic-minority, working-class, or disabled backgrounds. Prior to joining the Guardian, Joseph was the editor of the weekly newspaper Black Briton.
Maya Wolfe-Robinson acts as the assistant editor and editorial lead for the programme, overseeing initiatives like the Cotton Capital series and the Long Wave newsletter. A Guardian journalist since 2010, she previously served as a correspondent covering the north of England and as an editor on the opinion desk, bringing a wealth of editorial experience to the team.
Programme Management and Strategic Oversight
Keisha Thompson is the programme manager, contributing a broad range of experience in arts-based social justice and anti-racism initiatives. She holds leadership positions as co-chair of the Independent Theatre Council and trustee of Olympias Music Foundation, and is a recipient of the DARE Art Prize 2024. Her previous role as senior learning programme manager for The World Reimagined, a national arts education programme promoting racial justice, underscores her commitment to transformative projects.
Angel Parson serves as another programme manager, bringing strategic expertise in fostering collaboration, sustainable preservation, and economic development in marginalised communities. Her key roles have included associate project manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers and programme director at the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor National Heritage Area, where she focused on advancing and amplifying Gullah Geechee heritage through community engagement.
Dr Ahmed Reid is a programme manager and historian specializing in race relations, with a focus on Caribbean economic history, the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans, and reparations. His academic career includes positions as an associate professor at the City University of New York (CUNY) and an Assistant Professor at Georgia College and State University. He has also served on the United Nations Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, including as chair, and as a senior race expert at the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Operational and Administrative Support
Ria Dalsania is the operations manager, leveraging years of experience in charities and fundraising. At Save the Children UK, she managed multiple fundraising initiatives, including strategic visits for high-value supporters to countries like Kenya, Jordan, and Ethiopia, and led efforts to introduce new digital engagement products for donors and partners.
Mia Lundie-Smith fulfills the role of programme administrator, ensuring the effective and efficient operational function of the programme. She provides essential coordination, financial, and administrative support across workstreams in the UK, the US, and Jamaica. Drawing on her academic background in colonial legacy and diaspora, along with experience in public arts, research, museum education, and community engagement, Mia is inspired by the programme's goal to make a tangible difference in the lives of descendant communities.
This dedicated team embodies a multidisciplinary approach to restorative justice, combining policy, editorial, and operational strengths to drive the Legacies of Enslavement programme forward over the next decade.
