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Meet the founders
MARCIA ORE MSc MA
Marcia Ore is a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consultant and Coach providing a wide range of delivering range of services, primarily in the UK and North America, such as reviewing policies and practices, conducting cultural audits, and grievance, investigations and grievance appeal advisor, and coaching EDI committees and employee resource groups etc.,
Her professional life began as a Police Officer serving in two UK police services from 1982 to 2012, holding EDI-related roles such as Vice-chair of the West Midlands Police Black and Asian Police Association, Chair of the National Black Police Association’s Gender & Sexual Orientation subcommittee, and a member of the Association of Chief Police Officers Working Party exploring the career progression of women and Black and Ethnic Minority Police Officers and staff, British Association of Women in Policing and Women Sergeants Police Federation Representative.
Marcia is on the Advisory Board of Inclusion and Diversity in Nuclear and the UK Chair of Equity & Equality for G100, a global organisation. Marcia is a former Board of Trustees for the Independent Provider of Special Education Advice, a UK charity providing legal advice to parents and carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities.
KAREN GEDDES QPM
In a world where representation matters, Karen Geddes stands tall, embodying the spirit of resilience, determination, and change. With over three decades in policing, her journey offers invaluable insights into the challenges and triumphs faced by women of colour in traditionally male-dominated fields.
Life rarely follows a straight path, and Karen's journey in policing was no exception "There were times when I could have given up on policing. I described my journey as a roller coaster. The thing that kept me going was my family." She recalls significant turning points in her career, such as the Stephen Lawrence case and the tragic event of George Floyd. These events were not just headlines for Karen; they reshaped her perspective. "They started to change my thinking and focus on what policing means to me. At those points, I became more consciously aware that I was a Black female in a non-black organisation, and that I had an opportunity to make a difference."
Today, Karen is associated with founding 'The Thin Black Line.' "I wanted to have something when I left policing that gave me an opportunity to continue to champion Black engagement within policing." For the young women of colour aiming to carve their path, Karen's advice is: "Be yourself. Do not assimilate. Embrace your individuality."
Meet our Advisory Board Members
Bex Shorunka
Bex Shorunke is a PhD researcher at Birkbeck University and a campaigner focussed on minority rights. Her research uses a much-needed intersectional lens to examine Black women police officers and staff's experience in policing, and the coping strategies they develop in response.
Her professional background is in communications and campaigning, specifically for Black and brown LGBTQ+ young people’s access to education,
healthcare and housing.
Garfield Robinson
I have been involved in sales since my teenage years. (I am now 62) I started in my grandmothers grocery shop and would go on to bake my own products and sell. My dad was a carpenter, so I made picture frames and sold them.
After high school I did community work with farmers and was a data collector with a government ministry in Jamaica. My last job in Jamaica in 2000, was selling online adverting with the Jamaica Gleaner I moved with my family to the UK in 2001 and while selling print adverts in Weekly Gleaner UK, I still sold online advertising.
I simultaneously had a short stint with Loot Hot Car . I started Promoting Our Heritage in October 2002 to sell African and Caribbean Cultural Heritage Books. In 2004 the Voice was bought by the Gleaner Newspaper , allowing me to work with two newspaper; actually three when the first free Black newspaper was launched.
Presently I am an author, publisher, bookseller and event host (for my own Black authors events). Also Sales Team leader at the Voice Media group. I am the coordinator of the Voice Business magazine which will return for its 11th issue in May 2025.
Garfield Robinson | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/garfieldrobinson/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/garfieldrobinson/
Alicia Shaw
Alicia Shaw is a former senior police officer who spent 30 years in policing working for Hertfordshire Constabulary.
During her career Alicia performed a number of roles including Change Team Project Manager, Officer in charge of a Policing District, managing response officers, neighbourhood officers and detectives, Hostage and Crisis Negotiator , Senior Investigation Officer and Safeguarding roles.
As first Black female in Hertfordshire to reach the rank of Chief Inspector Alicia recognises the challenges faced by Black women in policing and continues to support under represented groups in mentoring scheme. Since leaving policing Alicia has set up a Consultancy business offering a number of services including EDI reviews , Strategic advice and workplace investigations.
Alicia holds a Masters degree in Applied Criminology from The University of Cambridge.
Dr Marina Hassan
Dr. Marina Hasan is an experienced professional and academic with a unique blend of expertise in criminology, gender studies, professional policing, and human resources. As an academic and independent consultant, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, having navigated the realms of both academia and practical law enforcement.
Dr. Hasan's journey in the field of Criminology began during her years as a Police Intelligence Analyst, providing her with a first hand understanding of the intricacies of policing. This dual perspective, as both an insider and an academic outsider, fuels her passion for making a meaningful impact on the lives of professionals within the police force.
Her dedication to advancing the field is evident in her recently completed PhD in criminology from Northumbria University. The focus of her ground breaking research, titled "Bullying and Harassment of BAME Women within the Police Services in England: Race, Gender, and Police Culture," sheds light on the often-overlooked experiences of women of colour in the police. Dr. Hasan's work aims to amplify the voices of these women and foster their empowerment within the complex intersectional oppression of race and gender. She sits in the advisory body for CTEBRG – Counter Terrorism Evidence Based Research Review Group in the UK and a proud member of the United Nations Women UK. She also works as an independent diversity and workplace conflict resolution consultant, providing confidential and free advice to the victims of workplace harassment, bullying and discrimination. As an academic, she dedicated years of hard work to action and achieve gender equality, in empowering underrepresented women. With expertise in gender-based violence and racial disparity within policing and uniformed public services, she built up a solid reputation through her national and international collaboration with European and American academics and police professionals and is recognised worldwide for her research findings and journal publications.
Dr Hasan’s current research interests lie in the field of Black officers’ recruitment and retention within the UK forces, violence against women and girls, genocidal rape and sexual violence, immigration and forced displacements of people in war zones and the impact of intersectionality between race, gender, sexual orientation, disability and neurodiversity for women of colour, focusing on the historical development of legislative and policy frameworks within the UK and other jurisdictions
Charmain Brenyah
Charmain Brenyah joined the Metropolitan Police Service in 2006 after five years on a graduate scheme with The Royal Bank of Scotland. She is currently Commander for Uniformed Operations, overseeing Specialist Firearms, Taskforce units, and Roads and Transport Command.
Her career spans senior leadership roles across counter‑terrorism, specialist firearms, homicide, serious and complex crime, transformation and HR. She has led major organisational change programmes, including the Direct Entry Detective and Fast Track Returner schemes.
Alongside operational leadership, Charmain has previously championed mentoring and inclusion through her long‑standing partnership with The Girls Network, earning an Assistant Commissioner’s Commendation.
I am motivated to join the Women in the Shade Board as it provides a meaningful opportunity to contribute to positive change by amplifying black women’s voices, influencing leadership thinking, and supporting commitment to equality, inclusion and progression.
I am keen to use my experience and perspective to help shape practical, informed recommendations, while also learning from WITS members and peers. Participation would allow me to develop my own leadership capability, broaden my strategic understanding, and role model confidence and ambition for other women across WITS contributors.
Dr Balissa Greene (she/her)
Dr Balissa Greene (she/her) is a Chartered Occupational Psychologist with over 20 years’ experience working across the UK’s largest and most complex organisations, including the Civil Service, Police, NHS, and Defence.
As the former Head of Diversity and Inclusion for the British Army, she is known for her expertise in leadership development, particularly her ability to support under-represented professionals thrive in hierarchical and structurally rigid environments.
Her motivation to drive change in organisations is personal and profound. Completing her PhD at the London School of Economics, she researched the lived experiences of overseas workers in the British Army.
Her findings led to tangible policy change in recruitment practices and earned her the British Psychological Society’s Practitioner of the Year award. In 2023, she was also recognised by HR Magazine and Hult Business School as one of the UK’s most influential thinkers.
''My mission is to increase the representation of Black women in leadership roles, particularly within hierarchical and male-dominated environments. Joining the board of Women in the Shade as an advisor provides an opportunity to work alongside fellow board members who share a commitment to advancing this goal. I am excited to contribute my expertise in organisational psychology, leadership development, and executive coaching to support the organisation's vision, strengthen its impact, and help create meaningful opportunities for women to thrive, lead, and influence change''.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/balissagreene
Brigadier Thammy Evans QVRM, VR
Thammy Evans has worked for the majority of her civilian career in international security sector reform and governance, focussing on defence reform and on gender and security. She has also worked at various levels on sustainability and now combines these two areas working on global regenerative ecological security.
Thammy has worked in the past with public and private sector, with international foundations, in NATO, the UN, EU, and with the African Union. Her skill sets cover good governance, policy and strategy development, systems dynamics, conflict analysis, public relations and advocacy, and countering disinformation.
She is also a Reservist in the UK Armed Forces, rising to the rank of Brigadier. She has deployed to Bosnia, Iraq and North Macedonia, and has worked in strategic intelligence, security capacity building, information operations and now in defence management.
Thammy is widely published on topics ranging from China, gendered analysis, regenerative economics, climate conflict and insecurity and measuring conflict prevention (forthcoming).
Jacynth Ivey MBE
Jacynth Ivey MBE is an award-winning executive coach, leadership consultant, author and experienced Non-Executive Director, with more than 30 years’ leadership experience across health, care and public services. A former nurse, midwife and health visitor, she became the first Black Chief Nurse in the West Midlands.
Jacynth is the Founder and Chief Executive of Inspiring Hope, where she works nationally with boards, executive teams and senior leaders to address racial inequity, strengthen inclusive leadership and create sustainable organisational and cultural change. She brings extensive experience in board governance, strategic development, workforce and culture, organisational assurance, leadership development, stakeholder engagement and constructive challenge.
Jacynth was awarded an MBE for services to nursing and reducing health inequalities. She is also the author of It’s Okay to Be Different: 7 Steps to Acknowledge Your Brilliance. Her expertise aligns strongly with WITS’ commitment to inclusive leadership, tackling discrimination and ensuring that Black women’s talents, experiences and perspectives are recognised, respected and valued.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacynth-ivey-mbe-6647192b/