Meet the New Citizens' Gateway Trustees

The team who makes New Citizens' Gateway possible

Prof Sanjiv Ahluwalia (Chair)

Sanjiv has been the Head of the School of Medicine at Anglia Ruskin University since 2022. Previously, he served as the Regional Postgraduate Dean for Health Education England (HEE) in London, where he was responsible for liaising with NHS England and promoting and supporting regional and national healthcare programs across the capital. Since 1999, he has practised as a General Practitioner in Barnet, initially in Burnt Oak, before moving to West Finchley. His work with patients from abroad sparked his interest in refugees' and asylum seekers' health and care needs, motivating his involvement with the New Citizens' Gateway. Sanjive has a longstanding passion for developing people and is actively involved in educating future doctors across London.

Sanjiv said: “I decided to join NCG after reaching a chronological milestone with a desire to give something back to the community I have worked and lived in for a significant proportion of the time. I have been supporting NCG as a trustee since 2019.”

Geetha Saba-Nathan (Treasurer)

Geetha was born in Sri Lanka and has made the UK her home since leaving Sri Lanka in 1984 following the start of the civil war.

She is a qualified accountant and has worked in various sectors and followed her passion to work in the charity sector by joining a community and environmental charity -The Groundwork South Trust, as the Head of Finance in 2008.

In 2012, Geetha joined Blue Sky Development and Regeneration, a social enterprise which only employed ex-offenders to help them break the cycle of reoffending by providing paid employment into entry-level jobs. As Financial Controller, Geehta was responsible for all aspects of finance and was very proud to be part of an organisation that positively impacted the lives of ex-offenders by providing them with job opportunities, training, financial support, and onward employment.

Geetha took voluntary retirement in 2018 and has since been active in the local community.

Geetha said: “I am grateful for the opportunity to be the Treasurer of New Citizens' Gateway and being part of an organisation that enhances the lives of Asylum seekers and refugees from many war-torn nations.”

Dr Penny Trafford

Penny has been a resident in North London all her life. She was an NHS general practitioner for 34 years, and retired after 26 years practising as a GP in Burnt Oak, Edgware.

In 1998 Penny collaborated with the group affiliated to Barnet Voluntary Services Bureau working with refugees, (the origins of New Citizens' Gateway) to enhance local services for refugees in primary care.

Penny was involved in postgraduate medical education and an Associate Dean at London University, leading the International Doctors Unit for 12 years. This unit dealt with internationally trained doctors, refugee doctors and EU GPs. Projects included:

Clinical Experience Scheme and Refugee Dr GPVTS supported refugee doctors in practicing in the UK and getting substantive posts in the NHS. Over 300 refugee doctors were helped into NHS posts by this scheme
EU GP Project enlarging the GP workforce for the UK

Penny set up the Communications Skills Unit to improve communication skills in internationally qualified and UK-trained doctors from any speciality requiring remedial help.

Penny said: "I am now privileged to be involved with New Citizens' Gateway as a Trustee, to enhance strategy and governance structures, and support the many ways NCG, through practical schemes, seeks to enhance refugees' lives and build a cohesive local community."

Smiling middle-aged woman with blonde hair and brown glasses

Sanja Dujmovic Potnar

Sanja Dujmovic Potnar was born and raised in Bosnia, Sanja made her home in the UK in 1993. Since that time, she worked as a Senior Manager in a variety of organisations, including charities (RETAS – Refugee Education Training Advice Services, Helen Bamber Foundation) and public service (Barnet Council – Registration and Nationality Service). Her roles have been mainly in service delivery, programme delivery and organisational development.

From 2021 to 2022, Sanja worked in the area of climate change issues as part of the Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment, and she organised a number of Student – MP Climate surgeries in primary and secondary schools across London, as well as contributing to the organisation of the Schools Climate Summit as part of the London Climate Action Week 2021 and 2022.

Since June 2023, Sanja has worked as a program officer for the Association of Commonwealth Universities, promoting UK higher education for international development.

Sanja said, “Supporting the refugee sector in London and the UK has been my long-standing commitment. I believe that by offering insight into my own experience of being a refugee and using my capacity building, networking and liaison skills, I can help shape up service provision, user involvement and partnership co-operation for NCG”.

Portrait of middle-aged woman with long blonde hair, hoop earrings and black turtleneck

Fanta Sheriff

Fanta came to the United Kingdom in 2014 as a refugee from Sierra Leone. She studied an LLB (Law Degree) at Birkbeck University of London and proceeded to study an LLM in Human Rights Law at Queen Mary University of London. Fanta was awarded a Success Bursary by Birkbeck University based on Merit in LLB in 2019.

Fanta has also been volunteering with numerous organisations such as New Citizens' Gateway and Rainbow Money Advice Barnet. Her role in these two organisations ranges between support work, administration and advice work. She also did some voluntary work with Advice4Renters in Brent.

In addition, Fanta completed the Universal Credit Training by CPAG, became a certified Advisor with Community Money Advice with a Level 3 certificate and became a member of the Institute of Money Advisors. As well as this, she was chosen to be a year one Law chat mentor at Birkbeck University of London. Fanta is currently a Trustee with Belifted, a grassroots community-led organisation with a vision to uplift women.

Fanta said, "I am very grateful to the entire staff at NCG, not only as a service user but also for the opportunity to volunteer in various areas. This experience has greatly aided my academic studies and has been very rewarding for my mental health. It is my honour to serve as a trustee of NCG as a small way to give back for what they did for me and to be part of the support network helping others in similar situations."

West African woman with plaid yellow shirt and hair scarf

Esmond Rosen

Esmond Rosen's background is as a PE teacher and in various community roles, including director of the Liverpool Jewish Youth & Community Centre. In 1986, he was elected Chair of the Liverpool Faith Network. He undertook appointments with the Board of Deputies of British Jews as Director of Community Issues and then as Community Development Manager of Borehamwood Synagogue.

He was appointed Regional Development Manager for Jewish Volunteering Network, and was a Trustee of the Jewish Youth Fund, and is also a Trustee of the Inter Faith Network.

He has edited an educational booklet on the Role of Righteous Muslims who saved Jewish lives during the Holocaust and were recognised as Righteous Amongst the Nations by Yad Vashem for their bravery and heroism.

He is now retired from professional work and is the elected President and Trustee of The Barnet Multi-Faith Forum; Barnet is the most diverse multi-faith borough in London and was the first in London to publicly sign a Covenant, acting as the Voice of the Faith Sector with this strategic partnership arrangement with the Council.

Middle-aged man in collared shirt with tie and white kippah

Niks Kolosnicins

Niks immigrated to the UK with his family at the age of 11 from Latvia. He is a recent university graduate with a degree in Economics. Nik's passion for the third sector stems from his own lived experience of receiving vital support from charities. He is now keen to support charities that help some of the most vulnerable groups of people in society.

In December 2024, Niks joined the Lived Experience Council at GambleAware, where he advocates for young people's interests. He also volunteers for various organisations focusing on mental health and youth work. Including being a Peer Support Volunteer for people experiencing gambling harm, in an advisory capacity on various mental health research projects, and sitting on a youth advisory group for an employability charity.

Niks said: “Joining NCG's Board of Trustees as a Youth Representative is an exciting opportunity to contribute to an organisation that plays a vital role in supporting young refugees. I look forward to working collaboratively with fellow trustees and NCG staff to strengthen the organisation's impact, ensuring that the voices and perspectives of young people remain central to the design and delivery of its services.”

young man with blue shirt

Dr Fariba Kellaway

Fariba is a new Trustee at NCG, who comes with over 30 years of leadership experience in the field of Fundraising and Business Development in the UK's education and non-profit sector, including 5 years at the Iranian Association during the 1990s, where she served refugees and asylum seekers as a Fundraising Manager and Case Worker. Her expertise includes team leadership and income generation from Major Gifts, Trusts & Foundations, Corporate Sponsorships, Events, Membership, and Annual Giving programmes.

Fariba has a PhD in 'Globalisation and National Identity: A British Case Study' from the London School of Economics (1999) and an extensive track record in part-time academic teaching in Sociology and Humanities.

Fariba said: “I am delighted to join the NCG as a Trustee. These are highly challenging times for refugees and asylum seekers and the organisations that represent them. Yet the work of organisations such as NCG in representing and integrating refugees and asylum seekers has never been more needed. The work enables refugees and asylum seekers to learn how to be good citizens in the UK, integrate better, learn new skills, and make a positive contribution in society. In doing so, the work also supports local communities to absorb their immigrant population better”.

Dr Antonina Lagun

Antonina is an executive and non-profit board member with 20+ years' experience in financial leadership, governance and risk. As Deputy Chair at a leading financial organisation, she led a £4bn merger, and as CFO within a diversified holding group, she oversaw £800m in assets and managed £470m+ in cross-border transactions.

Having resettled in the UK due to the war in her home country, Ukraine, Dr Lagun brings a lived experience of forced displacement, and she relates to people rebuilding their lives.
She has contributed to governance and stakeholder engagement in both charitable and non-profit membership organisation sectors.

Antonina said: “Inspired by NCG's holistic model and the emphasis on empowering clients to lead their own progress, I hope to bring my expertise in finance, risk, and strategic planning to the Board. My goal is to strengthen governance and financial sustainability while ensuring that every strategic decision deepens the organisation's social and community impact.”