As I begin my role as Executive Director at BEMIS, I want to start by recognising the significant contributions of colleagues who have led and shaped the organisation over the last 24 years.
Our outgoing CEO Rami Ousta, Director of National Development Tanveer Parnez, and Office Manager Sue Barnes have each worked tirelessly to ensure that BEMIS became and remained a trusted voice for ethnic minority communities in Scotland. Their commitment has helped establish strong networks, created meaningful opportunities, and supported countless individuals and organisations. On behalf of the Board, staff team, and members, I extend sincere thanks for their service. Their leadership has provided a foundation on which we will continue to build.
Central to BEMIS is a principle that will not change: our commitment to engage all ethnic minority communities in solidarity, not competition. Whether defined by colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin including citizenship, we stand for unity across diversity. This principle has guided BEMIS for nearly a quarter of a century, and it will continue to be at the heart of our work. We believe that it is through diversity that we find strength and common purpose. It is through collaboration that we make progress, and it is through collective ambition that Scotland can become a place where families and communities can fulfil their potential.
Looking ahead, I am pleased to introduce three new colleagues who join us at this important time:
- Charlotte Thomas takes up the role of Race Equality and Human Rights Policy Officer, ensuring that our advocacy and policy development are informed by lived experiences and are both evidence based, and solutions focused.
- Justina Kehinde Obaoye joins us as Capacity Development and Human Rights Training Officer. Her focus will be on strengthening the skills and confidence of communities to advocate for their rights.
- Neil Foster returns as Senior IT and Information Officer, enhancing our ability to connect, share information, and support our networks.
Each of them will bring fresh perspectives and ideas, and in the coming weeks they will be sharing blogs that outline their priorities and introduce their work in more detail.
While these are exciting developments, we also need to be realistic about the context in which we are working. As Scotland approaches the 2026 parliamentary elections, we have seen the political and civic discourse increasingly characterised by anti-immigration sentiment. This is not abstract. It is visible in protests outside the homes of asylum seekers and is experienced as a ripple effect across our streets, villages, towns, and cities. These circumstances disproportionately affect ethnic minority communities, who face them directly in their daily lives.
BEMIS will continue to play an active role in responding to these challenges. We will coordinate the national Race, Equality and Human Rights Network (Scotland) to ensure that communities and organisations remain connected and supported. We will continue to advocate that the rights of people to live free from hatred and discrimination are respected, including in the context of public protest.
At the same time, we will build on our work using Intangible Cultural Heritage interventions, which have proven effective in fostering understanding and positive interaction at both local and national levels. We will maintain and nurture constructive engagement with the Scottish Government and other stakeholders to strengthen human rights mainstreaming, progress the Race Equality Framework for Scotland until 2030 and secure practical outcomes for people and communities.
Most importantly we will ensure that our work remains grounded in communities themselves, creating opportunities for their voices to be heard and for their priorities to shape decisions that affect them.
The challenges ahead are real, but so too are the opportunities to make a difference. With a dedicated team, a clear mission, and the continued support of our partners and members, BEMIS is well placed to continue its work.
We are here, open, and ready to play our part in making Scotland a better place for everyone who calls it home.
Danny Boyle
Executive Director, BEMIS