Our UK Team

Shika is a small organisation run in the UK by a group of committed individuals who give their time and experience for free.  This enables us to keep operational costs down channelling the maximum amount of money to our projects in Tanzania.

Director: Michelle Parlett

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Michelle Parlett is freelance television producer who trained and worked for BBC Entertainment for 7 years. After spending a year in Tanzania working with people affected by HIV/AIDS, she went on to manage the broadcast department at Comic Relief for Red Nose Day 2007 and later produced appeal films for American Idol Gives Back in 2008. Michelle’s career with Comic Relief has took her to disadvantaged communities in South America, Asia and Africa. After a spell at Comic Relief producing films and programming for their Red Nose Day and Sport Relief campaigns she now spends much of her time in UK and Tanzania for Shika as the Director of the charity.

 

 

Treasurer: Rob Corbett

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Rob is Shika’s treasurer and is therefore responsible for all things financial at the charity. He works closely with Michelle Parlett and the other trustees to ensure funds are available for Shika’s programmes. Rob works in the City in financial services and thinks that his involvement in Shika is valuable in providing context and perspective when at work and at home

 

 

 

 

Trustee: Emily Bamford

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Emily Bamford works for UNICEF as a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Specialist and is currently based in New York, USA. Emily has worked on development projects in the Central African Republic, Tanzania and Sierra Leone. She helped establish the child sponsorship programme with Michelle in 2006 and continues to support Shika, working closely with the children during her frequent visits to Tanzania.

 

 

 

 

 

Secretary: Ros Edwards
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Ros Edwards is an award winning television producer and director with documentaries such as Last Chance to See: Return of the Rhino, Stephen Fry and The Great American Oil Spill to her credit.  Ros is dedicated to working for charities and has made films for Oxfam, Earthwatch and Comic Relief. Her work has taken her across the globe.  She is a Director of Education Trust Ltd, a Lady Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers and on the Advisory Committee for the Mugabe Kaijuka Foundtion (Uganda). She has been a Trustee of Shika since January 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trustee: Rupert Burstow

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Rupert Burstow is a successful businessman.  As the previous managing director of Rupert Burstow Commercial Property Agency, and more recently as the owner of new restaurant and bar in the Isle of Wight, Rupert holds a comprehensive local contact list and impressive business knowledge spanning nearly 30 years. Rupert has been a supporter of Shika since its launch in 2007 and enjoys using his business management skills for something much more rewarding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Programme Development Consultant: Susanne Mayer (Susi)
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Susi has a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and graduated in 2012 from Catholic University of Eichstätt, Germany.  Susi joined Shika in May as our Tanzanian Programme Manager in 2012 after 6 months working with drug-addicted youths in Arusha.  Susi remains heavily committed to Shika, and works closely with us on programme development  since she left to study for her Masters in 2015.

 

 

 

 

Shika Ambassador: Rukayyah Yussuf

 

Rukayyah Yussuf is a student at the University of Huddersfield and works also as a global inspirational speaker.  She volunteered in Tanzania with Shika in 2018.  Her time with Shika really inspired her and she continues to spread the word about are work and the amazing, resilient individuals she came to know in Tanzania.