Shilla’s pronouns are they/them.
Shilla joined AVA in November 2022 as our Training and Events Coordinator, having previously worked for the London Fire Brigade (LFB) for 18 1/2 years as an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) training designer, trainer, and Inclusion Manager. Shilla is extremely passionate about promoting and embedding EDI as a golden thread. Whilst at LFB they were chair of the Asian Fire Service Association and then founder of the Brigade’s mental health staff network ‘United MINDs’ and helped to establish their domestic abuse network, ‘Phoenix’. Shilla was given the Special Recognition Award for Excellence in the Field of Mental Health at The Firefighters Charity’s Spirit of Fire Awards in November 2020, virtually presented by HRH Prince of Wales. Shilla is now embarking on a new journey with AVA as our Interim CEO whilst undertaking a Masters in Counselling and Psychotherapy at the University of East London.
