The Staff Team

You can contact BIHR via our main switchboard (0207 882 5850) or on email ([email protected])

Director: Sanchita Hosali

Sanchita is a recognised expert in human rights and equality law, policy and practice, with over fifteen years of working both in the UK and internationally. As Director at BIHR Sanchita provides strategic leadership and management, overseeing operations, with a lead role in policy and campaigning. Sanchita convenes an innovative new clinical module at QMUL School of Law, "Securing human rights" which provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to gain practical learning and experience of using human rights standards within the charity sector. Find out more about BIHR's relationship with QMUL here.

Sanchita has a particular expertise in addressing violence against women from a human rights perspective, having worked on a number of UK and international projects on these issues, including on "honour" crimes. She has been an academic researcher, worked as a freelance researcher, and lead policy and strategy development, in a variety of positions at organisations including Nottingham University, SOAS, Greater London Domestic Violence Project, Matrix Chambers, and Rights of Women. Sanchita has previously worked on human rights in the United Nations system, both at the Secretariat in New York and the World Health Organisation in Geneva. 

Sanchita has been recently appointed as a Trustee of the Centre for Women's Justice. She was previously the Chair of Rights of Women, a national legal organisation, overseeing the organisation's constitution as a charity. Sanchita holds an LLM Human Rights Law and an LLB in Law.

Policy and Programmes Manager: Patrick Stoakes

Patrick joined BIHR in June 2019. Patrick has extensive experience in the third sector,  working in the LGBTI equality sector, disability rights and the HIV field, with a particular emphasis on community development and capacity building, and user involvement and co-production. He has previously been Director of the Equality Network, a leading Scottish LGBTI NGO, and was Programme Director for LGBT Diversity, building the LGBT community sector across Ireland. He has been Head of Information and Support Services at both the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and MS Society. Other charities he has worked for include Terrence Higgins Trust, Rethink Mental Illness and Sands (Stillbirth and neonatal death charity). Patrick has an LLM in Human Rights Law. 

Human Rights Officer: Carlyn Miller

Carlyn joined BIHR after 16 months as a Policy Officer in the Care, Support and Rights Division of the Scottish Government. Prior to this Carlyn worked as a Human Rights Project Lead for Scottish Care supporting health and social care providers across Scotland to embed a human rights based approach. Carlyn holds a First Class MA Joint Honours degree in Politics and International Relations and her dissertation on the rights of marginalized groups won her a Scholarship to complete her MSc in Human Rights and International Politics at the University of Glasgow. Prior to this Carlyn spent three years working internationally on human rights issues in India, Nepal and Ghana.

Human Rights Officer: Katrin McEntee

Katrin joined BIHR in January 2019 after having previously coordinated Age UK’s Our Rights Our Voices programme which aimed to empower older people’s forums to understand and use human rights in their community. Katrin has also recently completed her studies in Dance Movement Psychotherapy at Goldsmiths University. As part of her course, Katrin worked closely with women fleeing domestic violence as well as women with alcohol addiction. Prior to this, Katrin established and ran an advocacy service for a disability rights charity in Camden, supporting people to be heard on key issues such as health, social care and housing.

Administration & Finance Assistant: Rephael Akpan

Rephael joined the BIHR in August 2018, after completing a two month voluntary role in various regions across Peru. Previously Rephael worked within the Finance Team at MVision Private Equity Advisers for three years as an Assistant Accountant; primarily focusing on Fund Accounting and Fund Administration. Prior to this Rephael worked within Financial Services, initially at BDO as an Audit Junior and then with the Royal Bank of Scotland in the Global Restructuring Group. Rephael graduated from City and Islington College in 2012, and holds a Certificate in Finance Accounting and Business (CFAB) from the Institute of Chartered Accountants England & Wales (ICAEW).

Research & Communications Assistant: Eilidh Turnbull

 Eilidh joined BIHR in March 2018 after six months as a project assistant in European Council on Refugees and Exiles. Prior to this she completed legal research internships at the Council of Europe and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute. Eilidh also has a background in asylum support casework. She holds a LLB, a LLM in Human Rights and Migration Law and a Diploma in Professional Legal Practice.

 Summer Intern: Hussain Syed

 Hussain joined BIHR in August 2019 before the final year of his LLB. Prior to his internship, he was a student scholar at the Mile End Institute. During his LLB, Hussain worked as a support team member and student adviser at Queen Mary University's Legal Advice Centre, delivering workshops on preventing image-based abuse and advising victims of 'revenge porn' on their legal rights. He presented his research on reforming legislation regarding revenge porn at the British Conference for Undergraduate Research.