Meet the Alumni Advisory Board
Amira Williams
Chair of the Alumni Advisory Board
Amira is an Account Director at Missive, an integrated tech PR and communications consultancy. She leads day-to-day activity across a diverse portfolio of clients, managing teams, developing creative campaigns, and acting as a strategic lead to ensure communications align with wider business goals. With experience spanning both B2B and B2C campaigns, Amira brings a versatile and thoughtful approach to her work. Outside of client delivery, she plays an active role in building inclusive and forward-thinking workplace cultures. She is particularly passionate about the development of junior talent and creating pathways for those historically underrepresented in the PR and communications industry. A proud alumna of the Taylor Bennett Foundation, Amira credits the programme with shaping the foundation of her career and helping her gain early exposure to the communications world. She is excited to bring her industry insight, lived experience, and passion for inclusive progress to the Alumni Advisory Board, and to help support the next generation of diverse talent entering the sector.
Kwaku Aning
Kwaku Aning is a Senior Director in the Strategic Communications practice of FTI Consulting, leading on corporate and financial media relations briefs on behalf of his clients.
He has ten years of financial, corporate, litigation and crisis communications experience, regularly working on the delivery of high-profile international corporate media campaigns for clients ranging from start-ups to large multinational organisations.
Beyond his client work at FTI Consulting, he co-led the Company’s Black, Asian and minority ethnic network for over eight years. During this period, Network membership grew by over 500%, while he also helped guide the business in implementing key religious guidelines, introducing training and education sessions on microaggressions in the workplace, and celebrating key events such as Lunar New Year, Diwali, and Black History Month. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nottingham in International Relations. Following his bachelor’s, he undertook a Master’s at the University of Sheffield, where he studied Global Security.
Haider Chaudhry
Haider is a PR professional with nearly four years of experience, specialising in B2B communications. A graduate of the 2021 Taylor Bennett Foundation summer training programme, Haider has remained closely connected to the Foundation ever since. He leads mentoring sessions, participates in alumni initiatives, and runs practical workshops to support the next generation of PR talent.
At Fight or Flight, one of the UK’s leading B2B PR agencies, Haider manages a diverse portfolio of clients spanning fintech, travel, growth intelligence, and print manufacturing. His work has contributed to award-winning campaigns, including Roland DG’s Dress Release and Medius’s Big Hero Snitch. Beyond the world of PR, Haider nurtures a passion for perfumery and gardening.
Michelle Okwudiafor
Michelle C. Okwudiafor is a senior communications leader, board advisor, and founder with over 16 years of experience delivering impactful communications, DEI, and employee engagement strategies across the UK, Nigeria, and the Middle East. She has held senior roles at organisations such as S&P Global, TotalEnergies, and ACCA, where she led global communication campaigns and inclusive culture programmes. A proud alumna of the Taylor Bennett Foundation, Michelle is passionate about paying it forward. Joining the Alumni Advisory Board is her way of staying connected to the TBF community and helping others build confidence, careers, and a sense of belonging in the industry.
Michelle is the founder of Career Invest, a platform equipping underrepresented women and young adults with the confidence, skills, and clarity to thrive at work, in business, and beyond. She also serves as a trustee at Book Aid International. Whether through her workshops, keynote talks, or forthcoming children’s books, Michelle is committed to helping people feel seen, heard, and proud of their stories and is honoured to bring that energy back to the TBF community.
Monique Noel Brown
Monique is a seasoned communications professional with over four years of varied experience in the technology communications sector across EMEA, APAC, and UK&I. In her roles, she has supported a diverse range of B2B clients delivering strategic media relations, content development, communications planning and more.
Monique began her PR career in-house at BT and AWS, where she developed a strong foundation in corporate storytelling, strategic comms planning and led innovative campaigns that enhanced brand reputation and drove global business impact. She is very passionate about deep tech, AI, sustainability and all things tech for good.
A passionate advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Monique is an alumna of the Taylor Bennett Foundation. She actively champions inclusive storytelling and has led multiple DEI-focused initiatives throughout her career, including sitting on Edelman’s GRIOT board and devising a reverse mentoring plan for the AWS EMEA PR team; she has actively dedicated her PR career to fostering an inclusive workplace.
Noshin Chowdhury
Noshin is a Senior External Affairs Manager with deep expertise in political communications and stakeholder engagement. Currently serving at the Department for Business and Trade, she leads strategic communications and high-level stakeholder engagement for major government initiatives, including the Industrial Strategy, Trade Agreements, and the International Investment Summit. She has pioneered the use of stakeholder intelligence tools and advised senior officials on investment positioning, reputational risk, and cross-sector communications.
Prior to her government role, Noshin was an Account Director at Brunswick Group, advising global clients on public affairs, policy risks, and regulatory developments. She has also held roles at SEC Newgate, Hanover Communications, and The Salvation Army, consistently delivering value through policy insight, crisis management, and communications leadership. Noshin holds a Master’s in Public Policy from King’s College London and a Bachelor’s in International Political Economy. An advocate for diversity and inclusion, she serves on the Alumni Advisory Board of the Taylor Bennett Foundation and is a Fellow of Salzburg Global Seminar’s Public Policy New Voices Programme. Noshin is also a graduate of the Operation Black Vote Pathway to Success programme and the Uprising Environmental Leadership Programme.
Zoe Beard
Zoe Beard is an experienced PR and Communications professional specialising in B2B technology. She has helped deliver integrated communications campaigns for some of the biggest technology brands, including Verizon Media and Yahoo. Currently, Zoe is the Brand, Community, and Communications Manager at Gearset. Zoe also volunteers for a nationwide mentoring programme called Bridging Barriers, where she helps diverse talent get their foot on the career ladder.
Ismail Rahman
Ismail Rahman is currently studying for an MSc in Public Policy at Queen Mary University of London and is a summer intern at FTI Consulting. He previously completed a BA in Politics and International Relations and took part in the Taylor Bennett Foundation PR training programme with Brunswick Group, as well as a Public Affairs internship at Stonehaven. As an aspiring communications professional and Alumni Advisory Board member, Ismail is passionate about promoting diversity and inclusion in the industry and strengthening the TBF alumni network.
Ronke Ogunnusi
Ronke is a communications professional with a background in PR, internal communications and change management. She’s proud to be joining the Taylor Bennett Foundation’s inaugural Alumni Advisory Board, a new initiative designed to support and connect the growing community of TBF alumni.
Ronke currently works at Vested, a global communications consultancy, where she was recently promoted after completing the graduate scheme. She joined the business after taking part in TBF’s PR & Communications programme in partnership with HSBC last summer. Before pivoting into the world of comms, Ronke worked in management consulting, focusing on change management and strategic communications across a range of industries.
Ronke holds a BA from the University of Liverpool in International Politics and Policy which has provided her with a strong foundation in global affairs and policy analysis. As part of the Alumni Advisory Board, she’s excited to give back to the TBF community, helping shape alumni engagement, create meaningful events, and ensure that the next generation of diverse talent feels equipped, supported and empowered to enter and thrive in the working world. Outside of work, Ronke enjoys playing netball and tennis, travelling and baking.
Dionysia Sonia Afolabi
Dionysia is a Media, Communication & Cultural Studies graduate, currently studying for an MA in Music Business Management to deepen her expertise at the intersection of music, entertainment, and PR. With a growing specialism in this space, she is passionate about building campaigns that spotlight emerging talent and reflect the cultural conversations shaping the industry.
Her journey into communications began through the Taylor Bennett Foundation’s Summer Stars programme, which sparked her interest in public relations. Since then, she’s gained experience across consumer, global tech, travel, and lifestyle PR, contributing to campaigns for brands such as Amazon Grocery, Direct Line Group, and Club Med.
Now part of the Taylor Bennett Foundation Alumni Advisory Board, Dionysia is focused on helping grow and strengthen the alumni network – creating a supportive, collaborative space that empowers future talent and drives meaningful change across the PR landscape.