Our Patrons
Lord Ray Collins of Highbury
Lord Ray Collins of Highbury is a Labour Life peer and Trade Unionist who was General Secretary of the Labour Party from 2008 to 2011 and prior to that he was the Assistant General Secretary of the TGWU. He was created a peer on 24th January 2011 and currently undertakes the roles of Opposition Whip (Lords), and Shadow Spokesperson (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and International Development). Ray is a member of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on HIV/AIDS and Global LGBT+ Rights. Having a keen interest in continuing education he is a member of the Governing Body of Ruskin College, Oxford.
“I am delighted to welcome Dominic Skinner and Rina Sawayama to the Positive East family joining me as Patrons of the Charity. Both of them have been supporters of the work of Positive East and are brilliant champions of the Charity. I know together we can support Positive East in realising its vision.”
Rina Sawayama
Singer-Songwriter Rina Sawayama was born in Japan but raised by her single mother in North London. She released her critically-acclaimed debut album, Sawayama in the height of the global pandemic to much applause. The alternative-pop album has amassed over 100 million worldwide streams since its release and has ranked in over 50 “album of the year” lists for 2020. A Cambridge graduate and former model, it is the singer’s daring attitude that has hailed her as the “future of pop.”
“I feel so honoured to become a Patron for such an important charity like Positive East. I’ve known their work and been connected to them for many years so it feels especially close to my heart for them to give me this title. The grassroots work that Positive East do is so important to their community and service users and it’s brilliant to see their small team achieve such great results and I can’t wait to be more involved with them in years to come.”
Dominic Skinner
With over 20 years in the beauty business, Dominic Skinner has credited his ongoing search for makeup knowledge and strive for perfection as his reason for his unwavering passion for all things makeup. Having worked for some of the worlds greatest designers and photographers and alongside the most iconic Makeup Artists, he is full to the brim with tips, tricks, hacks and inspiration making him the go to artist for creative thinking.
Being labelled as ‘A must to follow’ by various online and printed publications, Dominic’s Instagram feed has been the go to destination for all his MAC and Backstage related work. You also may know Dominic as one of the co-hosts of the hit show Glow Up.
“It’s truly an honour to become a patron of Positive East. I have been a supporter of everything they do for over a decade and have seen single-handedly the positive change they have made in the lives of the people of east London. I’m very much looking forward to working alongside Rina, Lord Collins and the wonderful people of Positive East, helping to improve the lives and break the stigma of those living with HIV.”
Our Staff
Aiden Curtain
Facilities Support
Alastair Thomson
Finance Director
Andre Smith
Counselling Coordinator
Antonio Giacalone
Peer Support Team Leader
Badru Male
HIV Prevention and Testing Worker
Euriza Mata
Testing and Prevention Coordinator
Hugh Wyld
HIV Voices Director
Ian Montgomery
Head of Fundraising and Communications
Joanne McCarthy
Clinical Psychologist
Liz Lesley
Management Support Administrator
Maria Kubler
Volunteer Manager
Mark Santos
Director
Massimo Nardi
HIV Prevention & Testing Worker (Gay, Bi & MSM in Redbridge)
Nick Maxwell
Peer Support Worker - (Gay Men)
Pamela Menzies-Banton
Women for Women Project Coordinator
Peter Bampton
Prevention & Testing Team Manager
Peter Ekakoro
Advice Team Manager
Dr Renee West
GMI Partnership Manager
Resty Mulemwa
Peer Support Worker (African Communities)
Ricky Krokos
Prevention and Testing (Gay Men)
Robert Fagliarone
Facilities Officer
Simon Farris
Information and Advice Worker
Steve Worrall
Deputy Director
Tina Brown
Information and Advice Worker
