WHO WE ARE
MEET THE SECRETARIAT
Secretariat
The role of the secretariat is to provide administrative, financial and coordination support for the work of BD_Collective. It manages the social infrastructure contract from Barking & Dagenham Council awarded via BD Giving who will host the contract until a management team set up under our new Community Benefit Society (CBS) entity is ready .
Amelie Tan
CBS Development Lead
Jenny Fribbins
Network Coordinator and Communications
CBS Working Group
This group of six individuals will work with our Secretariat to develop the CBS into a self-governing, member-led body. They’ll help define the society’s governance, design our membership structure, and prepare for the election of a full leadership team. This is a key phase in ensuring the CBS can deliver on its exciting new role to continue developing how we connect civil society organisations, creating and sharing opportunities as well as ensuring we bring equity and representation for voices to be heard.
Anna Pollard
Anna spends most of her time as a Leader of Church at Barking Riverside, which she co-founded a few years ago, and became community operator for the Rivergate Centre in summer 2024. Anna has lived in the borough for 6 years, and loves our vibrant community.
Before this, she was working in funding and prior to that, the NHS. Anna has children at school and has always been involved with various community activities and groups; there is amazing work going on! She is passionate to see our home in Barking & Dagenham be a place we can all thrive and a place our children are proud to come from.
Emma Middleton
Emma has been the Head of Fundraising & Community Engagement at DABD since September 2023. Prior to this post, she headed up fundraising at YMCA Thames Gateway and worked in both adult and children’s hospices in fundraising and events. She is committed to creating connected communities that support each other; building networks for charities, local organisations and individuals that benefit all including the hardest to reach. Her experience includes fundraising, marketing, contracts, events and direct delivery to a wide range of service users having worked primarily for organisations who work across all ages. Emma welcomes the opportunity to be part of the CBS Working Group and bring her experience to this collaborative opportunity.
Liliana Hristova
Liliana Hristova is a Dagenham-based mother, author, creative thinker, reuse matchmaker, healer, positive energy generator, thoughts creator and action taker for a better world. Over the last 7 years Liliana has built strong connections with individuals and organisations in Barking and Dagenham through actively seeking a way to contribute to the community and learn from different experiences, cultures, structures and points of view.
As an individual, Liliana has a powerful desire to contribute to an elevated life experience for everyone by continuously learning, exploring, researching, and implementing my learning in everything she does.
Matthew Scott
Matt has worked as a community worker for over 30 years, currently wearing several hats, including working with Citizens UK and TELCO (the East London Community Organisers) as Community Organiser for BD Citizens, as well as being CEO of Thames Life Community Development Trust located in Thames View and Barking Riverside Wards, site of one of Europe’s largest regeneration sites.
Matt also lectures on community work at Goldsmiths College, University of London and has completed a PhD on the role of community development in New Labour’s modernising local government agenda.
Matthew Skinner
Matt leads Care City, driving innovation, collaboration and system change across health, care and communities in Barking and Dagenham and beyond. With a background in local government and leadership roles at FutureGov and TPXimpact, Matt brings strong experience in service design, digital transformation and partnership building.
He is a recognised strategist, facilitator and speaker, committed to ethical, human-centred innovation. A champion of VCSE collaboration, Matt supports integrated approaches that unlock community potential and deliver shared impact. Through Care City, he helps shape scalable solutions that benefit residents and support a more connected, equitable system of care and support.
Nassaba Guibá
Nassaba is a bold and active entrepreneur in private and voluntary sectors, focusing on horticultural empowerment, leadership, and mentoring in wellness. Her work spans across health and wellness treatments to grassroots engagement, family support, and holistic wellbeing. Through her leadership roles in Elevate Together CIC, she has been pivotal in the creation and expansion of community initiatives, connecting people and organizations with purpose and long-lasting ripple effect.
Nassaba is committed to leaving a legacy that empowers the next generation to lead fulfilling and purposeful lives. By nurturing green spaces and people, she aims to inspire long-term change. She is also honoured to be part of the Working Group.