The ECA is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). We are a small charity with big ideas, supported by a group of patrons who attend our events and provide advice and guidance.

Leroy Logan, MBE 

Leroy is one of UK’s most highly decorated and well-known black police officers. A highly respected and well-regarded commentator on policing and wider social justice issues, he believes there is still much work to do in creating a more equitable and fair criminal justice system, therefore he continues with his acts of public service since his retirement.

Leroy captured his engaging life journey in his award winning autobiography ‘Closing Ranks: My Life as a Cop’. The early chapters were depicted in ‘Red, White and Blue’, the Golden Globe and BAFTA winning episode of director Sir Steve McQueen’s acclaimed BBC1 ‘Small Axe’ series.

He continues to use his four decades of experience to give insightful, critical analysis on current events surrounding the UK justice system. Consequently, he’s been continually called upon by the likes of News Night, Channel 4 News, The Guardian, Sky, BBC Radio 4, HARDTalk and many more online platforms.

As the founding member and past Chair of both the Met and National Black Police Association (BPA), Leroy also co-founded Voyage Youth the citizen’s focus arm of the BPA. As a social justice charity it aims to empower marginalised young black people and provide them with the self-awareness and motivation to transform themselves and their communities. In January 2022 Leroy was appointed Chair of Transition to Adulthood (T2A), the justice arm of the Barrow Cadbury Trust.

Marva Rollins, OBE

Marva Rollins is the Director of Rollins Education Consultancy Ltd, partnering with school leaders across the country in reviewing, developing and maintaining high quality educational opportunities for all pupils. She supports schools in addressing equality, equity, diversity and inclusion in their curriculum offer, staffing and behaviour strategies.
Marva retired from the role of executive headteacher in August 2019 after almost 25 years of leading two primary schools in inner city boroughs in London. She continues to work closely with schools leaders and middle leaders in defining and executing their strategic and operational roles.
For over past 30 years, Marva has played a key role in increasing the percentage of Black Heritage leaders in education through co-writing and leading a series of national programmes through the National College, the Institute of Education, NUT/NEU and other organisations. Her company also leads coaching programmes for future leaders in confidence building and all aspects preparation the successful interviews. She is a regular conference speaker. She is also the Non-Executive Director for an education company.

Marva has served the community for over 45 years, and is a founder member of a number of community groups including the Sickle Cell Society, East London Black Women Organisation and the African-Caribbean Community Centre in Newham. She is currently a trustee of a number of charities which includes ‘Success Club’ which works with students, in schools and the community, on motivation and mindfulness. She is a patron of The Reach Society, a social enterprise, at the forefront of inspiring Black young people by giving them access to a wide range of professionals, entrepreneurs and leaders. She has been a governor for 40+ years and is currently a governor of 3 schools; two of which meets the needs of pupils with neuro-diverse identities.

Marva has been the recipient of a number of awards; recognising her contribution to education and the community: an honorary degree from the College of Teachers; the Windrush Education Champions; The Barbados government 50th Independence Award and an OBE for her contribution to education in January 2017. In 2009 the Evening Standard named Marva as one of the 1000 most influential people in London; and in 2011 she was featured in the Metro’s top 50 Black Heroes.

Patrick Vernon, OBE

Patrick is Interim Chair of Birmingham and Solihull ICS where he leads on inequalities, Chair of Walsall Together Health Partnership. Patrick is also Independent Adviser on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion for the Crown Prosecution Service. Patrick was awarded an OBE in 2012 for his work on tackling health inequalities and ethnic minority communities and in 2018 he received an honorary PhD from Wolverhampton University and was selected as one of the 1000 Progressive Londoners by the Evening Standard. In 2019 he was awarded a lifetime achievement award for campaigning and advocacy work by the SMK Foundation. Patrick led the campaign for a national Windrush Day since 2013 and helping to expose the Windrush Scandal in 2018 in one of the first growing online petitions calling for an amnesty for the Windrush Generation. He currently advises Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Chairs ARE Windrush Justice Grants Programme and Convenor of Windrush 75 with British Futures.

In August 2021 Patrick was appointed by Wolverhampton University as Honorary Professor of cultural heritage and Community Leadership for the Department of Community Development. In 2020 Patrick was selected by British Vogue as of Britain’s top twenty campaigners and was included in the 2020 Power list of 100 influential Black People in Britain. Also, in 2020 Patrick co-authored one hundred Great Black Britons and established the Majonzi Fund, which is providing small grants to families and community organisations to organise commemoration events for individuals from BAME communities who have died of covid-19 over the last two years.

Patrick is a sought-after broadcaster, public speaker, EDI adviser and writes blogs and articles for the national and international media on healthcare, cultural heritage and race.