Cate holds a PhD from the University of Edinburgh, with her research focused on intercultural music projects and the learning of professional musicians across cultures. In her most recent work with LINKnet, she worked with a variety of migrant communities, including refugees and asylum seekers, supporting them to overcome barriers such as language, economic disadvantage, and social isolation. Cate was a board member of the Just Festival which is a social justice and human rights festival in Edinburgh until 2024.  

“Having lived in Scotland since 2016, I hope to bring a rich tapestry of personal, academic, and professional experiences to contribute to positive change in Scotland’s migration future. As a Chinese migrant in an international marriage and a recent parent, with a background in Intercultural Communication and experience working with international communities, I am developing a deeper understanding each day of the complexities of intercultural integration and identity. These experiences shape my commitment to fostering inclusion and creating supportive environments for diverse communities in Scotland and the UK“  

James Verardi is a Brazilian trans man who has lived in Scotland for half of his life and feels perfectly at home in the darkest of rainy winter days. His main interests are in intersectionality (particularly LGBT/migration) and how to build inclusive services for those who face multiple barriers to inclusion. He works as LGBT+ Training Officer for the Equality Network, a Scottish LGBTI equalities and human rights charity, where he wrote reports on inclusion of bisexual people, LGBT disabled people and LGBT asylum seekers in service provision. 

“Being a migrant (or living around migrants) is an opportunity to learn from other ways of life, share the experiences that make us diverse humans and create alliances between people who, despite their differences, are still much more similar than they are different. I’d like to contribute with helping to spread the public perception narratives and policies related to that sense that we all have much more things in common than we realise, and that the “issue” is not migrants themselves, but those working to spread the idea that it is the case”.

Delia is a Community Researcher focusing on poverty, financial disadvantage, housing, and education within migrant communities, particularly the Roma community. Some of her work includes youth work, and access to communities that are hard to reach. Her approach to research is based on co-development and collaboration to ensure that her migrant participants are being part of the policy solutions that affect their lives.

“Migration, to me, is about resilience, adaptation, and the collective struggle for dignity and inclusion. I want to contribute to Scotland’s migration future by sharing what I’ve learned from working closely with migrant communities, while continuing to learn—about systemic change, about how policy can better reflect lived experience, and about the diverse challenges migrant communities face across Scotland.”

Justine is a Project Manager at Passion4Fusion in Edinburgh with years of experience in youth and community work. Through arts, Justine supports young people develop youth social action and confidence building. Justine also runs the Employability department supporting migrant people to access employment. Outside his work, Justine is an active volunteer for Edinburgh Napier University as an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee member of the University’s Business School, and a member of the Project’s Citizens Panel for the Whole Family Equality Project platform. He also volunteers with ’Turn2us Edinburgh Trust’, as a Committee Member and Co-Production Panel Member.

“Migration, to me, is about opportunity, belonging, and the strength that comes from diversity. I’m committed to supporting a Scotland where migrants are not only welcomed but empowered to thrive and shape a brighter future of our shared communities.”

Mina is the Communication Manager at Welcome Churches (https://welcomechurches.org/), a network of churches across the UK that welcome refugees and people seeking asylum as they move into new locations. In her role, Mina helps to provide information to churches on how to support refugees and asylum seekers. 

“Migration, to me, is the process of being uprooted and replanted in a new environment – different language, culture, and even climate. I hope to contribute to Scotland’s migration future by bringing insights from my own journey, as well as those of the diverse diaspora communities I belong to”.

Roque is Operations Manager at Central and West Integration Network supporting migrant communities – including asylum seekers and refugees – with food security, education, general help and wellbeing activities. Roque’s background is in sports, with more than 20 years of experience in sports training, management, and multidisciplinary research, including topics like Motivation, Human Physiology, Holistic Health Monitoring amongst others. 

“By drawing on my own journey and the barriers I’ve faced, I aim to challenge systems that shape how migrants experience belonging in Scotland — and help create communities that genuinely include us”.

Phoebe is a Trainee Solicitor and a specialist in law and policy development. Part of her current role is to influence government officials on immigration policy, write for external publications, and create relations with stakeholders within the migration sector. One of her main interests in migration policy is related with the minimum income requirement (MIR) for the Family route and the challenges presented to the higher education system. 

“I want to help shape a migration system in Scotland that really values people for who they are and what they bring. I care about making the system clearer and fairer so that everyone – migrants, employers and communities – can move forward with confidence. By working together, I believe we can build a Scotland where people feel genuinely welcome and able to build a secure future”.