Our people

The people behind Dialogue Fosters

We’re a North East of England-based Community Interest Company led by people with lived experience of migration, displacement and building a life somewhere new — bringing communities together through conversation and education.

Community Interest CompanyAny surplus reinvested in our mission
Newcastle and beyondWorking with communities across the UK
Lived-experience leadershipPractitioners, survivors and educators

Our team

Meet the team guiding our work

Our founder, directors and board bring together decades of experience across human rights, education, genocide awareness and social justice — much of it grounded in lived experience.

Elias Sahardid, Founder & DirectorFounder
Founder & Director

Elias Sahardid

Founder of Dialogue Fosters — UNHCR storyteller and advocate for equality and inclusion across the North East.

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Jodie Weatherston, Director
Director

Jodie Weatherston

Social scientist, educator and researcher on gender, violence and inequality.

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Abbie Riley, Director
Director

Abbie Riley

Social scientist and researcher on race, racism, ethnicity and online hate.

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Smajo Bešo OBE, Non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Director

Smajo Bešo OBE

Survivor-led genocide educator, founder of the Bosnian Genocide Educational Trust and an OBE.

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Drew Dalton, Non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Director

Drew Dalton

Founder & CEO of ReportOUT and a leading voice for global LGBTQ+ equality.

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What brings us together

Lived experience at the heart of everything we do

From Somalia to Bosnia to the North East of England, our team knows first-hand what it means to arrive somewhere new and build belonging. That experience shapes every conversation we start and every programme we deliver.

1
Dialogue over division — bringing people together through honest conversation
2
Education that changes practice — learning grounded in real lives
3
Inclusion for everyone — with particular care for those seeking sanctuary

Want to work with our team?

Whether you’re planning training, a community project or a conversation that matters, we’d love to hear from you.