Meet Our Team 👋🏼

Mala Jayhindaran - Founder & Chairperson

Mala is the Founder and Chairperson of Springburn Unity Network., with over 40 years of service in community development and more than 15 years of active political involvement. Her career has been defined by collaboration with diverse communities, grassroots organisations, and government bodies, establishing her as a visionary leader dedicated to social justice and empowerment.

Her extensive experience has shaped her into a dynamic leader with strong strategic insight and a steadfast passion for building inclusive, resilient communities. As a full-time volunteer, she invests her time and energy into driving S.U.N.’s mission forward, strengthening its reach, and expanding its impact both locally and globally.

Mala’s remarkable achievements have been recognised with prestigious honours. In 2013, she was awarded The Most Esteemed Order of the Defender of the Realm by His Majesty, the 14th King of Malaysia, Sri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong. In 2019, she was further recognised with the CEMVO Ethnic Minority Impact Award in the Health category in Scotland.

A tireless advocate and changemaker, Mala continues to champion meaningful opportunities, uplift voices, and deliver lasting positive change for the communities S.U.N. serves.

Jane Horne - Vice Chairperson

Jane has been a qualified Community Worker since 2012 when she graduated from University of Glasgow with a BA in Community Development. Jane has worked with a wide variety of organisations, ranging from Youth Work, working with Refugees & Asylum Seekers, to lecturing at University of Glasgow. Her passion is working with refugees and asylum seekers and volunteers with women and children from Afghanistan. She is also an active member of her own community where she volunteers with the local Community Development Trust.

Jane works full time in Glasgow Kelvin College where she teaches Community Development. She currently teaches on numerous Community Work courses. She also teaches Communications to young people who have previously disengaged from the education system. In 2022 she gained her teaching qualification (TQFE) from the University of Aberdeen.

Jane loves music, reading and spending time with her family and friends.

Shawn Nicholas Fernandez – Founder & Managing Director

Shawn Nicholas Fernandez, is the Founder and Managing Director of Springburn Unity Network. A dedicated Community Learning and Development practitioner with a proven record of impactful community work. Drawing on his background as a former police officer and over five years of experience in community development, he has led and supported initiatives across Glasgow that promote unity, inclusion, and empowerment. Known for his ability to bring diverse groups together, Shawn has spearheaded projects such as the Cybercrime Awareness and Prevention Workshop, protecting vulnerable groups from online scams while building digital confidence. His leadership, vision, and talent for connecting people have made him a driving force for positive change.

Shawn’s commitment has earned him significant recognition, including Volunteer of the Year at the SCVO Scottish Charity Awards 2021, a UK Parliament Certificate of Commendation in 2020 and was shortlisted as a finalist in the Education category at the 2019 CEMVO Ethnic Minority Impact Awards.

With an HNC in Community Development from Glasgow Kelvin College, he is now pursuing a BA in Community Development at the University of Glasgow while continuing to deliver crime prevention and online safety workshops. Managing the day-to-day operations of Springburn Unity Network, Shawn remains deeply committed to building safer, more connected, and inclusive communities, guided by his vision of breaking barriers and fostering equality.

Jacob Sony - Honorary Secretary

Jacob began volunteering with the Springburn Unity Network in August 2023. He has a strong interest in cycling. He volunteer's as a British Cycling coach and a qualified Ride Leader. In the past, he has been actively involved in a range of community development initiatives with Scottish Cycling, Clyde Cycle Park, NG Homes, and the Springburn Unity Network itself.

He is deeply committed to promoting cycling among both young people and adults, viewing it as a powerful tool to foster community development, wellbeing, and unity. He greatly values the positive impact that the Springburn Unity Network has within society, and he is eager to support the organisation in continuing its mission to strengthen unity within the local community. 

Bnar Sabri - Treasurer

Bnar Sabri has four years of interpreting experience and has been volunteering with various organisations since 2021. She is currently pursuing Level 5 ESOL at Glasgow Kelvin College and also has experience in childcare. In addition, she has previous accounting experience from her home country.

Olha Stepaniuk - General Trustee

Olha Stepaniuk possesses a strong and diverse background in management and project implementation, honed through her career in Ukrainian government and state-owned enterprises. She has a proven track record of developing and delivering significant initiatives, including impactful programs for small and medium-sized businesses while serving as a Director at the State Committee of Ukraine on Regulatory Policy and Entrepreneurship.

Her broad experience also includes overseeing crucial personnel training programs in the maritime transport sector and directing the Training Centre for the Pension Fund of Ukraine, where she focused on professional development.

Olha holds two degrees in Computer Science, specialising in the complex fields of computer systems and software. Recently, she further enhanced her skills by completing a qualification in Higher English from West Lothian College.

She is now dedicated to leveraging her extensive expertise and hands-on experience to empower residents of Glasgow, helping them to improve their opportunities, unlock their potential, and achieve their ambitions.

Rajesh Kumar - General Trustee

Rajesh Kumar is a well-travelled and spiritually-minded individual whose journey has taken him from his academic roots at Kurukshetra University to diverse professional roles across two continents. With 2.5 years of experience in customer service and finance at Vodafone India, followed by 7 years as a store, project, and workshop in-charge in Uganda, Rajesh brings a rich background in managing complex operations and leading teams.

Now based in Glasgow, he is transitioning his extensive management experience into the caring sector, driven by a deep sense of social responsibility. He has continued to develop his skills through studies in ESOL levels 3, 4, and 5, and Healthcare levels 4, 5, and 6 at Glasgow Clyde College.

Rajesh has been a dedicated volunteer with us for almost three years, contributing actively to community projects and  also volunteers at the ECM Foodbank. He now brings his skills, experience, and compassionate outlook to the board, strengthening our mission with his unique global perspective.

In his free time, Rajesh enjoys travelling, seeking new experiences, and maintaining spiritual balance through regular meditation gatherings

Hadia Afndina  - General Trustee

Hadia joined the Springburn Unity Network two years ago as a dedicated volunteer. Over the years, she has shown exceptional commitment and passion for the community, which has now led her to join us as a valued member of our Board of Trustees. With three years of professional experience as a skilled hair and beauty specialist, Hadia brings both creativity and expertise to our team, enriching our work with her professionalism and community-focused spirit.