S1: Defence, Home Affairs and Crime: GE2019 - a podcast by Abimbola Johnson and Ayo Afolabi

Set up by two friends, Abimbola Johnson (known as OJ) and Ayo Afolabi. The Manifesto Read has gathered groups of experts to have round table discussions about the areas of the big three's manifestos that correspond with their areas of industry. 

This Episode concentrates on Defence, Crime and Home Affairs

Our Panel:

Samuel Etienne (Defence), a former Army Officer equipped with over five years of leadership, risk & operations experience in high-tempo environments. Samuel holds a degree in Physics from Queen Mary, University of London, as well as various professional qualifications from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and British Army. He has served in a variety of roles in the military, from commanding troops & assets in the field to heading up soldier training. Samuel is passionate about geopolitics, communication and applied behavioural science, social mobility and the psychology that drives them all. A RUSI member, he has written on Sub-Saharan African security, including the fragile state status of Nigeria and the United Nations failure in Rwanda.

Fiona Robertson (Crime) a criminal barrister specialising in cases involving young and vulnerable defendants and witnesses. She was called to the Bar in 2008 but has been involved with human rights and the law in Ghana, the Cayman Islands and the UK for the last 15 years. She is particularly concerned with how the justice system impacts on the most vulnerable members of society - from the over criminalisation of youths and those with mental health issues to the impact of legal aid cuts forcing people to self represent against the might of the state.

Abimbola Johnson, aka OJ (Crime) a criminal defence, regulatory and inquest barrister at 25 Bedford Row. Winner of the 2018 Diversity Legal Awards Rising Star (Chambers) category and a finalist in the 2018 Black British Business Awards, Abimbola’s practice focusses on serious crime, professional discipline and inquiry work. She often appears in serious and complex cases co-defending with and being prosecuted by far more senior members of the Bar. OJ was called to the Bar in 2011 by the Inner Temple. She read law at Oxford.

Ayo Afolabi (Home Affairs), a management consultant in the city (working within Financial Services) by day at a big 4 firm. He has FS expertise gained across Insurance, Investment Banking, Corporate, Retail and group level). Specific projects have covered include insurance engagements where post acquisition policy alignment for personnel has also taken place. He also has experience in policy - implementation and executing updates across all different business areas as part of a banking group’s central change management initiative. Outside of work his extra-curricular activities are wide ranging: He sits on the council for the African and Caribbean Network at KPMG. He is a social media content creator who runs a lifestyle platform with his wife Ruth called 'The Afolabis' which focuses on lifestyle, relationships and purpose and aims to help individuals enjoy life while living, leading and loving with passion and purpose. He co-authored his first book with his wife, Ruth, which was published by SPCK the oldest Christian publishing house in the UK.

Zainab Asunramu (Home Affairs) an activist, a parliamentary researcher and an advocate for human rights who holds a Masters degree in International Politics and Human Rights. She worked at Amnesty International UK for over 5 years in various roles including a year as a Research Assistant for Amnesty's Online Violence against Women research. Zainab worked in Parliament (up until the GE) as a Parliamentary Researcher for a former Labour MP, producing briefings, speaking notes, attending key meetings on behalf of her former Member and completing policy responses as part of her day job. She is a graduate of the Labour Party's Inaugural Bernie Grant Leadership Programme. She is currently working at Activate as a Movement Manager. Activate is an organisation whose mission is to champion female activists who are supporting their local communities to extend their power into politics by standing for elected roles (MPs, Mayors and Councillors) She is a School Speaker and delivers workshops to young people between the ages of 11-21 around human rights values and youth engagement in politics. She is also a Campaign Coach for the for the Advocacy Academy which is a youth social justice fellowship based in South London. Zainab is the BAME Officer for her Constituency Labour Party and the Events and Networking Officer for ParliREACH which is Parliament's Workplace Equality Network for Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage.

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