Ayman is a Syrian cinematographer based in London. A self-taught filmmaker, his passion started when filming his journey to the UK, including one year in the Calais’ jungle refugee camp, which ultimately led to his contributing to the Deadbeat Films documentary AYMAN telling his story.
He has since shot films for multiple NGOs like Choose Love and UNHCR as well as creative projects for various brands including the NHS and music artists like Anne-Marie.
He also works as an authenticity consultant, translator on films like The Swimmers, and Jungle.
His latest project is the short film Matar, which he shot and co-wrote. He volunteers as an Arabic interpreter to help asylum seekers in the UK.
Romilly has covered events all around the world as an experienced broadcaster and presenter for ITV News. She is currently based at Westminster as Political Correspondent.
During her career, Romilly was embedded with the British Army during the Second Gulf War and reported from Ukraine in the current conflict. She has spent more time than she cares to think about covering Brexit and has outlasted 5 Prime Ministers, so far.
When not immersed in politics she occasionally returns to Royal events, reporting on both the death of the Queen and the Coronation of Charles III.
Romilly is a mentor to young journalists through the John Schofield Trust and an Ambassador for the Prince’s Trust.
Romilly helped launch Action Syria’s carols in 2016 and has been a generous supporter, ever since, even using her incredible knowledge to win £7,950 for Action Syria on The Weakest Link.
Both a pianist and award-winning broadcaster, Iain has appeared in recital with many of the world’s leading singers (“pretty much ideal” BBC Music Magazine). His recordings straddle an exuberantly eclectic repertoire ranging from Beethoven and Schubert to the cutting edge, as in the Gramophone Award-winning NMC Songbook.
Away from the piano, Burnside is active as a writer and broadcaster. As presenter of BBC R3’s Voices he won a Sony Radio Award. For Guildhall School of Music & Drama Iain has devised a number of singular theatre pieces.
He is a long-time friend of Action Syria and was the driving force behind our Music for Syria event in 2019, which included performances from Mitsuko Uchida, The Heath Quartet and Syrian poet Amineh Abou Kerech.
Lindsey is the International Editor for Channel 4 News and has covered many of the conflicts of recent years including in Syria, Ukraine and the Arab Spring.
She was in Baghdad for the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, and in Belgrade for the 1999 NATO bombing. In 1994, she was the only English-speaking correspondent in Rwanda when the genocide began. She has reported regularly and extensively on Syria.
She has won awards from the Royal Television Society and BAFTA amongst others, and received the 2017 Patron’s Medal from the Royal Geographical Society.
In 2018, she published a biography of Marie Colvin: “In Extremis – the Life of War Correspondent Marie Colvin”, winning the 2019 James Tait Black Prize for biography.
Lindsey has been a supporter of Action Syria since it started.
Hector is Action Syria’s hero. Having fundraised for us for years, doing everything from the smarties challenge (filling smartie tubes with 20p coins) and making it into the local paper, to camping out in a storm with his dog, we wanted to make it official and are delighted that Hector is now an Action Syria ambassador.
Hector loves spending time with all the animals at home, playing football and games with his friends.
He was a bit surprised and modest about being asked to be an Ambassador but hopes the role will help him tell more children about the situation in Syria, why he has been fundraising for Action Syria, and where the funds go.
Hector says “I hope that the money we’ve raised will help a little bit. I’m not going to stop collecting.”
Anissa is a leading expert on Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines. She is an internationally renowned food writer, art collector, journalist, and broadcaster. The daughter of a Syrian father and a Lebanese mother, at 21 years old she moved from Beirut to London.
Anissa has published nine cookbooks all receiving numerous awards. Her latest, Feast: Food of the Islamic World, was published to critical acclaim and has won the prestigious James Beard Award in the International category.
As an accomplished radio and television broadcaster, Anissa has previously been named one of the ‘World’s 100 Most Powerful Arab Women’ by Arabian Business magazine and was also included in their ‘500 most influential Arabs.’
Having so generously catered at Action Syria Suppers and contributed to Action Syria Recipes, we are delighted she now joins us an ambassador.
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