Our Team

Deepak is the Founder and Chair of Trustees of the Diwali Foundation and launched Diwali Basket Brigade in 2018. He provides overall leadership for the charity, overseeing strategy, fundraising, partnerships and the delivery of the annual campaign. Working closely with trustees, volunteers and supporters, he is committed to growing the charity's impact and helping vulnerable families across the UK. Outside of the charity, Deepak is Senior Director and Head of Regions at Shawbrook Bank, where he works with private equity-backed businesses and management teams to support their growth ambitions. With more than 25 years of experience in corporate and leveraged finance, he has developed extensive expertise in helping businesses secure funding and achieve sustainable growth. Deepak is also a qualified Chartered Accountant. Deepak lives in the Midlands with his wife and two children. Family is central to everything he does, and in his spare time he enjoys travelling, keeping fit and

Vaidehi has been volunteering with Diwali Basket Brigade since it began in 2018 and has played an instrumental role in helping the charity grow and expand its reach. As a Trustee and Digital Marketing Lead, she supports the strategic and creative direction of the organisation and manages the website, social media channels and creates digital artwork to support every event. Professionally, Vaidehi is an NHS special needs dentist with more than a decade of experience, primarily working within community healthcare settings. She is passionate about improving access to care and supporting the wellbeing of local communities through her work. Originally from Birmingham, Vaidehi now lives in London with her family. Outside of work and volunteering, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, baking, travelling and supporting community initiatives that bring people together.

Rupinder Cheema

Kishen has been volunteering with Diwali Basket Brigade since its inception in 2018. He became a Trustee in 2020 and is also the London City Lead. He is responsible for overseeing the annual London event and supporting the charity's governance framework, helping to ensure the organisation continues to grow sustainably while delivering meaningful impact. Professionally, Kishen is Global Head of Product at GAM Investments, where he leads the firm's global product strategy and development team. He works closely with investment, distribution and client-facing teams to develop innovative investment solutions that meet clients' evolving needs. Prior to joining GAM, he held roles at Federated Hermes and Santander. Alongside his professional career, Kishen is passionate about giving back to the community. In 2025, he received an Inspiring Leadership Award at the Houses of Parliament in recognition of his community work, and in 2020 he was nominated for Investment Week's Rising Star Award.

Sabrina is the Volunteer Lead for Diwali Basket Brigade and has been supporting the charity for several years. She oversees volunteer registrations, ensuring volunteers have the information and guidance they need ahead of each event. Sabrina also supports corporate fundraising initiatives and coordinates event-day logistics alongside charity partners and the wider volunteer team. Professionally, Sabrina works within the Project Management Office at HSBC in Corporate and Institutional Banking. She has more than eight years of experience delivering business and technology change across financial services and consulting organisations. She is passionate about collaboration, stakeholder engagement and creating positive outcomes through effective project delivery. Outside of work, Sabrina enjoys travelling, reading, yoga, food experiences, music and spending time with family and friends.

Vina has been a dedicated volunteer with Diwali Basket Brigade since the charity began in Birmingham. In 2023, she brought the initiative to Leicester and now is the Leicester City Lead. Vina works closely with local charity partners, volunteers, sponsors and media organisations to raise awareness, inspire community support and help provide essential food hampers to those in need. By profession, Vina is a Regulated Financial Adviser with more than 35 years of experience in financial services. She has enjoyed a successful career with a global bank, leading the delivery of large-scale technology and business transformation programmes across multiple countries. Known for her collaborative leadership style, she is passionate about bringing people together to create positive and lasting change. Born and raised in Birmingham, Vina now lives in Leicester and commutes to London for work. She is married with two grown-up sons and enjoys travelling, spending time with family and friends, and

Deepa has been volunteering with Diwali Basket Brigade for nearly six years and serves as the Manchester City Lead. She is responsible for planning and delivering the Manchester event, building relationships with local charity partners, coordinating volunteers, supporting fundraising initiatives and working closely with the central team to ensure the event's success. Passionate about community and connection, she is dedicated to creating meaningful impact for families across Greater Manchester and beyond. Professionally, Deepa is a television and radio presenter, podcast host, filmmaker and award-winning live events producer with almost 30 years of experience. Through her work and as the creator and host of the Think Deepa podcast, she is known for bringing people together through storytelling, conversation and authentic human connection. Originally from Greater Manchester, Deepa also serves on the Executive Committee of Soho House Manchester and the Sports Committee at

Darshana has been involved with Diwali Basket Brigade since 2021 and plays an important role in supporting the charity's fundraising activities. She manages the JustGiving platform and helps oversee other donation channels, ensuring that fundraising processes run smoothly and efficiently. A Chartered Accountant by profession, Darshana currently works as a Finance Manager within a private equity firm. Her financial expertise and attention to detail provide valuable support to both her professional career and charitable work. Originally from Birmingham, Darshana studied in London before living internationally across India, Hong Kong and Singapore over the past 17 years. She has been involved in community initiatives from a young age and enjoys theatre, films, board games, exploring new places, and spending time with family and friends.

Tulsi Chouhan

Mandip Cheema

Piyush Mistry

Ranjit has been volunteering with Diwali Basket Brigade for several years and supports the charity through fundraising and community engagement initiatives. He is passionate about helping the charity reach more families and strengthening the support available to local communities. Professionally, Ranjit is the Managing Director of Perfection Clothing Ltd and operates his own fashion brand, PINNS. His business focuses on the import, export and distribution of women's fashion products across the UK and international markets. Outside of work, Ranjit enjoys walking, dancing, fitness training and cooking. He is also passionate about mentoring young people who are starting their careers or entrepreneurial journeys, helping them build confidence and develop their business ambitions.