Board of Trustees& Staff | HAPANI | Charity, Northern Ireland

Suleiman Abdulahi (Founder and Director)

HAPANI founder and CEO Suleiman Abdulahi is a passionate human rights and social justice advocate with a strong social entrepreneurial, IT and business background.

Fluent in Arabic, Danish, English, and Somali, Suleiman was one of the first people involved in the development of multiple diaspora and civil society organisations. He was listed in the Ethnic Entrepreneur of the Year in 2009 and Social Entrepreneurs Ireland’s Level 1 Award in 2008.

Mohamed Edle Ahmed(Director and Chairperson)

Mohamed Ahmed is a highly experienced professional with a diverse background that worked for and with a wide range of stakeholders and organisations including public health, local government, Healthy Living Centre Alliance, local communities, educational setting, the private sector and 3rd sector organisations in delivering quality assured public health initiatives and services both within a professional and voluntary capacity.
Over the years, Mohamed has developed a passion for working with people who are refugees and asylum backgrounds and has delivered many projects through Hapani, an organization that helps refugees and asylum seekers integrate into their new communities. He is committed to empowering young people through youth work and community engagement. He is a dedicated and passionate individual who is always looking for ways to make a positive impact in the lives of others.

Hassan Abdi Mohamed(Board Treasurer)

Hassan Abdi Mohamed is highly qualified for community support. He has 15 years of experience with different organisations and agencies which involved refugees, asylum seekers and other ethnic. He has additional skills such as computer Skills: MS- Office including Ms-Word, Ms-Excel, PowerPoint, and Ms-Access plus different software applications, facilitation, communication, and presentation skills with various audiences.

Furthermore, Hassan always likes helping people and the community with special needs. He is passionate about investing his time and resources in helping the community, especially those with special needs, and preventing any problems in the community.

Hassan can speak, write, and understand Somali mother tongue), English (Good), Arabic.

Said Ahmed Hagi Hassan (Board Member)

Said Ahmed Hagi Hassan has joined the Board of Horn of Africa People’s Aid Northern Ireland (HAPANI), bringing a wealth of expertise in public safety, security, and leadership. With over 20 years of experience, both in the UK and internationally, Said’s career has been distinguished by his deep knowledge of strategic planning, risk assessment, public policy, and police operations. His hands-on experience in these fields, combined with his analytical mindset, makes him a valuable asset to the charity.
Said’s academic and professional accomplishments reflect his commitment to excellence. He holds a Master of Science (MSc) in Security Management from the University of Portsmouth and has completed the International Strategic Leadership Programme (ISLP) from the UK College of Policing. As a recognised security professional (MSyl) and member of the UK Security Institute, he exemplifies high standards in security management.
Having dedicated nearly two decades to the London Boroughs of Hillingdon and Brent, Said has played a key role in enhancing community safety. His international experience and service in local government allow him to bring a global perspective and tailored security solutions to HAPANI. His expertise in these areas will support the charity’s mission to promote safety, well-being, and sustainable development within the Horn of Africa communities in Northern Ireland and beyond.