Team Biographies
Mara Makunura
Mara (Bechkwin) Makunura is a dynamic community leader, and dedicated to family. She is a wife of 29 years and a mother to 11 children (4 boys and 7 girls), she balances her family life with a deep commitment to community service and business leadership.
She is the CEO and Founder of Pride of Rushmoor Community Awards CIC, an initiative that celebrates the unsung heroes of the community.
Mara’s dedication to public service is evident through her roles as the Former Mayor of Rushmoor Borough Council, Founder of Rushmoor Cultural Day Event, and Former School Governor. She is also a passionate advocate for accessibility and inclusivity as the Founder of Rushmoor Accessibility Action Group (RAAG).
Her love for sports and fitness led her to become a Farnborough Decathlon Cycling Ambassador, promoting cycling and active lifestyles within the community. She is also a British Cycling qualified coach and a qualified ride leader.
As a former professional model, she likes fashion, and in her spare time she likes sewing, baking, cycling, art, gardening, and attending cultural and social events. Highly connected and deeply involved in community initiatives, Mara thrives on bringing people together, fostering positive change, and making a lasting impact.
Effie Blankson
Effie serves as Chair of Kikoi Connection, a coalition of Basingstoke’s largest Black and Minority Ethnic communities and leads Black History Month Basingstoke. Since 2020, she has directed Kikoi’s Community Achiever Awards, celebrating outstanding contributions from global majority individuals and organisations across Hampshire.
She is a creative, author, podcaster and lifelong volunteer, whose service spans decades from her early work as a teenager with The Prince’s Trust and Voluntary Services Overseas to strategic roles as a school governor and Citizens Advice Basingstoke trustee. Today, she continues her advocacy as a White Ribbon Ambassador, Cancer Research UK Campaigns Ambassador, and Co-Chair of the Basingstoke Hate Crime Awareness Group (BHCAG). A woman of faith, she mentors youth and contributes to her church’s sound team.
Effie’s work is faith-driven, purpose-led, and rooted in justice. She brings strategic insight with social justice innovation, leveraging public policy engagement and community-driven development to create lasting impact.
Sal (Salwexeya) Makunura
Sal (Salwexeya) Makunura is a dedicated community advocate and accomplished Senior Engineer with over seven years of experience in the industry. She is the second oldest of eleven children. Sal has been volunteering in her community since her teenage years.
Currently, she serves as the Secretary for the Pride of Rushmoor Community Awards, where she plays a pivotal role in administrative tasks, fostering a supportive environment, and enhancing the visibility of the awards. Sal is committed to recognising and honoring local excellence, driven by her a passion for community engagement.
Previously, Sal served as the Deputy Mayoress of Rushmoor for the municipal year of 2023/24, and the Mayoress for 2024/25 notably being the youngest in the country.
Sir John Casey
Sir John Casey is currently the Chair of Trustees of the Shots Foundation, the charitable arm of Aldershot Town FC. The Shots Foundation runs a large variety of programmes in the North East Hants and Surrey areas, making a real difference to so many people and is a huge presence at the EBB stadium on match days. John is a retired Headteacher of two large secondary schools. One had a specialist resource for autism and John maintains a keen interest in inclusion and all helping children.
John also worked for an educational charity, PiXL, supporting schools across the UK and the educational union, ASCL.
John is a school governor and is delighted to be part of the committee bringing the first Pride of Rushmoor Awards to the borough.
Waleed Khan
After 35 years working in corporate business in several senior management roles, Waleed retired in July 2015 at the age of 55.
Waleed worked in an international role having responsibility for 50+ countries and territories and was one of several MD’s for a €4.5 billion Germany Group producing circa €159M in profits. He was responsible for the opening up of European Postal market regulations leading his company to have clients all around Europe and worldwide.
After retiring, Waleed fulfilled his objectives in gaining his FA Coaching Badges working and studying at the Army FA HQ in Aldershot in 2016. That lead him to becoming the Academy Director at Aldershot Town FC. Under his stewardship between 2018-23, his coaching team produced three England U18 School Boys and a number Pathway Players to the 1st Team, the EFL and Sports Scholarships to the US. Currently Waleed is the MD for Farnborough Football Club’s Community Trust.
He has a passion for serving his community and working with local schools, Charities and his Rushmoor Borough Council supporting refugees. In October 2023, the CEO of the Army FA asked Waleed to become the Lead in delivering and leading the Army FA’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy. He also works closely with the FA’s ED&I Lead Manager, Anwar Uddin MBE and has been with Benfica’s International Academy Development programme.
Pastor Abiodun Alonge ( Abi )
Lead Pastor ( Business Administrstor )
The Redeemed Christian Church of God. Winners’ Place Aldershot
Married to Pastor Tolu Alonge (Radiographer)
Blessed with 3 Children.
Rodgers Phiri
Originally from Zimbabwe and now proudly rooted in Rushmoor, Rodgers Phiri brings a deep sense of community, resilience, and service to his role as a committee member of Proud of Rushmoor Wards. As the founder of Third Hand Healthcare Ltd, he has spent over a decade improving health and social care across the region with a focus on supporting the most vulnerable.
Rodgers is passionate about public policy, social justice, and community-led development. He actively supports local initiatives that promote dignity, opportunity, and equity for all. His journey—from building a care business from the ground up to championing unsung heroes—reflects his belief in recognising those who quietly and consistently make a difference. He is honoured to contribute to a charity that celebrates 50 years of extraordinary contributions to Rushmoor’s rich and diverse community.
Donna Bone
Donna Bone is passionate about her community. This is evidenced by the 38 years that she has worked in the Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sector. Her role as CEO of Rushmoor Voluntary Services enables her to connect with many community groups and individuals across the Borough, which is a highlight for her.
Whilst Donna has lived in Farnborough for over 50 years, she has travelled extensively and still has a long list of places she’d love to explore!
Joanne Franco
Joanne Franco has spent her career in aviation, focusing on delivering value, creating efficient processes and delivering high-quality service. She believes in the importance of working behind the scenes to ensure things run smoothly and that people get the best possible experience, whether in business or in the community.
As a member of the organising committee for the Pride of Rushmoor Community Awards, Joanne is proud to be part of an initiative that celebrates the incredible contributions of individuals who make a difference locally. She is committed to ensuring the awards recognise those who go above and beyond to support and strengthen the community.
Rebecca Makaza FCCA, MBA
Rebecca Makaza FCCA, MBA – Treasurer for the Pride of Rushmoor Community Awards
Chartered Certified Accountant| Financial Educator| Speaker
Chartered accountant with over 20 years of experience in financial services &construction industry. She helps business owners with their day to day accounting services, management consultancy, business advisory, HMRC tax agent service, Self Assessment, corporation tax and final accounts.
Rebecca is passionate about Financial Wellbeing and therefore embbed in her practice is the wellbeing aspect that allows small business owners to stay on top of their numbers.
Rebecca is a mum of two and enjoys reading and running. Her favourite family activity is going on bike rides with her kids. She is a qualified practising Chartered Accountant recognised and authorised by ACCA ( Association of Chartered Certified Accountants ) and holds an MBA from Oxford Brookes University
Geoff O’Shea
Geoff O’Shea is a dedicated trustee of the Knights Foundation, an organisation committed to providing essential support, sensory experiences, holidays, and equipment to disabled and seriously ill children and their families. The Foundation aims to deepen its understanding of children and young carers to tailor support that enhances their quality of life, especially for those facing significant challenges.
Geoff brings a diverse background to his role, having served for seven years in the Royal Air Force as an air traffic controller. His experience in the music industry, where he managed bands for a brief period, adds a creative dimension to his professional journey. In 2001, he founded a wealth management and tax planning consultancy, specialising in helping individuals balance their lifestyle with their financial aspirations. Through his multifaceted experiences, Geoff is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of those in need.
Jack Taylor
Jack Taylor an established Surrey and London-based videographer with over a decade of experience crafting high-impact visual content for some of the world’s most influential brands. His work spans a diverse range of industries, with a client list that includes Fortune 500 companies such as S&P Global, Facebook, and TikTok. Known for his cinematic style and strategic approach, Jack creates videos that not only look stunning but also deliver measurable results.
Despite working at the highest level of corporate production, Jack remains deeply committed to supporting the local business community. He continues to collaborate with small businesses, startups, and independent entrepreneurs across the area —bringing the same creative vision and production quality to every project, no matter the scale.
Offering end-to-end production services—from concept development to shooting and editing —Jack is passionate about telling authentic stories that resonate with audiences. Whether it’s a global campaign or a local brand launch, his work consistently blends creativity, clarity, and connection.
James Forster
James is a Business Development Manager as part of the Howden Insurance Brokers Commercial division, specialising in business insurance solutions for local soul traders and SMEs. He brings a wide range of experience to his role within the committee, having worked in the Private Aviation, Sports & Leisure, Software Development, hospitality and retail sectors.
Having grown up in the local area, James is committed to supporting local businesses and is proud to have such a proactive role within the Pride of Rushmoor Community Awards, as he believes local organisations are the beating heart of the community.
Paul Marcus
Paul Marcus, the Awards MC. Paul is best known as the former Managing Director of the much loved, local radio station, Eagle Radio. During that time, they became famous for their support of the local community with initiatives including Surrey & Hampshire`s Local Hero Awards. He also created The Eagle Radio Trust which raised over one-hundred thousand pounds for local worthy causes.
Paul is a well-known figure locally and hosts regularly at Aldershot Town Football Club alongside local charity events such as The Children of Courage Awards alongside business events such as The Surrey Business Expo. Paul is immensely proud to be part of Pride of Rushmoor Community Awards team
Will Phillips
A Videographer and Media Specialist Expert in Sports, Football, and Corporate Events Will Phillips, founder of WilPhilms Ltd, is a skilled videographer, editor, and interviewer with expertise in sports, football, and corporate media.
A Bournemouth University Media Production graduate, Will has spent the past four years mastering visual storytelling and delivering professional, high-quality content tailored to diverse client needs.