Ranjana Bell MBE

Ranjana Bell is the Founder and Director of rba Equality and Diversity. Her organisation focuses on mainstreaming Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). She creates safe spaces for open dialogue among staff, leaders, volunteers, and local politicians.

With over 40 years of experience, Ranjana has worked across public, private, and voluntary sectors. She currently chairs the Board of The Road to Recovery Trust, a charity supporting individuals recovering from addiction. Under her leadership, the Trust won the 2021 Third Sector Award from Asian Business Connexions.

In January 2014, Ranjana received an MBE for her work with police and BME communities in Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.

She serves on several boards and committees. Currently, she chairs the Northumbria Police Strategic Independent Advisory Group. She is also Co-Chair of the NE CPS Scrutiny Panel for Racist and Religious Hate Crime. In addition, she is a PCC Independent Member for Police Misconduct Panels and Chair of the NE Counter Terrorism Advisory Group. Ranjana also co-chairs Young People in Conversation.

Previously, she was a government-appointed Commissioner for the Women’s National Commission. Since 1999, she has served as a Lay Member of Employment Tribunals. She is a founding member of both The Angelou Centre and The National Black Police Association.

Ranjana’s contributions have earned her several awards. In 2009, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from CULTURES CIC. In 2012, she was shortlisted for an Asian Women of Achievement Award. In 2020, she was named a Social Changemaker by the Northern Asian Powerlist, and she was also added to the 2022 Northern Power Women List.