Meet Our Experienced Team
Sir Ray Puddifoot MBE
Patron
As Leader of the London Borough of Hillingdon for more than two decades, Sir Ray championed initiatives that improved the lives of local residents and supported members of the Armed Forces community. Under his leadership, Hillingdon's housing policies were strengthened to better recognise the needs of returning service personnel, including Gurkha veterans, helping many families settle and establish roots within the borough. His support also contributed to important developments that recognised the history and contribution of the Gurkha community.
In recognition of his service, Sir Ray has received numerous honours, including international awards from the Republic of Poland and honorary memberships from veterans' organisations. As the first Patron of The Gurkha Centre, he brings a wealth of leadership experience, public service, and unwavering support for the Gurkha community. His appointment reflects a shared commitment to ensuring Gurkha veterans, widows, and families receive the recognition, respect, and support they deserve.
Janet Gardner
TRUSTEE
Throughout her distinguished public service career, Janet served as the Borough’s Domestic Violence Victims Advocate and was an active member of the Hillingdon Domestic Abuse Steering Executive, helping to strengthen local services and support for survivors of domestic abuse. She also contributed significantly to local governance through her work on key council committees and community initiatives.
Known for her dedication to grassroots engagement and constituent support, Janet has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of local residents and strengthen community cohesion. At The Gurkha Centre, she brings valuable insight, experience, and strategic guidance, helping to advance the charity’s mission of supporting Gurkha veterans, widows, and families across the United Kingdom
Anne-Marie Owusu-Afriyie
Trustee / Social Worker and Specialist CAMHS Practitioner
Currently working at Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, she also conducts Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) assessments. Anne-Marie has held roles at various councils, focusing on hospital discharge, mental health, and adult services.
As a Trustee for The Gurkha Centre, she applies her expertise in safeguarding and community health to support Gurkha veterans and their families. Her work is centred around promoting dignity, equity, and human rights.
Binod Baral
TRUSTEE / CHEF
His humanitarian initiatives include hosting impactful fundraisers, cooking for disadvantaged children, and organising special events for Gurkha veterans and their families, reflecting his belief that food is a powerful catalyst for community building and social change. Binod's unique "borderless cooking" approach embodies his philosophy of "winning people's hearts through food," fostering cultural understanding, unity, and compassion.
His continuous dedication helps The Gurkha Centre elevate its mission, ensuring that vulnerable communities receive essential support and recognition globally.
Chandni Patel
TRUSTEE / PROJECT MANAGER
Professionally, Chandni is an experienced youth development and employability specialist with a background in education, project management, and partnership working. Throughout her career, she has supported disadvantaged young people, including those at risk of exclusion and those not in education, employment, or training (NEET), helping them build confidence, skills, and aspirations for the future.
Her experience spans several respected organisations, including ThinkForward UK, Career Ready, Connectr, Spark!, Capgemini, and Ambitious about Autism. She also serves as an Enterprise Advisor, helping strengthen links between schools and employers. Chandni brings passion, expertise, and a strong sense of community to The Gurkha Centre, helping ensure the organisation continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those it serves.
Hari Bhandari
Founder & CEO
As Founder and CEO of The Gurkha Centre, Hari provides strategic leadership, coordinating staff, volunteers, and partners to ensure equitable access to health, welfare, and social care services. A multilingual communicator fluent in English, Nepali, Pashto, Dari, Urdu, and Hindi, he brings unique cultural insight shaped by frontline roles in Afghanistan and UN operations in Kabul.
Hari works tirelessly to address systemic gaps, building a compassionate team and supervising trainee social workers, BSc Global Health students from Imperial College London, and college students from Uxbridge, Richmond, and Harrow. He continues to advocate for justice, dignity, and empowerment across the communities he serves.
Sumita Rai
Co-Founder | Health and Well-Being Officer
With a professional background in nursing and health and social care, Sumita brings extensive knowledge, experience, and empathy to her role. Her healthcare expertise and commitment to community wellbeing have helped shape the charity’s strategic direction, particularly in addressing the needs of the ageing Gurkha population and those facing barriers to accessing services.
Sumita leads the Centre’s health and wellbeing initiatives, delivering health awareness sessions in the Nepali language and supporting beneficiaries to navigate healthcare services with confidence and dignity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked tirelessly to support vulnerable residents by sharing vital health information and promoting public health guidance. Known for her compassion, professionalism, and strong work ethic, Sumita is a trusted and respected figure whose dedication continues to make a lasting difference within the Gurkha and Nepalese community.
Sanjila Joshi
Welfare Officer
Since joining The Gurkha Centre in 2024, Sanjila has become a trusted advocate within the community, responding thoughtfully and empathetically to diverse needs. Her commitment aligns deeply with the Centre’s mission of honouring and preserving the legacy of Gurkha service. Through her dedicated efforts, Sanjila plays a key role in strengthening the wellbeing and resilience of those she supports.
Sanjila is proud to be part of a team that prioritises integrity, respect, and meaningful impact, continuously striving to uplift and empower the Gurkha community.
Sir Ray Puddifoot MBE – Patron
Sir Ray Puddifoot MBE is a Chartered Accountant and highly respected public servant with a long-standing commitment to community development, heritage preservation, and support for the Armed Forces community. Throughout his distinguished career, he has served as a trustee and governor of numerous organisations and currently serves as a Trustee of Hillingdon Autistic Care & Support and the Battle of Britain Bunker.
As Leader of the London Borough of Hillingdon for more than two decades, Sir Ray championed initiatives that improved the lives of local residents and supported members of the Armed Forces community. Under his leadership, Hillingdon’s housing policies were strengthened to better recognise the needs of returning service personnel, including Gurkha veterans, helping many families settle and establish roots within the borough. His support also contributed to important developments that recognised the history and contribution of the Gurkha community.
In recognition of his service, Sir Ray has received numerous honours, including international awards from the Republic of Poland and honorary memberships from veterans’ organisations. As the first Patron of The Gurkha Centre, he brings a wealth of leadership experience, public service, and unwavering support for the Gurkha community. His appointment reflects a shared commitment to ensuring Gurkha veterans, widows, and families receive the recognition, respect, and support they deserve.
Janet Gardner: Trustee
Janet Gardner serves as a Trustee of The Gurkha Centre, bringing more than three decades of public service, advocacy, and community leadership. As a former councillor for Hayes Town Ward in the London Borough of Hillingdon, she has been a passionate champion for social justice, community inclusion, and support for vulnerable residents.
Throughout her distinguished public service career, Janet served as the Borough’s Domestic Violence Victims Advocate and was an active member of the Hillingdon Domestic Abuse Steering Executive, helping to strengthen local services and support for survivors of domestic abuse. She also contributed significantly to local governance through her work on key council committees and community initiatives.
Known for her dedication to grassroots engagement and constituent support, Janet has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of local residents and strengthen community cohesion. At The Gurkha Centre, she brings valuable insight, experience, and strategic guidance, helping to advance the charity’s mission of supporting Gurkha veterans, widows, and families across the United Kingdom.
Anne-Marie Owusu-Afriyie: Trustee
Anne-Marie Owusu-Afriyie is a dedicated Social Worker , Sexual Health Practitioner and Specialist CAMHS Practitioner with extensive experience in health and social care. Passionate about safeguarding, disability rights, gender equality, and sexual health, she is committed to advocating for vulnerable communities.
Currently working at Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, she also conducts Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) assessments. Anne-Marie has held roles at various councils, focusing on hospital discharge, mental health, and adult services.
As a Trustee for The Gurkha Centre, she applies her expertise in safeguarding and community health to support Gurkha veterans and their families. Her work is centred around promoting dignity, equity, and human rights.
Binod Baral: Trustee
Binod Baral is a distinguished Nepali-British chef, entrepreneur, and dedicated humanitarian known for his innovative culinary expertise and profound commitment to social change. As the Goodwill Ambassador and now Trustee for The Gurkha Centre, Binod has been pivotal in guiding the charity toward sustainable growth through strategic partnerships with local businesses.
Beyond his acclaimed mastery in modern culinary arts, Binod passionately advocates for youth and women’s empowerment, education, and responsible tourism. His humanitarian initiatives include hosting impactful fundraisers, cooking for disadvantaged children, and organising special events for Gurkha veterans and their families, reflecting his belief that food is a powerful catalyst for community building and social change.
Binod’s unique “borderless cooking” approach embodies his philosophy of “winning people’s hearts through food,” fostering cultural understanding, unity, and compassion. His continuous dedication helps The Gurkha Centre elevate its mission, ensuring that vulnerable communities receive essential support and recognition globally.
Chandni Patel: Chair of Trustees
Chandni Patel serves as Chair of Trustees at The Gurkha Centre, providing strategic leadership, governance oversight, and a strong commitment to supporting Gurkha veterans, widows, and families. Her journey with the organisation began as a volunteer, supporting community activities before leading online English language classes for members of the Gurkha Nepalese community. Through her dedication to education, empowerment, and community engagement, she has played an important role in the charity’s growth and development.
Professionally, Chandni is an experienced youth development and employability specialist with a background in education, project management, and partnership working. Throughout her career, she has supported disadvantaged young people, including those at risk of exclusion and those not in education, employment, or training (NEET), helping them build confidence, skills, and aspirations for the future.
Her experience spans several respected organisations, including ThinkForward UK, Career Ready, Connectr, Spark!, Capgemini, and Ambitious about Autism. She also serves as an Enterprise Advisor, helping strengthen links between schools and employers. Chandni brings passion, expertise, and a strong sense of community to The Gurkha Centre, helping ensure the organisation continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those it serves.
Hari Bhandari: Founder & CEO
Hari Bhandari is an experienced Social Worker and British Gurkha veteran committed to the welfare of Gurkha veterans, their spouses, widows, and marginalised communities. Holding an MA in Social Work from Brunel University London, he is registered with Social Work England and has extensive experience in hospital discharge, community assessments, mental capacity evaluations, and safeguarding.
As Founder and CEO of The Gurkha Centre, Hari provides strategic leadership, coordinating staff, volunteers, and partners to ensure equitable access to health, welfare, and social care services. A multilingual communicator fluent in English, Nepali, Pashto, Dari, Urdu, and Hindi, he brings unique cultural insight shaped by frontline roles in Afghanistan and UN operations in Kabul.
Hari works tirelessly to address systemic gaps, building a compassionate team and supervising trainee social workers, BSc Global Health students from Imperial College London, and college students from Uxbridge, Richmond, and Harrow. He continues to advocate for justice, dignity, and empowerment across the communities he serves.
Sumita Rai: Well-being Officer | Co-Founder
Sumita Rai has been at the heart of The Gurkha Centre since its genesis and is one of the driving forces behind its growth and success. As a co-founder, she has dedicated countless hours to supporting Gurkha veterans, widows, and families, helping to build the organisation into a trusted source of advice, advocacy, and practical support. Despite her immense contribution, Sumita remains humble, focusing on serving others with compassion and dedication.
With a professional background in nursing and health and social care, Sumita brings extensive knowledge, experience, and empathy to her role. Her healthcare expertise and commitment to community wellbeing have helped shape the charity’s strategic direction, particularly in addressing the needs of the ageing Gurkha population and those facing barriers to accessing services.
Sumita leads the Centre’s health and wellbeing initiatives, delivering health awareness sessions in the Nepali language and supporting beneficiaries to navigate healthcare services with confidence and dignity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked tirelessly to support vulnerable residents by sharing vital health information and promoting public health guidance. Known for her compassion, professionalism, and strong work ethic, Sumita is a trusted and respected figure whose dedication continues to make a lasting difference within the Gurkha and Nepalese community.
Sanjila Joshi: Welfare Officer
As a Welfare Officer at The Gurkha Centre, Sanjila Joshi provides compassionate and personalised support to Gurkha veterans and their families. With over eight years of experience in the non-profit sector, Sanjila brings deep insight and genuine passion to her role, ensuring that each individual feels heard, respected, and valued.
Since joining The Gurkha Centre in 2024, Sanjila has become a trusted advocate within the community, responding thoughtfully and empathetically to diverse needs. Her commitment aligns deeply with the Centre’s mission of honouring and preserving the legacy of Gurkha service. Through her dedicated efforts, Sanjila plays a key role in strengthening the wellbeing and resilience of those she supports.
Sanjila is proud to be part of a team that prioritises integrity, respect, and meaningful impact, continuously striving to uplift and empower the Gurkha community.