Our executive Committee
Hogets Baerndel
Ameira Bahadur-Kutkut
Ameira Bahadur-Kutkut
Hogets is the Mindfulness chaplain at Imperial College London, and the Buddhist chaplain at King’s College London, SOAS university, and Buddhist faith adviser at the UAL, University of the Arts London.
Hogets has more than 12 years’ experience in chaplaincy. She also is on call as Buddhist chaplain at her local hospital and hospice. She is
Hogets is the Mindfulness chaplain at Imperial College London, and the Buddhist chaplain at King’s College London, SOAS university, and Buddhist faith adviser at the UAL, University of the Arts London.
Hogets has more than 12 years’ experience in chaplaincy. She also is on call as Buddhist chaplain at her local hospital and hospice. She is an ordained layperson and Zen teacher in the Japanese Rinzai tradition and is qualified to train mindfulness meditation teachers. Hogets also holds a master level degree in arts and industrial design. Before becoming a chaplain, she was self-employed as artist and designer abroad.
Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Hogets has also lived for some years in Germany before moving to the Uk in 2008.
Ameira Bahadur-Kutkut
Ameira Bahadur-Kutkut
Ameira Bahadur-Kutkut
Ameira is the Coordinating Chaplain at Cardiff Metropolitan University, with over 20 years of experience working within Muslim communities and engaging in interfaith work. She is a qualified counsellor, trained Islamic scholar (Aalimah) and holds an MA in 'Islam in Britain'. Ameira is currently pursuing doctoral research on 'Women's Wellbeing in Islamic Ethics'.
James Croft
Ameira Bahadur-Kutkut
James Croft
James Croft is the University Chaplain and Lead Faith Advisor to the University of Sussex, making him the first Humanist Lead Chaplain at any UK University. Prior to his appointment to Sussex University, James served as the Senior Leader of the Ethical Society of St. Louis, one of the largest Humanist congregations in the world. As clergy
James Croft is the University Chaplain and Lead Faith Advisor to the University of Sussex, making him the first Humanist Lead Chaplain at any UK University. Prior to his appointment to Sussex University, James served as the Senior Leader of the Ethical Society of St. Louis, one of the largest Humanist congregations in the world. As clergy for one of the few thriving congregations for people without a traditional faith, James told stories and designed aesthetic experiences to invite people into the work of social change. Before becoming clergy, James was an interdisciplinary researcher with a focus on the philosophy of Human Development and the role of the arts in learning. He completed his Master’s and Doctoral degrees at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and his undergraduate degree at Homerton College, Cambridge. James is a gay rights and
Humanist activist. His first speech as an activist, “6.12 seconds,” has been used around the world to train leaders in the art of Public Narrative (the use of personal stories to move people to action). James provides coaching for leaders who wish to communicate more persuasively.
Sarah Farrow
Heather Leppard (Chair 2025-2026)
Sardarni Navleen Kaur MBE
Sarah Farrow is Vice Dean, and Chaplain to the St Thomas' & Waterloo Campuses at King’s College London. She is a Lutheran minister, ordained in the Lutheran Church in Great Britain. Sarah trained for Ordained Ministry with the South East Institute for Theological Education and completed her MA in Theology with St Augustine's. She has work
Sarah Farrow is Vice Dean, and Chaplain to the St Thomas' & Waterloo Campuses at King’s College London. She is a Lutheran minister, ordained in the Lutheran Church in Great Britain. Sarah trained for Ordained Ministry with the South East Institute for Theological Education and completed her MA in Theology with St Augustine's. She has worked in higher education for over 20 years’ (previously as an academic advisor, administrator and lecturer) and has been active in higher education chaplaincy across the UK since 2017, as a chaplain and a former executive member of the Churches Higher Education Liaison Group (CHELG). She is originally from New York and New Jersey but has lived in London for more than 20 years.
Sardarni Navleen Kaur MBE
Heather Leppard (Chair 2025-2026)
Sardarni Navleen Kaur MBE
Navleen is an educator, consultant, and community leader with expertise in Sikh Studies, SMSC, interfaith dialogue, and women’s empowerment. She studied French Literature at UCL and the Institut Britannique in Paris before qualifying as a teacher at the Institute of Education in modern foreign languages. She later trained as a Sikh Minist
Navleen is an educator, consultant, and community leader with expertise in Sikh Studies, SMSC, interfaith dialogue, and women’s empowerment. She studied French Literature at UCL and the Institut Britannique in Paris before qualifying as a teacher at the Institute of Education in modern foreign languages. She later trained as a Sikh Minister in Panjab while working on UN-funded humanitarian projects and went on to complete an MPhil in Educational Psychology at the University of Cambridge. Her publications on faith and values have been featured in The European Network on Religion & Belief and the European Parliament.
She is the founder of the Sahara Sisterhood, supporting women of all faiths and none, and Khalsa Fostering, which works to house children in care. Her contributions to education, interfaith relations, and community empowerment were recognised with an MBE from King Charles III.
Alongside chaplaincy, Navleen runs mindfulness workshops, youth leadership programs and women’s advocacy projects across the UK and Europe. Married, and a mother of three teenagers, she enjoys swimming—especially in open waters—and finds joy and spiritual grounding in Kirtan.
Heather Leppard (Chair 2025-2026)
Heather Leppard (Chair 2025-2026)
Heather Leppard (Chair 2025-2026)
Heather is the Anglican Chaplain at Oxford Brookes University. Her involvement in interfaith work began as a student at the University of Bristol Multifaith Chaplaincy over 20 years ago. Since then she has worked for both the Methodist and Anglican churches in communities around the UK, including in Further and Higher Education chaplainc
Heather is the Anglican Chaplain at Oxford Brookes University. Her involvement in interfaith work began as a student at the University of Bristol Multifaith Chaplaincy over 20 years ago. Since then she has worked for both the Methodist and Anglican churches in communities around the UK, including in Further and Higher Education chaplaincy, and as a chaplain to adults with intellectual disabilities. Heather is an ordained priest in the Church of England, having trained at Westcott House, Cambridge and Yale Divinity School. Whilst in Cambridge, Heather was a founding member of Lyn's House, an ecumenical community. Heather loves to be outside and is a keen runner and an amateur gardener.
Sachi Patel
Carter Weleminsky
Heather Leppard (Chair 2025-2026)
Dr Sachi Patel is the Multi-Faith Chaplaincy Coordinator at SOAS University of London and Hindu Chaplain at King’s College London. He is the first Hindu chaplain to lead a university chaplaincy in the UK.
Dr Patel has over 10 years’ experience in chaplaincy, working across universities, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the
Dr Sachi Patel is the Multi-Faith Chaplaincy Coordinator at SOAS University of London and Hindu Chaplain at King’s College London. He is the first Hindu chaplain to lead a university chaplaincy in the UK.
Dr Patel has over 10 years’ experience in chaplaincy, working across universities, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the NHS Nightingale Hospitals. He holds an MPhil in Classical Indian Religions from SOAS and a PhD in Hindu Theology from the University of Oxford, where his research examined the intersection of politics and religion in eighteenth-century India.
He is the author of a book in the Routledge Hindu Studies Series on Politics and Religion. Born in London, Dr Patel lived for ten years as a Hindu monk in the UK and India.
Carter Weleminsky
Carter Weleminsky
Carter Weleminsky
Carter Weleminsky is the Interfaith Adviser for The University of West London. Carter has worked in a variety of interfaith roles at universities and charities. He has also supported NHS chaplaincy teams and advised on equality and diversity in spiritual care provision. Carter has a PhD in acoustic ecology and Jewish studies, has complete
Carter Weleminsky is the Interfaith Adviser for The University of West London. Carter has worked in a variety of interfaith roles at universities and charities. He has also supported NHS chaplaincy teams and advised on equality and diversity in spiritual care provision. Carter has a PhD in acoustic ecology and Jewish studies, has completed advanced training in Talmud and Halacha, and also holds a PGCert in Chaplaincy. Carter is the first Jewish lead chaplain at a London university. His work focuses on making pastoral care services more inclusive and accessible, with a particular passion for supporting minority faith and belief groups who often face barriers to culturally or religiously appropriate support.