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Meet The Team
BDPN Together, we're more than a network. We're a community of 4,000+ Black tech professionals, partnered with employers including AWS, British Airways, Salesforce and Snowflake, committed to changing what representation in tech looks like
The people behind the BDPN, building the bridge between exceptional Black tech talent and the employers who want to find them.
Ian Benjamin
Founder & Managing Director
An experienced recruiter in the digital sector and a committed DEI advocate, Ian co-founded the BDPN to do three core things, upskill, mentor, and connect underrepresented Black data, digital and tech talent to inclusive employers. Partnering with organisations genuinely committed to change, his vision is to make BDPN the global brand employers turn to when they want the best Black talent across data, digital and technology.
Blaise Nanji
Co-Founder, Marketing & Events Manager
Driving growth and empowerment within the Black data professional community. Blaise is the catalyst behind our transformative events and impactful marketing campaigns, from AI and career events with partners like Snowflake and Salesforce to community programmes that elevate industry engagement and visibility. Dedicated to fostering connections, amplifying voices, and nurturing collaboration.
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Rahul Kapoor
Marketing Manager
A strategic storyteller and brand champion, Rahul leads marketing initiatives that amplify our mission and connect with our audience. Passionate about driving engagement, he crafts impactful campaigns, builds strong partnerships, and ensures our message reaches the right people, with a focus on innovation, inclusivity and meaningful connections that inspire action and growth.
Sochima (A.) Nwafor
SEO Specialist
If you found BDPN on Google, any search engine, or saw us cited by an AI tool, you have Sochima to thank. If you can't find us, he probably hasn't ranked those keywords yet, so just refresh the page.
Sochima joined BDPN with one clear goal, connect fifteen years of real-world credibility to a strong online presence. He doesn't just write content, he builds the systems behind it. He built our 4-tier keyword system, improved our site structure for better results, and led our move into GEO so AI tools understand exactly who we are, the top UK community for Black tech talent.
He hates boring, robotic content, so he turns complex data into stories that sound human. If something on our platform made you think, laugh, or update your CV, Sochima probably wrote it.
Dr Stephen Nwoye
CPD Course Designer
Stephen is a Senior Data Engineer working in the NHS and Founder of The AI Workshop CIC, a community interest company democratising data and AI skills. He holds a PhD in Computer Science and is a Chartered Member of the BCS. A regular speaker at UK and European data conferences on making AI practical for the systems organisations actually run, Stephen brings that same real-world rigour to designing BDPN's CPD courses, built to move Black tech professionals forward at every career stage.
Phillip Machoka
CPD Course Designer & Instructor
Phillip is a data and AI professional with over 10 years of experience delivering analytics, business intelligence, data engineering and artificial intelligence solutions across telecommunications, utilities, insurance, local government and heavy industry.
As CPD Course Designer and Instructor at the Black Data Professionals Network (BDPN), Phillip designed, developed and authored the organisation’s complete suite of four CPD-accredited programmes in Data Analysis, Data Science, Data Engineering and AI Engineering. He leads the end-to-end design of each programme, from curriculum development and learning outcomes to technical content, practical labs, real-world case studies and assessment materials, ensuring every course reflects current industry practices and employer needs.
Phillip also delivers training that bridges the gap between theory and practice, making complex technical concepts accessible through engaging, hands-on learning experiences. His goal is to equip professionals with the practical skills, confidence and critical thinking needed to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving data and AI landscape.
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