Kasha Doda is the chair for the Croydon South West - Local Community Partnership. Read her biography below.
Kasha Doda
My professional background with HSBC Retail Bank and Fidelity International developed the standards I would bring to this role: confidentiality, accuracy, clear communication, responsible escalation and reliable follow-through.
Locally, I am involved with the Old Coulsdon Medical Practice Patient Participation Group and Croydon Vision, where I have contributed through active listening, structured note-taking, practical ideas, accessible information work and participation in community activity.
Through this involvement, I have seen the value of strengths-based and community-led working: starting with what residents, volunteers, community groups and local organisations already know, contribute and do well, then helping those strengths connect with wider support and partnership action.
I am also proud to be an NHS AI Ambassador, and I would bring my digital and AI capabilities into the role responsibly and practically, supporting clearer communication, better organisation of community insight, and more accessible information for residents, community groups and partners.
I am motivated to become Co-Chair because I believe the South West Local Community Partnership has a real opportunity to strengthen how residents, voluntary organisations, faith groups, health partners, Council colleagues and local stakeholders work together around shared priorities.
My leadership approach would be to convene, clarify and carry forward: creating welcoming spaces, helping different voices contribute, recognising community strengths, and supporting a clear line of sight from what residents share to how partners respond. I believe residents are not simply recipients of services; they are essential contributors to understanding what is working locally, what could be strengthened, and where earlier support, better communication and closer partnership can make a difference.
I aim to respectful listening, constructive challenge, governance awareness and practical follow-through. My aim would be to help ensure that when residents give their time, insight and experience, their contribution is captured clearly, shared responsibly and followed through with purpose, so it can support visible progress for South West Croydon.
My personal journey has shaped my commitment to community, inclusion and practical support. Living with long-term health challenges has taught me resilience, patience and the importance of being able to access clear information, respectful communication and the right support at the right time. It has also strengthened my determination to keep developing, contribute locally and build a meaningful future through work that connects my skills with community benefit.
As a mother of two boys attending schools in South West Croydon, I understand how important local services, schools, health support, voluntary organisations and community networks are to residents’ everyday lives. Strong communities are not built only through formal services; they are built through connection, trust, accessible information and people knowing where to turn before problems become more difficult.
My aspiration is to continue developing as someone who can bridge community insight, digital innovation and practical partnership working. I am building my career in responsible AI and information support, with a focus on making complex information clearer, more accessible and easier to act on. I would bring this alongside my professional background, local involvement and lived understanding of why residents need to feel listened to, respected and kept informed.
This is why I am drawn to the Local Community Partnership. I believe it can help bring residents, voluntary organisations, faith groups, health partners, Council colleagues and local stakeholders together in a way that supports prevention, inclusion and visible local progress. My personal commitment would be to help strengthen a partnership culture where people feel welcomed, where lived experience is valued, and where local insight is carried forward with care, structure and purpose.