Fellows’ Talk with Shahin Sadafi, Former Chairman of Grenfell United, 18 May 2026

On 18 May, we convened an evening of discussion for our fellows’ network with Shahin Sadafi. Shahin is an inspirational speaker and was the Founding Chairman of Grenfell United. Shahin shared his experiences of growing up in Iran amidst the Iran-Iraq war and eventually leaving Iran to the UK. Shahin moved into Grenfell Tower in 1997. By 2017 Shahin had established himself as a successful businessman, consultant and trainer.

Shahin went on to share his experiences of the horrific tragedy of the Grenfell Tower fire. He told the fellows about his journey working in the community to set up Grenfell United, an association with the ultimate mission to unite the bereaved families and survivors with a strong and dignified voice, as well as assisting with their immediate and long-term needs which included campaigning for justice, access to housing and charitable funds and trauma support. Shahin told the fellows about Forward Thinking’s role in supporting the work of Grenfell United.

Shahin shares his experiences with our fellows.

While telling his story, Shahin focused on the power of community and togetherness, highlighting this as a key message for our fellows.