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What do you bring to your public appointment?

Emily Lam, independent member for the Cheshire Police Authority:

"I like to first of all consider myself as a citizen, first and foremost. Then I bring in that added aspect of being a Chinese in Britain for 40 years, and bring along the experience as living as one: how the service might appear for the receiver, the user, and ensuring that the service is accessible, good quality and equal for all."

Why are diverse boards important?

"When you have a certain service that's been established in a set pattern, and you don't change, that service will fail in terms of its relevance and relativity to the people who use it. So by getting people from different sectors, whether it be ethnicity, background, it helps to reflect that difference of views and enrich the decision-making. And by having different faces on the board, it enables and enhances community engagement."

What advice would you have for someone considering a public appointment?

"Have belief - I think that's absolutely important. I came as a naive 18-year-old to this country. I owe an awful lot to this country, for some of the very sound, core values I acquired, for instance fairness, and equality - I think it is second to none, the progress and thinking. Okay, there's a lot to be done yet, in practice and in policies and so on, but definitely I think it's the right place to make yourself heard and get involved. If I can do it, anybody can."

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