We are delighted to welcome Simon Pereira Shorey to the Centre for Minorities Research (CMR) Advisory Board. Simon holds an honours degree in Management from the University of Reading. His career began as a consultant for major clients like BP and British Gas, and the Duchy of Cornwall estate of HRH The Prince of Wales. After moving to the United States over 20 years ago, he has been deeply involved in community and disaster resilience efforts in Jersey City, New Jersey. Simon co-founded Liberty Voiceovers and has served on various local committees, including the ‘I Love Jersey City Public Schools’ Committee. He also leads Resilient JC, a non-profit focused on disaster preparedness, and is part of a specialist rapid responder team for HAZMAT incidents across the U.S.
Simon’s longstanding connection to CMR, as part of the first cohort of the CMR Short Course, coupled with his extensive professional and community service experience, makes him a valuable addition to our Advisory Board. We are excited to have him on board and look forward to his contributions.
We invite you to read the interview we had with Simon below.
Interview with Simon Pereira Shorey
Q: A difficulty in your sector you overcame and how you did that.
Simon: For me, overcoming adversity professionally involves digging deep, pushing forward, learning more, and applying oneself to develop greater knowledge and skills. This isn’t a story set in the business world or academia but rather a series of incidents that challenged me personally, compelling me to grow. Few experiences in life are as challenging as encountering death firsthand. When you’ve been there, trying to keep someone alive, it leaves a lasting impact.
One such incident occurred when I had just returned from a long weekend in Upstate New York. It was a stormy evening with torrential rain and hail. As I got out of the car, two teenagers ran up to me in the murky gloom and said, “There’s a lady on the other side of the road in front of a house. We don’t think she’s breathing! Could you check?” My companion and I went over and found a woman lying on the concrete steps in front of what appeared to be her townhouse. She was soaked to the bone, barely dressed for the weather, and very cold. I spoke to her, trying to get a response, and gently rubbed her hand to see if she was alive. She was—just barely. My companion called 911 while I reassured her that she was not alone and help was on the way.
I asked her name, and she quietly responded. I reassured her that she was no longer alone in the storm. I considered moving her off the steps to get her out of the hail, but I was concerned about the potential for further injury, particularly if she had a neck injury from a fall.
Despite our efforts, she was declared deceased soon after arriving at the hospital. It later emerged that she was the victim of a mugging, left there by her assailants. I was deeply affected by this experience, wondering if there was something more I could have done to save her. Others reassured me that she was too far gone, but the experience spurred me to pursue as much first-aid training as possible.
I later received training in pre-hospital trauma care, which prepares you to manage severe injuries until professionals arrive. While I never expected to use this training, I’ve already used it twice to save lives—once on a beach during a family vacation and once after a street shooting. Both survived, and knowing that I helped save a life is incredibly rewarding.
So, when you face setbacks, dig deep, and learn something new. It might one day give you that same good feeling. Always be learning, even if it’s something you think you’ll never need. Push through the darkness, and that extra effort will be rewarded.
Q: Why CMR? What did you find in our Centre, and how do you see working with us?
Simon: The Centre for Minorities Research (CMR) is a truly special group. A significant issue around the world is a lack of understanding—of others’ problems, languages, ways of life, and humanity. CMR helps bridge these gaps, providing key insights that enable real progress.
Having completed a CMR course, I can personally attest to the knowledge, professionalism, and passion that everyone involved brings. I strongly encourage anyone to work with CMR, whether to learn from their expertise or collaborate on a joint project.