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Issue 285, Friday 25 January 2013 - 13 Rabi' al-Awwal 1434 The Muslim News Awards for Excellence 2013 independent panel of judges The Muslim News Awards for Excellence is unique and special because of the dedication of its judges. Each year, a diverse and independent panel from all walks of life come together to shortlist and select winners from a rich list of nominees. This year is no exception. Profiles
Rushanara Ali is the Labour Member of Parliament for Bethnal Green and Bow. In October 2010, she was appointed as the Shadow Minister for International Development. Prior to her election in May 2010, Rushanara was Associate Director of the Young Foundation. She previously worked at the Communities Directorate at the Home Office (2002 – 2005) leading a work programme in response to the 2001 disturbances in the north of England. She has also worked on human rights at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (2000-2001); as a Research Fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research (1999-2002) and as Parliamentary Assistant for Oona King, former MP for Bethnal Green & Bow (1997-1999) and as Research Assistant to Lord Young of Dartington. Born in Bangladesh, Rushanara grew up in the East End of London, in the constituency she now serves.
Dr Rumina Hassan-Ali is a Consultant Paediatrician at the Hillingdon Hospital. Rumina’s medical career spans almost 20 years, having first trained at Southampton University. She has practised at several hospitals in the United Kingdom and has now developed a specialist interest in Paediatric Allergy and Gastro-enterology. Born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Rumina now lives in north London with her children and husband. In addition to a demanding professional career, Rumina also undertakes voluntary work in the local Muslim community, offering health and basic life support training to mother and toddler groups at the North Harrow Assembly Hall, and writing health guidance for Muslim Mums, a magazine produced by and for local mothers. Rumina is also involved supporting Religious Education teaching to children of Husayni Madrasah in North Harrow.
Neil Jameson has been Executive Director of Citizens UK since its inception in 1992 and Lead Organiser with London Citizens since 1997. Citizens UK is a network for people and organisations who work decisively and democratically to strengthen civil society and pursue the common good. It has become the country’s leading hub of community organising. Citizen’s UK won The Muslim News Awards for Excellence’s first Anne Marie Schimmel Award for Championing a Muslim Cause in 2000. Prior to Citizens UK, Neil had worked for 20 years in the public and voluntary sector – with Somerset and Coventry Local Authority – and Save the Children and the Children’s Society in the UK. He has been a Member of the Religious Society of Friends for 30 years and was Clerk in his Meeting for 5 years. He has just been appointed an Honorary Fellow of Queen Mary London University and named by The Guardian as one of the top 100 public servants in the UK.
Abdurrahman Mohammed Sharif is Operations Manager for the Muslim Charities Forum, an umbrella organisation for Muslim-led humanitarian NGOs based in the UK. Adurahman is a graduate in Languages from the University of Sorbonne, France, and holds a Master’s Degree in Development Studies from the University of Pavia, Italy. He lived for many years in Italy where he worked for the International NGO CISP – Sviluppo dei Popoli, of which he is also an Associate Member. Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, he has been involved in many awareness raising activities with the Somali Diaspora. Adurahman has country experience in Somalia, Senegal, Kenya, Tunisia, Egypt, France, Ethiopia and England. He also co-founded and held the post of Vice- President of a local charity called El Vagon Libre whose scope was to promote cultural diversity in the city of Rome. Abdurahman speaks English, French, Italian, Spanish, Arabic and Somali.
Bushra Nasir was the first Muslim female Headteacher of a secondary school in the UK and is currently Head of Plashet Comprehensive School in the London Borough of Newham. From a low-achieving school in 1993 when she became Head, the school has twice been categorised as Outstanding by OFSTED (2005 & 2008). In February 2009, Plashet featured in a national OFSTED report called ‘Twelve Outstanding Schools - Excelling against the Odds’. Bushra is trained and accredited as a Mentor by the Institute of Education and has completed the Consultant Leaders Programme. She is an accredited School Improvement Partner (SIP) and currently supports a school in Essex. She also regularly mentors new Headteachers in Newham. Bushra has held office in many high profile organisations, has a Doctorate from the University of East London and a Fellowship from Queen Mary College, London. Born in Lahore, Pakistan, she has a CBE for her services to education in 2003. In 2000, she was the first recipient of The Muslim News Awards for Excellence’s Special Award for Education. |
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