Meet the bmslg team

The Muslim Strategic Leadership Group (BMSLG) consists of members of the Bristol Muslim communities, our Statutory Partners and our Associate Partners.  We have an Executive Committee which consists of the BMSLG founding members and our Vice Chairs who ensure that we are guided by our aims and purpose.

KHADEEJA ABUNAJM

BMSLG Vice Chair
& Strategy Group Member leading the Council Services Task Group
Khadeeja has an MA in Islamic Education, Head of OliveTree Arabic School, founder of Avicenna Free School Trust, volunteer chaplain at UHB and member of the Bristol Muslim home-schooling community. Khadeeja’s passion is to improve awareness of religious and cultural diversity in education through working together at BMSLG.

MOHAMED
​A SAYAQLE

BMSLG Strategy Group Member
Mohamed is founder of Bristol Somali Youth Voice which empowers disadvantaged young people in Bristol. Leading a range of community programs from grass roots level to strategic level, Mohamed advocates for justice, representation, equality and active citizenship.  He has extensive experience of working with communities and statutory partners, which is what Mohamed brings to BMSLG.

Dr Miriam
​Khan

BMSLG Strategy Group Member
Dr Miriam Khan is GP and as a part of her work, she engages with communities from different Muslim backgrounds. She engages and listens to patients and the issues they have accessing healthcare and other social problems they face. She hopes to bring her wealth of experience and expertise to increase health promotion and access to healthcare for Muslims in Bristol.
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SAED
​ALI

BMSLG Strategy Group Member
Saed is a freelance interpreter.  He is Chair of Boards of Directors at Bristol Somali Resource Centre and Trustee of Easton and Lawrence Hill neighbourhood management [Upourstreet]. Saed serves the community in various capacities and brings a wealth of experience to BMSLG about community issues particularly those who are marginalised.
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Dr Lukon
​Miah

BMSLG Strategy Group Member
Lukon is a Junior Doctor working for the NHS with management consulting experience at Bain & Company. He graduated from UCL and having spent 6 years in London, working with organisations such as Charity Week, Islamic Societies and Student’s Unions, he is keen to bring back this experience to empower Muslims in Bristol. He hopes to utilise both his clinical and management skillset to help BMSLG.

SHEILA JOY RAYMOND EL DIEB

BMSLG Strategy Group Member
Sheila is a Muslim revert Bristolian with extensive experience in Bristol University’s, community relation work, the City Council and police liaison. Sheila currently works on collecting and delivering surplus food to charity outlets for public need. Sheila brings her ability for critical assessment to achieving BMSLG aims and objectives.
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ABDUL
​TARIQ SAMAD

​BMSLG Strategy Group Member
Abdul Tariq is a Mechanical Engineer consultant, founding member of Council of Bristol Mosques. He has led NHS policy change in Bristol on Muslim foetus burial and structural design of Muslim burials.  Abdul brings to BMSLG his extensive knowledge and experience to contribute to strategic direction of Muslim progress in Bristol.

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Mohamed
​Berber

BMSLG Strategy Group Member
Mohamed Berber is a Police Officer.
Mohamed brings a wealth of experience regarding crime prevention and victim support to BMSLG to make communities safer.​





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HIBO
​MAHAMOUD

BMSLG Strategy Group Member 
Chair of Police Task Group
Having worked in the community for the past 15 years, Hibo founded TALO a women-led organisation focusing on issues that matter to the community, empowering them to tap into their rich skillsets. Hibo is also keen on inspiring secondary school-age children through positive representation and proactivity through the BMSLG.
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NADIA
​HAQ

BMSLG Strategy Group Member
Nadia is a doctoral researcher at the University of Bristol investigating mainstream media representation of British Muslims. Nadia brings her significant experience to the BMSLG Strategy Group as both an international journalist and as a research consultant in political communications to counteract negative representations of Muslims in the public sphere.
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Ali 
​Kazmi

BMSLG Strategy Group Member
Ali is responsible for setting up his firm, Ethical Equity, which now gives ethnic minority a voice and vital access to early stage investors, particularly those based in Bristol. This goes to the heart of BMSLG's objectives and aims. He also works very closely with various universities such as University of Bristol and UWE, to champion ethnic minority/Muslim entrepreneur funding and access to business services issues.

SAKARIYE SYEDOMER

BMSLG Strategy Group Member
Sakariye is a Law student at UWE. He believes that education is the key to success in life. He advocates for education and justice and committed to ensuring that Muslims in Bristol receive a quality education to empower young people and the community to be effective and reach their potential.


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ABDUL
​BASHARAT

BMSLG Strategy Group
Member
Abdul is an experienced MD/CEO and has managed and grown various SME businesses over the years. Currently working as a Business Improvement Consultant to help business to improve their efficiency and profitability. Abdul brings extensive experience of strategy, process improvement and working with key stakeholders at every level to BMSLG.
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THE BMSLG EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee are the Founding Members of the BMSLG who initiated the work with the Statutory Partners to form the Group.  The Executive Committee act as Chair for the Strategy Group and as a conduit between them and our Statutory Partners. They work closely with the Vice Chairs.

Dr ADEELA AHMED
​SHAFI MBE

BMSLG Executive Committee Member
Adeela is an Associate Professor in Education at the University of Gloucestershire and founding member of BMSLG. She is currently vice Chair of the Scrutiny of Police Powers for A&S Constabulary. Adeela brings project conceptualisation and management experience to BMSLG and has shaped the vision for strategic Muslim community development in Bristol. Adeela leads the Media & Comms Task Group.
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RUKSANA
ASLAm​​

BMSLG Executive Committee Member
Ruksana is Advocacy Co-ordinator for Reconstruct Children’s Services. She is founder of new Muslim burial land, Meadows of Peace and Funeral Co-ordinator for Aslam Funeral Services. Ruksana sits on the BTIT management committee and has a key administrative role in BMSLG Executive Committee to enable its inspiring purpose and vision.
Ruksana leads the overall administration of BMSLG.
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Your statutory partners

We have partnered up with Bristol City Council, NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, The CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) and Avon & Somerset Police to map the priorities from the Bristol Muslim communities to those of our Statutory Partners so we can work together to achieve them. 

CC SARAH CREW

BMSLG Statutory Partner
Avon & Somerset Police
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Sarah is Chief Constable at A&S Police and active lead/champion for Inclusion and Diversity within the constabulary and National police lead for Adult Sexual Offences and chairs the South West region Anti-Slavery Partnership. Sarah works with BMSLG to connect their priories with A&S for coherence and joined-up actions.

DEBORAH EL-SAYED

BMSLG Statutory Partner
NHS Clinical Commissioning Group
Deborah is Executive Director of Transformation,  responsible for driving innovation and strategic development of quality NHS services. She has worked in operational delivery, innovation, and service redesign, emphasising the use of data, technology and user experience/insights to drive design of health and care services and brings this to BMSLG.

MICHELLE SMITH

BMSLG Statutory Partner
NHS Clinical Commissioning Group
Michelle is Associate Director of Communications and Engagement at the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group. Her role incorporates equality, diversity and inclusion at the CCG and Michelle is working with BMSLG to ensure healthcare is accessible and meets the cultural needs of all Bristol citizens.

CLLR. ASHER CRAIG

BMSLG Statutory Partner 
Bristol City Council

REBECCA BALDWIN-CANTELLO

BMSLG Statutory Partner 
Bristol City Council

YOUR ASSOCIATE PARTNERS

Our Associate Partners help and support BMSLG with practical advice, guidance and research.

PROF THERESE O'TOOLE

BMSLG Associate Partner
University of Bristol

Therese is Professor of Sociology at the University of Bristol. Her research looks at Muslim civic engagement at local and national levels and how participatory opportunities can be improved. Therese is keen to explore how research-based evidence and insights can help to advance the work of the BMSLG.
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SADO
JIRDE

BMSLG Associate Partner
Black Network South West (BNSW)
Sado has experience of simultaneously managing multiple projects, proactively engaging with key stakeholders and influencing them to embrace change in order to deliver positive outcomes.  She is an expert in  developing mutually beneficial, strategic relationships with key decision makers to maximising opportunities and increase engagement and participation.

ALEX
​RAIKES MBE

BMSLG Associate Partner
SARI (Stand Against Racism & Inequality)
Alex is the Strategic Director of SARI. She set up the Tackling Islamophobia Working Group (TIWG) 5 years ago. Via SARI, Alex has worked tirelessly to: raise awareness of Islamophobic Hate; promote reporting; support victims and ensure a best practice response to incidents by agencies.  Alex supports BMSLG by ensuring that victims are well supported.
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