Akeela Ahmed
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British businesswoman, equalities campaigner and charity trustee (born 1978)
| Akeela Ahmed | |
|---|---|
| Image | 
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| Born | 8 1978 (age 48 years old (as of 2026)
) |
| Died | |
| Nationality | British |
| Residence | |
| Occupation | Businesswoman, social entrepreneur, equalities campaigner |
| Known for | CEO of British Muslim Trust; Trustee of Paul Hamlyn Foundation |
| Parents | |
| Spouse(s) | Nafeez Ahmed |
| Children | |
| Sibling(s) | |
| Education | |
| Predecessor | |
| Website | |
Akeela Ahmed MBE (born August 1978) is a British businesswoman, social entrepreneur, equalities campaigner and charity trustee. She serves as Chief Executive of the British Muslim Trust and is a Trustee of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. She was awarded an MBE in 2018 for services to Muslim women.[1][2]
Early life and career
Born in August 1978, Akeela Ahmed has built a career in business and equalities advocacy. She has held various directorships in hospitality and services companies.[2]
She previously served as Chief Executive of the Muslim Youth Helpline and co-organised the Women’s March on London. Since 2012, she has sat on the cross-government Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred, becoming chair in 2016.[1]
Resignation of Akeela Ahmed from the Muslim Youth Helpline
According to a blog post by Assed Baig:
- A helpline for Muslim youngsters has been suspended and its CEO has resigned amid a furious row over the apparent forwarding of confidential information to a police anti-terror unit. Muslim Youth Helpline, which was established in 2004, has been put on ice by bosses after private emails were leaked onto a blog detailing the “disgusting” breach of confidentiality.
- Muslim Youth Helpline volunteers say they are “shocked and disgusted” at the incident after details were posted on a blog called MYH Whistleblower and claim it came as part of a “personal vendetta” by the charity boss. The charity’s former CEO, Akeela Ahmed had claimed those calling for her resignation were “racists”, “homophobes”, and “extremists”.
- She allegedly worked with husband Nafeez Ahmed to contact officers in anti-extremism programme “Prevent” to further the complaint after initial attempts to involve police failed to gain traction. In a private email to Chief Inspector James Spencer in Prevent, Nafeez wrote: “The police officers we have spoken to don’t appreciate the insidious dynamic of what is going on as an extremist attempt to, effectively, forcibly takeover one of this country’s leading progressive Muslim charities.”
- The Chief inspector replied, “The fact that you have concerns with your knowledge and experience of these issues does make me genuinely concerned”, adding, “I have already contacted SO15 Counter Terrorism Command and provided details.” Mr Ahmed, who heads think tank the Institute for Policy Research and Development (IPRD) made no attempt to deny the veracity of the leaked emails, saying: “These emails are confidential and have been unlawfully leaked.”
- A statement from 30 signatories involved with the Muslim Youth Helpline published on the MYH Whistleblower blog on Saturday 9th June stated that they were: “Deeply disappointed and dismayed that in today’s current climate of fear and Islamaphobia that these two individuals would go to such an extent.[3]
Career and affiliations
Career
| Date | Role | Organisation | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2009 – Jul 2009 | Head of Support Services | Muslim Youth Helpline | Managing the helpline; conducting an extensive helpline review; managing and leading staff team of 3 and 4 sessional team members; designing and implementing changes to professionalise the helpline, increasing calls by 200%. |
| Jul 2009 – Jul 2012 | Chief Executive | Muslim Youth Helpline | Managing a team of 14; setting annual budget with Board of Trustees; increasing community fundraising income by 100%; diversifying staff team; reducing expenditure by 30%; increasing outreach across the UK. |
| Jan 2012 – Aug 2024 | Government advisor and working group member | Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group (MHCLG) | Ministerially-appointed UK government advisor; Chair of Independent members; consulting for Facebook, Twitter, IPSO; briefing Ministers and officials; appointed to Office for the Children’s Commissioner advisory panel on Child Sex Abuse Inquiry. |
| Jul 2012 – Jul 2025 | Consultant | Various | Providing consultancy (often pro-bono) on fundraising, income diversification, social media and communications, strategic planning, governance, youth/gender/policy issues, and partnership building for not-for-profit organisations. |
| Oct 2014 – Present | Founder | She Speaks We Hear | Online platform for women of any background to be heard without being hijacked by sexism, racism or social disadvantage; initially focused on Muslim women. |
| Mar 2015 – Aug 2020 | Founder | Seaside CIC | Not-for-profit social enterprise providing specialist accommodation and support for vulnerable people in Brighton & Hove; intensive housing management and multi-agency support. |
| Sep 2019 – Apr 2022 | Advisor, Muslim Screen Advisory Group | British Film Institute (BFI) | Research on on-screen depictions of Muslims; providing oversight and advice to encourage diverse and thoughtful Muslim characters in film and TV. |
| Jan 2021 – Jul 2022 | Lay Member for Public and Patient Involvement | NHS Brighton & Hove CCG | Role in Brighton & Hove, England. |
| Sep 2021 – Apr 2026 | Board Trustee | Paul Hamlyn Foundation | Trustee role. |
| Oct 2022 – Present | Trustee | Pregnant Then Screwed | Board Trustee. |
| Feb 2025 – Jul 2025 | Co-Chair | British Muslim Network | Co-Chair role. |
| Jul 2025 – Present | Chief Executive Officer | British Muslim Trust | Full-time; provides confidential support and safe reporting for victims of anti-Muslim hate across the UK. |
Education
- King's College London, U. of London, MSc Mental Health Studies 2005 – 2007
- UCL Bachelor of Science (BSc), Physics, Grade 2:1, 1996 – 2000[4]
Affiliations
- Contextualising Islam in Britain II project - participant[6]
- Muslim Youth Helpline Role Resigned Secretary, Appointed on 10 July 2009; Resigned on 9 June 2012 [7]
- Nisa-Nashim Role Active Director Date of birth, August 1978 Appointed on 25 May 2018. Occupation Self Employed.[8]
- Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Trustee from 2 August 2021.
Director roles
| Company | Role | Status | Appointed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Ameen LLP (OC456165) | Active LLP Designated Member | Active | 1 April 2025 | |
| Nisa Nashim (10397556) | Resigned Director | Active | 25 May 2018 | Resigned on 4 January 2021 |
| Adelphi Court Services Limited | Director | Active | 13 May 2024 | |
| Bridge House Investment Limited | Director | Dissolved | 26 September 2013 | |
| TQ Hotels Limited | Director | Active | 9 July 2013 | |
| Seaside CIC | Director | Resigned | 19 April 2015 | Resigned 13 October 2017 |
| St Vincent Court Limited | Director | Dissolved | 21 October 2015 | Resigned 27 June 2017 |
| Muslim Youth Helpline (05239414) | Secretary | Active | 10 July 2009 | Resigned 9 June 2012 |
| West Pier Services Limited | Director | Active | 19 May 2005 |
Trusteeships
| Charity | Role | Appointed | Other trusteeships |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Hamlyn Foundation (1102927) | Trustee | 2 August 2021 | None on record |
She has additional trusteeships with the Refugee Employment Network and Pregnant Then Screwed.[1][9]
Significant control
Akeela Ahmed holds significant control (ownership of shares – 75% or more) of Sandown Lettings Limited (company number 07375491), notified 6 April 2016.
Contact
- Twitter: @AkeelaAhmed
- Web: akeelaahmed.com/
- Internet Archive holdings of: akeelaahmed.com
- Archive version of LinkedIn: Akeela Ahmed. Captured 20 March 2020.
Awards and recognition
In 2018, Akeela Ahmed was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to Muslim women in the Queen's Birthday Honours.[1]
See also
External links
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Paul Hamlyn Foundation profile
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Companies House appointments
- ↑ Assed Baig Muslim Youth Helpline Closes and CEO Stands Down Amid Police Leak Row Posted on June 12, 2012. Accessed 13 April 2020.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Archive version of LinkedIn: Akeela Ahmed. Captured 20 March 2020.
- ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/in/akeela-ahmed-mbe-26184824/
- ↑ CONTEXTUALISING ISLAM IN BRITAIN Project Leader Professor Yasir Suleiman Director, HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Centre of Islamic Studies, Cambridge UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE in Association with the UNIVERSITIES OF EXEtER AND WESTMINSTER January 2012.
- ↑ Companies House < Muslim Youth Helpline Officers. Accessed 13 April 2020.
- ↑ Companies House Nisa-Nashim: Officers. Accessed 21 April 2020.
- ↑ Charity Commission