Dr Mohammed Ali OBE
Chairman
Mohammed Ali graduated in Applied Chemistry before obtaining a diploma in business administration from Bradford University School of Management. For several years he worked in new developmental roles in the private and public sectors and for national voluntary organisations in England and overseas.
In 1990 he set up QED Foundation, a Bradford-based, award-winning social enterprise that helps the most disadvantaged people in the UK and overseas to improve their quality of life.
He has experience of working with a wide range of diverse communities in England and Wales and spoken at seminars and conferences in Europe, America and Asia.
Mohammed Ali has won many accolades for his work including the Professor Handy’s Alchemist and Institute of Directors awards. In 1997 he was given an honorary degree by Bradford University and received an OBE in 2001.
He is a governor of York St John University Council and a member of the selection board of the British Council/Common Purpose Pakistan Diaspora Leadership Programme; Social Research Council Peer Review College; University of Essex Policy Advisory Committee on Migration and Ethnic Minorities; and the Brussels-based European Migration Forum.
He has also held previous senior appointments with the Association of Chief Organisations of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO), the National Consumer Council Advisory Group and the Prescription Pricing Authority.
Adeeba Malik CBE
Vice Chair
Adeeba was born in Bradford and trained as a teacher in Hull. She joined QED Foundation in 1992 as language development manager and is now the deputy chief executive. She has extensive experience of working with public, private and voluntary sector organisations to promote equality and diversity locally, regionally and nationally.
Adeeba has held numerous ministerial and non-ministerial appointments with a wide range of organisations working at regional and national level over the last 20 years including Yorkshire Forward, British Waterways, the Advisory Board on Naturalisation and Immigration, National Clinical Assessment Authority, Waterways Trust and the government’s Muslim Women’s Advisory Board. She has also been chair of the National Ethnic Minority Business Forum based in the Department for Trade and Industry. She was a member of the Women and Work Commission set up by former Prime Minister Tony Blair as well as a governor of Sheffield Hallam University and director of Northern Ballet, Spirit of Bradford and Century Radio. Currently she is on the board of Bradford Opportunity Area, a member of a state honours committee and Nurture Academies Trust, chair of Hollyns Health & Wellbeing practice and a trustee of Carers’ Resource.
Adeeba has won many accolades for her work including the Yorkshire Young Achiever and Woman of Achievement, Pakistan and India Friendship and Lloyds TSB Jewel awards. She was awarded the MBE (Member of the British Empire) in 2004 and in January 2015 was honoured with the CBE (Commander of the British Empire) in the New Year’s Honours List.
Asif Khan
Community Engagement Coordinator
Asif Khan is a well-known community activist with particular experience in media relations.
He has helped to raise tens of thousands of pounds for charities based in the UK and Pakistan including Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Namal College, which is affiliated with the University of Bradford. This work has involved hosting special television fundraising shows and events throughout Britain.
Asif has worked closely with prime minister Imran Khan, helping to strengthen his movement and supporting his anti-corruption campaign in Pakistan and the UK. He has also acted as a spokesperson on broadcast media.
For many years Asif helped to enrich and promote the artistic and cultural heritage of Yorkshire’s ethnic minority communities. He has worked for local authorities, the voluntary sector and television and other media outlets.
His voluntary work has included playing a key role in organising the Pakistan Festival 1997 in the UK. This attracted 25,000 people and widespread mainstream media coverage, being the largest overseas event held to celebrate the country’s golden jubilee.
Asif has led or supported numerous community organisations and is a former director of the Pakistan Club.
