Husna Ahmad

Dr
Husna Ahmad
OBE
Native name হুশরা পারভিন আহমেদ
Born Husna Parvin Ahmad
28 June 1964
Dhaka, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh)
Residence Cricklewood, Barnet, London, England
Nationality British
Ethnicity Bengali
Education PhD Environmental Law
Alma mater School of Oriental and African Studies
Occupation Humanitarian, writer
Years active 2006–present
Title CEO of the Faith Regen Foundation
Religion Islam
Spouse(s) Saif Uddin Ahmad
Children 6
Website
www.faithregenuk.org

Husna Parvin Ahmad, OBE (Bengali: হুশরা পারভিন আহমেদ; born 28 June 1964) is a Bangladeshi-born British humanitarian, writer and Chief Executive Officer of the Faith Regen Foundation. She sits on the Advisory Board of East London Mosque[1][2] and previously sat on the Department for Work and Pensions' Ethnic Minority Advisory Group (EMAG).[3]

Early life

Ahmad was born in Dhaka, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and moved to the United Kingdom at the age of four.[4] She has a PhD in Environmental Law from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

Career

Ahmad has been a member of Faith Regen Foundation's staff since its inception in October 2001 and has previously held the position of director of operations.[5][6]

With a strong background in research she is a board member of SPH Housing Association and sits on the Black and Minority Ethnic Review Forum (BMERF) of the Government Office for London (GOL) and is a trustee of the Muslim think tank the Centre for Muslim Affairs.[7]

She is the co-chair of Faiths and Beliefs in Further Education, a national independent inter-faith charity working with the learning and skills sector, faith and local communities and national and local faith/belief based groups. She is also on the Women's Committee of the MCEC Palmers Green Mosque. She is a steering committee member of the RLLP (Religious Literacy in Leadership Programme) in Higher Education under the auspices of Goldsmiths University and the University of York. She is a national and international speaker on faith and regeneration, peace building, women's issues and climate change.[7]

Ahmad has held the role of Deputy chief executive of the Forum against Islamophobia and Racism and was a principal officer in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.[8] She previously sat on the Department for Work and Pensions' Ethnic Minority Advisory Group (EMAG)[3] and is also on the Community Development Forum of the London Health Commission. She has been appointed co-chair of the National Council of Faiths and Beliefs in Further Education, a national independent inter-faith charity working with the learning and skills sector, faith and local communities and national and local faith/belief based groups.[8]

In March 2005, Ahmad was on the judging panel for The Muslim News Awards for Excellence.[9] In 2008, she was a member of a Ministerial Working Group on Child Poverty in London. She is a national and international speaker on faith and regeneration, peace building and women's issues.[5]

Ahmad has been appointed the secretary general of the World Muslim Leadership Forum. She has been made a national council member of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.[10]

In 2011, she co-authored The Green Guide For Hajj, with EcoMuslim consultant Omar Faruk, the book encourages ecologically sustainable practices among Hajj pilgrims and promotes the role Muslims can play in protecting nature.[11][12][13][14][15] In 2012, she wrote Islam and Water, the story of Hajjar second wife of the Islamic prophet Ibrahim, in particular her search for water, which is commemorated every year in the Hajj. Both books were commissioned by the Alliance of Religions and Conservation.[10][16]

Awards and recognition

In 2004, Ahmad won the Organisation Ethnic award from the European Federation of Black Women Business Owners. The awards are open to black and minority ethnic women who start or run a business.[17]

In April 2010, she received an Ambassador for Peace award from the Universal Peace Federation.[9][18][18][19] In 2010, she was also appointed an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours for her services to disadvantaged people for work promoting social justice with disadvantaged communities.[20][21]

Personal life

Ahmad lives in Cricklewood, London with her husband, Saif Uddin Ahmad (born 1957), who is CEO of Global One 2015 and MADE in Europe. She has six children (born between 1983 and 2000).[4][5]

Books

Year Title Publisher
2011 Green Guide to Hajj Global One
2012 Islam and Water Alliance of Religions and Conservation

See also

References

  1. ↑ Will, David (July 2011). "Latest News". Devon Faith & Belief Forum. Retrieved 1 December 2012. Dr. Husna Ahmad OBE
  2. ↑ "Women – Welcome to British Bangladeshi Power 100". British Bangladeshi Power 100. January 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Dr Husna Ahmad, OBE". Centre for the Modern Family. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Hayes, Alex (5 June 2010). "Cricklewood's Dr Husna Ahmad given OBE for work with Faith Regen Foundation". The Times. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Will, David (18 April 2010). "Dr Husna Ahmad Ambassador for Peace Award". Universal Peace Federation. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  6. ↑ "WEBINAR – Politics in Action – Faith Organisations and Regeneration". Meetup. 10 July 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Senior Management Phoro Profile". Faith Regen Foundation. 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2012. Dr. Husna Ahmad OBE
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "fbfe council members". fbfe website. 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2012. Dr Husna Ahmad
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "MCB The Muslim News holds its fifth prestigious awards ceremony". The Muslim News. 22 March 2005. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "2012 Speaker Profiles". World Muslim Leadership Forum. 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2012. Dr Husna Ahmad OBE
  11. ↑ Aburawa, Arwa (1 November 2011). "Interview With Green Hajj Expert Dr Husna Ahmed". Green Prophet. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  12. ↑ "Green Guide to Hajj and Islam and Water". The Alliance of Religions and Conservation. Retrieved 1 December 2012. Dr Husna Ahmad OBE
  13. ↑ "Green Guide to the Hajj launched at Assisi, Italy". Faith Regen Foundation. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  14. ↑ "Green Guide to the Hajj launched at Assisi, Italy". The Alliance of Religions and Conservation. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  15. ↑ "The World's First Green Hajj Guide Launched By ARC". The Eco Muslim. 10 November 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  16. ↑ Yamin, Kafil (9 July 2012). "The Green Hajj". Green Prophet. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  17. ↑ "Dr Husna Ahmad wins award". Planning Resource. 19 November 2004. Retrieved 1 December 2012. Dr. Husna Ahmad OBE
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "MCB congratulates Muslims named in Queen's Honors List". Arab News. 13 June 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  19. ↑ Marsh, Robin (27 June 2010). "UPF would like to extend our congratulations to Dr Husna Ahmad OBE.". Universal Peace Federation. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  20. ↑ "Birthday Honours: Civil Order Of The British Empire, OBE". The Independent. 12 June 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  21. ↑ "MCB Congratulates British Muslims Named in Queen's Honours List". The Muslim Council of Britain. 12 June 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2012.

External links