About Us
We are a voluntary, non-partisan collective of professional Muslim women. We have a vast range of experience between us, having worked in research, consultancy, government, community outreach, journalism, life coaching, and tech. Far too often, we feel that mainstream platforms do not provide enough space for the richness and diversity of Muslim women’s voices.
We share a passionate belief in amplifying the voices of the unheard. This platform is a space to reflect Muslim women’s everyday stories, opinions, and experiences, empowering them to take back control and own their own narratives.
The Team
Akeela Ahmed
Founder & Managing Director
Akeela Ahmed MBE has been an equalities activist and campaigner for nearly 20 years. On Muslim Women’s Day, she was listed in Nylon magazine as an activist that is “making a difference”.
Akeela advises and works with the government in tackling anti-Muslim hatred, sitting on the Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group as Chair of the Independent Members. She is also a social entrepreneur within the social housing sector. Recently Akeela was appointed to Brighton & Hove CCG as Lay member for Patient and Public Involvement. Akeela was a co-organiser of the Women’s March on London (WML) and in January 2017, she spoke to over 100,00 people at the WML. For her work with WML, she was listed as one of Stylist’s Women of the Year 2017. Her portrait was part of the National Trust’s We Are Bess exhibition at Hardwick Hall, which showcased modern and historic female leaders. She holds an MSc in Mental Health Studies from the Institute of Psychiatry at Kings College London, and is a regular contributor to national and international media, appearing on BBC News, BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio 4’s ‘The Today’ programme, BBC London, BBC Asian Network, Sky News, Channel 5 News, the Guardian, Telegraph, and The Independent, amongst others.
In 2014, Akeela founded She Speaks We Hear.
Sharmeen Ziauddin
Editor-In-Chief
Sharmeen Ziauddin is a multimedia journalist currently doing an MA in journalism. She writes about a variety of topics including politics, current affairs and lifestyle.
Sharmeen has a background in radio, having had her own show on Ramadan Radio called “Let’s Talk About It” where she discussed taboo topics in the Muslim communities. She has also worked on the news team at a local radio station for over five years.
Her motivation to study journalism comes from the lack of female Muslim voices in the media and this is the same reason she is passionate about She Speaks We Hear.
Aliya Zaidi
Head of Content Strategy
Aliya Zaidi is a self-confessed geek with a passion for words, tech, and marketing. Aliya holds a Masters in Management from Imperial College Business School. In her professional career, she’s a freelance editor, researcher, and content specialist in digital marketing, social media and ecommerce.
Aliya is a passionate feminist. She is interested in how emerging digital platforms and technology can challenge the mainstream narrative and how social media can amplify unheard voices.
Aamna Khokhar
Resident Life Coach
Aamna Khokhar is a qualified life coach specialising in relationships. Her work and study in the field of psychology and education span over 20 years. With a background in teaching, she runs workshops on self-development and the creation and maintenance of healthy relationships.
She is determined to equip clients with the tools to strengthen communication, regard and love for themselves and others. She helps people overcome destructive thought patterns, obstructive emotional responses and manage stress and anxiety. Aamna believes that the management of these can help people heal their relationships and reclaim their self-worth and improve their lives.
