The Worshipful Mayor of Southwark
We are honored to welcome The Worshipful Mayor of Southwark, Councillor Naima Ali, as our keynote speaker for the Inaugural Global Queens Community Awards Ceremony. A trailblazer, advocate, and community leader, Mayor Ali embodies the values of resilience, empowerment, and service—making her the perfect voice to inspire our celebration of outstanding women and change-makers.
Born in Somalia and moving to the UK in 1997, Mayor Ali has dedicated her life to public service, social justice, and community empowerment. Before entering politics, she spent 17 years working with individuals facing drug and alcohol misuse, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to supporting the most vulnerable in society.
A fierce advocate against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Mayor Ali—herself a survivor—became Southwark’s first FGM Ambassador, using her personal journey to bring awareness, drive change, and uplift marginalized voices. Her leadership in this space has been instrumental in promoting women’s rights and safeguarding future generations.
Elected as a councillor in 2022 and later serving as Deputy Mayor in 2023, Mayor Ali’s tenure has been defined by her passion for equity, diversity, and inclusion. Now, as the first Somali female Mayor of Southwark, she continues to break barriers, ensuring that every individual, regardless of background, has the opportunity to thrive.
Beyond her official duties, Mayor Ali remains deeply connected to her community and family, valuing the power of relationships and grassroots activism in creating lasting impact.
Mayor of Folkestone, Former Chair of Folkestone & Hythe District Council
A dynamic leader and passionate advocate, Abena has dedicated her career to empowering others through consultancy, activism, mentorship, and coaching. Through her work with LeaderPlus, she equips executive leaders with evidence-based strategies for success and delivers impactful leadership training. As a Lead Facilitator with the National Centre for Computing Education and an Enthuse Partnership Coach, Abena is deeply committed to inspiring the next generation in STEM education.
Abena’s commitment to advocacy is equally inspiring. As a member of the Labour Women’s Network, she champions women’s political engagement and leads a community-focused CIC promoting sustainability and social cohesion. Her leadership extends to public service as a local government councillor and the current Mayor of Folkestone, where she passionately drives progress in diversity, inclusion, and intersectionality across leadership, politics, and education.
Abena’s unwavering dedication to empowering communities and fostering inclusive leadership makes her an inspiring force on this year’s judging panel. We are honored to have her insight guiding the Global Queens Community Awards.