Shaista Gohir OBE - Non-Executive Director

Shaista Gohir OBE has a wealth of experience in the BAME civil society sector, as well as working in complex environments at a very senior level with expertise in governance and scrutiny. Shaista is Commissioner on Child Sexual Abuse / Exploitation Inquiry, Women’s Voices Lead to Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Chair/Trustee of Muslim Women’s Network UK and part of the National Police Chief’s Stakeholder Group on Domestic Abuse.

Shaista's extensive work has been further recognised with an appointment to the House of Lords as a non-party-political peer. Shaista was selected by the House of Lords Appointments Commission following an independent competitive process and recommended to the Prime Minster because of the expertise and experience she will be able to bring to the work of the House.

Shaista, who is of Pakistani heritage, has worked in the charity sector for nearly 20 years and is a leading women's rights campaigner and is recognised as one of the most influential Muslim women in Britain.

In addition to her work at the Muslim Women’s Network UK (MWNUK) where she is the CEO, Shaista has served on various national and international advisory groups and boards.  She is currently the Women’s Voices Lead at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, an honorary role with responsibility for ensuring women’s views and experiences of maternity and gynaecology services are heard.  Her passion for social justice led to her to also founding a new charity last year, the Nisa Global Foundation, which will help women and girls in developing countries. Shaista has already been awarded the MBE for services to Muslim People and to Community Relations and OBE for Gender Equality and Women's Rights.