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Shaista Gohir OBE Crossbench Peerage

Shaista Gohir OBE

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is delighted that the extensive work of Shaista Gohir OBE, a non-executive director at the Trust, 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.

David Wakefield, Chairman of UHNM said: “Shaista brings to our organisation and our Board a massive wealth of experience and insight championing equality and inclusion.  It is fitting and right that her expertise and her extensive work be recognised in this way and we are immensely proud of her achievements.”

Shaista Gohir OBE added: “It is a huge honour to have been invited to join such a prestigious institution and be at the heart of law making. I did not think someone like me would ever be given such an opportunity. I see this role as an extension of my activism and will use my voice to fly the flag for women’s rights, inequalities experienced by the most vulnerable in society, the charity sector, women’s health, the NHS and of course for the West Midlands region. I look forward to working independently with peers across the House, sharing my expertise and providing scrutiny of government policy and legislation.”

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