About the Founder
Monwara Ali is a trailblazer herself!
With a career spanning 32+ years in leadership and advocacy, she has championed diversity and inclusion in both corporate and community settings.
Monwara’s work is driven by her personal experience of overcoming challenges as a woman of color navigating the leadership space.Her vision for Trailblazer Platform is rooted in creating pathways to success for Asian women, ensuring that no one has to face those challenges alone.
She brings her wealth of knowledge, passion for equity, and commitment to excellence into every aspect of the organisation. Under her guidance, Trailblazer Platform has become a beacon of empowerment, fostering a supportive network where ambition meets opportunity.
Her unwavering dedication continues to inspire women to break barriers and rise to leadership roles.
Our Core Values
- Inclusion as a core principle
- Ethical leadership and integrity
- Commitment to growth and excellence
- Community and collaboration
Farah is a healthcare specialist with expertise in clinical trial management and social prescribing. In 2020 she took on the role of Chair for the well-reputed Waltham Forest Women’s Network, guiding the organisation through a period of significant uncertainty.
Farah champions health equity and relentlessly advocates for under-served communities. Farah was the driving force behind the success of this women-led network, dedicating her time and energy to bringing together passionate and creative women. Her commitment to empowering women was evident in her leadership and active involvement with a remarkable group of women. Under her guidance, the organisation collaborated with female activists, including Hibo Wardere, to raise awareness of female genital cutting and strengthen the fight to eradicate this cruel practice.
Monwara Ali has 32+ years experience in advocating for the most vulnerable and underserved communities. As a part-qualified solicitor and fully qualified Fundraiser, she has provided essential business support to organisations both in the UK and abroad.
She currently serves as a trustee, CEO and Director of three different charitable organisations. Her expertise covers governance, business development, fundraising, youth work management, leadership development, coaching and mentoring, change management, and community engagement.
Monwara’s leadership journey began in the 1990s when, at the age of 18, she broke barriers to become a youth worker. By 20, she had already become a trustee and chair of a community organisation and had undertaken a transformative internship in South Carolina, USA, working with prisoners on Death Row. Many of these prisoners were wrongly imprisoned, had learning disabilities, or lacked legal support. This profound experience deepened her passion for justice and advocacy, especially for those whom society has underestimated or written off.
Throughout her career, Monwara has been a tireless advocate for community development and social equity. In Waltham Forest, she led teams of dedicated individuals in developing ambitious community programmes designed to address social inequality and invest in local skills, capabilities, and talent. She also played a pivotal role in reviving the Walthamstow Village Festival and served as the first Chair of the William Morris Big Local Partnership, a £1 million initiative that provided social investment and support to a disadvantaged neighbourhood.
Currently, Monwara serves as a trustee and the Chair of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee at the Chartered Institute of Fundraising. She is also the Chief Executive of Waltham Forest Community Hub, a leading charity recognised for its collaborative and agile approach to grassroots community work. Additionally, she is the Founder and Director of Stow Inspire CIC, a community development organisation in London that engages and empowers women from underserved communities.
Monwara’s commitment to leadership extends beyond her roles in various organisations. She is passionate about raising standards in the voluntary and charity sectors, with a focus on strengthening these sectors, building capacity, and supporting sustainability. This dedication has led her to author a forthcoming book, due for release in 2024, aimed at helping mission-driven leaders enhance their leadership capacity.
Monwara’s life is a testament to her unwavering dedication to social justice, community empowerment, and the relentless pursuit of positive change. Her work continues to inspire and impact lives both locally and internationally.
Keji Moses is an inspirational speaker, author, and podcaster with over twenty-five years of leadership experience. As a self-advocacy specialist, certified coach, and counsellor, she brings a deeply empathetic perspective informed by her own life experiences.
Keji is the founder of Mayah’s Legacy, a charity established in 2020 to raise awareness of the mental health impact of pregnancy loss and address inequities in maternity care. Her work, rooted in personal loss, empowers those affected by pregnancy loss, fostering understanding and compassion. A passionate advocate for mental and emotional health, Keji is dedicated to improving communication between families and care providers. Keji is also the author of three books: Insights, From Within: Navigating Inner Healing for a Life Lived Inside Out, and The Journey Begins Here, each of which reflects her deep commitment to inner healing and personal transformation.
With over 25 years of hands-on experience in export across more than 150 countries, Kathryn Read specialises in helping small and medium-sized consumer goods companies achieve global expansion. Her expertise spans all
aspects of international growth.
From devising effective strategies to forging key partnerships and providing ongoing support for sales and branding. Kathryn simplifies the complex process of international expansion by focusing on four core areas. She helps companies develop tailored strategies for entering new markets, guiding them through each stage of international growth with a structured approach. Leveraging her extensive network, she facilitates key partnerships to help brands confidently navigate target markets. Additionally, she provides comprehensive sales and branding support, acting as an extended sales team to ensure sustained momentum. Kathryn also offers personalised mentoring, training, and coaching, addressing specific international business development needs, such as client management and team training.
Mildred Talabi has spent more than a decade mastering the art of visibility and personal branding in both her career and business. She initially trained as a Journalist and worked in the media before transitioning first into PR and then later on Communications.
Along the way, Mildred started several
businesses, authored four books, and had the privilege of speaking to and training
many audiences across different regions and countries, both virtually and in-person. Mildred is a recognised LinkedIn influencer and ‘Top Voice’ in the areas of business and careers. She has built an audience of over 50,000 followers on LinkedIn to date, inspiring many women (in particular) to “Start Being Visible” on LinkedIn through her book, workshops, programmes and coaching.
Refa is a trailblazer in her own right. She possesses extensive knowledge of the challenges and barriers faced by women from South Asian communities when navigating the social care and healthcare systems and has sound knowledge of these sectors.
Growing up in inner-city London, she balanced caring responsibilities with her education and professional development. Her experience spans both the charity and private sectors, particularly within the demanding field of housing. Refa is a strong advocate for empowering women from Asian communities to find their voices, seek support, and achieve financial independence. Her lived experience of cultural diversity, combined with her understanding of how mental health can hinder the progress of young women from marginalised communities, drives her passion for opening doors to opportunities that will accelerate their leadership journeys.
Zayna is a brilliant team player whose fundraising experience includes organising community events and raffles.
Zayna is passionate about community development and empowering women, particularly supporting the charity and non-profit sector. She is keen to use her lived experience to make a difference in society. Following her experience on our Trailblazer Programme in 2023, Zayna has joined us as an Associate Consultant.
Iman is passionate about community work that uplifts women and is a great team player.
Her community development and fundraising experience comes from watching and supporting her mother’s dedication to charity work for most of her childhood. Iman is keen to help vulnerable women to overcome barriers to engagement and participation in society. Following her experience on our Trailblazer Programme in 2023, Iman has joined us as an Associate Consultant.
Mehek started developing governance experience from the age of 14, as a member of the Barbican’s Youth Panel.
She then went on to sit on London Youth’s Youth Advisory Board. She has fundraised for MacMillan Cancer Support, Waltham Forest Community Hub and Stow Inspire, raising funds for development work in UK and abroad. She is currently pursuing a degree in Psychology. Following her experience on our Trailblazer Programme in 2023, Mehek now contributes as an Associate Consultant.