Nadia Shah (নদিয়া শাহ; is a British Labour Party politician, councillor for Regent's Park and former Mayor of Camden. In May 2016, she became the first female mayor of British Bangladeshi heritage. She was elected onto Camden councils cabinet after stepping down as Mayor. She became a cabinet member and held the portfolio of Skills, Employment & Youth and is currently serving as the cabinet member for 'Safer Communities'with special responsibility for rough sleeping and creating vibrant markets. Nadia is a loyal Labour Party supporter and activist.
Shah worked in Camden for all of her working life. She started her career as an investments adviser at NatWestBank of England. She also worked at Home Office and several departments of the local and central government of Britain. Shah has been employed as a social worker and a youth worker. As a teenager she volunteered with young people in the borough, and she has managed community projects helping people with drug addiction and a community centre as a project manager. She became a coopted trustee for the Surma centre and then went on to become an elected director. She is a trustee of the Business Improvement District and a governor in schools. She is a lifelong member of the London Mayors Association, A trustee of the West Euston Partnership. In May 2014, in the Camden London Borough Council election, Shah was elected as a councillor for the Regent's Park ward, where Tulip Siddiq was a councillor before becoming MP in 2015. In 2014, she was elected by members and served on the executive committee of the council. In May 2016, Shah was appointed Mayor of Camden at Camden Town Hall in a ceremony which also saw confirmation of the council's new cabinet. She became the first Bangladeshi-origin female mayor in any city in the UK. Shah chose the Anna Freud Centre in Hampstead as her official charity for the forthcoming year. Shah also works as an athletics co-ordinator for the University of East London's Academic Registry department, co-ordinating an athletics running group. Shah currently works in the family business and also self-employed.
Awards
In 2014, Shah received the Camden Community Award in recognition for the work and dedication for the work done with the community. In November 2016, she picked up the inaugural Lord's Taverners Community Partnership Award on behalf of Camden Council. Shah received a further award for her education to the community, and was recognised by the Canary Wharf Group plc as the First Female British Bangladeshi and was awarded for her excellence in performing her civic duties in 2016.
Personal life
Shah's husband, Jajil Shah, works as the chief of Information Technology department at Camden Council. Shah trains regularly at the Sports Dock gym and fitness centre at University of East London, and has run half-marathons. She has organised community runs around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
