Samira brings over 25 experience of working in the NHS and with grassroots community groups. She works primarily in that ‘in-between system and community space’ to facilitate conversations for change on equality, participatory research and in initiating grassroots community led programmes. Samira held a range of community engagement, health improvement and EDI focused roles including most recently as Head of Engagement and Partnerships and Equalities, Diversity, and Inclusion in North West London Integrated Care System. Prior to that, she was the Assistant Director of Equalities and Head of System Change in the NHS.
Over the past 6 years she has worked closely with the community affected by the Grenfell Fire to facilitate local conversations; promote and advocate on behalf of and amplify (nationally and locally) the voices of families and the community affected by the Grenfell Disaster. Samira was named as one of the top 50 most influential Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic People in Health by the Health Service Journal 2022 and 2023 for her work on community collaboration.
Samira is the co-founder of Community Voices: Conversations for Change and the multi-award-winning community Champions Programme in London. She is currently an Associate at the King’s Fund, the Centre for Population Health, National Voices; she is also a Trustee at the Nuffield Trust and the Deputy Chair of the Grenfell Research Development Group.