Councillor Naima Ali, the Mayor of Southwark, has lived in the UK since the late 1990s. She brings nearly three decades of lived and professional experience to the role. Naima’s journey into politics was driven by a deep love for humanity and a commitment to supporting the most vulnerable and voiceless in the community.
Elected as a councillor in 2022, Naima has been a passionate advocate for social justice. She is dedicated to fighting Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), which has led to her appointment as an FGM Ambassador for Southwark. As Deputy Mayor, Naima built strong community connections by sharing personal and professional experiences and promoting integration. As Mayor, she aims to make Southwark the most fair and welcoming place to live, work, and visit. In her spare time, Naima loves to spend time with her family and socialising with friends.
In her acceptance speech the Mayor stated ‘I have experienced hardship and adversity since I stepped foot in the UK, and in my 17 years of working with people with drug addiction, I have found my greatest teachers. I aim to bridge the gap and work on connecting our communities. I am guided in the belief that humanity comes before anything else and together we can make a difference. Together we will forge a brighter, more inclusive and equitable future for all our residents in Southwark.’
The Mayor announced Ms Kafia Elmi as her Mayoress for the year. Councillor Sunny Lambe was appointed Deputy Mayor, with Mrs Jean Galley-Lambe announced as the Deputy Mayoress.