Hamida Ali

Hamida has over 20 years experience of addressing equality and diversity in public sector organisations including local and regional government, the criminal justice system, public service broadcasting and the trade union movement. 

Hamida served as a councillor for Woodside ward in the London Borough of Croydon from 2014-2022. In October 2020, Hamida was elected as Leader of the Council and responsible for steering the council through a period of significant turbulence prompted by serious financial and governance problems. 

Prior to that, Hamida served as a cabinet member for Safer Croydon and Communities from 2016-2020 leading on community safety, community and voluntary sector relations and equality and diversity. Hamida led a public health approach to tackling serious violence, including domestic violence and knife crime. 

Since standing down as a councillor, Hamida has joined the team who deliver some of the leadership development programmes for councillors in leading roles for the Local Government Association.