News / People
Who is Nimco Ali?
Nimco Ali has a knack for positioning herself close to the seat of power.
While still based in Bristol, she was a close confidant of elected mayor George Ferguson. Now based in London, she is close friends with the prime minister, perhaps too close if reports of her stay with Boris and Carrie Johnson during the peak of the coronavirus lockdown last Christmas are to be believed.
Now a Home Office adviser and godmother to the Johnsons’ son, Wilfred, Ali wrote for Bristol24/7 in 2015 saying that Ferguson (“or GF as I call him”) was “a great asset” for Bristol.
is needed now More than ever
Ali, 38, was born in Somaliland and went to university at UWE Bristol before founding Daughters of Eve, a non-profit organisation which works to protect girls and young women who are at risk from female genital mutilation (FGM).
Her debut book, What We Are Told Not to Talk About, was published in 2019.
Ali is a founding member of the Women’s Equality Party who stood for parliament for the seat of Hornsey and Wood Green in North London.
She has since given her support to the Conservative Party and was awarded an OBE in 2019 for services to tackling FGM and gender inequality.
Her professional experience has included working for counter-terrorism within the civil service, supporting the rights of girls in the UK as part of Girlguiding UK and as a board member for Inspiring Girls.
As co-founder and CEO of The Five Foundation, Ali now heads up a global partnership to end FGM.
She was appointed to her Home Office role in 2020, as an independent adviser for tackling violence against women and girls.
Main photo: Sandra Freij / Northbank Speakers
Read more: Anti-FGM campaigner recognised with national award
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