A British Muslim Woman Recognized for Her Tenacious Leadership

Ishtiaq Ahmed

London: Professor Adeeba Malik CBE DL has added another milestone to her long record of public service after becoming the first Asian Muslim woman of Pakistani heritage to serve as High Sheriff of West Yorkshire for 2024-25.

Malik formally assumed the historic office on 25 March 2024 at a special ceremony held at Leeds High Court, marking another significant step in her decades-long contribution to community development, equality and public life.

The position of High Sheriff is one of England and Wales’ oldest civic offices, with origins dating back to Saxon times. Although its responsibilities have evolved considerably over the centuries, the appointment remains an independent, non-political Royal office held for a single year.

Today, High Sheriffs support the Crown in matters relating to law and order and take an interest in the work of the police, prison and probation services, as well as community and voluntary organisations involved in crime prevention and public safety. The role is undertaken voluntarily and without remuneration.

Malik’s appointment recognised a lifetime of work aimed at widening social and economic opportunities for disadvantaged and minority communities.

Alongside her civic responsibilities, she serves as Deputy Chief Executive of the Bradford-based QED Foundation, a national organisation working to improve the social and economic circumstances of minority and disadvantaged communities through programmes and policy engagement.

Over more than two decades, Malik has held a wide range of ministerial and non-ministerial positions, serving on boards and advisory bodies at local, regional and national levels.

Her public service experience includes roles with Yorkshire Forward, Spirit of Bradford, Northern Ballet, British Waterways, the Women and Work Commission, the National Ethnic Minority Business Forum, Bradford University, Sheffield Hallam University and the Bradford Opportunity Area.

She has also contributed to national policy through positions including the National Muslim Women’s Advisory Board, the Home Office Advisory Board for Naturalisation and Immigration and the Cabinet Office Race Disparity Advisory Group.

Malik currently serves on the Home Office Strategic Race Board, a State Honours Committee and the Bradford Culture Company, which is linked to Bradford’s 2025 UK City of Culture programme. She is also Co-Chair of Hollyn’s Wellbeing Patient Group and a member of Nurture Academies Trust.

Her contribution to public life has earned her numerous honours, including recognition in the Yorkshire Post’s Top 20 Influential Women of Yorkshire and the Top 50 Northern Power List for Women. In 2023, she received Woman & Home magazine’s Amazing Woman Award.

She was appointed MBE in 2004 and received a CBE in 2015. In 2022, she became a Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire and was appointed a Visiting Professor at York St John University.

Despite her extensive public commitments, Malik continues to make time for her personal interests, including music, theatre, cinema and walking.

Reflecting on her appointment as High Sheriff, Malik described the position as an opportunity to recognise and support the people and organisations working to improve life across West Yorkshire.

“It is an enormous honour to take on this important role,” she said, adding that she looked forward to meeting people across the county and supporting those involved in crime prevention and community development.

She also highlighted the contribution of people working across the public, private, community, charity and voluntary sectors, saying their efforts were making a positive difference across the region.

Malik acknowledged the challenges faced by West Yorkshire and the wider UK but said her years of experience in the county had shown her the strength of community-led initiatives and the commitment of people working to create positive change.

Her appointment therefore represents more than a personal achievement. It reflects the growing contribution of people from diverse backgrounds to Britain’s civic institutions and the changing face of public service in West Yorkshire.