ABOUT AQILA

Occupation: Executive Director of a Charity

Education: Open University Certificate in Management

Memberships: Volunteering as a Board Member of Charity

Marital status/children: Divorced; teenage son and daughter

Interests: Walking, spending time with family

 

BIOGRAPHY

Aqila has lived in Leeds for thirty six years and is a Leeds North East resident. She leads a medium-sized local charity working with people with learning difficulties and disabilities.

She is committed to equal rights and equality of opportunity for all people, especially important for disabled people, older people, women and minority ethnic groups.

Aqila has a keen interest in health, social care, education and crime which are key concerns of local residents. Aqila helps people in the local community by securing grants for innovative projects both within her own organisation and others with which she is involved. She is a trainer on domestic violence and is committed to implementing the Valuing People agenda for people with learning difficulties and disabilities.

Aqila has worked at Chapeltown Citizens Advice Bureau and has extensive knowledge of issues affecting the diverse communities of Leeds North East. She is fluent in three languages - English, Urdu and Punjabi.

A City Council election candidate in both 2006 and 2007, Aqila's Liberal Democrat memberships include the Leeds North East Executive and Yorkshire & Humber Regional Executive and its Policy Sub Group and the Liberal Democrats English Council.

In 2007, she was Agent for the successful Moortown Ward local election campaign in Leeds North East. Aqila's ambition is to become the first Liberal Democrat MP for Leeds North East and Britain's first Muslim woman MP.