Dr. Nazia Khanum has a BA (Hons) and MA in Political Science from Dhaka University and a Ph.D. in History from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. After performing senior roles in five English local authorities, she became the founder and Director of Equality in Diversity - independent management, research, training, and community empowerment Community Interest Company. She is Chair of Luton British Bangladesh Helping Hand, Luton Multicultural Women’s Coalition (1996 to date), and Purbachal – the eastern sky. Her previous jobs included: lecturer in Political Science at the University of Dhaka; Commonwealth Speaker and Teaching Fellow at Commonwealth Institute, London; Education Officer at Luton Community Relations Council; Senior Health Promotion Officer in Bedfordshire Health Promotion Agency. She is the first Asian woman to become a Deputy Lieutenant of Bedfordshire in its 500-year- history .