Atifa has played a leading role within Mosaic from its very inception in 2007 and subsequently joined the North West RLG in 2008 when it was formed. Atifa is the longest serving RLG member and in her time at Mosaic has noted key achievements such as managing the relationship between Mosaic and Accenture, through enabling Corporate Sponsorship of the Mosaic Talent Awards, Mosaic Northwest Launch Dinner, and hosting HRH The Prince of Wales’s Seeing is Believing Tour in June 2011. She also established a Corporate’s and SME Engagement Model for Mosaic. In 2010, her team of mentees from Manchester Academy won the National Enterprise Challenge, setting a prime example of leadership and inspiring success for mentors from the leadership team itself. In her role as Vice Chairman Atifa has led Mosaic Northwest through the years with her forward thinking, leadership skills, contacts and networks to inspire corporates, entrepreneurs and local businesses to become engaged in Mosaic and more widely their own community leadership.

Outside of Mosaic, Atifa has supported more of HRH’s interests such as the British Asian Trust, The Princes Trust, was recognised for her contributions to HRH Prince of Wales’s Pakistan Recovery Fund and is also an Alumni of The Young Muslim Leadership Summer School at Oxford.

A graduate of the University of Manchester and a founder of multiple businesses, Atifa began her corporate career at Accenture, today, Atifa specialises in Transformation and Change Project and Programme Management and continues to contribute to complex organisational and industry changes for top FTSE 100 clients within the Financial Services Sector, Domestic and International Governments, Private Healthcare and Real Estate.

An active figure in the political and philanthropic sphere, Atifa was elected Youth MP for Rochdale in 2005. Her active role in society is continually demonstrated through the various positions she holds such as a Director of Link4Life and a Governor for Rochdale 6th Form College, and Remembering Srebrenica Board Member. Atifa has in the past chaired a Muslim Advisory Panel (2005-2009), chaired Rochdale Women’s Welfare Association (2007- 2010), and served on the Pakistan Britain Business Chamber Board of Directors at the Pakistan High Commission. She regularly contributes to key Muslim issues in mainstream media and documentaries such as Sky News, ITV, Channel 4 and the BBC. Atifa has and continues to contribute to a number of government initiatives, policies and strategic debates around terrorism, grooming, housing, private health care, the NHS, education and welfare, urban development for the UK’s core cities, safer communities and foreign affairs.

Zeb Farooq has been a mentor for Mosaic since 2014. He was lead mentor for the Enterprise Challenge, successfully progressing to the North West Regional Finals in 2015, 2016 and 2018. He has also mentored various schools for the Secondary School Mentoring Programme.

Zeb studied mathematics at university, obtaining a first class in his bachelors, and 2 post graduate masters in mathematics. He has been employed at Wood since 2008 providing engineering, consultancy and safety services to the civil and defence nuclear sectors.

Zeb is a qualified Project Manager (IPMA Level C) and a qualified Proposal Manager (CP APMP). He has worked as a Thermal Hydraulic Consultant and Project Manager; currently he works as a Bid Manager in the Strategy & Development function of his organisation.

Zeb is also a Private Tutor in mathematics, and has been teaching 11+, GCSE and A-Level students over the past 16 years.

Zeb is married with 5 children and lives in Manchester.

Furqan Naeem is a community campaigner and political activist with a passion for social justice. Over the past decade Furqan has taken an active role in youth work, charity and political campaigns.

He was born and raised in Manchester and studied Pharmacy at the University of Bradford. After working in student politics he went on to complete his Masters in International Politics and Security Studies at the world-renowned peace studies department also at the University of Bradford.

Furqan currently works as a campaigner for Friends of the Earth – the biggest environmental campaigning organisation in the world.

Furqan’s passion for international development and charity work has seen him at the heart of many national campaigns organising fundraising events to raise much-needed funds for the poor and needy across the world.

He has been active volunteer for Islamic Relief that culminated with a charity trek to Mount Everest base camp. He travelled to Kenya and Somalia with Human Appeal International on a humanitarian delegation after the East Africa famine drought in 2011 and was the first employee of the fastest growing charity in the UK – Penny Appeal as their campaigns manager.

He was selected as a global ambassador for the Global Poverty Project working with communities to campaign against global poverty.

Having grown up and seen the lack of representation from the BAME community in the political process Furqan took it upon himself to get involved and encourage others to get politically engaged in order to contribute to wider society.

Furqan joined the Labour arty after a community organising event and was Chair of the local youth group in Manchester and the student club at his university. He served on the national committee of Labour Students campaigning to bring a living wage to staff at university institutions and served on the national committee of the youth wing of the Labour party where he was the BAME officer – increasing the voice of ethnic communities from the UK.

Furqan has been an active member of the student political movement in the UK serving as the Chair and then the Education Officer at Bradford Students Union as well being part of the first ever interfaith forum with the National Union of Students.

Through his various political role he has managed to engage with a number of senior politicians across all parties advising on issues ranging from getting young people involved in politics and how politicians should engage with BAME communities.

Furqan’s community work over the past decade was recognized by his peers and the Muslim community in the UK when he was awarded the Malcolm X Young Person’s award at the annual Muslim News Awards in 2013. In 2015 he was selected by the US State department on its prestigious International Visitors Leadearship Program to visit communities across America focusing on integration and community cohesion.

Furqan’s insight with grassroots communities has seen him interviewed across national news on television and broadcast media including the BBC, SKY, Channel 4 as well as Radio 4’s World at One speaking on issues on the environment, extremism and engaging young people and BAME communities in Politics. He regularly blogs on Huffington Post, Labour List and the Independent.

Furqan has been mentoring with Mosaic since 2010 primarily on Mosaic’s Secondary School Programme where he has been the lead mentor at his old high school – Burnage Academy in Manchester.

On his recent appointment to the regional board Furqan said that he “wanted to give young people the same opportunities he has had growing up and to inspire them to be the best version of themselves.”

He went on to say that “greatness is within their grasps… they just have to ignite the spark within them and that is where Mosaic comes in.”

Saif has been a mentor with Mosaic since 2013, over the course of the past three years he has mentored on the Secondary School and Enterprise Challenge. Growing up within an area of Manchester that meets Mosaic’s target demographic, he knew just how important mentoring was and Mosaic was a perfect opportunity for him to give back some time and effort to the community.

Saif works for Enteprise Rent-A-Car, the world’s largest transportation solutions provider, offering car and truck rentals. He specializes in Business Management, looking after branches within Northern Lancashire. Saif’s work has enabled him to travel around the region and meet people from many different cultures. When he isn’t being a number cruncher, Saif is currently studying to become a Chartered Accountant and is a keen Golfer.

Prior to Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Saif spent three years as an Ambassador for The University of Manchester where he managed to become one of their most influential graduates. A privilege that still brings him back to the University to celebrate their achievements and network with other key alumni.

Tasnim Khalid is an entrepreneurial Solicitor, working for JMW Solicitors LLP. Tasnim Khalid ranks highly in the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners (independent directories which rate the leading lawyers and law firms in the country) and JMW have also won Law Firm of The Year in the Manchester Legal Awards 2015.

Tasnim is an Partner in the Private Client Department and regularly advises clients from all walks of life (ranging from entrepreneurs and business owners to the elderly clients) about their estate planning requirements. Tasnim is able to offer holistic planning advice to cater for clients’ individual needs such as inheritance tax planning, business succession, the mental capacity act, trusts, Shariah compliant estate planning, probate and charitable trusts. Tasnim was a finalist in the JCI Manchester 2012 Awards under the category of “Legal Professional of the Year”. The Private Client Department were also the finalists for the “Best Private Client Team of the Year” in the Manchester Legal Awards 2013.

Tasnim is renowned as a network leader and her philanthropic activities. She regularly advises charities about their legal implications and tax efficient giving. Tasnim often assists the business community with their legal queries and was a key note speaker for the British Asian Business Awards in Manchester.

Tasnim is a keen supporter and advocate for Mosaic and believes that the problems should be tackled at the root level. Tasnim has mentored for the Primary School Programme and is committed to ensuring that Mosaic is a continued success.