The annual nominations are made by the Lords of the Council in the King’s Bench Division of the High Court of Justice presided over by the Lord Chief Justice, held this year on the13th November. The new High Sheriff will take office at the Declarations ceremony in March 2024.

The deputy chief executive of the QED Foundation, Adeeba has worked with the Bradford ethnic minority-led charity for over 32 years, helping it become one of the most influential organisations of its kind in the UK.

Born in Bradford, her father was a Pakistani immigrant who taught himself English under a street light in the city of Sialkot before emigrating to Bradford in 1957, working in the mills. Her mother came to Bradford in 1966.

Adeeba began as a teacher in Bradford and Hull, and has dedicated her career to creating social and economic opportunity for minority ethnic groups in the UK in the face of prejudice.

In addition to her role at QED, Adeeba has held numerous ministerial and non-ministerial roles on various boards in Bradford, Yorkshire, and nationally over the last 25 years, working across Whitehall.

Some of these include Yorkshire Forward, The Waterways Trust, Ethnic Minority Business Taskforce, Sheffield Hallam University, Carer’s Resource, The Cabinet Office Race Disparity Advisory Board, and the Women and Work Commission. From facilitating integration to shaping government policy, she has become a leading voice for the socially disadvantaged.

Currently she is a Board Member of the Home Office Strategic Race Advisory Board, Director of the Bradford Culture Company, Member of a State Honours Committee, and Member of Nurture Academies Trust.  She is a Visiting Professor at York St John University and a Deputy Lieutenant for West Yorkshire.

Adeeba has won many accolades and awards over the years, including the Yorkshire Post Top 20 Influential Women of Yorkshire and Top 50 Northern Power List for Women. In 2023, she was the recipient of Woman and Home magazine’s, Amazing Woman Award.

Adeeba received the MBE in 2004, and a CBE in 2015 for her contribution to mainstream public bodies.

 The Office of High Sheriff is carried out on a wholly voluntary basis. It is a non-political one-year role appointed by The Crown that represents the King in West Yorkshire in upholding all matters related to the judiciary and law and order.

Dr Mohammed Ali OBE, CEO of the QED Foundation, said: “I’m immensely proud of Adeeba and all her achievements over the years. This nomination is testament to her passion, integrity and dedication; qualities that have played a vital role over the years helping to make QED the force of good it is today.”

Adeeba said: “I’m deeply honoured to be nominated for this prestigious role.”