Labour and Co-operative Party politician Rokhsana Fiaz OBE was the first directly elected female mayor for any London borough and played a pivotal role in establishing UCL's newest east campus.
As the first female of colour Executive Mayor in the UK, Rokhsana’s leadership was defined by a commitment to structural change and the empowerment of communities.
My entire career has been about breaking down barriers: the same barriers that UCL East is helping to dismantle by bringing world-class research and opportunities to the doorstep of young people who, historically, might have felt that such institutions "weren’t for them."
Born in east London and raised in Newham, Rokhsana’s approach to public life is rooted in the belief that “education is the great equaliser.” She studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Goldsmiths and her early career established her as a national strategist and thought leader in equality, social mobility and cohesion.
She spearheaded national anti-racism advocacy and campaigns, tackled extremism and Islamophobia following the 7/7 terror attacks in London and fostered inter-religious dialogue on university campuses. Rokhsana was conferred an OBE in recognition for her services to Black and ethnic minority communities in 2009.
As Executive Mayor of Newham from 2018-2026, Rokhsana oversaw the opening of UCL’s innovative east campus in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, determined to ensure that the “Olympic legacy story was one of opportunity, education and civic growth rather than luxury apartments and tourists”. She championed a strong community and educational partnership between the borough and university, ensuring that “UCL isn’t just in Newham, but of Newham”.
Seeing the doors of UCL’s Marshgate and Pool Street buildings open to our local kids is a victory for every resident who was promised a better future back in 2012.
Under her leadership, the partnership evolved into an exemplar of the “Civic University” model, collaborating on data economy strategy to build local capacity in data science and AI, citizen science, and community wealth building.
I’ve seen how academic research can be applied in real-time to solve urban challenges, from air quality to housing. It has reinforced my belief that when you pair political will with academic excellence, you can move the needle on poverty and opportunity.
Rokhsana was awarded a UCL Honorary Fellowship in 2022 in recognition of her political services and contributions to public life. She now looks toward the next frontier, envisioning the east campus as a “global blueprint for the civic university”, and for co-creating climate justice and economic equity that can be exported from Newham to the world.
The UCL community represents a bridge between the incredible raw talent found in the streets of Stratford, Canning Town, or Custom House and the global stage of innovation. I am committed to ensuring that this partnership continues to act as a vital pipeline for social mobility.
