Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Harris Bokhari becomes first Muslim elected member of National Trust Council

In his new role, the co-founder and trustee of Naz Legacy Foundation has vowed to reach out to diverse and harder-to-reach communities to ensure the trust is for everyone.

Harris Bokhari becomes first Muslim elected member of National Trust Council

Harris Bokhari OBE was on Saturday (5) elected by the National Trust as the first Muslim member of its council. In the election, which was held at the Bath Assembly Rooms, Bokhari received most votes for any new member elected to the council. He also polled more votes than the two other members re-elected to the council.

The 45-year-old Bokhari, who is the co-founder and trustee of the Naz Legacy Foundation, is a social entrepreneur, public engagement advisor, and chartered accountant. He is known for a wide range of roles, including serving on the Board of the Natural History Museum; The Royal Parks; and the Prince’s Trust Mosaic Initiative. He is also an ambassador for the British Asian Trust.


The British-born Harris founded the Patchwork Foundation in 2010 to promote the political and democratic engagement of under-represented communities. He is an independent member of both the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Committee and the Community and Voluntary Service Honours Committee.

He was awarded an OBE in Her Majesty's 2015 Birthday Honours List for services to young people and interfaith relations; was named as one of London's most influential figures by the Evening Standard's Progress 1000 List; and was also awarded the Imperial College’s inaugural Distinguished Alumni.

Reacting to his election to the National Trust, Bokhari said, "I am delighted to be joining the National Trust as a Council member. As Europe’s largest conservation charity, the National Trust is a true national treasure which provides unparalleled opportunities for enjoyment, exploration and understanding our history.

"I am looking forward to doing all I can to bring these opportunities to new and wider audiences. I have so many fond memories of visiting National Trust sites as a child and enjoying these open spaces and visiting historic houses with my family. Sadly for many other children from under-represented backgrounds, this has not been the case.

"One of my priorities will be to ensure that the National Trust continues to reach out to diverse and harder-to-reach communities, to ensure the charity is for everyone for ever.”

The council plays an important role in the governance of the National Trust. The council members meet thrice a year to debate key strategic issues and advise the board of trustees. It is made up of 36 members and they serve an initial term of three years.

More For You

Parliament backs assisted dying in historic law shift

Supporters of the assisted dying law for terminally ill people hold a banner, on the day British lawmakers are preparing to vote on the bill, in London, Britain, June 20, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes

Parliament backs assisted dying in historic law shift

PARLIAMENT voted on Friday (20) in favour of a bill to legalise assisted dying, paving the way for the country's biggest social change in a generation.

314 lawmakers voted in favour with 291 against the bill, clearing its biggest parliamentary hurdle.

Keep ReadingShow less
Air India

An Air India Airbus A320-200 aircraft takes off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India, July 7, 2017. Picture taken July 7, 2017.

Regulator warns Air India over delayed emergency equipment checks: Report

INDIA’s aviation regulator has warned Air India for violating safety rules after three of its Airbus aircraft operated flights without undergoing mandatory checks on emergency escape slides, according to official documents reviewed by Reuters.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued warning notices and a detailed investigation report highlighting the breach. These documents were sent days before the recent crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8, in which all but one of the 242 people onboard were killed. The Airbus incidents are unrelated to that crash.

Keep ReadingShow less
assisted dying bill

Pro and anti-assisted dying campaigners protest ahead of a parliamentary decision later today, on June 20, 2025 in London.

Getty Images

MPs to vote on assisted dying bill amid divided views

UK MPs are set to hold a key vote on assisted dying on Friday, which could either advance or halt a proposed law that would allow terminally ill adults to end their lives under strict conditions.

The vote follows several hours of debate in the House of Commons and will decide whether the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill moves to the House of Lords for further scrutiny or is dropped altogether.

Keep ReadingShow less
Zhenhao Zou

Zhenhao Zou, 28, was jailed on Thursday after being found guilty of multiple offences. (Photo: Reuters)

Reuters

Chinese student jailed for life for raping women in UK and China

A CHINESE postgraduate student convicted of drugging and raping 10 women in the UK and China has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a London court.

Zhenhao Zou, 28, was jailed on Thursday after being found guilty of multiple offences. Police say there is evidence he may have targeted more than 50 other women.

Keep ReadingShow less
Air India cuts international flights after deadly crash

Mother (C) of First Officer Clive Kunder, co-pilot of the Air India plane that crashed in Ahmedabad last week, mourns after his mortal remains were brought to his residence, in Mumbai. (PTI Photo)

Air India cuts international flights after deadly crash

AIR INDIA said on Wednesday (18) it will cut international operations on its widebody aircraft by 15 per cent for the next few weeks, citing ongoing safety inspections and operational disruptions following last week's deadly crash of one of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

Authorities continue to investigate the crash of flight AI171, which killed 241 people and marked the world's deadliest aviation disaster in a decade.

Keep ReadingShow less