Bana Gora
Chief Executive of Muslim Women’s Council (MWC)
Bana founded the MWC in 2009, embodying its mission to create opportunities for all, and in particular to empower women to thrive and benefit society.
Her career has centred on working for women and their rights, starting from Domestic Violence Services through to the MWC. She has always believed in maintaining the trust of her colleagues, community stakeholders and service users to move forward in her work.
She has encouraged many women to empower themselves; through her interfaith work and integration, the annual Daughters of Eve Conference, legal advice sessions, providing a helpline for those needing emotional support and hot food during the COVID lockdown, and a female-only bereavement support service.
Bana is an inspirational voice for women in Bradford, her interfaith work is greatly appreciated in a multi-faith, multi-ethnic city. She works with untiring effort and great earnestness, building on everything we have in common.
Bana’s work has brought much-needed positive and beneficial impacts on a national scale. She has encouraged women to engage in politics and current affairs, through leading the MWC’s Bradford Circle events, which have invited noted politicians, local leaders and presenters for Q&A’s with local audiences.
In 2015, Bana announced the desire to create a Women Led Mosque. That vision has now evolved into one of the largest ventures MWC has undertaken, “the Women’s Building” project. Designed to create a safe space in Bradford, providing the necessary tools and resources to create better lives for Muslim women, their families and their communities. The building will be women led and governed; a new community social hub offering a range of services and activities covering areas of education, enterprise, health and wellbeing, safety and faith.
The desire to build a Women Led Mosque was like throwing a pebble in the pond with the ripple effects being felt nationally and internationally.
Bana launched the “Think Tank Pilot Project” in July 2019. This innovative project’s aim is to deliver a programme that includes leadership training to Muslim women on issues such as domestic violence, hate crime, Islamophobia, and polygamy. The project’s ultimate goal is to establish a think-tank and empower participants to become community influencers and produce new relevant research. This exciting unique project will provide evidence, recommendations and solutions to guide government, donor institutions and the private sector on how to create conditions that allow Muslim women to thrive.
Somehow you get the feeling she is just warming up!
Bana will be sharing her motivations and plans for the future at the 33rd annual Inspiring Women Awards on 16th May 2025. More information about the event here