Revoluton Arts Welcomes Dr Nazia Khanum OBE DL and Shana Iqbal to the Board

Revoluton Arts is proud to welcome two exceptional new trustees to our board: Dr Nazia Khanum OBE DL and Shana Iqbal. Each brings a wealth of experience, deep community roots, and an unwavering commitment to equity, creativity and social change—values that lie at the core of our work.

Dr Nazia Khanum OBE DL is an award-winning human rights activist, scholar and community leader. Her decades-long career has advanced equality and inclusion across education, health, housing and the arts. With a PhD from SOAS and over 200 publications to her name, she has been a tireless advocate for underrepresented voices and the transformative power of creativity.

As founder of seven community empowerment organisations in Luton, including the United Nations Association-Luton and Purbachal—the eastern sky, Dr Khanum has used cultural expression as a means to promote peace, challenge injustice and unite diverse communities. Her fearless leadership in tackling forced marriage, honour-based violence and racism has earned her 34 prestigious honours, including an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II and the Freedom of the Borough of Luton. On 2 May 2025, she will receive the Bengal British Icon Award at the House of Lords.

Shana Iqbal is an experienced community leader, educator and creative collaborator with a strong record of using the arts to drive social impact. She is currently a Careers Leader at an outstanding school, and remains dedicated to widening participation and ensuring equitable access to opportunities for all young people.

Shana brings a deep-rooted commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), with a particular focus on amplifying marginalised voices. Her work fuses creativity and social engagement, from leading Luton in Bloom—a placemaking project tackling social isolation—to writing for the Graphic Novel for Luton. Her short story, Battle of Bury Park, explores identity, belonging and resilience, contributing to the city’s rich cultural narrative. She is also active in heritage-based storytelling that preserves and elevates overlooked histories.

Both Dr Nazia and Shana embody the spirit of Revoluton Arts—bold, inclusive, and rooted in community. Their combined strategic insight and lived experiences will play a crucial role in helping us grow our impact and ensure the arts remain a powerful force for connection, equity and transformation.

We’re honoured to welcome them to the board.