My Story

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I was born in Odessa, Ukraine, to Dr Nooralhaq Nasimi and Mahboba Nasimi. In 1999, when I was six months old, my family fled Afghanistan due to fear of persecution by the Taliban.

After a perilous nine-month journey spanning more than 3,000 miles across multiple countries, we travelled from Afghanistan to Belgium. We were later smuggled inside a refrigerated container and crossed the English Channel from Calais to Dover before being granted asylum in the United Kingdom.

Following our acceptance in the UK, my family settled in Lewisham, South London. My upbringing was shaped by both the challenges of displacement and my father’s long-standing commitment to human rights advocacy.

In 2001, my father, Dr Nooralhaq Nasimi MBE, founded the Afghanistan and Central Asian Association (ACAA), a UK-based charity supporting refugees and migrants with integration in the UK. Exposure to grassroots refugee support from an early age influenced my work in community leadership.

Education

I was educated at Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College. I later studied Philosophy at King’s College London, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in 2021. In 2018, while at King’s College London, I founded the KCL Central Asia Society. Through the society, I organised high-level events aimed at influencing policy and fostering connections between political and business stakeholders, including discussions on the Afghan Peace Process and the “New Silk Road: Opening Up Investment and Trade in Central Asia,” attended by Members of Parliament, think tanks, and private sector representatives.

Career

My career spans several roles across the development and business sector.

In 2017, I joined as a Trustee for the Heathrow Community Trust, where I contributed to the Trust’s governance and strategic oversight. As a member of the Grant Assessment Panel, I assessed funding applications from community organisations, ensuring that resources were distributed effectively and aligned with social impact objectives.

In 2020, I worked as a Language Consultant (Dari) for what3words, providing linguistic expertise.

In 2022, I became the first National Secretary of the Counter Terrorism Youth Advisory Group, where I played a central role in planning meeting agendas, recruiting new members, facilitating stakeholder discussions, and managing the group’s monthly newsletter communications.

From 2022 to 2023, I worked as an Account Executive at Thorncliffe, where I conducted thorough research to support political and stakeholder engagement activities to identify and pursue new business leads.

My most notable contribution has been my leadership at the Afghanistan and Central Asian Association since 2018. As the Head of Funding and Partnerships, I have led the organisation’s fundraising strategy, securing over £5 million through partnerships with UK grant-making trusts, corporate donors, fundraising events, and government contracts, including funding from the Home Office, Ministry of Justice, and Department for Work and Pensions.

During the fall of Kabul in August 2021 and the onset of the Ukraine crisis in early 2022, I secured emergency funding to support rapid response services.

In addition to my charity and political work, I am the founder and director of several organisations and initiatives, including International Import and Export Ltd, Suzani Capital, the Central Asian Students Association, the UK-Afghanistan Business Council, and the UK-Uzbekistan Business Council. These initiatives focus on fostering trade, investment, student engagement, and bilateral cooperation between the United Kingdom and Central Asia. I also founded BollyGroove Events and Productions, a cultural platform aimed at celebrating diversity and promoting intercultural dialogue through music and performance arts.

In July 2025, I was selected as the first Afghanistan Lead for South Asian Heritage Month, which runs annually from 18 July to 17 August and celebrates the cultures and histories of South Asian communities, including Afghanistan.

I have also been a regular commentator in British media on issues relating to refugees, immigration policy, community cohesion, and international crises affecting Afghanistan. Through these engagements, I have amplified refugee voices and highlighted policy gaps in housing, legal access, and trauma-informed support services.

In 2024, I received the prestigious Diana Award for my work on social action and humanitarianism. I continue to build on this commitment to work for local people, to listen, represent, and deliver real change.