Mosaic Board Member Harris Bokhari OBE named amongst London’s most influential figures

Awards 2 Minutes

Original article published on 14 September 2016 on Mosaic

Mosaic was delighted prominent members of our network were recognised at the Evening Standard Progress 1000 awards, including Board Member Harris Bokhari OBE. The awards were established to highlight London’s most influential figures across a number of areas including equality, medicine and the arts.

Mosaic’s founder HRH The Prince of Wales, was named Londoner of the Decade in recognition of his tireless campaigning and promoting of all that is great about London and the United Kingdom, as well as for his 40-year commitment to charity via the work of The Princes’ Trust, of which Mosaic is now a part of.

Mayor of London and Mosaic Ambassador Sadiq Khan, was named Londoner of the Year. The judges said that his journey from being the son of a bus driver to one of the most influential political positons in the country was a powerful symbol of London as a city of diversity and opportunity. Mayor Khan mentioned the great work of Mosaic in his acceptance speech.

Our board member, Harris Bokhari OBE, was hailed as an Equality Champion for his work promoting education and integration with Mosaic and the Naz Legacy Foundation. The first Muslim to win the prestigious Beacon Award for Philanthropy, Harris has previously been described by Political Strategist Sir Lynton Crosby as ‘Captain Networker’, a title best demonstrated by his organisation of the now-famous interfaith event held earlier this year at Lambeth Palace with the Chief Rabbi, The Mayor of London and The Archbishop of Canterbury. It was at that event that Chief Rabbi Ephraim Maivis described Harris as ‘someone who comes up with great ideas, and with his sheer determination sees it through to its fruitful and successful conclusion’.

Harris said: “It’s always pleasing to be recognised for the work that you do and I’m very proud to be listed alongside some truly inspiring members of London’s diverse community. I don’t think that it’s a coincidence that several of the awards were given to people with significant connections with Mosaic. As part of the Prince’s Trust, Mosaic has proved that inclusivity, hard-work and care can be transformative and the recognition received via these awards, is testament to Mosaic’s continuing success.”

Martina Milburn CBE, CEO of the Prince’s Trust, was named as a Social Crusader under the Equality Champions category.

Published by Harris Bokhari OBE

Harris is board member for the Prince's Trust Mosaic initiative. He was appointed as Mosaic’s first honorary patron and was awarded the prestigious Beacon Award for Philanthropy Advocate 2013 for raising £1m within 12 months for various charities working in deprived communities in the UK, becoming the youngest and first Muslim to receive this honour. He now serves as a judge for the awards. Harris is the co-founder of the Naz Legacy Foundation, which aims to enhance educational excellence and positive integration. It was established in memory of his late father, Naz Bokhari OBE, the first Asian/Muslim head teacher in the UK. The Foundation was honoured to be awarded the Big Society Award 2014 by the Prime Minister. Harris is also an ambassador for the British Asian Trust. Harris’s interfaith work has included organising the first ever engagement event between national community, women and youth leaders from the Jewish and Muslim communities meeting with the new Chief Rabbi in Finchley Kinloss Synagogue. Harris was one of the first Muslims to be invited to the Chief Rabbi’s installation ceremony and was selected to be an Ariane De Rothschild fellow, in partnership with Cambridge University’s Judge Business School and King’s College. Harris also organised the first youth interfaith iftar at Lambeth Palace, which brought together the Archbishop of Canterbury, Chief Rabbi, Mayor of London and over 100 youth leaders from each of London’s boroughs – representing all faiths and none. Harris was awarded an OBE in Her Majesty’s Birthday Honours List for services for young people and interfaith relations; named as one of 40 people in finance who goes further for good causes by Financial News Extra Mile List; and named as one of London’s most influential figures by the Evening Standard’s Progress 1000 list.

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