On Sunday, 14 April 2024 Kurshida Mirza, BEM became the 790th High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, the first British Muslim woman of Asian heritage to take on the Office of High Sheriff in the County of Buckinghamshire. The office of High Sheriff is an independent non-political Royal appointment for a single year.

The role of the modern High Sheriff is to:

● Uphold the Crown and Judiciary
● Support and promote the work of the police, the probation and prison services, the emergency services and crime prevention and reduction agencies
● Convene and champion the voluntary, public and business sectors

Kurshida’s year in the office of High Sheriff is informed by and rooted in her core Islamic values of Peace, Justice, and Love for humanity, and her Interfaith work. Inspired by her mother who always put the needs of others before her own giving voice to many women when they had no one to turn to, Kurshida will focus on creating opportunities to further inclusivity. She will prioritise activities, interventions and visits to charities and organisations that work with diverse communities to tackle social exclusion, strengthen communities and create partnerships.

“It is an honour to have been appointed as High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire and I am very much looking forward to working with the communities across Buckinghamshire. I am particularly excited to work with my multi faith chaplaincy and High Sheriff College Champions representing Bucks College Group and MK College Group to create opportunities for interfaith dialogue and give a voice to the young, our future High Sheriffs!”

“I never in a million years imagined to be the High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire arriving as a little Indian girl to the UK. It is a testimony that the work by generations of people past and future to further diversity and opportunity are important pillars for a just, peaceful and loving society.”

Kurshida Mirza, BEM, High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire

Notes to Editors

Kurshida has a passion for working with communities and has developed a unique vehicle in Milton Keynes (MK) for engaging with diverse communities and in particular Muslims and faith-based communities who are seldom heard and less visible. Kurshida is the founder of Trubys Garden Tea Room, an interfaith pop-up café promoting positive dialogue between Muslims and the wider community in MK – this has become an important conduit for community engagement with diverse communities utilising methods that produce results. She also founded and created the Great Get Together Iftaar in 2017 to bring the diverse communities in MK to celebrate Ramadan with the Muslim community along with the Trubys Abrahamic Women’s Choir in 2022 which celebrates women’s strength through sound singing in Arabic, Hebrew and English providing women and girls from the Abrahamic faith to share the rich tradition of recitation within their faith.

Kurshida was a Trustee and Chair of the Board of Trustees for Milton Keynes Community Foundation from 2020-2023, Chair of Citizens MK from 2016-2019, and Chair of Midlands Region of the Housing Learning and Improvement Network (Housing LIN) between 2016-2020.

Born in India, Kurshida came to the UK as a seven year old, her lived-in experiences of the harsh reality of growing up with racism and lack of opportunities for girls and women has made her resilient and resourceful to find positive solutions to rise beyond expectations. She is happily married to her soul mate Jabeer Butt whom she met at University, her pillar of support and strength. Kurshida has lived in Milton Keynes since 1990 where she lives with her children Imtiaaz and his wife Anum and Zulehka her daughter. Her sisters are her best friends and a day never goes without their good advice and counsel.

More information about Kurshida and her plans contact: buckinghamshire@highsheriffs.com.