Shazna Muzammil is a Conservative councillor and group leader for Milton Keynes Conservatives and was the parliamentary candidate for Birmingham Ladywood in GE 2024.
Shazna was born in Sri Lanka. She relocated to Milton Keynes with her husband David, a veteran who served in the Parachute Regiment. Shazna is a mother to two boys and stepmother to a little girl. Shazna works full-time at the Open University and is a dedicated local councillor.
The inequality in academic and other opportunities accessible to Shazna and other girls compared to her brothers and all male cousins impacted her at a very young age. Education was not a priority for girls and Shazna was given away in marriage at an early age. She had to fight for divorce and fight for custody of her children before she could complete her education and gain an MBA at the age 35. She then went on to work in Sri Lankan villages, advocating education for girls and providing links to skill development, allowing them to become economically independent. She was recently recognised for her work and is now the recipient of a global award for Social and Women Empowerment.
Shazna’s previous roles as Head of Business Development at Wunderman Thompson Sri Lanka, followed by Internal and External Comms Head at MAS and throughout as a Board Member of the Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce, provided her with opportunities to connect women to mentors and businesses, which made huge differences to the lives of these women and communities. Moving to the UK brought about a lot of adjustments, and it also meant giving up all of her community work focused on empowering women, which was hugely important to her.
Equal opportunity, skill-based education, self-reliance, independence, and shared responsibility to empower each other to excel are some of the Conservative values that resonate with her. As a young girl who grew up in an ethnic minority community where opportunities to excel were limited, Shazna knows what it's like to live without these values.
Education plays a significant role in her life, and she firmly believes that education can transform lives as it did hers. Shazna completed a PGDip in Development Management through The Open University after earning an MBA (Hons) from Cardiff Metropolitan University.
At the Open University in Milton Keynes, Shaz oversaw one of the most important projects for The Open University. Shaz also created the Accessibility Tool to enable module teams to pick up on any accessibility concerns that will hinder the progress of students in prison and disabled students during module creation rather than afterwards. This tool received funding for further enhancement and is now being used across the OU.
Volunteering
Shazna volunteered as an Appropriate Adult in Milton Keynes, supporting young people arrested. She is also a volunteer vaccinator with St Johns Ambulance, a volunteer responder with the NHS and mentor with Children Heard and Seen.
Campaigning and elections
Shazna stood as a candidate in local council elections held in 2021. Whilst this was a Labour ward, it did not stop her from conducting a passionate campaign about shared values and plans to reduce disparities in the ward. As a result, Shazna was able to reduce the Labour majority from 380 to 183 by increasing the Conservative vote from 796 to 1332.
In 2022, Shazna was elected as the local councillor for Tattenhoe. She beat the Labour incumbent to gain the seat for the Conservatives in the May local elections. She was the only one to gain a seat from Labour or Liberal Democrats here in Milton Keynes when the national outlook was bleak for Conservatives. She also campaigned for her colleagues running in other wards, organised action days with CWO and other regional associations, took part in connect calling campaigns and travelled nationally to support by-elections. In 2024, Shazna was selected unanimously to be the Group Leader of the Conservative Group in the council.
Shazna is the current Deputy Chair of Fundraising and Membership of the Milton Keynes Conservatives Federation, which she launched in November 2021 as the Milton Keynes Conservatives Women’s Organisation (MKCWO). As Chair of MKCWO, she has grown the membership from 9 to 36 and continues to grow. Shaz is the CWO South East Digital officer and area Chair for Buckinghamshire.
Shazna is a dedicated advocate for the local community, actively engaged in grassroots campaigning and door-knocking efforts across the country. Recognising the significance of staying connected, she maintains a strong online presence through Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Shazna encourages fellow residents to join and campaign alongside her and the Milton Keynes Conservatives.
Shazna says, “The current Labour leadership has failed the people of Birmingham Ladywood. The Labour MP has neglected her constituents, and the Labour Council's mishandling of funds has led to the closure of libraries and reduction of services, placing more burden on the residents. The Labour Police and Crime Commissioner has closed down police stations, resulting in increased crime and open drug dealing on our high streets. This situation is completely unacceptable. We should take pride in our city, and I am dedicated to restoring that pride by making our streets safe and holding the Labour Council accountable. I promise to listen to you, attract investment, and deliver the changes we desperately need here. We can rebuild our community where everyone feels secure and valued. Trust in me to be your voice and your champion. It’s time for change!!"