Personal and political achievements are important milestones that define who we are as individuals and leaders. Shazna's personal journey has been defined by courage, resilience, and unwavering determination, which she applied into her professional and political life experiences. Shazna's passion for making a difference on a larger scale led her to become involved in politics and volunteering.
Shazna's personal achievements are numerous, but first and foremost, she’s very proud of her two boys, who have grown up to be wonderful, kind, empathetic, and intelligent young men. Shazna's elder son works in the field of Artificial Intelligence and was hired straight out of university, now living and working in New York. Her younger son is studying politics and economics at the University of Bristol. Education is incredibly important to Shazna, who grew up without access to it. She is immensely proud to have completed her own education, gaining her MBA in her 30s and following it up with a PGDip in Development Management.
Shazna's passion for empowering women, based on her own experiences, is reflected in her successful lobbying efforts for 25% female representation in local government in Sri Lanka, alongside her colleagues at the Women's Chamber of Industry and Commerce. She also worked tirelessly in rural villages, advocating for girls' education, and connecting them with skill development opportunities to foster economic independence. Her work was recognized by the British High Commission in Sri Lanka, and she was invited for an intimate conversation with the FCDO heads when they visited the country. Furthermore, she was recognized as the Ambassador for Sri Lanka by Women Entrepreneurship Day (WED), a UN-affiliated organization in New York.
Volunteering has been a significant part of Shazna's life, from her role as an Appropriate Adult supporting youth in custody to her mentorship of children with a parent in prison. During the pandemic, she trained as a vaccinator to assist with the government's vaccination rollout. She also raised funds for YiS, a young people's mental health charity in Milton Keynes, by auctioning art created by children about their lockdown experiences. Shazna loved seeing the children enjoy themselves and feel like they were part of something bigger, contributing towards a cause that is helpful to them.
Through her experiences in volunteering, Shazna gained valuable insights into how politics can be a powerful tool in addressing the needs of the vulnerable, which led her to stand as a councillor in Milton Keynes because she wanted to make a difference. In 2021, she stood as a paper candidate in a Labour ward, and in just three months, saw the Labour majority reduced from 380 to 183 and increased their vote from 796 to 1332. Shazna is very proud of the campaign she ran and was able to achieve her goal of bridging the gap and increasing her vote share in a Labour stronghold.
The following year, Shazna ran again in a different ward and defeated the Labour incumbent, even though the national outlook was not favourable to the Conservative Party. Shazna is very proud to represent her residents in the council and speak up for them and their young people in Milton Keynes. She is currently the Shadow Cabinet member for Levelling Up in the council and regularly speaks in council debates.
Shazna is a seasoned campaigner who believes that campaigning pays off in terms of votes, and she believes it's the best way to understand the concerns of constituents. She collaborates closely with local MPs and councillor colleagues, supporting their leaflets and surveys. She's also travelled to support by-elections and candidates across the South-East, including Peter Fleet, Anna Firth, Cllrs Puja Bedi and Dexter Smith, Hilary Scott, and Pinder Chauhan. Additionally, she participated in connect calling for the by-election in Chester for Liz Wardlaw.
As Secretary of the MKC federation since 2021, Shazna has achieved remarkable success. She founded and chaired the Milton Keynes CWO in November 2021 with only nine members to support campaigning and wider coverage for conservatives. The Milton Keynes CWO has now grown its membership, volunteers, and fundraising efforts. Shazna led the team that organized the 2022 Christmas party, which raised nearly £5000 for the Federation. As a result, Shazna was nominated onto the CWO South Regional Executive as fundraising officer.
Shazna is dedicated to prioritising community safety. She has collaborated with the Thames Valley Police (TVP) to eliminate crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Westcroft, which was once a hotspot for such activities. Shazna, in conjunction with the parish council, took measures to improve the situation, including cleaning up an area used for ASB activities in Nuneham Grove and introducing an Amnesty Bin for knives in Westcroft. Over 100 knives have been collected since November. Shazna also persuaded the Charity Keeping Kids off the Street to start a boxing club, which now operates out of the Westcroft meeting place, providing a secure space for young people to engage in physical activity. She has also worked with TVP to increase foot and car patrols in the area. As a result of these actions, Westcroft is no longer a hotspot for crime and ASB, allowing the police to direct their attention to other areas that need it most.
Shazna has made significant contributions during her time at the Open University. One of her most notable achievements is the creation of the Accessibility Tool designed to identify accessibility concerns when creating modules. This tool was created with the aim of ensuring that disabled students, as well as those in secure environments who don't have access to online tools, are able to complete their studies with ease. Shazna also secured funding to conduct further research on the tool so that it could be rolled out across all OU faculties and possibly shared with other universities.
In addition to her work on the accessibility tool, Shazna was also asked to participate in an important program focused on transitioning lecturers onto permanent contracts while working closely with the UCU. Despite the challenges this program presented, Shazna embraced the opportunity and gained valuable experience that has added great value to her professional life.
Shazna has demonstrated a strong commitment to creating a more accessible and inclusive learning environment for all students while also working diligently to improve the conditions of her colleagues. Her efforts have made a significant impact at the Open University. Shazna's passion for making a difference on a larger scale led her to become involved in politics and volunteering, and her achievements and contributions have made a significant impact on the lives of many.
