Toaha Qureshi MBE – Chief Executive Officer

Toaha was appointed as the Interim Chief Executive in late 2018. He has an extensive background in housing, education, community development and rehabilitation. He was previously Chairman of the Board and is currently leading the organisation to new horizons by reinvigorating its approach to tackling the housing crisis. He has been active in the housing sector for two decades, sitting on boards for various BAME housing associations.

Mr. Qureshi is Member of the Order of The British Empire after being conferred an MBE by Her Majesty the Queen, Elizabeth II for services rendered for community relations. His other recognitions include the Lambeth Civic Award and the British Community Honours Award.

Umar Mahmood LLM, MA – Director Operations

Umar joined Ash Shahada in 2018. He brings a wealth of management experience from the higher education sector having spent over a decade in senior positions including managing student accommodation and a student base of over 3000 further and higher education students. His most recent role was as the Quality Assurance Provider Facilitator, managing a yearlong quality review for the organisation consecutively for three years with outstanding results. Umar is leading on the supported exempt accommodation project in Midlands to tackle the lack of housing for the homeless and vulnerable.

Umar gives back to his community on a regular basis with emphasis on interfaith harmony, peace and community development. Among his many roles, he is a Guest Lecturer at the King’s College of London, Governor for the Lambeth Nursery Schools’ Federation and Children’s Centres, Mentor for Mosaic (Prince of Wales Charity) and Member of the Independent Advisory Group for Lambeth Metropolitan Police. He has also been a form Advisory Board Member (London) for the national charity Tell MAMA. Umar has been recognised for his work by Sir Ken Olisa (Lord Lieutenant of Greater London), Helen Hayes MP, Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP and others.

Mojisola Oladipupo – Associate Director of Housing

Mojisola joined Ash-Shahada HA as Associate Director of Housing in September 2024. A leader who leads by her own passion for excellent service delivery, she is skilled in team building and restructuring. She brings to the organisation, a wealth of experience spanning 25 years, during which she has worked across the core social housing areas and served in many Housing Associations as head of service areas – Income, housing, financial inclusion, customer experience and property. She
is a career coach, with a Level 5 certification from the Chartered Management Institute. She holds a degree in Law (LLB). Her legal training and exposure to complex operational challenges has enabled her to develop critical leadership and analytical skills to operate effectively within a performance and quality driven environment. In her spare time, she teaches and mentors children between the ages of ten to thirteen at her local Church. She is a Trustee of a Foundation set up to support and empower indigent widows in Western Nigeria.

Savio Fernandes – Associate Director of Governance, Legal, Risk and Compliance

Savio joined the Ash Shahada team in September 2024. He is an experienced Head of Service and Business Operations leader, who specialises in change management, enhancing organisational services and enriching the customer experience. He has worked for over 30 years’ in Housing and Local Government and over 4 years in Legal Practice Support, giving him a wealth of professional and rich cross-industry experience. He is a coach and mentor.

Savio is an experienced school governor in Lambeth and a Trustee of a charity supporting vulnerable young people in the UK and aiding children’s education in Zimbabwe.  He is an active member of his local parish. He loves holidays, exploring new places, trying new foods and cooking. He brings his wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise to support the vision and mission of Ash-Shahada.

Zohara Palmer – Office Manager

Zohara Joined the Association in 2023 as the Office Manager responsible for ensuring day to day activities of the Association are being carried out providing high delivery of customer service. She achieved an honorary degree in Psychology & Social Science.
Zohara has held senior roles in housing working in front-line customer service and administration. She has dealt with the complete cycle of tenants from onboarding to move on. Zohara has worked with vulnerable service users for a number of years having dealt with those suffering from drug addiction and homelessness.
Her recent focus has been on supporting people secure guardianship, keeping properties well maintained and ensuring health and safety at properties.
Zohara enjoys giving back to the community by donating to Doctors Without Borders and local food banks.

Faizan Shaikh – Assistant Manager

Faizan joined Ash Shahada Housing Association as an Assistant Manager in December 2023. He is also a Cluster Representative for various properties and serves as a Maintenance Manager, where he checks and verifies all maintenance work that is carried out.

With an educational background in Accounting and Financial Information Systems and relevant experience in finance and customer service, Faizan is perfectly suited for roles where the result matters. His experience has enabled him to work diligently and fairly while implementing problem-solving strategies for complex and sensitive issues. He has excelled in target-based environments, developing excellent organizational and prioritising skills.

Faizan seeks an opportunity in the financial sector to utilise his skills in a fast paced environment and further his career. He has learned to approach tasks with diligence and professionalism, lead and motivate teams, adapt to various scenarios when dealing with international clients, ensure timely international payments, and evaluate information to solve problems. Faizan consistently delivers customer service in line with best practices and ensures compliance with relevant policies.

Tasnim Karati – Admin Assistant

Tasnim joined us in 2023 as an admin assistant. She has achieved a Bachelors and Master of Arts in International relations. She recently moved from Dubai to the United Kingdom, In Dubai she did an internship in the Consulate General of Iraq, where she helped Iraqi citizens with their applications, assisted in the issuing of passports and liaised with the applicants of all government issued application.

During the Pandemic Tasnim was volunteering with the university of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to help distribute food, drinks, and masks to the vulnerable and elderly people. Her interests are travelling, cooking, sports, and IT.

Abdelkader Khiar – Finance Officer

Abdelkader is a finance professional who holds a postgraduate diploma in leadership and management. He has previously held senior manager positions in finance and has provided consultancy services for over 15 years. He is currently in charge of the finance at Ash-Shahada and is responsible for rent arrears, His roles include finance manager for a private college, senior community development for a charity as well as trustee and treasurer for the Southwark Educational Project between 2006 and 2010.

Abdelkader is active in his community helping refugees, asylum seekers, young children and the disadvantaged. He volunteers as a tuition teacher in his local commuinity .

Zain Ali – SEA Compliance Officer

Zain joined the Association in 2023 as the SEA Compliance Officer. He is a graduate professional with a degree in Business and Finance which has allowed him to develop experience acquired through valued roles. I have a broad range of skills in Compliance, IT, Business, Law and Finance. He has previously worked in the Insurance sector and as a Paralegal at a Law Firm.

Through his previous roles, he has been able to gather years of substantial experience in working with local authorities, government bodies, medical experts and third parties. He is based in the Birmingham office where he carries out compliance checks on properties as well as systems data compliance ensuring that all certification is in place. He is also responsible for conducting support provision audits, KYC testing and more. 

Tamseel Abbasi MSc – SEA Assistant (Finance and Admin)

Tamseel is a dedicated and highly skilled professional who has made significant contributions to the Association since joining in 2022. His extensive educational background, including a post-graduate degree in International Business Administration from Birmingham City University and a bachelor’s degree in marketing and human resources, showcases his commitment to continuous learning and professional development.

As a Certified Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) with a level 3 qualification, Tamseel brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role as a SEA Coordinator. His previous experience in HR positions within private security organizations in Birmingham has equipped him with a strong foundation in managing personnel and organizational operations.

In his current role, Tamseel helps in managing Birmingham Supported Exempt Housing project. His ability to effectively communicate with the council and other local Birmingham authorities demonstrates his strong interpersonal skills and dedication to fostering positive relationships within the community.

Hamza Yaqub – Systems & Data Officer

Hamza joined the Association in 2023 as System and Data Officer and is a full time member of staff. He recently completed his Master degree in International Business with distinction from the University of Hertfordshire. He received his undergraduate degree in Computer Science and has completed a number of short courses to continue his professional development. As a front-end web developer for a software company, Hamza has completed internships with other businesses and acquired a variety of experience. He will be using those talents to ensure that customer services are effectively being delivered through technology and that services are being driven by data collection, such as from the Tenant Perception Survey.

Hamza enjoys giving back to his community by raising funds and volunteering for
charitable causes. 

Hassan Hammad – Project Manager Intern

Hassan joined us in 2023. His responsibilities include communication, reporting and change management, with particular focus on managing the current as well as upcoming projects at Ash-Shahada. Hassan brings over 5 years of technical experience to his role, complemented by the management skills he acquired during his Masters program.

Hassan is dedicated to optimizing project delivery, enhancing reporting procedures, and improving communication procedures, all the while managing teams within the organization. He facilities the internal processes of the organization, ultimately contributing to Ash-Shahada’s growth as a more significant asset for the community.

Iqra Tanveer – Quality Analyst

As a seasoned Quality Analyst with extensive experience in Software Testing and Test Automation. As a Quality Assurance Manager, she led software testing projects, developed test plans, and utilized automation tools to reduce testing time. Her collaborative approach and strong technical skills ensured efficient resolution and successful launches of web and mobile applications.

With a bachelor’s degree in computer science, IQRA has a solid foundation in Object-Oriented Programming, enabling her to design effective automated test suites. As the Head of Atlassian, she demonstrated expertise in Jira, Confluence, and Tableau, engaging with C-level executives to assess business values and facilitate digital transformations. Her negotiation skills and client-focused approach secured new business avenues, while her commitment to excellence ensured successful project implementations.

Muhammad Talha – Data Input Administrator

Muhammad Talha is currently working as a Data Input Administrator at Ash-Shahada Housing Association, a position he began in March 2024. His duties include data entry tasks such as recording receipts and maintaining the tenant register, processing housing applications, and assisting with maintenance reports. He also visits properties to inspect maintenance needs, manages documentation with the finance officer, and supports the London team.

Talha is a civil engineer pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Hertfordshire. He holds a BSc in Civil Engineering from UET Taxila, Pakistan, and has 9 years of experience working in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. His project experience includes roads (Punjab Tourism Economic Growth Project, Punjab Provincial Highway Project), buildings (29 Punjab Government Schools, King Abdullah Financial District Parcels 4.10 and 4.12 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the Overseas Pakistani Foundation High-Rise Building Project), and a production plant (Pakola Beverages) in Faisalabad Industrial Zone.

Zeeshan Ali – Data Input Administrator

Zeeshan Ali joined Ash Shahada in 2024 as a Data Administrator with the SEA team. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Pakistan and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in civil engineering. Zeeshan brings a wealth of experience to his role, having worked for five years as a civil engineer in the Gulf region, specifically in Saudi Arabia.

In his current position, Zeeshan focuses on council tax and support notes data management. His responsibilities include maintaining and updating databases, analysing spreadsheets, and facilitating communication with local authorities. Additionally, Zeeshan collaborates with the London team, conducting property visits to assess and document the quality of maintenance work performed by contractors.

Hassan Ubaid – Project Support Officer

Hassan joined the Association in 2024 as a Project Support Officer and is a dedicated part-time team member. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in
international project management from Northumbria University’s London Campus. With an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering, he has also undertaken several short courses to further his professional development. His experience as a Junior Project Manager in a construction company, complemented by internships, has equipped him with diverse skills. He is eager to leverage these talents to ensure efficient service delivery through technology and enhance service quality using essential soft skills.
In addition to his professional commitments, He is passionate about advocating for important causes and actively volunteers for charitable organisations.