Raaj Shamji grew up in the West Midlands and, while making a national contribution, has remained committed to unlocking the region’s talents across business, the voluntary sector, higher education, and the gaps between religious communities.
Professionally he holds a senior role in higher education focused on local growth. Personally, he has been a parliamentary candidate, played an important part in Mayor Andy Street’s outreach and campaigns and remained very engaged in the region’s business community. Indeed, in his spare time he is regularly invited to chair, facilitate, and organise major business, cultural and educational events.
On the charitable side Raaj teamed up with a local artist to create a monument to best represent Birmingham as a vibrant city of many communities and convictions. Bringing together ordinary people from the West Midlands, he mobilised support from those of every background and especially those who might not usually step up to engage with such an initiative. Similarly, he has worked with philanthropists to open and support a purpose-built educational, community and conference centre named in honour of Mahatma Gandhi.
A chartered management account Raaj holds an MBA from Aston’s world-class business school. At the Cadbury Centre, he has advised our national work building the management and leadership capacity of community groups from some of the UK’s most vulnerable neighbourhoods.