Zamzam Ibrahim is a force for change—an activist, organiser, and leader who has reshaped education, sustainability, and social justice in the UK and beyond. Raised in Manchester, a city known for its radical thinkers and changemakers, she has carried that legacy forward—demanding systemic change in education, climate action, and social justice, and ensuring that those who have been historically excluded are now leading the way.
As President of the National Union of Students UK and Vice President of the European Students’ Union, she transformed student leadership into a platform for justice, access, and reform. From campaigning for mandatory climate education in UK schools to tackling institutional discrimination and widening access to higher education, her work has made sure that working-class, Black, and Muslim students are shaping the policies that govern them—not just being subjected to them.
Climate justice has been at the core of her mission. As co-founder of Students Organising for Sustainability UK (SOS-UK), she helped launch the Climate Education Bill, ensuring that the fight for the planet starts in the classroom. This campaign is about more than textbooks—it is about equipping young people to lead in a green economy, drive climate solutions, and push for a sustainable future. Manchester, a city that once powered the Industrial Revolution, must now play a role in the Green Revolution, and her work is making sure it does.
Beyond student activism, her leadership extends into national and global climate policy. As Chair of the Muslim Leadership Foundation, Director of Somali for Sustainability, and a Youth Advisor for the UN’s Green Jobs Pact, she has worked to ensure that climate action is not an exclusive conversation, but one led by the communities most impacted. She has pushed for greater representation of Black, Muslim, and working-class voices in environmental policy, making it clear that sustainability must be about justice as much as it is about carbon reduction.
A recognised expert in climate justice, education reform, and youth empowerment, she has worked as a consultant and board member for organisations across the world, driving policies that centre people and the planet. From grassroots activism in Manchester to influencing international climate policy, she has proven that systemic change does not happen by invitation—it must be built, fought for, and demanded.
Manchester has never waited for permission to lead. Zamzam Ibrahim stands in that tradition, ensuring that education, sustainability, and leadership reflect the diversity, urgency, and boldness needed to shape the future.
