Dame Cindy and Mrs Fadumo Ahmed, of Auckland, QSO for services to ethnic communities, women and social entrepreneurship
Fadumo Ahmed founded the New Zealand Ethnic Women Trust (NZEWT), using her experience as a refugee from Somalia adapting to New Zealand life to create a support network and social business for other refugee and migrant women. She continues as Chair of the NZEWT, which offers classes in English language, computing, health education, and family violence awareness, as well as two playgroups. She also established a sewing school to assist refugee women and then established Cottonseed, an environmentally conscious, ethical fashion label whose clothing is designed and produced by migrant and refugee women. Mrs Ahmed is a member of a Muslim women’s forum and the Mt Roskill Collective, which supports communities through initiatives promoting mental health and wellbeing, youth development, parenting and general wellbeing.