Nimco Ali OBE

Nimco Ali is an FGM survivor, strategist and author. Born in Somaliland, she grew up in the UK. In 2019, she co-founded The Five Foundation, The Global Partnership To End FGM. She also co-founded Daughters of Eve in 2010. Nimco’s work has helped to position FGM as a central issue in ending violence against women and girls. From 2020-2022 she was also the independent advisor on violence against women and girls for the UK Home Office.

Nimco’s professional experience has included working for counter-terrorism within the civil service, supporting the rights of girls in the UK as part of Girlguiding UK and currently as a board member for Inspiring Girls. She is also a leading commentator in international media on the rights of girls and women – particularly surrounding FGM and related issues.

During 2019, Nimco was awarded an OBE for her groundbreaking activism. In 2014, Nimco was awarded Red Magazine’s Woman of the Year award, and placed at No 6 on the Woman’s Hour Power List. Most recently she was named by The Sunday Times as one of Debrett’s 500 most influential people in Britain, well as one of the Evening Standard’s 1000 Most Powerful and BBC’s 100 Women.

Nimco’s debut, WHAT WE’RE TOLD NOT TO TALK ABOUT BUT WE’RE GOING TO ANYWAY, was published by Penguin in June 2019.