About Ummul
Ummul Choudhury’s successful 18-year career covers working in high-risk decision-making, governance and cross-cultural negotiation and communications.
She is the co-founder and CEO of Capoeira4Refugees, a multi-award-winning international sports charity that brings music, laughter and play to the lives of refugee children and vulnerable people in war and conflict zones. The charity continues to support young people and local communities in Syria, including in territory formerly held by ISIS.
Her strategic understanding of the need for systemic change in the humanitarian aid sector led her to establish tech company Frontline Aid in 2019, offering solutions for operating in remote and high-risk contexts. Ummul adeptly navigates complex partnerships such as with the United Nations, Save the Children, and the German Development Organisation (GIZ), as well as bureaucratic infrastructure in the global south. Notably, Ummul has raised millions in funding for her projects, including in challenging contexts such as Syria.
Ummul has managed trustee boards, giving her an expert understanding of strategic legal and compliance issues, including leading through the complexities of the global Covid-19 pandemic. Further accomplishments in governance include registering international offices, facilitating money transfers into unbanked and war zones, and implementing policies on anti-bribery, corruption, and terrorism financing. She has played a pivotal role in shaping policies that recognise and address gender concerns related to legal risk in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the Levant region, and been instrumental in instituting culturally and legally appropriate policies for behavioural, mental health, and wellbeing support for international staff.
As a thought leader, Ummul has made significant contributions to international forums on technology, ethics, and structural change at the societal level, drawing on her experiences of dealing with global challenges defining a generation. She regularly speaks at public events and her influential work has catalysed original research published by the University of East London. Seven international awards, including UK Charity of the Year, are testament to her leadership and vision. She is committed to constantly learning, and is currently working on her PhD in international development.
Ummul speaks five languages, including English, Arabic and German. She grew up in North London to working class, Bengali Muslim immigrant parents, and attended Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Secondary School, City and Islington Sixth Form College, Queen Mary, University of London and SOAS, specialising in history and Middle East studies. She lived in Syria, Palestine and Jordan for over a decade.
Ummul’s extensive linguistic and communication skills make her a bridge builder across culturally diverse, socio-political and class settings. A unique individual, she brings her breadth and wealth of experience to every situation. She lives in Berlin, Germany, with her husband and three children. Her book, United Nonsense, will be available soon.