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Councillor Shoab Akhtar was installed as Mayor of Oldham Metropolitan Borough in May 2008. He will serve as the Borough’s First Citizen until May 2009.
He was was born in Akalgarh near Mirpur Azad Kashmir where he spent his early years. The textile industry brought his father, Mohammed Hashim, to Oldham in 1965, with Shoab and his mother, Fateh Begum, joining him in Oldham 1977.
Councillor Akhtar attended Werneth Junior Primary School before moving to Grange Secondary School and then Oldham College to study for A levels. Councillor Akhtar also holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Bradford.
He was first elected as a Borough Councillor in 2000, representing the Werneth ward. During his time as a Borough Councillor, he has served as a Cabinet Member for Finance and Human Resources, Chair of Lifelong Learning and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee,Vice-Chair of the Oldham West Area Committee and Vice Chair of the Audit Committee. He is also a member of various local voluntary organisations.
Throughout his diverse and varied career Councillor Akhtar has taken a particular interest in the community, and his roles have included working for Oldham Council itself as a Bi-lingual Support Officer and Home School Liaison Officer. He has also held various community development posts within the housing sector and is currently the Diversity Manager with Great Places Housing Group.
Supporting Councillor Akhtar during this Mayoral year is his wife, Mrs Shafeena Kausar, as Mayoress. Shafeena was also was born in Azad Kashmir and came to Oldham in 1992 when she married Shoab. They have three sons Dhanyaal, Zayaan and Sobaan.
In his spare time Councillor Akhtar an avid sports fan – he is semi- retired from the Oldham Alliance Cricket League and a passionate Manchester United supporter.
Throughout his Mayoral year, Councillor Akhtar wants to promote adult and youth groups working together.
His chosen charities for his Mayoral year are:
Oldham Education Trust – to help to fund local people to gain access to Higher Education at our own University Centre Oldham.
Dr Kershaw’s Hospice – to contribute to the funding of our valued and highly-regarded local hospice
Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit – to provide new equipment for Royal Oldham Hospital
Diabetes Phlebotomy Chair for the Diabetes Centre at the Royal Oldham Hospital
Oldham Cancer Support Centre – for patients, carers and family members affected by cancer.