OUR People

MEET OUR TEAM

The Alokita team is made up of trailblazers, community leaders, and cultural advocates. Together, we bring decades of experience across the arts, health, education, heritage, tech and a shared passion for uplifting South Asian stories through creativity.

  • Junna Begum

    A visionary cultural leader with a legacy of commissioning and producing arts across the UK and beyond. As an artistic director for Bangla Week and former policy lead for the Mayor of London’s Culture Strategy, Junna is  dedicated to elevating voices that have too often been ignored.

  • Asia Bibi Zaman

    Born and raised in Tower Hamlets, Asia brings decades of experience working in the NHS. Her work includes creating equitable access to mental health, culture, and community, reflecting her deep-rooted connection to East London and a passion for South Asian heritage and storytelling.

  • Abu Numan

    Abu is a connector, using his expertise in public policy and tech innovation to drive inclusive growth. With a keen eye for local empowerment, he plays a pivotal role in supporting grassroots businesses and fostering creative spaces for all.

MEET OUR ASSOCIATES

Our creative collaborators bring their own brilliance to the table - from theatre and photography to curation and community arts. Each associate is a storyteller in their own right, contributing their own lens to the diverse and evolving narrative of South Asian culture.

  • Fateha Begum

    As Birmingham’s only Sylheti Bangladeshi female youth theatre director, Fateha explores themes of struggles and issues facing young people by pushing boundaries in theatre and art education. Her productions include My Grandad and I;  Hackey and Antigone by Zeroplus Theatre and Wish Time Machine, Bangla Week 2024.

  • Kois Miah

    Award-winning photographer, Kois focuses on integrating photography and film with community participation. His work tells the stories of migration, resilience, and belonging, especially through his celebrated portraits: Lived Brutalism: Portraits at Robin Hood Gardens.

  • Karmi Bains

    A curator and heritage specialist, Karmi brings the past alive, telling stories of South Asian heritage with tenderness, depth, and passion. Karmi has produced major exhibitions - from  Picasso’s Au Naturel to Bangladesh’s 50th Anniversary.