Westminster alumni David Astill and Monwara Ali have received Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) awards in recognition of their exceptional contribution to communities in the King’s New Year’s Honours List 2025.
David Astill was awarded the MBE for his services to public transport. After graduating in Transport Planning and Management from the University of Westminster in the 1980s, David immediately began his career in the transport industry. He has since climbed the ranks to become Managing Director of Nottingham City Transport (NCT) and was awarded the Bus Centre of Excellence (BCoE) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024 for his contribution to the industry.
Under David’s management, NCT now has the second highest bus usage outside of London and achieved the highest city bus operator satisfaction score in the country in the most recent independent Transport Focus survey. NCT also completed the electrification of its city single deck fleet in just 18 months, with 62 zero emission single deck buses now in operation.
About receiving the MBE David said: “I have worked in the public transport industry since graduating from University of Westminster almost 40 years ago. I am humbled to receive this award and thank all who have guided, mentored and helped me throughout my career.”
David Astill MBE
Monwara Ali was awarded the MBE for services to the community in Waltham Forest as CEO of Waltham Forest Community Hub, a grassroots charity dedicated to empowering marginalised communities. Monwara earned her Law LLB Honours degree from the University of Westminster in 1997, where she continues to support students with inspiring talks, and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Westminster Alumni Awards 2025.
Monwara’s impact extends beyond the UK through her role as Director of Stow Inspire CIC, an organisation initially set up in 2021 to transform lives in poverty-stricken areas of Bangladesh until 2023 when they changed direction to work with underserved communities in North East London boroughs. Together with her Co-founder Parvin Karim, she has helped convert 11 shelters into safe, permanent homes for single mothers and children living in extreme poverty. In December 2023, she launched a sewing class in the village of Hazi Nager to teach young women life skills for financial independence. A year later, with no external funding, she donated land to create a Learning Institute for Women with the ambition to change the lives of hundreds of women. She is on a mission to raise funds to complete the Women's Institute.
About the MBE Monwara said: "I am deeply touched and humbled to be awarded an MBE. It's such an honour to be nominated and a reminder of my social responsibility as an enabler for driving positive change. I appreciate this is no small thing.”
Monwara Ali MBE at the University's Regent Campus
The work of Westminster alumni within their communities directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, 10: Reduced Inequalities and 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
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