With over 20+ years’ experience in education, community engagement and the non-profit sector, Mariama is an effective and empathic leader, with a deep commitment to human flourishing. She is an accomplished board member and has been Chair of two charities in recent years.

She has led an educational charity in London and worked as a Head of Careers, Teacher of Spanish, Teaching Fellow, and Community Engagement Officer in the past. A Fulbright Scholar, Mariama celebrates diversity and loves working with different heritages and empowering communities to access opportunities and resources.

Mariama graduated in modern languages from the University of St Andrews and completed her Masters and PhD at the University of Cambridge (Peterhouse). She has a second Masters in Careers Careers Education and Coaching from the University of Derby.

An ordained priest in the Church of England, Mariama trained at Ripon College Cuddesdon and served her curacy at St James’s Piccadilly, London. She continues to serve part-time as part of the clergy team at St James’s Piccadilly alongside being Chaplain at St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford. Outside of the Church, Mariama works for the Football Association as the Safeguarding and Welfare Oversight Lead for the England Women’s Teams (The Lionesses). She also proud to serve as a volunteer Chaplain at Luminary Bakery, a social enterprise that helps and supports women who have faced social disadvantage.

She has a penchant for crisps and Chelsea buns.

Born in London and brought up in Brent and Lagos, Nigeria, Mariama has been trying to see and meet the world ever since. Mariama is a Mental Health First Aider and understands the importance of an integrated sense of wellbeing and wholeness, and how this underpins both individual and corporate thriving.

WESTMINSTER ABBEY

In 2013, Mariama was appointed as Queen’s Almsman by Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II to serve at Westminster Abbey. She was the first female Almsman since the role was created over 650 years ago and held the post for seven years. Mariama is also the first black priest to have a parish role in Westminster (Two Cities Area).

ST JAMES’S PICCADILLY

In 2023, Mariama co-founded the St James’s Changemakers with the Rev’d Lucy Winkett, a leadership programme for young people under the age of 30. The programme launched at St James’s Palace in November of that year. The generous host of the event was HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and Sir Trevor MacDonald chaired the panel discussion. Fundraising for the programme continues with the hope that it will accept its first cohort in 2024/25.

CITY OF LONDON

Mariama was the first black senior leader of a Great Twelve Livery Company, appointed in 2020, and was a role she held for four years.

UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD

In 2024, Mariama was the appointed Chaplain at the University of Oxford. She is told that she is the first black Chaplain to hold a formal role at the University in its 900+ year history.

Mariama serves with integrity and is committed to the Nolan Principles.

PUBLICATIONS

For five years (2014-2019), Mariama was co-editor of ‘magnet’, an ecumenical Christian magazine published by Hymns Ancient and Modern.

Since then, Mariama has published her first book on the secondary education system in England in 2022. Copies can be bought here and a review of the book can be read here.

Mariama was also invited to contribute to The Canterbury Preacher’s Companion (2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026), which can be purchased here:

She has also been a contributor to Peninsular studies focused on exile and migration from the Spanish Civil War.

TV, RADIO, AND PODCASTs

In spring 2024, Mariama launched a chemistry and science podcast called ‘Zwittering On’ to celebrate leading scientists and the chemistry of everyday life.

Later that year, she was also interviewed on BBC Television to discuss the St James’s Piccadilly gold medal-winning garden at the Chelsea Flower Show.

In autumn 2024, Mariama was asked to present ‘Prayer for the Day’ on BBC Radio 4. These were a series of short reflections which aired every morning between 28 September and 4 October.

SCHOOLS, CARERS, ORGANISATIONS AND BUSINESSES

Mariama offers consultancy to schools, parents and carers who seek support for children and young people in planning and preparing for different educational and career pathways. She offers 1:1 coaching and guidance counselling sessions to empower children and young adults to make positive transitions from school to university, and from university to work.

Organisations have worked with Mariama to deliver training and workshops, keynote addresses, create institutional reports and HR policies around safeguarding, mental health, wellness and wellbeing. Mariama has also led and facilitated plenary sessions.