Monica has lived in North Kensington since 1996 when she came back from directing Oxfam's post-war programmes in Iraq and she and her Iraqi husband chose to live in Colville because of the diversity and comfortable mix of cultures, and the vibrant character of Portobello Market.

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She has an MSc in Social Policy and Planning and for 20 years managed pro-democracy programmes in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, representing local community interests with local and national government leaders. She retired from overseas work in 2008 and qualified as a UK welfare rights adviser and worked for a local advice bureau with Arabic speaking clients until 2015.

Monica was elected Councillor for Colville Ward in 2014. She has been an active resident in Colville for many years and is currently Chair of the Colville Ward Forum, Deputy Chair of the Markets Streets Action Group, and a member of the Borough Voluntary Organisations Advisory Group. At the Council Monica sits on Cabinet and Corporate Services, Housing and Property, and Public Realm Scrutiny Committees.