Dr Mohammad Alhadj Ali – Chair of the Board of Trustees

I am an academic clinician with a passion for research, education, and community service. I completed my PhD in immunotherapy for Type 1 Diabetes at the University of Bristol and currently work as a Consultant Physician at the University Hospital of Wales, as well as a Senior Lecturer at Cardiff University’s School of Medicine. My research has focused on developing new therapies for Type 1 Diabetes, and I have led and contributed to several clinical trials investigating innovative treatments. I am also a recognised medical educator and have delivered lectures and presentations at both national and international conferences.

Over the years, I have been fortunate to receive recognition for my work, including:

• Donell Etzwiler International Scholar Award – International Diabetes Centre, Minnesota, USA (2015)

• Innovators in Diabetes (IDia) Fellowship – Diabetes UK (2017)

• W.T. Edward Medal – Cardiff Medical Society (2018)

• Prestigious Training Award – Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (2018)

• EFSD Future Leaders for Clinical Diabetologists Award (2019)

• “Community Champion” Award – Diabetes UK (2023), for contributions to local communities

Public engagement and volunteering have always been central to my life outside of medicine. My commitment to supporting refugees began over a decade ago, particularly through work with Syrian refugees. In 2015, I founded the Syrian Welsh Society to support Syrian refugees who settled in Wales, a nation of sanctuary. The organisation’s impact was recognised nationally when it received the Marsh Award for grassroots organisations in 2022.

In 2023, I was honoured to join the advisory experts group at the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva, where I presented my experiences with the Syrian Welsh Society and contributed to an international pledge on refugee mental health, designed to be adopted in Wales.

My charitable roles include serving as a trustee for Hand in Hand for Aid and Development (HIHFAD), being a member of Pwyllgor Cymru (Mind Cymru), founding chairman of the Syrian Welsh Society, chair of the Syrian Charities and Associations Network in the UK (SCAN UK), director of the ARAB in UK Forum, committee member of Cardiff Medical Society (CMS), and core committee member of Muslim Doctors Cymru (MDC).

I am deeply passionate about promoting both physical and mental health among refugees and underrepresented communities. My goal is to work collaboratively with other organisations on capacity-building initiatives and community projects that foster inclusion, social mobility, and mental health awareness across Wales.

I am humbled to lead the Welsh Refugee Council as Chair of the Board of Trustees, where I am committed to supporting a mission that transforms lives, restores hope, and builds futures. I hope that my experience can help break down barriers and build bridges so that sanctuary seekers and underrepresented communities receive the support they need to rebuild their lives in Wales.