OBE: Mimi Harker and Sonia Brown

New generation of Conservative women aiming high

With all the political goings on these last few weeks-resignations, scandals, cuts and more cuts, we might be excused for missing one or two good news stories.  But one we at OBV are keen to revisit was the New Year’s Honours that bestowed awards on two very dynamic women who want to ensure the Conservatives continue to give BME communities a strong voice.

Sonia Brown received an OBE in the New Years honour list. Brown is a business woman and a business network entrepreneur.  For many years she has ensured that up-and-coming Black entrepreneurs are put in touch with government ministers and the wider political elite to have a conversation about opportunities that would be mutually beneficial. 

Even in opposition the Conservative Party seized upon Brown’s initiatives not only to open a dialogue with Black businesses and a professional class but to also to sign up new members with energy, ideas and a willingness to get involved.

Now in Government the Conservatives continue to look to Sonia to consolidate and build upon her powerful networks in a bid to nurture a new generation of business and political leaders.

And what Sonia has done in the business world for the Conservatives, Mimi Harker now OBE has done in the political world. The last 18 months witnessed Harker travelling around the country as an Ambassador for Harriet Harman MP’s BME councillor shadowing project.

Although a Conservative Councillor, Harker recognised the importance of this cross party initiative. ‘This is not about me’, she would often tell her audiences, and ‘this is about us women of colour taking our place in civic and political circles’.

It has been suggested that she had temporarily foregone her own political career in order to serve BME communities.

But her work has been duly recognised with this honour and many will be hoping that the party she has admirably served will now see her as a Westminster parliamentary prospective.

All we know is that we are proud of them both and expect big things from them in the year ahead.

Congratulations on your well deserved awards.

Simon Woolley

Picture: OBE: Mimi Harker (left) and Sonia Brown (right).