Zamzam Ibrahim is a student politician who was the President of the UK National Union of Students (NUS) from 2019 to 2020.[1] She is also a founding trustee of Students Organising for Sustainability.[2]

Zamzam Ibrahim
Vice President of the European Students' Union
In office
2021
60th President of the National Union of Students
In office
3 July 2019  30 June 2020
Preceded byShakira Martin
Succeeded byLarissa Kennedy
Vice President for Society & Citizenship of the NUS
In office
3 July 2018  1 July 2019
Preceded byRob Young
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Personal details
Born (1994-06-05) 5 June 1994 (age 32)
University of Salford
School of Oriental and African Studies
OccupationClimate activist

Career in student politics

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Prior to her presidency of the NUS, Ibrahim was formerly the NUS Vice President of Society & Citizenship.[3] This followed her term as Salford Students' Union President 2017-2018 and vice-president of Business and Law 2015–2016.[4] Before she was a full-time officer at NUS, she served on the National Executive Committee for two years.[5]

Succeeding Shakira Martin, Ibrahim took office as President of the National Union of Students on 1 July 2019.[6] During her term as president, she has headed up multiple campaigns including the drive to get young people registered to vote in the 2019 General Election,[7] the campaign for a National Education Service[8] and leading the Teach the Future Campaign.[9] Ibrahim was succeeded by Larissa Kennedy in July 2020.[10]

Post-NUS

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Following her presidency of the NUS, Ibrahim served as vice-president of the European students union in 2021.[11]

Ibrahim also co-founded Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS-UK), an educational charity with a focus on climate activism. As part of the charity, Ibrahim was a contributor to the Climate Education Bill.[12]

In 2025, Ibrahim returned to education, undertaking a Master of Science degree in Migration, Mobility and Development at the School of Oriental and African Studies. She is a recipient of a scholarship from The Aziz Foundation.[12]

Personal life

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Zamzam was born in Sweden in 1994 and is Somali, but moved to Greater Manchester at an early age.[13] Ibrahim describes her background as a "daughter of refugees".[12]

References

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  1. "Zamzam Ibrahim elected NUS national president". TES. 9 April 2019.
  2. "SOS-UK Our background". sustainability.nus.org.uk. Archived from the original on 8 May 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  3. "Zamzam Ibrahim elected as NUS vice president (society and development)". NUS Connect. 13 April 2018.
  4. "From President to President @ University of Salford Students' Union". University of Salford Students' Union.[permanent dead link]
  5. "WELL DONE ZAMZAM! @ University of Salford Students' Union". University of Salford Students' Union.[permanent dead link]
  6. "Zamzam Ibrahim elected as NUS president". The Independent. 10 April 2019. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022.
  7. "Got 5? Voter Registration @ NUS Connect". www.nusconnect.org.uk.
  8. "NUS Launches National Education Service (NES) Campaign, To Span a Decade". www.nus.org.uk. Archived from the original on 13 June 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  9. "Climate Crisis Education". Teach the Future.
  10. "FTO Election Results @ Conference".
  11. "New Presidency and Executive Committee elected at ESU Board Meeting 79". European Students' Union. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 "Zamzam Ibrahim". Aziz Foundation. 27 May 2025. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  13. Staufenberg, Jess (12 November 2019). "Profile: Zamzam Ibrahim". FE Week.