Naajia Ahmed

I am a creative curator/historian with a proven track record of designing, developing, and delivering innovative, high-quality and inclusive exhibitions and creative projects. I centre my practice on an empathic and inclusive approach to create spaces that highlight under represented narratives with dignity in order to conserve and protect stories that are at risk of being lost.

I have an academic background in History and World Cultures. Which I have followed through in research, reports, writing and exhibitions at the V&A, National Maritime Museum, House of Lords and East London Dance. My expertise lies in Cultural & Historic Research, Curation & Exhibition Management and Heritage & exhibition Interpretation.

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

New Cartographers

Founder

December 2022- Present

— A collective with a mission to preserve intangible cultural heritage through a database that digital maps intangible cultural heritage with a range of resources that is truly accessible to a wide range of audiences and democratises this information.

Freelance Curator

April 2022 - Present

Commissioned to design exhibition for Rain Crew's Hive Festival Creative resident at UCL's Urban room and Memory Workshop Heritage interpreter/ consultant with St Paul's Cathedral

Operations & Exhibitions Coordinator

East London Dance, April 2021 - December 2022

• I worked closely with the Executive Director and Operations Manager,

to play a key role in developing current and future operations as we moved to a new building, while coordinating the finances, data and personnel systems. In this front-line role I communicated with a range of different groups who come to the charity. I lead on the management of exhibitions and events. Through creative set design and research.

Research Manager

Agroni Research, 2019- 2021

• Researched and edited proposals for new projects. Produced reports based on critical data analysis.

Responsible for managing employees and project case work, the day to day fieldwork which included monitoring the face to face interviews and managing interviews with ethnically diverse respondents organising workload of in office staff.

Conducting quality checks and verification on interviews, surveys and data collected. Responsible for organising the recruitment process which included cataloguing CVs, selecting applicants from a range of ethnic backgrounds, arranging interviews and updating the clients on the progress of the projects.

Maintained the filing system both electronically and manually as to ensure the smooth running of the offices affairs. Also, submitted data entry in a highly efficient and prompt manner.

Produced freelance photography and artistic work for the company’s publications which was reflected the company’s ethos of diversity

Heritage Interpreter/Writer The V&A Museum & Stepney Community Trust, 2017-2018

• Researched the history of ‘forgotten’ objects, held in the V&A Archives. With a focus on the history of Pandans (Vessels for Pan) Developed a unique narrative that appealed to the public audience, yet produced a chapter with strong academic research. The project culminated in the successful publication of collocated essays on the remarkable history of long forgotten artefacts

Research Assistant, Intern

House of Lords | Baroness Pola Uddin, 2017-2018

• Researched and compiled dossiers on various topics from Extremisms to briefing documents on specific nations. Produced research for the National Commission on Muslim Women. Arranging internal and external meetings Preparing minutes and agendas for meetings Entrusted with confidential correspondence, which required writing to ambassadors and diplomatic personnel and understanding formal codes of conduct. Ensured travel arrangements were made in a timely and appropriate manner.

Curatorial Assistant

National Maritime Museum, 2015-2016

Selected photographs for display that would both accurately illustrate the experiences of seafarers and engage the public with a novel perspective. Developed the historical narrative for the exhibition, through the production of themes relevant to the display and the aims of the exhibition. Produced research on the history of working and living conditions of seafarers and the arrival of seamen to Britain.

Wrote the interpretation panels for the photographs and the introduction panel used for the exhibit. Designed graphics for digital media for exhibition display.

Education

MA World History & Cultures, Merit Kings College, University of London

BA History, 2:1

Birkbeck, University of London

Courses

2022

CURATION & EXHIBITION MANAGEMENT

CITY, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON

2021

IOC-UNESCO OCEAN LITERACY COURSE: EDUCATING ABOUT THE OCEAN: WAVES OF CHANGE

2019

JEWELLERY MAKING

CENTRAL SAINT MARTINS, UNIVERSITY OF ARTS LONDON