Henriette Mahamane

Fulbright-University of Maryland School of Public Policy Postgraduate Award

Henriette was born in France but made in Leeds. She graduated with a degree in International Relations and Security from the Peace Studies Department at the University of Bradford. Since joining Leeds City Council, Henriette has worked on strategic projects related to social cohesion, migration, international relations, and climate. She led the International Relations department and was instrumental in Leeds signing a Friendship Oath with Kharkiv, Ukraine, in response to the Russian invasion.

Henriette also spearheaded a partnership with the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, making Leeds the first UK city to offer free virtual tours of the concentration camps. Her work is driven by a passion for uniting communities and nations, aiming to make Leeds renowned globally as a compassionate city. At the University of Maryland, Henriette will focus on leadership and public policy, researching city diplomacy and local inclusive growth with an emphasis on equality, diversity, and inclusion. In Washington, DC, she plans to connect with local third-sector organisations working in EDI. Henriette's ambition is to strengthen UK-US ties and inspire new generations of peace makers through university-level lecturing.