To commemorate the College’s bicentenary in 2023, we’re showcasing 200 ‘Birkbeck Effects’ which capture the incredible stories of our vibrant and diverse community, highlighting their achievements and impact on the world. 

Marai is an activist and campaigner and is known for her campaigns against racialised and gendered violence.  

A graduate of Birkbeck’s MA in Culture, Diaspora and Ethnicity, she has volunteered for Hackney Women’s Aid, was executive director of Imkaan, an organisation dedicated to addressing violence against Black and racially minoritised girls and women, and she was joint chair of the End Violence Against Women Coalition. 

Born in London to Jamaican parents, she was inspired by the work of political activist and scholar, Angela Davis which addressed the intersectional identities of being female, Black and queer.  

Marai is a Fellow of Birkbeck and has also been awarded an MBE for her campaigning and activism. She was named one of the world’s 100 Most Influential People in Gender Policy and is one of the most influential LGBTQ people in the political and activist space. She was also voted one of the 100 Great Black Britons in 2020.