Shakira Martin

Early life

Martin was one of nine siblings raised in Lewisham, south-east London, by Jamaican parents. She left home at 16 and had two children, before graduating with a diploma in education and training from Lewisham and Southwark College and then becoming President of the college students' union.

NUS Vice-President Further Education

At the NUS 2015 National Conference in Liverpool, Martin was elected as NUS' Vice President for Further Education by 141 votes to 55, following Joe Vinson. In the position, she led a campaign to raise the profile of the impact of government post-16 area reviews on learners, and was a "strong advocate for the learner and apprentice voice".

Martin was then re-elected for another term in April 2016; she was uncontested for the post and won at stage one, with 152 votes compared to 11 votes to re-open nominations. She expanded the previous campaign, and worked on a research project with former Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Sir Vince Cable into how major FE reforms should be tailored for learners. The report is due to be published by Autumn 2017.

In April 2017, after widespread discontentment with NUS under the leadership of Malia Bouattia, Martin stood for the position of President, pledging "unity", "pragmatism", and to put "NUS back into the hands of its membership". She defeated the incumbent, receiving 56% of the vote. Martin took office in July 2017.

In August, Martin held a meeting with the campaign manager of the Union of Jewish Students for 'building back trust' and to 'start taking seriously the concerns Jewish students have raised'. Martin and Velleman committed to 'collaborate through joint projects' and 'overlapping priorities [...] to ensure Jewish students feel safe in our spaces.'