Jawaid Malik JP

Current High Sheriff (2026 - 2027)

Jawaid Malik brings decades of dedicated service in public life, community development and civic leadership to his role as High Sheriff of Oxfordshire. Since arriving in the UK in 1983, he has built a strong and widely respected reputation across Leicestershire and Oxfordshire’s diverse communities, faith groups and public institutions. His work supporting vulnerable people—including those with learning disabilities—and their families through the Shared Lives scheme reflects a lifelong commitment to compassion, inclusion and service, values that continue to guide his public contribution.

After first settling in Leicester, Jawaid became actively involved in the voluntary sector, helping to establish the Asian Sports & Cultural Centre, where he served as its first head. This early leadership role laid the foundation for his ongoing commitment to community cohesion and cultural engagement. In 1989, he moved to Oxford to join Oxford City Council as Asian Cultural Centre Manager, where he played a key role in developing an important community hub that fostered inclusion and participation. He later progressed to the role of Community Development Area Manager, supporting local organisations, strengthening community networks and promoting grassroots regeneration initiatives across the city.

Jawaid’s public service extends into policing, justice and civic engagement. He has worked closely with Thames Valley Police through the Oxford Independent Advisory Group, including serving as Chair, helping to build trust and understanding between communities and law enforcement. He has also served as a Justice of the Peace for over 20 years, demonstrating a sustained commitment to fairness, integrity and the rule of law.

Alongside these roles, he has supported young people and promoted interfaith understanding through The Oxford Foundation since 2009. He remains actively involved in initiatives such as the Oxford Council of Faiths, the Annual Interfaith Friendship & Peace Walk, and the Oxford Asian Literary Society, contributing to dialogue, mutual respect and cultural exchange.

Beyond his formal responsibilities, Jawaid has shown personal dedication through Shared Lives, opening his home in Headington—where he lives with his wife Rahat and three of their children—to support others in a meaningful and practical way.