Raheela Mahomed

Raheela Mahomed is a leading journalist, presenter, and moderator, currently working with Deutsche Welle, Germany’s English-language news broadcaster. With a global media career spanning over a decade, Raheela brings a wealth of lived experience to her work as a racial equality speaker. Her multicultural background and extensive travel across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe have deeply informed her advocacy for diversity, inclusion, and equality. Raheela speaks passionately on a wide range of global issues including international affairs, digital transformation, technology, sustainability, and racial equity. As someone who has experienced the realities of systemic inequality both personally and professionally, she offers authentic, insightful perspectives that resonate across industries and borders.

Raheela’s path into journalism was shaped by a strong academic foundation—she holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a Master’s Degree in International Public Policy. Her early career saw her contributing to major global newsrooms, including CNN International, where she worked on exclusive interviews such as with Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, and helped launch the CNN Freedom Project, which spotlighted the global crisis of human trafficking. She went on to become a Senior Producer at Al Jazeera, where she also presented Newshour, the network’s flagship programme. She played a pivotal role in the development and production of NewsGrid, Al Jazeera’s first interactive social media-streamed news show, and gained widespread recognition for covering major international events like the Egyptian elections, refugee crises, and counter-terrorism operations.

Raheela’s journalistic achievements are significant. Her reporting has spanned critical stories in regions such as Indonesia, covering forest fires, political unrest, and capital relocation, and in Africa, on digital policy shifts in Uganda and Tanzania. Her efforts during the #FREEAJSTAFF media campaign and coverage of Brexit, fake news, and election disinformation have solidified her reputation as a trusted and incisive voice. Her innovative work on NewsGrid earned her a nomination for an International Emmy Award. As a sought-after speaker, she has hosted and contributed to panels at prestigious events including the Future of Media Leaders Summit in Doha, particularly in the areas of digital transformation and broadcasting.

Raheela is hired not only for her impressive media credentials, but also for her commitment to meaningful social change. Her speaking topics—spanning international development, foreign policy, terrorism, and technological innovation—are always rooted in a strong commitment to equality and justice. When addressing racial equality, she connects these global themes with systemic challenges and advocates for inclusive policy, representation and accountability. Organisations turn to Raheela for her nuanced, experienced voice—someone who speaks from both professional authority and lived truth.