Senedd Member for South Wales East, Natasha Asghar, has been named The Iron Lady of 2025 by the My Dream Global Foundation at an award ceremony held in the House of Lords for her service to the community.
The My Dream Global Foundation hosts the Iron Lady of the Year award, which recognises empowered women from various professional backgrounds and the contributions they have made to society over the past twelve months.
Natasha, who worked in the banking and media sectors before her election in 2021, became the first female ethnic minority Member of the Senedd.
She served for three and a half years as the Shadow Transport Minister, where she led the fight against the Welsh Government’s controversial 20mph scheme and Senedd expansion. In December 2024, she was appointed as Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education.
Natasha regularly raises the issues that matter most to her constituents in the Welsh Parliament — particularly in relation to the health service, the failing education system, inadequate transport infrastructure, unfair business rates, and soaring council tax increases.
Commenting after the ceremony, Natasha said:
“I am honoured to have been recognised as the Iron Lady 2025 for my work in politics.
“The last four years since my election to the Welsh Parliament have flown by, and I am looking forward to standing again on my record in the elections next year.
“This award reflects the efforts that so many women make in communities across the UK, and I am delighted to have been chosen as a recipient this year."
In her winning speech Natasha thanked her family, friends, her team, her colleagues and her constituents who have been in her own words 'amazing' and her 'pillars of strength over the past five years and dedicated the award to her biggest mentor, best friend and the one person she missed the most, her late Father Mohammad Asghar (Oscar) the late Conservative Regional Member for South East Wales.
