THE MTM AWARDS VIP GUESTS
Since its inception in 2012, the MTM Awards has been privileged to welcome a remarkable roster of VIP guests, including civic leaders, service commanders, and community champions from the South West of England, the UK, and across the globe. From our inaugural event, which featured Mayor George Ferguson (Bristol), Councillor Peter Abraham (Bristol), and Councillor Ian Boulton (South Gloucestershire), to subsequent years, we have consistently been honoured by influential figures who share our vision of celebrating culture, achievement, and community impact.
Notable early supporters, such as Ken Simpson of FSB, Vanessa Moon-Moon of Executive Search, and Sue Mountstevens in 2016, played a pivotal role in shaping the platform we continue to grow today. Over the years, our events have also welcomed distinguished guests from international waters, including the Speaker of the County Government of Mombasa, Ahrub Shastry, in 2018, reflecting the MTM Awards’ reach and commitment to connecting communities worldwide.
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A Warm Welcome to Our International Delegates, Finalists, artistes, and guests!
As is tradition, the MTM Awards continue to encourage international participation from guests, nominees, finalists, community leaders, and government officials—a true reflection of our commitment to diversity and inclusion beyond the South West region.
Our international journey began in 2016 when the PA and Communication Officer from Mombasa County represented the then Governor, Ali Hassan Joho, becoming our first international guests. In 2017, we organised the Ivory Belongs to Elephants London to Bristol Walk, a 10-day awareness campaign flagged off by the High Commissioner of Kenya to the UK at the Natural History Museum in London and concluded at the Bristol Cenotaph. This milestone event welcomed 10 international guests, including seven from Nairobi. By 2018, our 2016 award winner, Ramla Omar Said of Mombasa, attended the MTM Glittering Gala Award Evening alongside Speaker Aharub Khatri of the County Government of Mombasa to receive her crystal award in person.
Since then, the MTM Awards have consistently welcomed international nominees, finalists, entrepreneurs, and guests wishing to contribute to our celebration of excellence. International attendance has opened vital avenues for cultural exchange, professional networking, business engagement, and community collaboration. Bristol enjoys a particularly thriving Somaliland community, and the MTM Awards serve as a vital platform where community members, local leaders, and senior government officials can connect, celebrate, and build stronger ties. We value this opportunity to bring individuals and organisations together to share experiences and establish lasting connections before returning to their home nations.
Before an official invitation is issued, proposed international participants undergo a review by our immigration adviser to ensure the invitation reflects the genuine purpose of their visit and the nature of their participation. Each visitor is responsible for meeting relevant UK immigration requirements, obtaining travel permission, and ensuring their activities remain strictly within their immigration conditions. Our invitations are issued solely for genuine participation in MTM Awards activities and do not guarantee a visa or entry into the United Kingdom.
In our 15th year, marking Season 14, we are proud to host performers, entrepreneurs, finalists, and distinguished guests from across the globe.
Our 2026 MTM Awards Finalists include Kisumu Environmental Champions from Kenya and the Sanamare Organisation from Tanzania for the MTM Environmental Excellence Award; Salima Noor Sheikh Hussein and Hon Hamida Noor Sheikh from Kenya, alongside the Ujamaa Tanzania Foundation, for the MTM International Award for Excellence; Kelly Haso (Ally Saidi Mtulia), Papati (Arafat) from Tanzania, and Antidote Groove, Brian Otieno Owino, and Titus Doc from Kenya for the MTM Nigel Barrett Art, Music & Culture Award; as well as Rashid Ali Jannedy (Farouk Jannedy) and Elizabeth S. Ngote from Kenya, alongside Dr Gudon Adan Abdi from Somaliland, for the MTM Special Recognition Award.
We are equally delighted to welcome our invited artists, entrepreneurs, community members, and charity organisations for 2026, including Abdulkarim Sheikh (MTM Brand Ambassador, Period Poverty Action Project), Abdul Waheed Abdulhamid, and Patrick Ochieng (MTM Digital and Creative Production) from Kenya; Mumtaza Musa representing the County Government of Mandera, Kenya; Sumeiya Sheikh Nurien Kenya; Fahmi Isse Yusuf , Guled Said Dama of Oh WOW and Abdirahin Mohamed Omar from Somaliland; Elmi Mohamed Abdi from Djibouti; Mohamed Ismail Iman and Abdirahin Mohamed Omar from Ethiopia; and Mufida Saidi Mbale from Uganda.
The MTM Awards warmly welcome all our local, regional, national, and international participants to MTM Awards Season 14.
Distinguished VIP Guests & Dignitaries – MTM Awards Season 13
Our past VIPs have included H.E. Ngolamb Ngokwey, Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the United Kingdom, who is dedicated to deepening diplomatic, cultural, and economic relations between the DRC and the UK.
H.E. Mbelwa Kairuki, the High Commissioner of the United Republic of Tanzania to the United Kingdom, is a distinguished diplomat committed to strengthening bilateral ties, trade, cultural exchange and investment between Tanzania and the UK.
Mrs Peaches Golding OBE, Lord-Lieutenant of the City and County of Bristol, serves as His Majesty’s representative, with her foremost duty being to uphold the dignity of the Crown. She promotes harmony, civic pride and collaboration across voluntary, social, commercial and civic sectors, fostering unity and positive engagement throughout the city.
The Lord Mayor of Bristol, The Right Worshipful Mayor of Gloucester. The Mayor of Bath
George Ferguson, former elected Mayor of Bristol (2012–2016), was the first independent politician to lead a major English city.
The Chair of South Gloucestershire Council, the Mayor ot Yate Town Council, the mayors of Stroud, Calne, Taunton, Swindon, Bradley Stoke and many others.
Vanessa Moon BSc (Hons), Founding Director of Moon Executive Search,
Sue Mountstevens OBE, Chair of Trustees at Quartet Community Foundation, is the former Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon & Somerset.
Cllr Ian Boulton, Co-Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, Councillor for Staple Hill and Mangotsfield, was one of the very first civic leaders to join us as a guest at the inaugural MTM Awards in 2012.
Celebrating the Essence of Business and Culture Across Our Rich and Diverse Communities…
Since 2012, we’ve had the privilege of celebrating 237 award winners and presenting 121 Special Recognitions. Along the way, we’ve been inspired by 13,150 nominations, received over 304,000 votes from our community, and welcomed more than 7,150 guests and participants to our events.