Meena’s story
When Meena arrived in Wales from India, she brought with her no more than a suitcase of saris and textbooks. She carried the weight of tradition, the dreams of a young girl shaped by inequality, and the hope of building a new life in a new land. What she didn’t yet know was that her journey would become one of transformation, not only for herself, but for generations of women and ethnic minorities in Wales.
Born in a small town near Delhi, she was raised in a traditional Hindu household. Her childhood, though happy and filled with family, was also marked by a deep awareness of inequality. “When I stepped out of my house, I saw poverty, people starving, begging. Even as a child, I wanted to make a difference, but I didn’t have the opportunity in India.”
After an arranged marriage during her university studies, Meena followed her husband to Edinburgh, where she began a master’s degree in genetics at the University of Edinburgh. Soon after, she became pregnant with her daughter. She completed her MSc while pregnant, hiding the bump under saris, and later moved to Wales when her husband’s job took him there. “I spent quality time with my daughter in those early years. But once she started school, I realised I wasn’t cut out to sit at home.”
That decision led her to begin a PhD in infertility at the Welsh National School of Medicine. It also marked the beginning of a remarkable academic and research career in medical genetics, one where she contributed to the mapping and cloning of genes responsible for serious conditions like neurofibromatosis type 1. “My research team helped identify (contributed to the isolation) of the gene responsible. That discovery laid the foundation for future treatment. It’s been my life’s work.”
Yet her path was never straightforward. “After my studies, when I was offered a job, that’s when I first encountered discrimination, both as a woman and as a person of colour.” She experienced repeated barriers based on race, gender, appearance, religion, and even clothing. And yet, she persisted.
What gave her the strength to continue wasn’t just academic drive, it was the sense of community she found in her work. “I developed close relationships with patients and families affected by genetic conditions. These families became an extended family to me. Their kindness and support inspired my team and gave us a sense of belonging.”
This sense of belonging extended beyond the laboratory. In 2011, she founded the Welsh Asian Women Achievement Association (WAWAA) an organisation born from the absence she felt while attending an award ceremony where no other BME women were present. “That moment shocked me. It made me realise we needed something for ourselves, to celebrate our contributions on our own terms.”
WAWAA started with a focus on women from six Asian countries and eventually expanded to embrace women from all ethnic minority backgrounds and it was renamed as Ethnic Minority Welsh Women Achievement Association (EMWWAA). The biannual awards celebrate women not just for participation, but for excellence, sending a clear message that they are not tokens, but trailblazers. “Representation matters, but only if it comes with recognition and respect.”
At the heart of all her work whether in genetics, academia, or advocacy is her unshakable belief in the importance of having a seat at the table. “It’s crucial, policies are being made by people who do not understand the lived experiences of diverse communities. Without representation, how can they create fair policies?”
This is not just about physical presence in boardrooms and committees but it’s about meaningful participation. “It’s not enough to be invited. You need to be heard, credited, and included in decision-making. Otherwise, it’s just tokenism.”
Strongly believing in integration not assimilation. “People need to make an effort to understand each other. My advice to newcomers is to don’t isolate yourself. Introduce yourself to your neighbours. Share your culture. When people know you, they’re more likely to welcome you.”
One of her favourite ways to bring people together is food. “Sharing food brings people together. It’s the easiest, most beautiful way to learn about each other’s cultures. Every dish has a story.”
This belief is embodied in her latest project: the Festival of Communities in Swansea, a day-long celebration featuring music, cultural performances, health workshops, and of course, multicultural food. “It’s not just entertainment. It’s education. We address health conditions like diabetes and cancer, issues that affect everyone. And through food and dance, people connect and learn without even realising it.”
While she has received numerous accolades, what means most to her is the feedback from the women whose lives her work has touched. “When women tell me that the award changed their lives, that it made them feel seen, validated, that’s what drives me.”
Drawing inspiration from three people in her life has always inspired her in what she does, believes and how she goes through life daily: her grandmother, a freedom fighter for India’s independence; her husband, who encouraged her academic journey; and her mentor, Professor Sir Peter Harper, who believed in her before she believed in herself. “He gave me opportunities I didn’t think I was ready for. Representing him at a conference in New York changed everything for me. I’ve never looked back.”
Meena’s journey is marked by struggle, resilience, and triumph. She faced widowhood while raising a daughter and completing her PhD. She faced systemic barriers that told her she didn’t belong. But she transformed those barriers into bridges, not just for herself, but for countless others.
“I’m proud to call Wales my home. It’s my adopted country. I’ve lived here longer than I did in India. I was given the option to return, but I chose to stay. Because this is where I built my life, my community, my impact.”
Stori Meena
When Meena moved from a small town near Delhi to Wales, she brought with her not just academic ambition but tradition, purpose, and a drive to create change. Today she is the founder of the Ethnic Minority Welsh Women Achievement Association (EMWWAA), created after she noticed an absence of diverse voices at an awards event. “We needed something for ourselves, to celebrate our contributions on our own terms.”
To her, inclusion isn’t just about presence, it’s about power. “It’s not enough to be invited. You need to be heard, credited, and included in decision-making.”
Finding a sense of community and belonging in her work. “I developed close relationships with patients and families affected by genetic conditions. These families became an extended family to me. Their kindness and support inspired my team and gave us a sense of belonging.”
She champions integration over assimilation, believing that shared experiences can bring people together. “I’m proud to call Wales my home. Belonging is about where you invest your love and purpose. And if we are not at the table, the story isn’t complete.”
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