Dr. Fella Lahmar is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), a recognition of her leadership competence in UK higher education. With over 20 years of expertise in Islamic and comparative education, she is strongly committed to social justice and decolonisation. Dr. Lahmar holds a PhD in Education from the University of Nottingham, where she conducted a pivotal study on diversity in Muslim schools in Britain, employing both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. She also earned an MA in Educational Research Methods from the University of Nottingham, UK, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Loughborough University, UK, reflecting her interdisciplinary research approach.

Dr. Lahmar’s latest work as a Research Fellow at The Open University, UK, involves leading a DEPA (Decolonisation of Education for Peace in Africa) project in Algeria, which examines how Algerian artistic heritage fosters reconciliation and peace across Algeria’s diverse linguistic communities. Her educational expertise extends internationally through her consultancy role with the Qatar Foundation, where she plays a pivotal role in developing an MA programme in Comparative Education at Hamad Bin Khalifa University.

Previously, she served as a PhD supervisor at the University of Bolton, as a Research Associate at the University of Nottingham and at The National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), and as an Academic Director for MA and BA Islamic Studies programmes at the European Institute of Human Sciences. She has also held leadership roles as Head of Department at the Markfield Institute of Higher Education, directing MA Islamic Education and MA Islamic Studies programmes.

Dr. Lahmar’s publications reflect her commitment to advancing decolonised, socially just, and inclusive education. Her works include journal articles, book chapters, and policy reports on decolonising educational frameworks, Islamic educational thought and practice, ethical research complexities, and indigenous arts' role in peace education. Her upcoming book project, scheduled for completion with Routledge, explores Islamic schools in Western Europe, addressing themes of diversity and belonging.

Active in community outreach, Dr. Lahmar engages in intra-faith dialogue and educational advocacy, delivering lectures on education and social justice in both English and Arabic across Britain. Recognised for her contributions to Muslim women’s educational leadership, she was awarded by the Muslim Association of Britain as an inspirational leader in 2019 and received the British Imams and Scholars Contributions and Achievements Award (BISCA) in 2016.