The Mayor of Islington

An introduction to the Mayor

Cllr Khurana has lived in and around Islington since 1994, residing first in Clerkenwell and now in Hillrise.  

Upon being elected as Mayor, Cllr Khurana said, “I want my mayoralty to emphasise that everyone is welcome in Islington. I am looking forward to engaging with the communities that do so much, both in the spotlight and behind the scenes, that work with and for each other.”  

First elected as a councillor for Tollington Ward in 2018, Cllr Khurana has served on the council for seven years. During that time, she has been a member of various committees, including the Policy and Performance Scrutiny Committee, Licensing Committee, the council's fostering and adoption permanence panels and was Chair of the Employment and Appointments Committee for four years. 

Before becoming a councillor, Cllr Khurana was active in the borough as a volunteer, supporting a range of charities promoting child literacy and supporting safe spaces for those experiencing mental health difficulties.  

Cllr Khurana was diagnosed with Relapsing, Remitting Multiple Sclerosis in 2006 at the Whittington Hospital. 

Each mayor chooses a specific charity to support and raise funds for throughout their time in office. Cllr Khurana has chosen Brickworks Community Centre.

Find out more about these charities on the Mayor's Charity page.

The role of the Mayor

Islington has a ceremonial mayor, who is elected by their fellow councillors to serve for a one-year term in office. During that term, the Mayor represents the borough at numerous civic and public events, acting as the borough’s first citizen.

The Mayor chairs meetings of the full council. At those meetings, the Mayor is entitled to vote as an Islington councillor and also currently has the casting vote in the event of a tie after all councillors have voted.

The Mayor represents the council at many civic and ceremonial events, both in the borough and at other functions outside the borough.

The Mayor may attend a variety of events and functions, on average 500 per year, including:

• opening events, fairs and fetes
• visiting schools or day centres
• attending commemorative and cultural events (such as Refugee Week, Windrush Day, LGBTQ+ History Month), community festivals and religious celebrations
• celebrating local people or communities (such as Civic Pride Week at Nags Head, volunteer awards, summer reading challenge celebrations)
• acting as guest speaker at dinners and receptions for various groups and organisations
• visiting residents on their 100th birthday and offering congratulations on behalf of the borough
• presiding at citizenship ceremonies
• chairing all full council meetings.