Zaynub Akbar
Zaynub Akbar | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2026 | |
| Member of the Senedd for Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf | |
| Assumed office 8 May 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Zaynub Akbar June 1997 (age 29) Cardiff, Wales |
| Party | Plaid Cymru |
| Education | Cardiff University, University of Nottingham |
| Gymnastics career | |
| Discipline | Trampoline gymnastics |
Country represented |  Great Britain |
Zaynub Akbar (born June 1997)[1] is a Welsh Plaid Cymru politician and former trampoline gymnast who has been a Member of the Senedd (MS) representing Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf since May 2026.[2]
Early life, gymnastics and journalism career
Akbar's grandfather came to Wales from India.[3] She was brought up by her father and spent most of her childhood homeless and had to couch surf between people's homes.[3]
Akbar went to Howell's School in Llandaff, Cardiff under a bursary.[3]
She represented Great Britain at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics, where reached the trampoline final and finished in eighth place.[4]
Akbar studied international relations and politics at Cardiff University, studying remotely whilst living in Northampton for trampoline training.[3][5] She also studied journalism at the University of Nottingham.[3]
She worked at ITV Cymru Wales as a journalist and at Sport Wales as a public affairs officer.[3]
Career
Akbar joined the board of the Design Commission for Wales in April 2025.[6]
She was selected as a Plaid Cymru candidate for Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf for the 2026 Senedd election, in second place on the party list behind Dafydd Trystan Davies.[7]
References
- ↑ "Zaynub AKBAR personal appointments". Companies House. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ↑ Mosalski, Ruth (2026-05-08). "Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf - full election results". Wales Online. Retrieved 2026-05-08.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mosalski, Ruth (2026-05-05). "Athlete who spent most of childhood with nowhere to call home". Wales Online. Retrieved 2026-05-11.
- ↑ "Canton trampolinist Zainub Akbar finishes eighth in Youth Olympic Games". Wales Online. 21 August 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ↑ "Trampoline gymnast Akbar targets more success after hard work pays off". Ealing Times. 1 August 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ↑ "Written Statement: The Design Commission for Wales – New and Reappointed Board Members". gov.uk. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ↑ Shipton, Martin (7 June 2025). "Two ex-Plaid Cymru chief executives 'heading for Senedd'". nation.cymru. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
