Welcome the new Mayor of Kirklees and watch the ceremony live
Our Mayor Making ceremony will officially see the new Civic team for 2025-26 installed and you can watch it all live.
The current Deputy Mayor of Kirklees, Councillor Liz Smaje, will officially take office as Mayor on Wednesday 21 May after the current Mayor, Councillor Nosheen Dad, steps down.
Meet the new Mayor of Kirklees
Cllr Smaje was first elected to represent her home ward of Birstall and Birkenshaw in 2004.
She has held senior Council positions as a member of Cabinet and Chair of Overview and Scrutiny, but her main priority has always been her local community and supporting the organisations, small businesses and individuals within it.
She is a Governor of Birkenshaw Primary School, and an active member of numerous groups across Birstall, Birkenshaw and East Bierley
Cllr Smaje is also a Trustee of Birstall Community Centre, leading the team that saved it from closure.
She was a member and a past national chairman of the former Institute of Qualified Private Secretaries and in her spare time has gained degrees in history, English literature and classical studies through the Open University.
Each year the Mayor of Kirklees chooses a cause they wish to support, and during her year in office Cllr Smaje has chosen to highlight the problems experienced by adults and children with Autism and ADHD.
The Deputy Mayor for the forthcoming Municipal Year will be Councillor Munir Ahmed.
Cllr Ahmed was elected to the Dalton Ward in May 2024 and was appointed cabinet member for Environment and Highways in July 2024.
He is the lead spokesperson for Kirklees Council for West Yorkshire Joint Services and a member of the West Yorkshire climate Energy and Environment Committee. Cllr Ahmed is also a Non-Executive Board Director of SUEZ recycling and recovery Kirklees
The Mayor Making Ceremony will take place on Wednesday 21 May and can be watched live on YouTube. The ceremony will be held at Huddersfield Town Hall at 12.30 pm, and everyone is invited to come along and see the ceremony. Anyone attending should arrive at Huddersfield Town Hall via Princess Street and be seated by 12.20pm.
Invite the Mayor to your event, business, school or community group
To invite the Mayor is quick and easy to do. Simply fill out the invite the Mayor form.
It helps giving the Civic Office as much notice as possible so arrangements can be made.
The mayor would be delighted to receive invitations to your events, no matter how large or small.