University researcher becomes Mayor of Reading

University of Reading researcher Dr Alice Mpofu-Coles has vowed to continue to tackle inequalities in the local community after being made Mayor of Reading.

Dr Mpofu-Coles, a Senior Research Fellow at the University, was officially inaugurated at Reading Town Hall on Wednesday 21 May 2025.

A Labour councillor for Whitley on Reading Borough Council since 2021, she has shown a passion for helping others in Reading town since she arrived in Reading in the early 2000s, particularly with issues such as inequalities, youth opportunities, healthcare and poverty.

Her chosen charities for her mayoral year are ReadiFood, a local foodbank service, and Utulivu Women’s group, which supports equal opportunities for BAME and refugee women and girls.

Personal journey

Dr Mpofu-Coles brings a remarkable personal journey to her mayoral role. She arrived in Reading in 2002 as a refugee from Zimbabwe, having served as a diplomat in Mozambique and former Yugoslavia.

She then had to rebuild her life in the UK, working hard in a sandwich factory, as a cleaner, a carer for the elderly and disabled, then qualified as social worker, before studying for a doctorate in Human Geography at the University of Reading and building a career in academia.

Having been supported by Reading Refugee Support Group herself, she became the Chair of the charity and has dedicated her time to advocate for refugees now as a trustee of City of Sanctuary.

‘Stronger together’

In her acceptance speech, Dr Mpofu-Coles said that she planned to ‘dedicate my time to serving the people diligently at all times’.

She said: “Let us serve together to make our nearly a city - Reading, a beacon in Berkshire, nationally and internationally. Let us be proud of the different languages spoken as it enriches our town and we thrive together. Let us continue to work together to strengthen our communities for we are stronger together but weaker apart.”

As a Reading councillor, Dr Mpofu-Coles has chaired the Adult Social Care, Children’s Services and Education Committee, and sits on the Parenting Panel, Health and Wellbeing Board and Safer Reading Neighbourhood Forum, among others.

Her work through the University’s Participatory Action Research enables the University to build stronger relationships and partnerships with diverse community groups and gives people a voice in policy and decision-making.

She is also working on a community-led research project with the British Science Association and works with the Race Equality Implementation Team and the University of Sanctuary.