Our Team

In total, our team members have several decades of experience delivering talks, workshops and training in the field of regenerative change-making and Islamic ecology for a wide cross-section of society: from the general public to schools, from local councils to Islamic organisations and faith groups, from Transition initiatives to University students and Scouts. We consider how we do things (i.e. process) to be as important as what we do, and our activities are also designed to be fun, inspiring, engaging  and transformative. 

WiN Representatives

Muzammal Hussain

Muzammal Hussain has been involved with grassroots ecological work for almost 20 years and is one of the pioneers amongst Muslims in the UK.  Muzammal is drawn to what he describes as the ‘Restoration of Wholeness’ – creating the conditions and mutually beneficial relationships such that the earth and communities can regenerate, becoming both productive, beautiful, and whole. 

This calling drew Muzammal to permaculture, an approach that invites giving space to observe and sense a system – whether a potential growing space, a group or a community – before then implementing a design that is supported by nature, rather than one that fights against it.

The same journey also led Muzammal to natural healing - Muzammal is an emotional breakthrough therapist and coach, and the author of Radical Healing, Wholeness and Islam: An Introductory Narrative on Transforming Emotional Pain Through Journeywork as well as a medical doctor with experience in psychiatry - and to conscious group work approaches through workshops, courses and retreats. The latter has included Process Work Group Facilitation/ Deep Democracy (Arnold Mindell), including Worldwork (2008) and week long intensives (2014 and 2020). He has also trained with Group Support organisations, such as Navigate, Seeds for Change and Rhizome.

Muzammal has also completed the 10-week Sociocracy Leadership Training with Sociocracy for All, focusing on the practical application of dynamic governance, distribution of power, accountability, and consent decision making.

Muzammal brings his background in these related fields into his teaching, facilitating groups to co-learn, discover their own wisdom, and be empowered.

He completed his first Permaculture course with Naturewise, and then completed the two-week Full Permaculture Design Course (PDC) as part of ‘Earth Activist Training’. This was at Landmatters eco-community in Devon, with two inspiring teachers – Andy Goldring and  Starhawk. He has also completed the ‘Ecological Homecoming’ course, based on the 8 Shields Map of Universal Indigenous Ways of Being. This involved applying core nature-based awareness and practises over a whole year to create a deep, living relationship with the natural world.

Muzammal also has an MA in Environment, Development & Policy – his final dissertation focussing on Islam & Climate Change. Muzammal is now completing a 2 year Diploma in Applied Permaculture through the PAB (Permaculture Association of Britain). As well as teaching in this field to others, he has also applied it to his own life – growing food on an allotment, designing courses, and developing a resilient livelihood while living simply.

Muzammal has also helped in homeless hostels and is on the Board of Peace News.

Some examples of Muzammal’s work include:

• Interviewed by: BBC News 24; The Guardian; Islam Channel; Sunrise Radio; BBC Southern Counties Radio; BBC Asian Network; Radio Ramadan; East London Advertiser; Emel Magazine.

• Advising Navigate facilitators delivering 6-month course (2021) for National Transition Network on Engaging with Power and Difference in Collaborative Community Organising

• Co-designer and tutor of probably the first Islam & Permaculture Course anywhere in the world.

• Advising groups, such as Friends of the Earth and Sustrans on their initiatives, as well as London Sustainability Exchange (LSx) on a project to raise awareness on climate change amongst South Asians in London.

• Contributor to a learning module for a one-year online course for Spiritual Companions and Counsellors on 'Maintaining Wholeness' for One Spirit Learning Alliance

• Delivering Islam and ecology workshops and talks in mosques, universities, Islamic conferences, Transition Town initiatives and national demonstrations.

• Establishing the UK’s first local Islamic ecology group, LINE (London Islamic Network for the Environment), in 2004, and helping coordinate many of its diverse projects and actions. LINE later evolved into Wisdom In Nature.

• Initiating Fast for the Planet, an inclusive concept involving collective fasting for personal, community and economic transformation.

• Muzammal was also invited to work with the Islamic Foundation for Ecology & Environmental Sciences, where he developed much of their grassroot activity. He has also worked in the lively Brighton World Development Movement (WDM) - now called Global Justice Now.

• Muzammal co-facilitated Extinction Rebellion Brighton's first ever People's Assembly in 2019

Listen to Muzammal’s interview on Radio Tahrir in the USA, about the origin of Wisdom In Nature, and more..

Shumaisa Khan

Shumaisa completed the Building Sustainable Communities Permaculture Design Course at Brighton Permaculture Trust, with teachers Bryn Thomas and Hedvig Murray.  She is also a member of the Permaculture Association’s Research Advisory Board,  has studied food sovereignty and community food initiatives in London for her PhD, and taught undergraduate students about environment and inequality at the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment and on sustainable food systems at the University of Brighton.

Shumaisa grew up in the New Jersey and during her childhood went on trips to national parks and local farms, and every few years went to Pakistan.   These experiences instilled in her an appreciation of the wider world and planted the seeds for her interests in ecology, social justice and human rights.

During young adulthood, she started listening to Democracy Now , on WBAI, a listener-sponsored radio station in New York; listening to this regularly during her formative years also influenced her perspectives on democracy.   Later, she volunteered at WBAI, helping to produce reports for Free Speech Radio News.   In the US, Shumaisa had also been very involved in challenging the media on coverage of news related to the Middle East, and in challenging government efforts to erode civil liberties post-9/11.

Having long been a volunteer, member, and supporter of food coops both in the US and then in the UK, she did her dissertation on food sovereignty praxis among community food initiatives in London.

In keeping with her passion for healing the earth and its communities, Shumaisa facilitates workshops on permaculture, herbalism, and Ayurveda, an ancient Indian wellness system based on alignment with nature.

WiN Core Helpers

Valentina Maccario

Valentina grew up in an Italian household; abundant with debates, differing opinions and Mediterranean-style honesty. A love of being challenged and immersed in a diverse range of thoughts, experiences, stories and voices led her to pursue studies in law, with the idea she would be able to constantly learn and challenge for the next few years. Whilst the realities of studies did not quite offer this, learnings came in different and unexpected ways, often through the love, mercy, patience, wisdom and tolerance of those around her and later, through the blessing of Islam. Since graduating, she has worked and volunteered in the NGO, refugee, and health sector, both abroad and in the UK. Since hearing of WiN, she has been blessed to learn from the wisdom and experiences of the incredible team, and delve into the beauty and power of facilitation and conscious group work; bringing together her love of spaces to challenge, learn and reflect.