Manisha Bhikha

Manisha Bhikha is Deputy Counter Terrorism Strategic Coordinator at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, where she has worked for four years and leads policy advice across countering terrorism and violent extremism. She leads NZ government participation in several international working groups for preventing violent extremism. Manisha is an experienced practitioner in prevention and countering violent extremism of all kinds, and for eight years programme managed coordination of multi-agency case support for individuals at risk of radicalisation, community-based initiatives to build resilience to hate and extremism, and local responses to incidents of terrorism in high-risk inner London.

Manisha has worked in policy and strategy roles across community safety, social cohesion and emergency management in local and central government in the United Kingdom. She previously worked in policy and advisory roles in race relations, human rights and civil liberties at the New Zealand Human Rights Commission and issues for migrant and refugee children and young people and youth participation at the New Zealand Office of the Children’s Commissioner.

Manisha holds an MA (Hons) in Political Studies and BA (Hons) in Political Studies from the University of Auckland. She has completed a post-graduate Preventing Violent Radicalisation Professional and Executive Development short course from Kings College London, University of London. She has two children and enjoys being a soccer Mum, running, hiking and watching cricket.