A regional Senedd Member Natasha Asghar has been named as one of the 100 most ‘influential and inspiring’ women in the world.
The BBC 100 Women list, which is published each year by the BBC, includes politicians, actresses, activists, journalists, scientists and more.
In May this year, Ms Asghar, who represents the South Wales East region for the Welsh Conservatives, became the first woman of colour to be elected to the Senedd since it was formed in 1999.
What is a regional Senedd Member and how are they elected?
At Senedd Elections, voters have two ballot papers. The first is to vote for a candidate to represent a constituency. Wales is divided into 40 constituencyes, each electing one Senedd Member using a first past the post system.
The second ballot is to vote for a party to represent the region. Wales is divided into five regions, each electing four regional Senedd Members.
Each party submits a list of candidates for the regions, ranked in order.
But which Senedd Members are elected through the regional vote isn’t necessarily a case of whoever gets the most votes. A formula is used to determine who is elected.
The system is designed to give more representation to parties who wouldn’t otherwise be elected through the first past the post system.
Each party’s total number of votes is divided by one, plus the number of constituency Senedd Members it has elected in the region.
The party with the highest total after this method then has its highest ranking candidate elected as a regional Senedd Member. The process is carried out again and again until four Senedd Members are elected.
What area does South Wales East cover?
The South Wales East region includes the constituencies of Caerphilly, Islwyn, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, Newport West, Newport East, Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen and Monmouth.
Her late father, Mohammad Asghar, was the first person of colour, and the first muslim, elected to the Senedd back in 2007.
He served as a regional Senedd Member for South Wales East until his death in June 2020, aged 74.
Since her election, Ms Asghar has served as the Shadow Minister for Transport and Technology.
She said: “It is a huge honour to be named in this list alongside some extremely talented and trailblazing women, who have achieved great things in their significant positions.
How were the 100 women chosen?
The BBC’s 100 Women team drew up a shortlist based on names they had gathered, as well as names suggested by the BBC’s World Service language teams operating across the globe.
In the BBC’s article revealing the women who had made the list, it said: “We were looking for candidates who had made the headlines or influenced important stories over the past 12 months, as well as those who have inspiring stories to tell, achieved something significant or influenced their societies in ways that wouldn’t necessarily make the news.
“The pool of names was then assessed against this year’s theme – women who are hitting ‘reset’, playing their part to reinvent our world after the global pandemic has forced so many of us to reassess the way we live.
“It was also measured for regional representation and due impartiality, before the final names were chosen.”
Of the 100 names, a decision was made to include 50 women from Afghanistan – a country in crisis after the Taliban seized power.
“I have been overwhelmed with messages and support since the list was revealed and I would like to thank everyone who has reached out to me.”
Ms Asghar said she was “truly honoured” to be named on the list but added: “My work is not done. I want to inspire people from all walks of life and backgrounds to become involved in politics and I will work tirelessly to help others follow in my footsteps and enter the political arena.”
Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said: “Natasha smashed the glass ceiling six months ago, making history as the first woman of colour to be elected in the Senedd.
“She is already proving to be a fantastic MS, adding great value to the Senedd and the Welsh Conservatives and if she is not in the chamber holding the Labour Government to account, she is out and about in her region meeting constituents and trying to help them. She never stops.”
He said Ms Asghar’s inclusion on the list is “well deserved” and added: “I know her family will be extremely proud, and her late father, Oscar, will be looking down with pride.”
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