Arif Ahmed (philosopher)

Arif Mohuiddin Ahmed is an English philosopher who is the Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom of the Office for Students, following his appointment in June 2023.^[1] Prior to this, Ahmed was a philosopher at the University of Cambridge, where he became a fellow of Gonville and Caius College in 2015,^[2] university reader in philosophy in 2016,^[3] and Nicholas Sallnow-Smith College Lecturer in 2019.^[4] His research interests include decision theory and the philosophy of religion, from an atheist and libertarian point of view.^[2] Ahmed studied mathematics at St Anne's College, University of Oxford and philosophy at Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge.^[5]

At Cambridge he has been an advocate for the protection of freedom of speech, in reaction to the university administration's cancellation of an invitation to the politically conservative academic Jordan Peterson.^[6][7][8] In 2020, Ahmed also led opposition to the University's proposed amendments to its freedom of speech policy, ultimately concluding with the rejection of the amendments.^[9][10]

Ahmed was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to education.^[11] In late 2022, the Minister for Women and Equalities, and Trade Secretary, Kemi Badenoch MP appointed Ahmed as new Commissioner to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) Board.^[12] He left the EHRC after being appointed Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom at the Office for Students (OfS) in June 2023.^[1][13]