Born in Kenya, Councillor Karima Budhwani immigrated to Canada at a young age and has called New Westminster home since 2004. A Queen’s Park resident, she and her husband have raised their two children in the city.
Karima holds a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and a master’s degree in environmental studies from York University. She brings over 20 years of experience in the legal, justice and non-profit sectors, working with organizations from community groups to large institutions. Her career has included legal practice and the management of programs across British Columbia focused on access to justice and environmental justice. Her responsibilities covered assessing community needs, program planning and delivery, budget management and evaluating outcomes.
Karima takes a practical, results-oriented approach, helping individuals and organizations set goals and achieve them. More recently, she has turned to mental fitness and leadership coaching, focusing on lawyers and legal professionals.
Karima is the first Ismaili Muslim elected to New Westminster City Council. Guided by her faith, she has volunteered with faith and community organizations and spent years in Scouting, including as Group Commissioner with the 13th Burnaby Ismaili Scouts Group. Pluralism, a core principle of the Ismaili tradition, shapes how she works. She believes decisions are better when they draw on people with different backgrounds and views. She served as President of the New West Progressives from 2023 to 2025.
On Council, Karima focuses on listening to residents, setting clear priorities, managing the City’s budget responsibly and assessing whether decisions achieve their intended results.
Her priorities include affordability, civic engagement, strong core services and a sustainable, liveable city through planning, environmental stewardship and investment in the infrastructure and amenities residents need.
Karima is committed to leaving New Westminster a little better for having served.