
Sarah Ali
By her sisters, Maryam and Hannah

An Englishwoman in New York
So, how does a feisty little girl born to first generation immigrant parents in South London end up in the bustling and heady metropolis known as New York?
She was born Sarah Bibi, the middle of three sisters, and became the ever peacemaker.
She was friendly, popular and everyone wanted to be her friend.

At the age of 17, she joined the Virgin Megastore in Oxford Street as a Saturday girl – manning the information desk – and her love of music was born. One of her favourite childhood songs was ‘As tears go by’ and she loved Sting and The Police. She would tell her little sister to come up after school because “Spandau Ballet were coming in today. You want to see Tony Hadley, don’t you?!”
Having completed her degree in Business & Marketing, her talents and work ethic saw her progress up the corporate ladder. The world became her oyster, and she was soon riding the waves of her success. One of the highlights of her career was getting Reuters, when she headed marketing for their Australian equities business, an exclusive stand on the only corporate ship docked in Sydney harbour during the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
She loved travelling, and one of her most memorable trips was when that same ‘little’ sister arranged a trip on Concorde for her. “Okay, that was amazing, we are quits now,” she said upon return. “But I still want my Madonna picture disc from way back.”
From London to Tokyo. From Sydney to New York. The ultimate jet setter!

Sarah touched so many lives with her magic: it was once met, never forgotten. Testimony shows this by the hundreds of tributes sent to my parents from people she met, however briefly. She was one of those rare people that manages to connect with everyone they come into contact with. She was always kind, generous and so non-judgemental. Doubt she even knew the words ‘I told you so!’.
There are too many ‘Sarah’ stories to tell, like when mum was calling her once in Japan and asked her, “What is that noise in the background?”. Sarah replied: “Oh, that’s just an earthquake, nothing to worry about.” She was always making her family and friends laugh, from the funny voices she would put on, to the hilarious retelling of her adventures. Like the time she dressed up as one of the Spice Girls in a black PVC outfit, but couldn’t then sit in the taxi because it was so tight – so she had to lie down!
She met the man of her dreams in London, summer of 2000; their whirlwind romance across time zones brought her back from Sydney to marry him in London, before moving with him to New York. Once she reached New York, it was like she had found her true home, without realising it. She absolutely loved being there and we knew she would have no trouble settling in. After moving there in late April 2001, by the summer, she was itching to get a job. Enter Neil Cudmore, of Risk Waters, who was so impressed by her he offered her a job immediately. She’d only been with the company two weeks prior to that fateful day.

She is the shining star in our lives that has dimmed
She is the backbone of our family that has bent
She is the laughter that has quietened
She is the beating of our hearts that has slowed
Most of all, she is all the best of memories in our existence that will forever grow stronger.
If you would like to view all the articles in our 9/11 commemoration, click here
Only users who have a paid subscription or are part of a corporate subscription are able to print or copy content.
To access these options, along with all other subscription benefits, please contact info@risk.net or view our subscription options here: http://subscriptions.risk.net/subscribe
You are currently unable to print this content. Please contact info@risk.net to find out more.
You are currently unable to copy this content. Please contact info@risk.net to find out more.
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
You may share this content using our article tools. Printing this content is for the sole use of the Authorised User (named subscriber), as outlined in our terms and conditions - https://www.infopro-insight.com/terms-conditions/insight-subscriptions/
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@risk.net
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
You may share this content using our article tools. Copying this content is for the sole use of the Authorised User (named subscriber), as outlined in our terms and conditions - https://www.infopro-insight.com/terms-conditions/insight-subscriptions/
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@risk.net
More on Comment
Op risk data: TD Bank takes $95m pill for pyramid scheme
Also: GE settles after juicing asset manager sale; keeping conflicts of interest quiet. Data by ORX News
How long can the Magnificent Seven keep winning?
History suggests the dazzle of today’s star tech stocks will likely fade
Off target: SEC dealer rule will hurt those it aims to protect
Regulator’s plan could harm US Treasury markets and make it costlier for Americans to borrow, says Don Wilson
Why ‘access all areas’ will be key for OTC derivatives
Without guaranteed pathways to CCPs, mandatory clearing could threaten financial stability, say Patrick Pearson and Bas Zebregs
Op risk data: Cigna catches a $172m cold over fake diagnoses
Also: Shinhan Bank America breaks AML rules; more greenwashing grime at DWS. Data by ORX news
Blaming open-end funds for liquidity shocks is closed thinking
Controversial proposals to overhaul how funds manage liquidity risk are based on a fallacy, writes Eric Pan
The Fed’s stress test models are inaccurate. Something has to change
First step for US regulator to improve its bank loss forecasts would be to open up its models to public scrutiny, argue two banking industry advocates
How operational risk managers won a battle and lost a war
Applying op risk capital to US regional banks is positive, but the SMA may not be fit for purpose