Natalie Queiroz MBE is a survivor of one of the most horrendous attempted domestic homicides seen in UK recent history. At 8 months pregnant, Natalie was stabbed 24 times with a 12-inch kitchen carving knife in a sustained and targeted attack lasting 9 minutes. The attempted murder took place in broad daylight on a ‘normal’ Friday afternoon as Natalie walked to her local shopping centre to meet her then-partner. It later unfolded that he had set her up, and wearing a heavy disguise, he jumped on her from behind before beginning the attack. She was not aware it was him until she was told by police officers when she was brought out of her induced coma the following day. Her world turned upside down. Against all medical odds, Natalie and her baby both survived, but not without life changing injuries.
Navigating the exceptionally tough recovery journey very much in the public eye and under media scrutiny, discovering the truth about the world she had been living in with her partner (his extensive lies and manipulation), Natalie made a fundamental change in her career. After 19 years in the pharmaceutical industry, latterly in strategic managerial level roles, Natalie founded her not-for-profit company, Inspire 2 Quit Blades CIC, focussed on prevention of youth violence (including knife crime) and enabling youth empowerment. Now a qualified specialist in working with gangs and youth violence, Natalie has worked with a variety of young people in alternative educational provisions, schools, colleges and prisons. In 2022 she was honoured by Queen Elizabeth II, receiving an MBE award for Services to Young People and the Prevention of Knife Crime. Published author of her self-written memoir, ‘Still Standing’, and professional motivational speaker. Avid victims’ rights campaigner and ambassador of a domestic abuse survivors symposium. Her career has now led her to the position of Victims Advocate for West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner in the UK, championing for legislative change.