Azra Naseem is the Director, Blended and Digital Learning, and a Senior Instructor at the Institute for Educational Development at the Aga Khan University (AKU). She is also Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academcy UK. With over twenty years of experience in higher education settings across South and Central Asia, and East Africa, Azra is recognized as a digital learning thought leader. Azra has designed and lead programs focusing on the use of technology for education and development in South and Central Asia and East Africa. She led the AKU’s multi-country rapid transition to online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper documenting the experience has received the Emerald Literati Award for Outstanding Paper. Her extensive experiences have led to collaboration with international organisations such as “Academics Without Borders” to implement strategic, evidence-based and innovative initiatives that influence policy and practice internationally. She is leading the development and implementation of the multi-country Digital Learning Strategy at AKU. Her current areas of research include human-centered design, AI-enabled learning environments, collaborative blended and online learning, Inclusive design, students as parnters and continuing professional learning of higher education professionals particularly within challenging contexts.  She actively contributes to the field through keynote/invited talks and publications. An open-access resource she co-authored, “Essentials of Online Course Design and Facilitation: Self Learning Manual” has been accessed by over 100K users globally. During COVID-19, she co-authored Education for the most marginalised post-COVID-19: Guidance for governments in the uses of digital technologies in education,” which was launched by the EdTech Hub. Azra is a recipient of the AKU’s “Innovation Impact Award of Distinction.” She was also a part of team that have received the Award of Excellence for Disruptive Education, Zairi International Award in Higher Education 2022.