Vice Chancellor, LUMS
Dr. Ali Cheema is the Vice Chancellor of LUMS and an Associate Professor of Economics at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). He served as the Faculty Director of the Mahbub Ul Haq Research Centre at LUMS. He is a co-founder of the Center for Economic Research in Pakistan (CERP). In addition, he is a Senior Research Fellow of the Institute of Development and Economic Alternatives (IDEAS) and a co-lead academic of the International Growth Center’s Pakistan programme. He has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Institute of Development Studies, Sussex and was the Chair of the Economics Department at LUMS from 2004-2010. He was also a founding member of the Stockholm Challenge Award winning portal, Relief Information System for Earthquakes, Pakistan (RISEPAK). He holds a PhD in Economics from Cambridge, an MPhil in Economics and Politics from Cambridge, a BA (Hons.) in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) from Oxford where has was a Rhodes Scholar, and a BA in Mathematics and Statistics from Government College, Lahore. He was a visiting Fulbright and SAI Scholar at Harvard Kennedy School in 2010-11.
CEO, Punjab Rural Support Programme
Mr. Abid Saeed serves as the CEO, Punjab Rural Support Programme.
CEO, Durbeen
Salma has been working in the public education sector of Sindh since 2008, first at the school level and then the government level, while consulting with the World Bank. She holds a Masters in Education Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and qualified as a primary school teacher from the National Institute of Education in Singapore in 2016.
Head of Advisory, Tabadlab
Umar Nadeem works at the intersection of evidence, technology and policy with experience in policy analysis, design and management of large-scale programmes and digital transformation. He has led multi-disciplinary portfolios advising governments and corporations with a track record of frontier thinking, boosting innovation, managing high-performance teams, and conceiving and delivering change management. Umar holds a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.
Acting Dean School of Social Sciences and Humanities, UMT
Dr. Waqar has a doctorate in Instructional Technology from Columbia University. She has Extensive experience in integrating technology at different grade levels and designing projects to enhance student learning with the available technologies for public and private schools. She previously served as an associate professor in the school of education at LUMS and currently serves as Acting Dean School of Social Sciences and Humanities at UMT.
Director General, QAED
Mr. M. Tajammal Abbas Rana is serving as the Director General at Quaid-e-Azam Academy for Educational Development Punjab since December 2023. Quaid-e-Azam Academy for Educational Development (QAED) Punjab is a premium training institute for the professional development of education managers and teachers across the province. It is an attached entity of School Education Department (SED), Government of the Punjab. Dispensation of quality education in the public schools is the avowed aim of QAED. It comprises a team of dedicated, committed and enthusiastic individuals who work tirelessly to groom the educational personnel for the achievement of desired standards of education.
Head of Technology for Education, TCF
Arwa is a product designer with experience in developing end-to-end solutions for the digital services industry. She has been involved in a range of product design teams from embedded systems to payment system architectures, working on vending machines, digital payment solutions, queue management systems and data acquisition products. She completed both her Masters and Bachelors from UCL.
Associate Professor, LUMS
Ali Usman Qasmi, Associate Professor (History) at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, joined LUMS in January 2012. He received his PhD from the South Asia Institute of Heidelberg University in March 2009. Before joining LUMS, he was a Newton Fellow for post doctoral research at Royal Holloway College, University of London. He has published extensively in reputed academic journals such as Modern Asian Studies and Journal of Islamic Studies. He is the author of Questioning the Authority of the Past: The Ahl al-Qur’an Movements in the Punjab (Karachi: Oxford University Press, 2011). His second monograph, The Ahmadis and the Politics of Religious Exclusion in Pakistan (London: Anthem Press, 2014), was the recipient of Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) Peace Prize in 2015. Dr. Qasmi has co-edited several edited volumes as well, which include Revisioning Iqbal as a Poet and Muslim Political Thinker (Heidelberg: Draupadi, 2010), The Shi‘a in Modern South Asia: Religion, History and Politics (New Delhi: Cambridge University Press, 2015) and Muslims against the Muslim League: Critiques of the Ideas of Pakistan (New Delhi: Cambridge University Press, 2017).
Founder, IEI Pakistan
Marvi is a Software Engineer turned Educationist. She is currently running a social impact organization focusing on empowering communities & building an appreciation for diversity via Education & Creative Art platforms. She is the founder of Innovate. Educate. Inspire (IEI) Pakistan, with a vision to promote peace & inclusion by providing volunteer opportunities in the fields of Innovative Education & Art. Marvi holds a bachelors degree in computer science from NUST.
Chief Digital Learning Officer, Taleemabad
Sabeena Abbasi is an accomplished professional dedicated to creating joyful learning experiences for children. She holds an MSc in Development Economics and Policy from The University of Manchester (2014-2015) and a Bachelor of Business Administration (Honors) in Marketing and International Business from the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) (2008-2012). Currently, she contributes her expertise as a full-time team member at Taleemabad. Abbasi also served as a Visiting Faculty member at Bahria University Islamabad from February 2017 to January 2020. Her commitment to the fields of education and child development drives her mission to foster a joyful world for kids.
Vice President, Teach the World Foundation
Adnan Ahmed Qureshi is a Pakistani educational technology changemaker with a Master’s degree in Mind, Brain and Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a Bachelors from LUMS. He is a founding member/Vice-President at Teach the World Foundation, a non-profit with a mission to deploy effective and scalable models of literacy in the developing world, using digital technologies, currently impacting 14,000 out-of-school children in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Malawi. Previously, he has served in leadership roles at organizations such as SABAQ, Teach for Pakistan and The Citizens Archive of Pakistan. Adnan’s work at TTWF was recognized by the World Bank as one of the seven winners of the global Ideas4Action 2020 challenge, more recently as winner of the MIT Solve/Jacobs Foundation LEAPS 2023 challenge, and as a finalist for the MIT Solve 2021 Global Learning challenge. During COVID- 19, it was also recognized as one of the most innovative response programs in a joint 2021 UNESCO/Harvard publication. Furthermore, he is a recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship in 2014-15. He also teaches the Cambridge International Project Qualification research course to A-Level students at the Karachi Grammar School.
Partnerships & Business Development Lead, LUMSx
Maria is the Partnerships & Business Development Lead at LUMSx, with 6 years of experience in the education sector. She worked with TCF on their Alumni Development Program and earned a gold medal for her MPhil in Education Leadership & Management from LUMS in 2023. At LUMSx, Maria has designed professional development programs for K-12 teachers in Pakistan, including TESL and STEM for Educators.
Training Lead, LUMS Learning Institute
Rehana is an MPhil graduate in Education Leadership and Management from LUMS, driven by a passion to enhance learning experiences across diverse educational settings in Pakistan. With over 7 years of experience, she has honed her expertise in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) within the educational sector, primarily focusing on its transformative potential in assessment, pedagogy, social media, and ethical use. Currently serving as the leader of the Technology Enhanced Learning vertical at LUMS Learning Institute, Rehana is focused on developing faculty capacity to effectively teach large and hybrid classrooms. She plays a pivotal role in integrating AI into university classrooms, aiming to advance education by empowering students and educators alike.
Associate Professor, LUMS
Dr. Shahid is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at LUMS and the founding director of LUMSx. He leads the CHISEL Lab and the Facebook Innovation Lab at LUMS. Suleman is involved with the National Center on Big Data and Cloud Computing and the Open Data Pakistan initiative. He consults on design-driven innovation and digital transformation. Suleman founded UX Pakistan, the Lahore Design Festival, UX Camps, and co-hosts the Design Baithak podcast. His research focuses on inclusive design for learning and healthcare technologies, particularly for marginalized groups in the global south.
Co Founder, Edkasa
Annum Sadiq is the Co-founder and CEO at the Edtech startup Edkasa. She is a 2016 Fulbright Scholar, 2017 Education Pioneers Graduate and 2019 Rockefeller Foundation Fellow. More than her own credentials, Annum is focused on building Pakistan’s education system. An optimistic educator, who has experienced life in multiple countries, Annum remains hopeful over Pakistan’s future, and confident that education can bridge the gap between the world that we have and the world that we want. Annum currently leads education delivery at Edkasa that has taught over half a million students in Pakistan and is the most watched online learning platform in the country. Annum has over a decade of experience in and around education policy – in Pakistan and the US – and is now broadening her horizon to Pakistan’s rural areas. This, she says, is where the real change begins. She sees herself as a resolute educator and knows her role as an educator and as a mother will evolve over the years to be a mentor – to the thousands of learners she is currently teaching through Edkasa.
CEO, ITA
Baela Raza Jamil, CEO of Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA) centre for education and consciousness and the founder of the Children’s and Teachers’ Literature Festivals in Pakistan as a social movement called the Pakistan Learning Festival. She is an avid promoter of publications for children- a growing portfolio under ITA. A public policy advocate, for right to education 25A, ECCE, girls’ education and empowerment and public private partnerships, Baela leads the Learning initiative of ASER Pakistan, and foundational learning program Chalo Parho Barho(CPB)/ Teaching at the Right Level (TARL). She represents Pakistan as an advisor and board member for Education & Learning innovations at national and global levels.
Dean, School of Education, LUMS
Dr. Tayyaba Tamim is currently Dean School of Education, Lahore University of Management Sciences. Dr. Tamim has her PhD from the University of Cambridge as a fully funded RECOUP scholar and MPhil RSLE (Research in Second Language Education Across Cultures) from Cambridge, UK as a British Council Chevenning scholar. In addition, she also has an MA ELT from Kinnaird College for Women University and MA English from the University of Punjab, Pakistan. Dr Tamim has led several funded research projects with national and international partners, including those with USAID, British council and the World Bank. She has also published and presented research papers at a number of national and international forums. Her work covers issues of social justice, equity and inclusivity in education with specific reference to languages in education, language policy, gender and caste. At LUMS she teaches Education for Social Justice; Inclusive Education and Interdisciplinary Theoretical Perspectives to Education at graduate and undergraduate level. She is also a resource person for HEC and PHEC, offering in-service and pre-service training to university/ college faculty.
Director, Blended and Digital Learning, AKU
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.
Curriculum Coordinator, LGS International
Ali Jaffery serves as the Curriculum Coordinator at LGS International. He previously held administrative and coordinating positions at Beaconhouse and IAC. Ali completed his undergraduate degree in geography from the University of Arizona.
CEO, Amal Academy
Ali Siddiq is a results-oriented professional with over fifteen years of international private sector experience, including strategic planning, business development, and customer engagement across industries such as transportation, e-commerce, technology, education, and development. As CEO of Amal Academy, he leverages his expertise in team leadership, project management, and financial forecasting to drive impactful social change. Ali holds an MBA in Business Leadership, Marketing, Social Entrepreneurship, and CSR from the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a GPA of 3.99. He is well-networked in corporate, impact-investment, and social entrepreneurship circles.
Founder, Knowledge Platform
Mahmood completed his graduate studies from John Hopkins University and Columbia University. Mahboob is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Knowledge Platform. Established in 2000, Knowledge Platform is a leading Singapore-based learning solutions company. Knowledge Platform designs and implements innovative learning solutions for the educational and adult learning sectors in Singapore, China, Pakistan, Philippines and other Asian countries.
Program Manager - Education, CERP
Hamna Tariq manages the Education Research portfolio at CERP. She holds an MPhil in Education Leadership and Management from the Lahore University of Management Sciences. She has extensive experience in policy engagement, stakeholder management, intervention design and implementation. In her current role, she is leading the Pakistan country research team for FCDO-funded What Works Hub for Global Education (WWHGE) program with the aim to turn evidence on learning into a reality in low- and middle-income countries.
Program Manager, LUMSx
Zain has worked in the teaching and learning field for nine years. He is primarily interested in understanding what moves the needle of student outcomes and has a specific focus on improving his understanding and contributing to the work of improving quality of teachers and school heads, especially in context of the role that technology can play. He has previously worked with Teach For Pakistan, and consulted for the Pakistan Alliance for Math and Science and Mott Macdonald. He is currently working as Program Manager at LUMSx.
Instructional Designer, LUMSx
As an instructional designer at LUMSx, Faryal crafts engaging and informative e-learning experiences tailored to adult learners and has worked on courses like ‘Course Design and Development’ and ‘Business Communication: Transformative Strategies for Professional Growth’. Holding a degree in International Education Development from Columbia University, earned as a Fulbright scholar, she possesses a nuanced understanding of the complex challenges in Pakistan's educational landscape. Previously, Faryal led a team of curriculum writers and illustrators as Curriculum Development Lead for English at The Citizens Foundation, successfully developing the 4th grade curriculum implemented across TCF schools in Pakistan. A strong advocate for teacher professional development, she recognizes its pivotal role in student success and has delivered training sessions to enhance teachers' pedagogical expertise, utilizing the 5E model to promote interactive, student-centered learning. Her passion lies in leveraging technology to develop scalable solutions that bridge the education gap for Pakistani learners, including marginalized socio-economic communities. Through her work, she strives to make quality education accessible to all.
Dean, Aga Khan University
Former Director, National Curriculum Council, GOP
Dr. Mariam Chughtai is founding Associate Dean and Assistant Professor at the LUMS School of Education, Pakistan. She is also the Director of Pakistan Programs for the Harvard University Lakshmi Mittal South Asia Institute. Previously, Dr. Chughtai taught several courses at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, along with Negotiations at Harvard Law School and Leadership at Harvard Kennedy School. She has a Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) from Harvard University specializing in Education Policy, Leadership and Instructional Practice. She has two Masters degrees from Harvard University, in International Education Policy and Education Policy and Management, and a Bachelors in Political Science from Rice University. Dr. Chughtai is based in Pakistan and working on her forthcoming book on the politics of making and breaking identity through education in Pakistan.
Founder and CEO, Beaj Education
Zainab Qureshi, Founder & CEO of Beaj Education, is an educationist with a 17-year track record in curriculum development, implementing large-scale programs, designing EdTech products for low-income users, leading rigorous RCTs, and using data and research to inform product and program design. She deeply understands the needs, constraints and aspirations of actors in Pakistan’s under-resourced Education system. Previously, she was Director of the LEAPS program at Harvard University, which is one of the largest education research programs on a low-income country in the world.
Co-Founder and CEO, SABAQ
Technology leader with extensive experience in leading product development, R&D, and systems O&M functions over 20+ years across diverse industries in multiple regions. He has founded several companies over the years, with both success and failure. Hassan is passionate about solving problems, finding new growth opportunities, learning new tech and Physics. He completed his BSc. Electrical Engineering from United States Air Force Academy and his MBA from IBA.
CEO, PAMS
Salman Naveed Khan is serving as the CEO of Pak Alliance for Maths and Science since 2018. He completed his Master of Science in Public Policy from SOAS.
AD, Professional Development & Research, Beaconhouse
Assistant Professor, LUMS
As the Director of the Office of Accessibility and Inclusion (OAI) and an Assistant Professor at LUMS Syed Ahsan Ali and Syed Maratib Ali School of Education (SOE), Dr. Farah Nadeem leads a team of dedicated professionals who support inclusive and accessible spaces for all members of the campus community. She also teaches and conducts research on analytics applied to educational contexts, focusing on improving assessment and learning outcomes for diverse learners. Dr. Nadeem has over ten years of experience in data analysis, data science, statistical data analysis, and interdisciplinary research collaboration with the College of Education at the University of Washington, where she earned her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. She is also a Fulbright Scholar, a Washington STEM Engineering Fellow, and a Husky 100 awardee, recognized for her academic excellence and commitment to positively impacting her communities.
Pakistan Co-Lead EdTech Hub
Jazib is the CEO of Tintash (Pvt) Ltd, a software services studio in Pakistan, working with clients like Sesame Workshop, BBC, and Carnegie Mellon University. He has extensive experience consulting for edtech startups in Silicon Valley, focusing on workforce upskilling. Jazib teaches entrepreneurship and education in Pakistani universities and has worked on global projects in education, solar power, and telecommunications. He frequently speaks at international conferences like the AI in Education Conference and the MIT Scratch conference. Jazib holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Stanford, an MBA from LUMS, and an Ed.M. in Technology, Innovation, and Education from Harvard.
Rector, Virtual University
Prof. Arshad Saleem Bhatti obtained his first degree in Physics from the University of the Punjab, Lahore. He then completed one year training in Computer Hardware and Software from the Computer Training Center, University Grants Commission by winning President Scholarship. He joined University of the Punjab as Lecturer in 1989 and proceeded to United Kingdom for higher education. He obtained his M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Cambridge, UK in Microelectronics and Optoelectronics. He did Post Doctoral work at the University of Roma in Italy, University of Nottingham, UK and University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, USA. He has supervised 14 PhD students, more than 50 MS students. He has published more than 130 research articles in ISI indexed journals and International Conferences. His cumulative impact factor is more than 275 and has more than 1200 citations. His research achievements include four US Patents granted. He has delivered many lectures in local and International conferences and at several institutions. He also has e-Education Experience and has developed online Video Lectures and web based courses for MIT BLOSSOMS project, ISESCO, and virtual laboratory. He has been Regular Associate and Senior Associate of International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Triestbe Italy from 1997 to 2015. His last assignment was as the Dean of Faculty of Science in COMSATS University, Islamabad, where he developed a laboratory for Micro and Nano Devices. His research interests encompass materials science, nanostructures, optoelectronics and low temperature physics. Dr. Arshad Saleem Bhatti has been awarded Tamgha-i-Imtiaz in 2012 and Sitara-i-Imtaz in 2020.
Teaching Fellow, School of Education, LUMS
Aaishay Haque is a teaching fellow at the school of education in LUMS, where she is teaching undergraduate and MPhil students in areas of Autism, diversity in disability and inclusive education. She completed her Masters in Applied Behavorial Analysis from Penn State University in 2022 and her undergraduate degree in Management Sciences from LUMS in 2017.
Curriculum/Instructional Design and Research Partner, LUMSx
Javaria Ahmad is a graduate of Anthropology and Sociology from LUMS, with a minor in Education, graduating with distinction. Trained as a qualitative researcher, she is deeply interested in sustainable development and education, particularly within the Pakistani context. Her expertise spans classroom pedagogy, curriculum studies, instructional design, inclusivity, educational inequality, and culturally sustaining education. Additionally, she is versed in urban policy and research areas such as gender and sexuality, minorities in South Asia, multicultural, subaltern and postcolonial studies, and global disparity. As a Research Associate, Javaria contributes significantly to course development and instructional design at LUMSx and leads the cohorts for the online course, "Teaching English as a Second Language."
CEO and Co-Founder, Arbisoft
Yasser Bashir is the founder and CEO of Arbisoft (Pvt.) Ltd - a software and technology development company named among the fastest growing software services businesses in Pakistan by the AllWorld Network. Arbisoft has built partnerships with some of the leading technology businesses and institutions around the world. Before the start of his entrepreneurial journey, Yasser held key positions at Orthoclear, Align Technology and WorldWerx. Yasser received a BS from the Lahore University of Management Sciences and an MS from Stanford University.
Federal Secretary for Education and Professional Training
Mr. Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, Federal Secretary for Education and Professional Training , has taken significant strides in transforming multiple schools in Pakistan. His remarkable efforts are poised to bridge the gap between government and private education standards, marking a pivotal moment in Pakistan's educational landscape.
Associate Professor, LUMS
Dr. Faisal Bari served as the Dean of the LUMS School of Education and an Associate Professor on joint-appointment for Education and Economics. His research spans disability inclusion, gender representation in textbooks, the use of education technology for TPD, teacher politics and the political economy of teacher recruitment and retention, and the role of the private sector in education reform. Dr. Bari obtained a Doctorate in Economics from McGill University and a Master’s Degree in Philosophy from the University of Punjab. He has two Bachelors’ degrees, one from University of Oxford and another from Government College, Lahore.
Director of Learning, Noon
Abdul Ahad Ayub completed his bachelors from LUMS and Masters in Education from Harvard University. He serves as the Director of Learning at Noon and previously worked with organizations like Teach for Pakistan and Karachi Grammar School.
Founder, AtomCamp
Dr. Iftikhar holds an M.Phil. in Economics and a PhD in Urban Affairs and Public Policy from the University of Delaware's Biden School of Public Policy and Administration. His PhD dissertation focused on cities, technology and knowledge spillovers. He is the founder of atomcamp and co-founder and CEO of Polix Analytics.
Director, Teachers' Resource Center
Ambreena Ahmed is the Director of Teachers’ Resource Centre (TRC), a pioneering education institution in Pakistan working on quality reforms, especially teachers’ development, since 1986. She is a versatile professional working for the last 23 years who has designed and led diverse projects in both public and private sectors for education communities across Pakistan. She has recently curated a first of its kind climate change education initiative called CANDLE and is leading the development and launch of Pakistan’s Introductory Curriculum on Climate Change Education (grades 1 to 10) along with an interactive teachers’ toolkit for introducing student led climate change pedagogy in schools. She firmly believes that teachers have the power to transform education and is continually working to further strengthen TRC as an empowering platform for teachers’ professional development offering both locally and internationally accredited qualifications. Ambreena has a deep admiration for people who are compassionate and intelligent. She believes kindness alone can solve most of humanity’s problems. She also made it to the Ponds’ 100 Miracle Women list of 2015.
Head of Teaching and Learning, FC College
Dr. Rukhsana Zia, driven by a passion for sustainable educational policies, has made significant contributions in both Pakistan's public and private sectors. As Head of the Center for Learning and Teaching at Forman Christian College University, she has developed innovative professional development programs, with online resources reaching over 10,000 visitors from 72 countries since 2020. She has collaborated with international organizations such as the World Bank, IMF, and UNICEF, and represented Pakistan at UNESCO, advocating for global equity in education. Notably, she restructured major educational organizations under the Punjab Education Reform Program and established a comprehensive database for Punjab's public school teachers.
Associate Professor, LUMS
Dr. Alizai is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at LUMS and Director of the LUMS Learning Institute. He brings years of experience as a faculty, researcher, software engineer, and technical lead both in industrial and academic settings. He has authored a book and book-chapters, and published more than 60 scientific papers while abroad and indigenously from Pakistan, several of them in top-flight ACM/IEEE journals and conferences (CoNEXT, SenSys, IPSN, BuildSys, LCTES, EWSN, TOSN, TECS, CCR). He regularly serves on the organizing and program committees of leading CS conferences such as MobiSys, SenSys, IPSN, BuildSys, SECON, IMWUT, and PerCom. He is a certified trainer for Instruction Skills Workshop and regularly conducts pedagogical workshops for faculty at LUMS.
Co-Founder, WALI
Passionate educational activist and Co-founder of the Wang Lab of Innovation (WALI), dedicated to propelling youth development and advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Serving as the Youth Coordinator at WANG Balochistan, I spearhead community social action projects, foster capacity building, and provide transformative learning opportunities. At the age of 24, I've garnered recognition from various organizations for my steadfast commitment to driving sustainable social change in Lasbela Balochistan. WALI stands as the first-ever rural innovation lab in the region, aimed at bridging the gap between rural communities and technology.
Training and Evaluation Manager, NIETE
Taimoor Abdullah is a passionate development sector enthusiast committed to creating a humane and equal world. With a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration from the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) (2016-2020), he has dedicated himself to advancing human rights, particularly in education, gender equality, and minority rights. Currently serving as the Training and Evaluation Manager at the National Institute of Excellence in Teacher Education (NIETE) since March 2024, Abdullah is responsible for designing training and evaluation frameworks for digital teacher training programs across Islamabad's public schools. He thrives on community engagement, problem-solving, and leveraging data to bring structure and impact to his work.
Senior Education Specialist, World Bank
Izza Farrakh is a Senior Education Specialist with the World Bank. She has over twenty years of experience working with consulting firms, I-NGOs and multilateral institutions on education reform. She has led several large education programs, including the FCDO-funded Punjab and Khyber Education Sector Programmes in Pakistan. Before joining the Bank, Izza worked with the UK-based consulting firm, Adam Smith International, where she most recently served as their Head of Pakistan. Izza has an undergraduate degree in Economics and English from the University of Virginia and a graduate degree in Public Policy and Management from SOAS, University of London.
Lead Instructional Designer, LUMSx
Sameen, an educator and instructional designer, focuses on the intersection of education and technology. With a master’s in Instructional Technology and Media from Teachers College, Columbia University, she specializes in optimizing learning through advanced tools. She has worked on projects in informal learning environments like playgrounds and makerspaces. Her experience includes roles at the International Rescue Committee in New York City and as the instructional design lead at LUMSx. Passionate about AI in education, Sameen aims to transform learning in Pakistan through technology integration.
