SPEAKERS
Nadia Jamil
Nadia Jamil is a prominent Pakistani actress, activist, and humanitarian known for her versatility and powerful performances in television dramas and theater. With a career spanning over two decades, she has won hearts with her roles in critically acclaimed dramas like "Damsa," "Meri Jaan," and "Balu Mahi." Beyond her acting career, Nadia is a passionate advocate for children's rights, women’s empowerment, and mental health awareness. She is also a cancer survivor, sharing her journey to inspire others. Through her activism, she continues to champion causes related to education and social justice in Pakistan.
Rafay Alam
Ahmad “Rafay” Alam is a Pakistani environmental lawyer and activist. In 2013, after over a decade of practicing corporate and constitutional law, he co-founded Saleem, Alam & Co., specializing in energy, water, natural resources, and urban infrastructure. As one of Pakistan’s leading environmental lawyers, Rafay advises federal and provincial governments, international organizations, and corporate clients on policy, strategy, and sustainability. He has chaired the boards of the Lahore Electric Supply Company and Lahore Waste Management Company, and helped establish the Urban Unit think tank. Rafay is also a member of various climate and environmental councils, advocating for sustainable policy and air quality improvement.
Khansa Maria
Khansa Maria is a dedicated disability rights advocate and activist. A graduate of Georgetown University in Qatar with a Bachelor’s in Foreign Service, she became the sole recipient of the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship from Pakistan in 2021. She recently completed an MPhil in Development Studies from the University of Oxford, where her honors thesis explored the disability rights movement in South Asia through literature. Khansa founded the project ‘HOPE for Tomorrow’ to bridge the gap between able-bodied and differently-abled students. She is also a recipient of the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, reflecting her passion for creating inclusive, accessible communities.
Qudsia Raheem
Qudsia Rahim is the co-founder and executive director of the Lahore Biennale Foundation (LBF), with a background in both art and academia. She has launched several initiatives, including the "Art For Humanity" field elective at the National College of Arts and the Research Cell at LBF, which explores artistic expression in Pakistan and its diaspora. She also founded the Afforestation Lahore Group, a consortium addressing urban ecological challenges. Endorsed by Pakistan's Climate Ministry, Qudsia is the Project Director of the Green School Certification Program, focusing on climate education through art. She currently leads LBF's efforts for Lahore Biennale 03, themed "Ecologies and Sustainable Futures."
Ihsan Ayub Qazi
Dr. Ihsan Ayyub Qazi is a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at LUMS, Pakistan. He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Pittsburgh in 2010 and a BSc. (Hons) in Computer Science and Mathematics from LUMS in 2005. He has served as a Visiting Research Scientist at UC Berkeley and worked at BBN Technologies and the Centre for Advanced Internet Architectures. His research focuses on networked systems, cloud computing, mobile networks, and online privacy. Dr. Qazi has received numerous awards, including the Google Faculty Research Award, Facebook Research Awards, and the Sheth International Young Alumni Achievement Award. His work has been featured in top conferences and journals, and his research has been supported by the NSF, World Bank, ARC, and other major organizations.
Max Babri
Maqbool A. Babri, popularly known as Max Babri, is the Chief Executive of “The Konsultants” a Lahore based Management Consulting Group. Mr. Babri is a practicing Psychotherapist and a certified clinical hypnotherapist. He is serving in Consulting, counseling, coaching, hypnotherapy, team-building and life skills coaching and consulting. As a sports hypnotherapist, he worked with the Pakistan Cricket Team in May 2009 and the team that won the T-20 World Cup. He was part of the Pakistan Cricket Team as a Sports Psychologist for the successful 2012 -13 tour of India. He has also worked with the Olympic Gold medalist Arshad Nadeem. He is a visiting professor at LUMS and Punjab University. His courses are offered in many universities.
Munizae Jahangir
Munizae Jahangir is a documentary filmmaker and Senior Correspondent for New Delhi Television in Pakistan. She also serves as Associate Executive Producer and Special Correspondent for Express News, reporting on critical topics like the fight against Taliban militants, Indo-Pakistan relations, and conflicts in Kashmir and Baluchistan. Co-founder of South Asian Women in Media and a member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, her documentaries include Search for Freedom and Pak: The War Within. Munizae holds a BA in Political Science and English from McGill University and an MA in Media Studies from the New School, New York.
Haroon Rasheed
Haroon Rashid is a board member of Sundar STEM School, a residential school for boys focused on mathematics and science from Class 9 to A-Levels, known for producing students who excel in international science and math olympiads. He is a senior energy business leader with over 25 years of experience, particularly in the downstream energy sector. Currently, Haroon is the CEO of Dupak Energy Pvt. Ltd., a startup in the lubricants and car care industry. He previously spent 25 years with Shell Group, where he held senior roles across Asia, Latin America, and Europe, including his last position as Country Chair Pakistan and CEO of Shell Pakistan Limited. Haroon is a graduate of INSEAD and LUMS.
