Our Speakers
Dr. Mariam Chughtai
Director, National Curriculum Council (NCC)
Dr. Mariam Chughtai
Director, National Curriculum Council (NCC)
Dr. Mariam Chughtai has a Doctorate and two Masters degrees in Education from Harvard University. Upon her return to Pakistan in 2015, she set up the School of Education at LUMS where she is a faculty member. Currently, Dr. Chughtai is serving as Director, National Curriculum Council at the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, Government of Pakistan.
Dr. Aisha K. Yousafzai
Professor of Child Development and Health
Dr. Aisha K. Yousafzai
Professor of Child Development and Health
Dr. Aisha K Yousafzai completed her doctoral degree at the Institute of Child Health, University College London with a focus on international child health, nutrition, and development. Her research has focused on understanding integrated early childhood interventions. She has 20 years of field research experience in low- and middle-income countries having lived and worked in South Asia and East Africa and led programme evaluations in Central and Eastern Europe. The goal of her research is to promote early childhood development, and to support capacity in order to develop, evaluate and improve early childhood interventions. Dr. Yousafzai also serves on a number of global advisory groups on ECD for agencies such as UNICEF, WHO and the World Bank.
Dr. Aamna Pasha
Chief Academic Officer, Zindagi Trust
Dr. Aamna Pasha
Chief Academic Officer, Zindagi Trust
Dr. Aamna Pasha is the Chief Academic Officer of Zindagi Trust where she is responsible for the academic oversight of two of the largest government schools adopted under a public private partnership. In her role Dr. Aamna helps to set strategic direction for Zindagi Trusts academic programmes and partnerships. Dr. Aamna completed her PhD from the Institute of Education, University College London (UCL), England. Her research interests include global education, global citizenship, and global skills from the context of the global south. With over 10 years of experience in the field of education, Dr. Aamna has worked extensively in the areas of skill and competency development, use of technology in education, community-based approaches to improving the quality of teaching and learning and on teacher professional development.
Devyani Pershad a
Director, Programs & Partnerships, Pratham International
Devyani Pershad a
Director, Programs & Partnerships, Pratham International
Devyani leads international programs at Pratham International with the aim of supporting learning innovations for children and youth in contexts across the globe. She leads the team that enables the adaptation and spread of Pratham's proven and scalable solutions through programming and technical assistance tailored to local country contexts.
Devyani joined Pratham in 2013 and has an MBA from IESE Business School in Barcelona.
Carla Almeida da Vila
Programme Lead, Centro Lemann
Carla Almeida da Vila
Programme Lead, Centro Lemann
Carla Vila is a Programme Lead at Centro Lemann. Previously, Carla has worked in leading non-profit and government organizations, including the Presidency of the Republic of Brazil (Secretariat of Strategic Affairs) and the Education Department of Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Carla holds a master's degree in Latin American Studies from the University of Oxford, UK, a postgraduate degree in Political Science (FESPSP, Brazil), and a BA in Public Administration (FGV EAESP, Brazil).
Amara Awais Niazi
Principal Islamabad Model School for Girls F7/2, Federal Directorate of Education
Amara Awais Niazi
Principal Islamabad Model School for Girls F7/2, Federal Directorate of Education
I'm an M.phil (public policy ) degree holder and enjoy 20+ years of teaching and administrative experience. I have represented Pakistan in official capacity at USA plymouth univ, , China - Asia’s Head Teachers Seminar and Japan- Asia Pacific Children Convention as Chaperon. Moreover, he worked as Mentor for Pakistan Urdu Reading project, Curriculum developer and reviewer, English textbook author. I have a strong ambition to equip students as well as teachers with 21st century skills with inclusion.
Abigail Barnett
Cambridge University Press & Assessment
Abigail Barnett
Cambridge University Press & Assessment
In my current role working for Cambridge International, I have recently led the development of a new Early Years programme for 3-6 year olds. I am also responsible for Cambridge’s Primary and Lower Secondary curriculum and am strategic lead on curriculum reform work with Ministry and government partners. My career started in teaching, first in the UK and then South East Asia. I have also supported secondary schools with school improvement, in particular working on whole school literacy initiatives.
Tufail Muhammad
Secondary School Teacher
Tufail Muhammad
Secondary School Teacher
This is Tufail Muhammad working in the education department kp as a secondary school science teacher. I am graduate from Peshawar university and a montessori diploma holder from China.i am social activist and working against child labour.
Dr. Meredith McCormac
Deputy Director, USAID Improving Learning Outcomes for Asia, RTI International
Dr. Meredith McCormac
Deputy Director, USAID Improving Learning Outcomes for Asia, RTI International
Dr. Meredith McCormac specializes in international education systems, policy, and research at RTI International. At RTI, Dr. McCormac serves as the Deputy Director and Senior M&E Advisor of the USAID-funded Improving Learning Outcomes for Asia program, which provides technical services to USAID missions and governments across the region. Prior to joining RTI, she has worked in the education sector for over 17 years in 20 countries, with a number of nonprofits and with the Global Partnership for Education, focusing on policy and planning. From 2013-2015, she lived in Pakistan and served as the lead for the Pakistan Reading Project's work in AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Faiz Muhammad Chhalgri
Head Teacher,School Education & Literacy Department Govt of Sindh
Faiz Muhammad Chhalgri
Head Teacher,School Education & Literacy Department Govt of Sindh
Faiz Chhalgri, Headmaster in school education literacy department sindh. I have 10 years teaching experience including 6 years as school head master.I act as a change agent & passionate educator committed to helping my colleagues, teachers and students to reach their full potential in innovative ways.
Izza Farrakh
Senior Education Specialist World Bank
Izza Farrakh
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.
Kashif Ali Mirza
CENTRAL PRESIDENT All Pakistan Private Schools' Federation
Kashif Ali Mirza
CENTRAL PRESIDENT All Pakistan Private Schools' Federation
Mirza Kashif Ali, is a world-renowned scholar and education activist who has extensively dealt with Education and represented Pakistan in all over the world for education and private schools, and President of All Pakistan Private Schools Federation – APPSF, which is the only representative and registered Federation of private schools, with 300 plus registered Associations for private schools with 207,000 private schools, 1.5 million teachers and 26 million students in all over the Pakistan including Azad Kashmir & Gilgit Baltistan GB. Educated at Forman Christian College, Government College and Punjab University, he did masters in Economics, Management, Business, Law and English. He is also an author of 2 books and published 93 research reports, and a renowned columnist who wrote many articles on current affairs in both languages English and Urdu, published in renowned national and International papers. He also served as Advisor to Governor Punjab and Chief Minister for Education and Sports. He is a widely traveled person who visited more than fifty countries around the world. He had represented Pakistan at numerous international conferences and presented papers.
Mark Herbert
Global Head – Schools, TVET and Non-Formal Education, British Council
Mark Herbert
Global Head – Schools, TVET and Non-Formal Education, British Council
Mark Herbert has worked for the British Council since 2006. Before his current global education role he worked in communications, marketing and strategy and was Director of Communications for the British Council. He has a particular interest in how school systems can be improved through international collaboration to improve quality and inclusion. He has three children secondary school in the UK. He holds a BSc Econ. in Management Studies from Cardiff University and has worked as a volunteer in Uganda, Chile and Peru.
Nasima Zainulabidin
Dr at Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED)
Nasima Zainulabidin
Dr at Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED)
Dr. Nasima is working as an assistant professor for early childhood education and development at Aga Khan University, Institute for Educational Development. Prior to this she was associated with Sukkur IBA university as an assistant professor for three years. Dr. Nasima has a doctorate degree in early childhood education and development. She has extensive experience of working with children, parents, teachers and policy makers across different regions in Pakistan. Dr. Nasima is highly passionate and committed to contribute to the area of early childhood education and development in Pakistan and beyond.
Naveed Ahmed Shaikh
Project Manager, Sindh SDGs Unit P&D Department, GoS
Naveed Ahmed Shaikh
Project Manager, Sindh SDGs Unit P&D Department, GoS
Mr. Naveed Ahmed Shaikh is a highly experienced professional with over 20 years of expertise in public policy, public-private partnerships, and large-scale project management within the development sector. He has successfully led major education programs funded by USAID in Sindh, Pakistan, collaborating closely with government entities, project partners, and stakeholders. With a focus on public policy, governance, and public-private partnerships, Mr. Shaikh has contributed to social policy reforms and development planning. He holds a Master's degree in International Education Policy and Management from Vanderbilt University and is currently the Program Manager at the UNDP Sustainable Development Goals Unit in Sindh.
Nazia Faheem
Head Mistress Sindh Education and Literacy Department
Nazia Faheem
Head Mistress Sindh Education and Literacy Department
Nazia Faheem an educationist working as a head teacher in a government school under the administration of sindh education and literacy department. Collectively having experience of 20 years of teaching and school administration. I have worked with national and international prestigious educational institutes and offered services in different authoritative roles. I am committed to provide students with a dynamic and interactive learning environment in which they can grow and develop.
Qaisar Alam
Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Islamabad H-8/4
Qaisar Alam
Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Islamabad H-8/4
A professional with a Master's Degree in International Relations and over 25 years of experience in administration, planning, and management in the education sector. Possessing a deep understanding of public sector systems in Pakistan and a keen proponent of applying a systems management approach for sustainable solutions. Demonstrating proven leadership and HR management skills. Currently serving as the Chairman of the Federal Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education (FBISE) Islamabad, I ensure the fair and transparent conduct of examinations at the secondary and higher secondary levels.
Sana M. Isa
Implementation and Gender Specialist MoFEPT
Sana M. Isa
Implementation and Gender Specialist MoFEPT
Sana M. Isa is an education and gender specialist who works at the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training. In this role, she oversees the implementation of ASPIRE, a national programme engaging all public sector education stakeholders in the provinces and federal regions. Sana has a Masters in International Development from SOAS, with a focus on the political economy of education
Suleman Shahid
Director LUMSx (Online Learning @LUMS) and Associate Professor
Suleman Shahid
Director LUMSx (Online Learning @LUMS) and Associate Professor
Suleman Shahid is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and the founding director of the LUMSx - Digital Learning Center at LUMS. He was also the founding director of LUMS Learning Institute. Suleman’s primary area of interest is designing learning and healthcare technologies for/with the margins in the global south with an emphasis on using participatory and inclusive design to drive innovation. His research focuses on the intersection of design, technology, and inclusion with applications to (1) assistive technologies (mobile apps and VR/AR systems) to enhance the quality of life of persons with disabilities (e.g. autism, dyslexia, visual impairment, dementia), and persons with mental health conditions (e.g. anxiety, depression), and (2) learning and playful technologies for children.
Tahseen Fatima
Senior Director Public Private Partnership Node, School education and literacy department
Tahseen Fatima
Senior Director Public Private Partnership Node, School education and literacy department
I did my MBA(Finance) from IBA, Karachi. I joined the Government of Sindh as a PSS officer through competitive exams and served at various administrative positions in different departments . I did certified PPP Professional (foundation) exams by UK based APMG international and a PPP certificate from Bond University Australia.
Toby Linden
Lead Economist Education Team, South Asia region, World Bank
Toby Linden
Lead Economist Education Team, South Asia region, World Bank
Toby has had a long and diverse career working in different countries across the globe with the World Bank including the countries of South Asia, South-East and Central Europe, and Southern and Eastern Africa. He also served as Director of the Roma Education Fund, an international NGO working to improve the educational outcomes of Roma (Gypsies), the poorest minority in Europe.
Rana Tanveer Hussain
Minister of Federal Education & Professional Training
Baela Raza Jamil
CEO, Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi and ASER Pakistan
Baela Raza Jamil
CEO, Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi and ASER Pakistan
Baela Raza Jamil, CEO of Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (Centre for Education and Consciousness) is a public policy specialist and an activist at heart. She is the former Technical Adviser to the Federal Ministry of Education, Pakistan. Baela has worked with provincial and federal governments advising on education sector reforms and policies embedded in right to education, sector wide approaches from early childhood development to post-secondary education, inclusion, workforce initiatives, public private partnerships, innovations and financing. Baela is the founder of the Children’s Literature Festival (CLF) in Pakistan and Managing Trustee at the Sanjan Nagar Public Education Trust (SNPET). She serves on multiple national and international education forums. She is the Commissioner to the International Commission on Financing Global Education Opportunity (Education Commission); serve as one of the 12 members of UK’s Foreign Secretary’s Platform for Girls Education. Baela is the Chair of the Global Alliance to Monitor Learning (GAML) SDG 4.2 at the UNESCO Institute of Statistics (UIS).
Amer Hasan
Global Lead for Early Childhood Development and Senior Economist
Amer Hasan
Global Lead for Early Childhood Development and Senior Economist
Amer Hasan is a Senior Economist with the Education Global Practice of the World Bank, focusing on the South Asia Region. He is the Bank’s Global Lead for Early Childhood Development. Amer holds a PhD and Masters in Public Policy from the University of Chicago as well as a BA in History from Yale University.
Khadija Khan
Chief Executive Officer, Pakistan Alliance for Early Childhood
Khadija Khan
Chief Executive Officer, Pakistan Alliance for Early Childhood
I am an educationist and Early Childhood Development(ECD) Expert with more than 20 years’ of extensive experience in education policy, strategic planning, implementation and impact assessment and a strong understanding of educational issues including early childhood development, early learning and areas of strategic importance in a developing country context, including sector reforms, professional and institutional support systems and public-private partnerships. I am the former general manager of the Aga Khan Education Service in Gilgit-Baltistan and currently serving as CEO of Pakistan Alliance for Early Childhood.
Mohyuddin Wani
Chief Secretary, GB Secretary, SED, Punjab
Umar Nadeem
Head of Advisory, Tabadlab
Umar Nadeem
Head of Advisory, Tabadlab
Umar is a Founding Partner at Tabadlab and currently heads the advisory practice. Over the last 17 years, he has led multidisciplinary portfolios across the public and private sector in Pakistan, East Asia, Europe and Africa. He has been involved in the design and delivery of large-scale programmes, policy review and analysis, innovation, digital transformations and change management. Umar holds a Master of Public Policy from the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.
Jalal Uddin
Cheif Executive Officer, Rupani Foundation
Jalal Uddin
Cheif Executive Officer, Rupani Foundation
Associated with Rupani Foundation for multiple years, proposed, designed, and implemented Early Childhood Development (ECD) project in partnership with Plan Pakistan in flood-hit areas of district Thatta Sindh. Coordinated and organized a series of meetings in various cities of Pakistan bringing all NGOs and other stakeholders with an interest in ECD together to form a Pakistan-wide network of ECD stakeholders. The network of ECD stakeholders is a national-level apex body mandated with advocacy and lobbying to influence policies. This also provides a forum to share best practices and also help create a national awareness of the importance of ECD in the development of a healthy and educated future generation of Pakistan.
Junaid Samoo
Chief Program Manager, Reform Support Unit ,SELD
Junaid Samoo
Chief Program Manager, Reform Support Unit ,SELD
Dr. Junaid Hameed Samo, presently working in Reform Support Unit (RSU), School Education and Literacy Department, Govt. of Sindh. as Chief Program Manager. He has 20 years’ experience of working in the public sector, especially Administration and development projects.
Rehana Batool
TGT, Govt primary school
Rehana Batool
TGT, Govt primary school
I am a primary school in charge teacher from Gilgit Baltistan with 22 years of teaching experience. I have done MA in elementary school teacher and M.ed
Shazia Kamal
EVP, Outcomes
Shazia Kamal
EVP, Outcomes
Shazia, in this role, is responsible for leading teams that are focused on programme design and on initiatives to deepen the impact of TCF’s education programmes. Shazia has been associated with TCF since 2011 as General Manager, Education, and was responsible for curriculum development and teacher training across the TCF network. She left in 2017 to work at Learning Disabilities Association of Halton-Hamilton, Toronto, Canada as a researcher, assessor, resource facilitator, and tutor for individuals with learning disabilities such as dyslexia. Shazia has also contributed to other organisations like Kashf Foundation, FMC, Tetra-Pak, and International Institute of Management Development (IMD) Switzerland. She holds an MBA from LUMS, CFA-level 1, and Orton-Gillingham (O-G) Associate level accreditation (certified by the International Dyslexia Association) – Canada.
Irum Mumtaz
Founder and Chairperson, IDEAS and Bazeecha Trust
Irum Mumtaz
Founder and Chairperson, IDEAS and Bazeecha Trust
Irum Mumtaz is the founder and Chairperson of IDEAS, an organization dealing with children with dyslexia. She is a Remedial Therapist and an Educationist with more than thirty years of experience. Irum is also the founder and Chairperson of Bazeecha Trust.
Mohtasim Billah
Secretary, E&SED, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Saima Anwer
Senior Education Adviser, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office
Saima Anwer
Senior Education Adviser, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office
Ms Saima Anwer has over 27 years of substantive and wide-ranging experience in the education sector. She has worked in the development sector in senior leadership and advisory positions with reputed international organizations in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Since 2014 she has been working with UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (UKAID) in Pakistan leading UK Government support to education in Pakistan and providing policy leadership and technical and operational support to education programs. Ms Anwer has worked extensively in the areas of education policy and governance, inclusive education and education in emergencies.
Riffat Jabeen
Director Quality Assurance & Academics, FDE
Riffat Jabeen
Director Quality Assurance & Academics, FDE
Riffat Jabeen currently serves as Director Academics and Quality Assurance at the Federal Directorate of Education, Islamabad. She helps plan and conduct centralized examinations for Grades V and VIII and overlooks the design and deployment of various teacher training programs. Riffat has also worked closely in developing Pakistan’s first ever national educational TV channel Tele-School as an alternate content delivery mechanism in response to COVID-19. She holds a Masters in Applied Psychology from the University of Punjab.
Sajida Nazir
Elementary School Teacher
Sajida Nazir
Elementary School Teacher
My name is Sajida Nazar. I am a teacher by profession. I am a poet and a writer as well as many of my writings have recognized at divisional and provincial level. Twenty of my articles have been published in various different magazines.
Farzana Mohidin
JVT, Govt Girls community primary school Kongarh
Ghulam Asghar Memon
Rtd. Director DCAR Sindh Jamshoro, School Education and Literacy Department
Ghulam Asghar Memon
Rtd. Director DCAR Sindh Jamshoro, School Education and Literacy Department
Worked on different positions as Additional Director Teachers Training Institution Sindh, DG PITE Sindh, Director Directorate of curriculum Assessment and Research Sindh, Presently working with Pakistan Alliance for Maths and Science.
Rehana Yasmeen
District Education Officer Battagram
Rehana Yasmeen
District Education Officer Battagram
Masters in EPM, Islamiat and Education. Work Experience: I have worked as teacher at working folks Grammer school at District Haripur and got rich experience of interaction with students. I have worked against the post of DEO in different Districts of KP province. I achieved set targets in district and got position all over province.