Theme: Empathy

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Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad, Islamabad, 44000
Pakistan

Aaminah Tirmizi

Aaminah has an undergraduate degree in Applied Psychology from BNU. After graduating in 2017 she has been working with her startup Saving 9 where she creates mental health and first aid literate communities, empowering ordinary citizens to take their safety into their own hands. She is an activist for inclusive educational practices and has worked as a part-time teacher, where she taught student centered programs for 2 years. She has experience working with schools to develop more empathetic classrooms and learning environments and advocates for policy level changes in education and mental health.

Abia Akram

With a personal experience of physical disability, Abia has been engaged in the activities of Disability Movement since 1997. In the struggle of giving voice to women with disabilities, been lobbying with parliamentarians, UN high level representatives focusing on developing advocacy strategies to raise awareness, network, and build capacity and at the UN level in relation to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Inclusive Development. Also Abia has coordinated efforts of including persons with disabilities in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its sustainable development goals (SDGs). In particular, Abia has established National Forum of Women with Disabilities, Independent living Centre with Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP), Ageing and Disability Task Force, Commonwealth Young Disabled People’ Forum and recently assigned the responsibility as Global Chair, Global Youth Council UNICEF-NY, Co-Coordinator, Asia Pacific Women with Disabilities United and Coordinator, South Asia Disability and Development Initiative (SADDI) Project. At the same time acquired British Council’s Chevening Scholarship and done her post-graduation in Gender and International Development from the University of Warwick, UK, to envision the leadership role of women with disabilities and learn the practical strategies to implement the legislation, particularly UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in diversified environment.

Aymen Abdullah

Being in love with music her whole life, Aymen Abdullah’s love for the piano began when she got her first piano-shaped single octave geometry box. She connects with the piano as her space for expression, emotional and spiritual regulation, where she can retire and introspect. Aymen performed in an all-girl musical band called The Pushovers. She loves sharing her passion for the piano by teaching others, helping them to develop the skills on how to put emotions and interpretation into the music. She covers instrumentals, themes and aspires to play the Hungarian Rhapsody (you might remember it from Tom and Jerry!). Her all-time favourite composers are Hans Zimmer, Zack Hemsway, Max Richter, Yanni, Ludivico Eunadi, and Ramin Djawadi. With the pandemic, she shifted all her students to online classes.

Aysha Shujaat

Aysha Shujaat a development professional focusing on democratic strengthening and inclusion in developing democracies. She led democratic assistance missions for some of the most significant post-conflict elections of recent times, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and South Sudan. She has also supported electoral assistance and reforms in Pakistan and advocates for making democratic processes more accessible and inclusive. In addition to her work on democratic strengthening, Aysha is passionate about empowering women and girls. She is working to enhance women’s political and electoral participation in Pakistan and heads Project Girls for Girls, a non-profit helping women and girls develop the courage, vision, and skills to take on public leadership.

Daanika Kamal

Daanika Kamal specializes in human rights law, focusing on access to justice and rights protections of the most marginalized segments of society. She is an internationally published author and editor in the fields of gender empowerment, mental health and climate change. In 2018, Daanika founded the Colour Blue (TCB) to promote and encourage the empowerment of those facing mental health challenges, as part of her efforts to affirm mental health as a fundamental human right in Pakistan. Daanika is frequently invited to speak at national and international conferences and panels, and in 2019, she was the youngest recipient of the Women Leaders for the World fellowship.

Maria Memon

Maria Memon is a prime time Pakistani journalist and opinion maker. She has worked with renowned names such as Geo News. Currently, she is working as an anchor for ARY News.

Shahnaz Minallah

Shaahnaz Minallah is the co-chairperson of "Art of Living" Pakistan since 2004 and CEO of ”A Soul Sanctuary” Pakistan. She has taught over 300 courses nationwide in Peshawar, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Hyderabad and assisted as a co-teacher internationally. She was the General Manager of Elixir Technologies from 1995 to 2001 and ran a successful interior designing business and furniture factory from 1985 to 1995. Her work was recognized and sourced by the Prime Minister House, and National Library Islamabad in the early 90s. She once dreamed of pursuing a career as an interior designer but she eventually became an Art of Living teacher and loves seeing people recognize the beauty within - "now designing the interior of Humans".