Zeinaba Kane is the President of Women of the Rassemblement Islamique du Sénégal (RIS) / Alwahda, the largest Islamic organization in Senegal, which is composed of over forty Islamic associations. Ms. Kane is also responsible for the communications of the NGO REFAC, which works for the improvement of living conditions for rural women in Senegal. From 2002 to 2008 she was the President of Women for the Association of Muslim students in Senegal.
Ms. Kane has written many articles, including articles on the identity of Muslim women in Senegal and feminism in Islam. She is often invited on radio and television shows to discuss the place of Muslim women in Senegalese society. Ms. Kane received her PhD in Law at the University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar.
Nimah Ismail Nawwab is an internationally renowned poet, writer, photographer and activist. She was born in Malaysia to a Meccan family with a long history of scholars. Dubbed a “voice for Arab women and youth,” Ms. Nawwab is engaged with critical and emerging issues related to women and youth empowerment. She seeks to build bridges of understanding on a diverse range of social, professional, educational and economic issues in countries across the East and West.
“The Unfurling,” her first volume of poetry, was published in 2004 by Selwa Press to international acclaim. As an activist Ms. Nawwab has been involved with numerous women’s issues including the forced divorce petition and case, the Qatif gang rape, and the guardianship of women and their professional lives.
Ms. Nawwab is currently working on an initiative for a multifaceted, wholesome approach to youth empowerment, networking and development. She has conducted youth forums in several countries and was nominated as a young global leader at the Young Global Leaders Forum, an affiliate of the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Ms. Nawwab is frequently called upon to speak at international events including the World Economic Forum, Japan Expo, UN Pavilion, Smithsonian, American University, Rice University, Ghalib Academy in India, the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at London University amongst other institutes. Her work has been featured in international media outlets such as Newsweek International, Al Arabiyah, Hindustan Times, the Malay Berita Harian, BBC World and more.
To learn more, visit Ms. Nawwab’s web site at www.nimahnawwab.com
Santanina “Nina” Tillah Rasul chairs the Magbassa Kita Foundation, Inc. (MKFI), dedicated to the promotion of literacy, economic empowerment, and peace advocacy. In recognition of her literacy work in the Philippines, Ms. Rasul was appointed “Honorary Ambassador of UNESCO” during the ILY in 1990. She also chairs the Bantay Dagat Inc. (BDI), a multi-awarded non-government organization dedicated to the protection of the marine ecosystem. In addition, she is President of the Muslim Professional and Business Women Association of the Philippines (MPBWAP), lead Convener of the Muslim Women Peace Advocates, and was elected Advisor to the National Ulama Conference of the Philippines (NUCP) and the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy.
Ms. Rasul was elected Senator of the Republic of the Philippines in 1987 and re-elected in 1992, the first Muslim Senator reelected for a second term in the Philippines. Recipient of several national and international honors and awards, she was appointed Honorary Ambassador of UNESCO during the International Literacy year of 1990. Ms. Rasul was also appointed by President Fidel Ramos as a member of the Philippine Government Panel, which forged the Peace Agreement with the MNLF. For this work, she received the Golden Heart Presidential Award, “in recognition of her meritorious and valuable service rendered as member of the Republic of the Philippines-Southern Philippine Autonomous Group (GRP-SPAG) negotiating panel for her diligent efforts in reconciling contentious positions of both the government and the MNLF…” (Malacanang Palace, June 29, 1998). Ms. Rasul was elected Fellow of the World Academy of Arts and Science in 1997.
Wafa Amr is a journalist who has worked as a Senior Correspondent for Reuters news agency for the past fifteen years. Ms. Amr has specialized in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and has covered all PLO-Israeli negotiations and signing ceremonies of agreements reached between the two sides. She has covered the end of the first Intifada and the second Intifada. In addition, Ms. Amr has also covered the region extensively including both Iraq wars in 1991 and 2003.
Ms. Amr was a consultant for the award winning documentaries 50 Years of Conflict, and Elusive Peace. She has contributed to several books by renowned authors and is now working on her own book.
Tahira Zubair is the Secretary of Save the Children in Lahore, Pakistan. The organization has been working with Afghan refugees in Pakistan since 1985 and then directly with Pakistani children and women since 1999.
Save the Children has a strong portfolio of health, education and microfinance programs. They continue to address the needs of Afghan children and families remaining in Pakistan, due to the ongoing insecurity and lack of a viable economy back in Afghanistan.
For the past five years, Ms. Zubair has worked for government and non-profit agencies advocating for many social issues, from educational assistance to homeless children, to improving protection for children and families during emergency situations.
Ms. Faiza Shahrukh is the Head of The Sanjan Nagar Public Education Trust (SNPET). SNPET School is a charitable trust school that works towards imparting quality and contemporary education to girls from impoverished backgrounds. Ms. Shahrukh has nearly 15 years of teaching experience in the Beaconhouse School System, one of the most prestigious institutions in Pakistan. She was a full time class teacher as well as a coordinator for English in the High School. She was also a Career Guidance officer for O’ level and A’ level students at the school.
She has been actively engaged in The Continuous Professional Development programs that provide in-service training of teachers and capacity building. Her work focuses on training under-performing and under privileged school teachers.
Ms. Shahrukh has traveled across the country teaching and coordinating various aspects of the school curriculum in the different regions of Pakistan. She has gained vast experience in working with children and parents from very diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. She has participated in many conferences.
Ms. Shahrukh obtained her Certificate in Professional Studies in Education from Bradford University UK in 1999 and achieved her Masters in Art (MA) degree in School Administration from The Beacon House National University in Pakistan in 2005. In the year 2007 she completed a course of training at The Plymouth State University New Hampshire in USA and was awarded a Certificate for being a qualified Master Trainer and an Evaluator. Her major areas of specialization are mentoring and institutional strengthening.
Atiqa Odho is a prominent media personality, businesswoman, and household name in Pakistan. Ms. Odho started her career in the beauty business in 1989 and then went into television production in 1991. Formally trained in the beauty business, filmmaking, and other creative forms of expression, she is currently the CEO of two companies under the Odho banner: Odho Productions and Odho Cosmetics. She is also the Chairperson of the United Producers Association of Pakistan, where she recently launched a people’s movement by the name of “Our Country Our People: One Pakistan for the People of Pakistan” (www.unitedproducers.org).
Odho Productions has been producing television for all mainstream satellite Pakistani television channels, as well as Pakistan’s national channel (PTV) since 2004. Its content focuses on social causes (www.odhoproductions.com). Odho Cosmetics launched the “Atiqa Odho” color cosmetics in 2004 as the first and only celebrity brand in Pakistan in order to give women the opportunity to acquire a quality product at affordable pricing. The Odho Cosmetics team tours throughout Pakistan with many women’s expos and activities, which gives Ms. Odho a chance to meet women from all over the country face-to-face and discover their needs and concerns (www.odhocosmetics.com).
Farah Zeb is a Services Manager for Refuge, a national UK Charity that has been working on issues of domestic violence for nearly forty years. Ms. Zeb’s role includes advocating for and ensuring that statutory and non statutory agencies are made aware of the culturally sensitive support needs of women from South Asia. Although women who have contacted the South Asian schemes run by Refuge represent various religious backgrounds, many of them are Muslim. Ms. Zeb is interested in different approaches to challenging the complacency and active silencing of women’s voices by dominant segments of cultural and religious communities. Many South Asian women arriving at refuges across England have endured years of violence, with minimum information about their rights. This is further compounded by stringent immigration regulations, resulting in detrimental financial constraints.
Ms. Zeb works as part of a specialized team to address such issues and advocates for women whose lives are layered with multiple complexities and multiple traumas, in the hope that they can begin to rebuild their lives.
In previous positions, Ms. Zeb has actively participated in setting up a women’s centre, a women’s counseling service and a women’s help line. She has been working in the arena of homelessness, mental health and violence against women for many years. She is a fully trained counselor, holds an MSc in Gender and Social Policy, as well as an MA in Islamic Studies. Farah’s academic work focuses on exploring the spirit of faith and ethics. She presented papers at the American Academy of Religion conferences in 2007 and 2008 respectively, analyzing gender, sexuality and Islam.
