Dr Arif-ur-Rehman Alvi is a veteran politician who is currently serving as the 13th President of Pakistan.
He was a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from June 2013 to May 2018 and again from August to September 2018. A founding member of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Dr. Alvi was elected as President of Pakistan on 4 September 2018 following the presidential election.
Dr Arif-ur-Rehman AlviPresident, Islamic Republic of Pakistanview profile
Ms Cris Rowan
Cris Rowan is a paediatric occupational therapist, biologist, renowned author of the book, Virtual Child, and international speaker passionate about changing the ways in which children use technology. Cris’s concept, Balanced Technology Management, urges more engagement in four critical factors for development and learning: movement, touch, human connection and nature.
Citing over 300 research studies showing technology’s detrimental impact on children in four domains – physical, mental, social, and cognitive, Cris poses the question, “Are the ways in which we are raising and educating children with technology sustainable”?
Cris is CEO of Zone’in Programs Inc. offering workshops, programmes, training, and consultation services to parents, health professionals and educators worldwide.Ms Cris Rowan Paediatric occupational therapist, biologist & Authorview profile
Ms Salima Hashmi
Salima Hashmi is an artist, curator and contemporary art historian. Professor Hashmi was the founding Dean of the Mariam Dawood School of Visual Art and Design at Beaconhouse National University, Lahore. She was Professor of Fine Art at National College of Arts [NCA] Lahore and was also principal of the college.
She has written extensively on the arts. Her book, Unveiling the Visible - Lives and Works of Women Artists of Pakistan, was published in 2002, and Memories, Myths, Mutations – Contemporary Art of India and Pakistan, co-authored with Yashodhara Dalmia for Oxford University Press, India in 2006. She has edited The Eye Still Seeks – Contemporary Art of Pakistan for Penguin Books, India in 2014.
The Government of Pakistan awarded her the president's medal for Pride of Performance for Art Education in 1999.
The Australian Council of Art and Design Schools (ACUADS) nominated her as Inaugural International Fellow, for distinguished service to art and design education in 2011. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Bath Spa University in 2016. She was awarded with title of Professor Emeritus from BOG Beaconhouse National University on the occasion of 12th convocation in 2017. She is council member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.
Ms Salima Hashmi Professor, School Of Visual Arts and Design, BNUview profile
Ms Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is a journalist, filmmaker and activist. She is globally known for her work in films that highlight the injustices and inequalities in our society. She is the recipient of two Academy Awards, six Emmy Awards and a Lux Style Award. In 2012, the Government of Pakistan honoured her with the Hilal-i-Imtiaz, the second highest civilian honour of the country, and Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world.Ms Sharmeen Obaid-ChinoyFilmmaker, Journalistview profile
Mr Adnan Malik
Film and TV star Adnan Malik is a multi-faceted, multi-talented media entrepreneur who can turn his hand at acting, directing, creative problem-solving and speaking up for the right causes at the right time. The Sadqay Tumhare and Cake star, also runs AMP, Adnan Malik Productions, an award-winning TV commercial, music video and documentary production house. Alongside this he is also World Wildlife Fund (WWF) goodwill ambassador for Pakistan and an Asia Society Fellow.
Adnan represents the 21st century male who is successful and ambitious but also gender-sensitive, compassionate and dedicated to various social causes. His specific areas of interest are mental health, wellbeing and finding balance and harmony between the demands of contemporary society and self-care. Mr Adnan MalikDirector, Executive Producer, Actorview profile
Ms Jehan Ara
Ms Jehan Ara is the President of the Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT & ITES (P@SHA). She has been spearheading efforts at P@SHA for the past 14 years during which time she was responsible for developing the P@SHA brand and for creating linkages between P@SHA and local and international partners.
Ms Jehan Ara has vast experience in marketing, communications and interactive new media. She is a motivator, an entrepreneur, a social activist and a strong propagator of extending the power and use of information and communication technologies beyond pure traditional business. She is a regular speaker at seminars and conferences and at colleges and universities across Pakistan and the region. Ms Jehan Ara also writes for various industry publications.
She sits on the advisory boards of the Punjab IT Board, Plan 9 Incubator, LUMS Center for Entrepreneurship incubator “The Foundation” and several universities including Habib University, IBA, IBA Sukkur and NED University. She is also the President of Bolo Bhi, a research-based civil society organisation that focuses on open access. Ms Jehan AraPresident, PASHA view profile
Ms Vera de Pont
Vera de Pont is researching on-demand fashion (items), based on her overarching vision to prevent waste materials immediately at the start of the production line. She aims for modular and locally produced footwear and garments that incorporate the consumer as a maker. Her projects investigate the role of technology within local fashion production and co-creation in order to analyse the benefits this may offer to create a more collaborative and environmentally, socially and economically sustainable fashion system. Vera graduated Cum Laude from the Design Academy Eindhoven, followed by a master’s degree in Sustainable Fashion at the Sandberg Institute in Amsterdam.Ms Vera de PontFounder, Fashion of Futureview profile
Ms Tina Sani
Tina Sani began her journey with music in 1979. Over three decades later, she may be appreciated amongst the leading ghazal singers of the day. A purist by temperament, Tina initiated formal training in Indian classical music with Ustad Nizamuddin Khan Sahib and later with Ustad Chand Amrohvi.
Over time, she merged her commitment to the classical discipline with a native love for Urdu poetry. Her performances are considered emotively rich, full of vocal nuance and lyrical feeling. Tina's repertoire includes poets such as Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Ahmad Faraz,Perveen Shakir, Daagh, Mir, Mirza Ghalib, Firaq Gorakhpuri, Allama Iqbal and Rumi amongst others.
She has performed at a wide range of international forums, bearing the firm belief that music crosses all borders. Performing not only all over Pakistan but in many parts of the world like Ireland, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Dubai, Croatia, India, Turkey, North and South Korea, Philippines, Malaysia, Germany, US and UK and recently in September 2016 at the Oslo Mela Festival where she collaborated with a jazz ensemble. Most prestigious amongst the numerous awards she has received are Pakistan's highest civil award, President's Pride of Performance in 2004 and Outstanding Contribution to Music award from the President of India, Smt Pratibha Patil in 2011.Tina is currently researching for a book she plans to write on Pakistan and its rich musical heritage.Ms Tina SaniMusicianview profile
Ms Sanam Saeed
Starting out at age 17 with a popular local music channel as their VJ, Sanam Saeed is now coveted for her ability to enthral television/film audiences, fashion critics and theatre aficionados alike, with her electrifying work as a Pakistani actress.
As an actor, Sanam stormed the theatre with her incredible performances in some of the biggest theatrical productions seen in Pakistan to date including Blackfish, Grease, Mamma Mia, Chicago and The 39 Steps. Several of the performances being musicals also brought out Sanam's vocal talents as a singer and she was made a part of the group of backing vocalists in Coke Studio’s Season 3, 2010. She also went on to receive much appreciation for her performances in some of the biggest TV dramas in recent years, such as Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Diyar e Dil and recently Aakhri Station.
The year 2016 was a great year for Sanam as she dove into the movie industry with five films released that year and received awards for all three. This year she completed her 5th film, Cake which was also critically acclaimed worldwide.
Sanam has also had a long standing relationship with Shaukat Khanam as one of the ambassadors for their breast cancer awareness campaigns. She is also an ambassador for the British Asian Trust.Ms Sanam SaeedActress & Modelview profile
Mr George Fulton
George Fulton has over 18 years of experience in public relations, television production and broadcasting. He has overseen external communications roles for the British Council, the Qatar Foundation and the Atlantic Partnership acting as an advocate for these organisations to senior politicians and stakeholders in Pakistan, Qatar, US and UK, as well as to the press and media. George has also been the executive producer, writer and presenter of television programmes in Pakistan including Kiran Aur George and George Ka Pakistan. He also has produced HARDtalk Pakistan and Question Time Pakistan for BBC World News.Mr George FultonTV Host, George ka Pakistanview profile
Mr Jibran Nasir
Mr Jibran Nasir is a lawyer, civil rights activist, blogger, and an independent politician. He is involved in relief work through Elaj Trust, regularly speaks at universities on extremism, and advocacy for marginalised communities through Pakistan For All and is working to counter the extreme narrative through Never Forget Pakistan.Mr Jibran NasirLawyer and Activistview profile