2025 Young Concordia Leaders

Based in Adelaide, Amer is the Multicultural Lead for the South Australian National Football League and the state coordinator for the Bachar Houli Foundation, creating pathways for young Muslims in sport and leadership. He founded Ihsan Consulting to deliver strategic planning, marketing and educational workshops, and Sakina Supply, an Islamic streetwear brand fusing faith and fashion. His work spans grassroots mentoring, program design and creative expression, all rooted in strengthening Muslim voices in Australia.

A sustainability consultant at EY with a master’s in Sustainable Energy, Atiyah won first place in the IXL Innovation Olympics for a hydrogen market-entry strategy for Westinghouse. She serves on the executive team of IHSAAN, supporting Muslim university students, and is developing the UK’s first faith‑based internship scheme in partnership with OVO Energy. Atiyah also volunteers with PureStreets, a grassroots initiative focused on cleaning up Britain’s streets, reflecting her commitment to environmental stewardship and community empowerment.

A Dutch–Moroccan GP trainee and PhD candidate, Dina works in underserved Amsterdam neighbourhoods while researching the links between personal and professional identity in general practice. She sits on the supervisory board of a network of health centres, authors policy recommendations on discrimination in healthcare, and holds a master’s in Medicine and Health Humanities. Dina also explores migration and identity through poetry and photography and mentors youth in community schools, exemplifying her commitment to justice and inclusive healthcare.

Raised in East London after being born in Pakistan, Haris is a social-mobility activist and venture strategist who has helped more than forty under‑represented founders raise over £20 million in early-stage funding. He advises funds such as Social Tech Ventures and Ada Ventures and launched Jaago, a microfinance programme that has supported more than 850 rural Pakistani women. Recognised with honours including the Points of Light Award, he champions alternative student finance and mentors young people into careers in law, finance and technology, ensuring opportunities match the breadth of talent.

Fatima is an educator developing an interdisciplinary Islamic curriculum for primary students at AWQAF South Africa that integrates spirituality, social responsibility and critical thinking. She holds degrees in Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Education from the International Islamic University Malaysia and founded The Fajr Sisters, a platform for Muslim women to connect and grow. Raised across Malawi, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia, she also writes spoken‑word poetry to inspire and uplift communities.

A first‑generation Egyptian‑American, Halimah is a seasoned communications strategist who currently works to connect the public with the initiatives of New York’s Attorney General. She previously served on a New York City mayoral campaign and at a public‑affairs consulting firm, focusing on electoral and policy matters. A graduate of Seton Hall University, she uses her background to amplify community voices and foster civic participation.

A University of California, Berkeley graduate and Chancellor’s Fellow, Heya works as a product design engineer on Apple’s Vision Pro team. She has previously contributed to innovation at Google X, Tesla, Amazon Robotics and Meta. Beyond technology, she builds community in San Francisco and mentors under‑represented students in STEM, including global initiatives to expand opportunities for Syrians, highlighting her dedication to equity and inclusion.

Hon‑Ming co‑founded Blaunte Strategies, where he leads research and communications, supporting clients across technology and brand strategy. Born in Pennsylvania and raised across multiple countries, he earned a first‑class degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of Oxford and began his career at Media.Monks before advising organisations like Google, the NBA and Fidelity on innovation and competitive positioning. He mentors young professionals, designs narratives for independent game studios, contributes to World Economic Forum reports and writes on emerging technology, demonstrating a commitment to bridging storytelling, systems thinking and cultural analysis.

Ibrahim is a barrister with the Crown Prosecution Service who, at 19, became one of the youngest magistrates in England and Wales. During his Bar studies he represented the Secretary of State for the Home Department before the First‑tier Tribunal and has held roles as a BAME Advocate, visiting law lecturer and Parliamentor. A passionate mentor, he regularly speaks to young people about careers in law and uses his platform to advocate for greater diversity within the legal profession.

Leyth is a U.S. Foreign Service Officer serving as the Saudi Arabia Desk Officer after previous postings in Denmark and Kuwait. A graduate of Pomona College and Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, he advances U.S. policy priorities in the Gulf while advocating for human rights. Recognised as a Penn Kemble Fellow and named to 40‑under‑40 lists, he is committed to fostering dialogue between the United States and the Middle East.

Meherina serves as Chief of Staff and Senior Programmes Manager at the El‑Hibri Foundation, overseeing strategic planning, board engagement and programme execution. A Harvard graduate and former Phillips Brooks House Association president, she steered the organisation through the early stages of the COVID‑19 pandemic and was named one of Glamour’s College Women of the Year in 2020. Her work focuses on building inclusive spaces and using storytelling to drive social change, reflecting the foundation’s mission to advance justice and equity for Muslims and other marginalised groups.

With degrees from Rotterdam School of Management and SOAS University of London, Mostafa works on youth engagement and community development through leadership roles in MSA Netherlands and FEMYSO. He founded Barakah Projects to mobilise fundraising initiatives and co‑founded Collective Young Muslims, the Netherlands’ only nationwide Muslim youth organisation. Drawing on his research in public policy, he bridges grassroots activism with evidence‑based advocacy to build inclusive spaces for Muslim students and young professionals.

Born and raised in Northern Virginia, Omar is an investment banking analyst in Bank of America’s Emerging Growth Group in New York, advising high‑growth clients on middle‑market mergers and acquisitions. He holds a B.S. in Commerce from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce and previously interned with the same team. During his time at university, he led programmes to expand access to finance careers for under‑represented students, a commitment he continues in his professional life.

Rayan is pursuing a dual Master’s in Management Information Systems at Paris Dauphine – PSL and a JD in Law at Panthéon-Sorbonne University. He has worked at Deloitte Paris on data protection and IT strategy, advising clients across banking, technology, retail, and healthcare on confidentiality and ISO 27001 compliance, including engagements on AI and large-scale data migrations. Rayan previously supported compliance at fintech firm Mooncard and gained product management experience in New York. A former president of Muslim student associations in both Paris and Austin, he is fluent in French, English, and Spanish and certified in AI strategy, cybersecurity, and governance

An Oxford-educated academic and keynote speaker, Rory founded and leads The Learners Collective, an all‑in‑one platform pairing high‑achieving students from under‑represented backgrounds with pupils needing tutoring and mentorship. Under his leadership, the programme has been certified by the UK Department for Education and has generated millions in additional lifetime earnings for under‑resourced pupils through a 15‑hour school programme. He also teaches undergraduate law, coaches Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) students in the UK and gives talks on overcoming PTSD, faith and the transformative power of education.

As Assistant Director of Programming and Resource Development at Muslim Campus Life, Samar leads national outreach, strategic partnerships and programme design to create more inclusive and spiritually grounded campuses. She earned her MSFS degree from Georgetown University, worked with USAID at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja as a Donald M. Payne Fellow and previously served as student government president at her undergraduate institution. A native Texan who co‑launched the state’s first Muslim Career Expo, she combines policy, diplomacy and grassroots organising to expand public service pathways for under‑represented communities.

Sara earned her master’s in European Studies at the University of Turin after completing a bachelor’s in foreign languages at the University of Padua. She has consistently demonstrated a deep interest in the political, economic and social dynamics of the European Union through her research and involvement in academic initiatives. Her academic and professional pursuits reflect a commitment to understanding and shaping European affairs.

A British‑Muslim political strategist, Sarina has over a decade of experience across UK and U.S. politics. She served as senior caseworker to Member of Parliament Shabana Mahmood in Birmingham before moving to New York, where she has worked on multiple Democratic campaigns—including Deputy Campaign Manager for John Avlon and Field Organiser for Tom Suozzi’s special election. Currently managing Mike Khader’s campaign for Yonkers City Council President, she trains volunteers, builds coalitions and champions inclusive political representation, drawing on a master’s in Human Rights and Global Justice.

Afghan‑born Shakila is a public health professional focused on emergency preparedness and risk communications at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A University of Florida graduate with an MPH from Emory University, she founded the Doste Afghan Foundation in 2023 to support women, children and families in Afghanistan with food security, education and economic development programmes. Named a Western Union Foundation Fellow, Shakila speaks widely about the humanitarian crisis and women’s rights in Afghanistan, drawing on her own refugee experience.

As a fourth‑year MD candidate, Waez divides his time between medical research and healthcare entrepreneurship. He interned in venture capital under Dr Mussaad Al‑Razouki and co‑founded Iqam, a “third space” for Muslim professionals in Northern New Jersey. Previously chief of staff to Hyperfine’s chief medical and strategy officer during its IPO, Waez has published research in leading medical journals and is active in community-building initiatives.