Margaret Ronkin is a social development expert, who is conducting her research on the identities of African-Pakistan Sheedies within a social constructionist framework. She pursued her bachelors in Community Studies at the American University, and masters in Theoretical Linguistics at the University of Illinois. Her dissertation focused on Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, and Concentration at the Georgetown University. Her profound passion for linguistics is reflected in her academic achievements and employment opportunities. She had enrolled in the University of California Berkeley Urdu Language Program in Pakistan.

Over the past three years, she has been a visiting professor of linguistics a the Quaid-i-Azam University; Inaugural Faculty in South Asian Studies at the Harvard University; Assistant Professor at the School of Foreign Survive, and Faculty Member Anthropology at the Lahore University of Management Sciences.

Murtaza Haider is the associate dean of research and graduate programs, and the Director of the Institute of Housing and Mobility at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University. He is also an adjunct professor in the Faculties of Engineering at McGill University and the University of Toronto.

Haider has researched shippers' decision-making, market shares competition between rail and trucking, freight planning capabilities in Canada and the impact of sea-port capacities on Canada's global trade. Haider's research interests also include equity and poverty alleviation through infrastructure development. He has undertaken research on the mobility needs of single mothers in Québec as well as exploring the dynamics of low home ownership rates among aboriginal households in urban Canada. Haider has also explored affordable transportation alternatives for the urban poor in South Asia. Furthermore, he has researched the role of community-based water supply and sanitation projects in improving health and livelihoods of low-income households in South Asia. His work experience includes Nesbitt Burns and United Press International. As a columnist, he has written extensively on development issues in South Asia.

A graduate of Engineering University in Peshawar, Haider earned a Masters in transportation engineering and planning, and a Ph.D. in urban systems analysis from the University of Toronto. He also obtained a certificate in magazine journalism from Ryerson University.

Dr. Karamat Ali is an economist by profession, with a wealth of knowledge in development economics and sociology. He pursued his Bachelors in Economics at the Punjab University; Masters in Economics and Sociology at the Vanderbilt University, and his dissertation in Economic Development at Vanderbilt University United States. He has worked with the BahauddinZakariya University, Multan at various capacities including Meritorious Professor Economics. Dr. Karamat, in addition, has also served as Chairman Department of Economics at the University of Bahawalpur. At present, he is a consultant with SEBCOM Pakistan, and HTSPE United Kingdom.

His areas of expertise encompass economic development in developing countries, rural support programs, strategies for education in developing countries, and development and political economics.

Mr. Ali Asghar Hasnain served Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad as Country Director, University Extension Services from 1999 to 2010. He was responsible for the program comprising of instructions, supervision and continued assessment of students’ achievement. This included tutors appointment, establishment of Study Centres, Examination Centres and arranging workshops. He was responsible for organizational Publicity and uplift of AIOU academic Programmes. He was also responsible for redressing student problems as well as guidance, and counseling. He looked after all the administrative and financial affairs of the 36 Regions alongwith 100 part-time Regional Coordinators throughout Pakistan and liaised with the authorities for the allotment of land and development of Regional Services Network.

Naseem-ur-Rehman is the Chief Executive Officer of the Imran Khan Foundation, which began its relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation work after the July/August floods.

An international professional with specialization in development and humanitarian issues, Mr. Rehman has successfully used his wealth of leadership skills and management expertise to support advocacy, capacity building and service delivery programmes in the social sector.

Mr. Rehman served United Nations for 29 years in management positions with UNICEF Country Offices in Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Yemen. He has proven experience in the development and humanitarian work, including disasters and emergency related relief and rehabilitation work in the field of programming, information, advocacy, social mobilization, communications and fundraising.

As Chief Spokesperson of UNICEF at the country level, Mr. Rehman gave numerous live interviews on emergency and development issues to the leading national and international media including news papers, TV news channels such as CNN, BBC and UN Radio. He has played a key role in advancing the Rights of the Child and empowerment of women through building partnerships with civil society, NGOs, development partners, public and private sector in South Asia and Middle East.

Mr. Rehman obtained his Master’s degree in Sociology from Punjab University in 1974. During his professional career he went to Cornell University and John Hopkins to receive specialized trainings in Communications and public health.

Mr. Ozair Hanafi, with more than forty years of experience in the field of Direct Marketing, Human Development and Microfinance, is perceived to be a leading light of Capacity Building in Pakistan. He joined Khushhali Bank right from its inception as Executive Director and was instrumental in its growth and expansion. In 2005, he joined Pak Oman Microfinance Bank as its first President and Chief Executive Officer. Under his motivational leadership the Bank created a sound impact on the microfinance scene in Pakistan. At present he is the Executive Chairman, Publicitas Training and Development (A Publicitas Group Company).

He speaks both at local & International forums and has trained several thousand individuals so far. Among several prestigious positions that he holds he is also member, Academic Board of Institute of Bankers Pakistan (IBP).

He has widely traveled and is happily married with three children. He is an avid reader, loves to take long walks, and is fond of poetry and oriental music. He seeks perpetual inspiration from the philosophy of Dr. Akhter Hameed Khan.