Board of Trustees
Shazad G. Dada
Chairperson, Board of Trustees
Shazad G. Dada is a distinguished banking and capital markets professional with over 30 years of international experience. He is the Founder and Managing Partner of Dada Partners (Private) Limited, a boutique investment advisory firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and restructuring. Previously, he held senior leadership roles at Deutsche Bank, Barclays, Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan, and United Bank Limited. He has also chaired several leading industry organizations and currently serves on multiple corporate and nonprofit boards. As Chairperson of Developments in Literacy (DIL), he provides strategic leadership to advance the organization’s mission of expanding quality education across Pakistan.
TASNIM SHAHERYAR
Vice Chairperson
Tasnim Shaheryar is an IBA graduate with professional experience in business development in the United States. A dedicated philanthropist and long-standing supporter of Developments in Literacy (DIL), she has been actively associated with the organization for over 25 years. She joined the DIL U.S. Board of Directors in 1999 and also served on DIL’s New York Chapter before relocating permanently to Pakistan.
As Vice Chairperson, Tasnim continues to provide strategic leadership and guidance, driven by her commitment to expanding access to quality education and creating opportunities for underserved children across Pakistan.
Fiza Shah
Founder and CEO
Fiza Shah is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Developments in Literacy (DIL). Since establishing the organization in 1997, she has transformed it into one of Pakistan’s leading providers of quality education for underserved children. Under her leadership, DIL has educated hundreds of thousands of students, expanded girls’ access to schooling, strengthened teacher development, and introduced technology-enabled learning solutions that bring innovation to classrooms.
Fiza earned her Executive MBA from the University of California, Irvine, and has received numerous honors for her contributions, including Pakistan’s prestigious Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence). She remains deeply committed to ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has access to the knowledge and opportunities needed to achieve their fullest potential.
Kamran Nishat
Trustee
Kamran Nishat is an accomplished senior executive with more than thirty years of diversified leadership experience across the automotive, textile, leather, distribution, and consulting sectors. He currently serves as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Muller & Phipps Pakistan. Over the course of his career, he has led growth, operations, and strategy across major organizations and built a reputation for strong business leadership and execution. Earlier in his career, he served as Senior Manager at Sidat Hyder Morshed Associates.
Ayesha Tammy Haq
Trustee
Ayesha Tammy Haq is a barrister-at-law and international legal practitioner with experience across law, policy, media, and business. She was the member of the Vision 2020 think tank in Pakistan, where she has contributed to policy and governance matters. She previously hosted 24Seven on Business Plus, interviewing political leaders and policymakers, and has written opinion pieces for several publications. Ayesha also served as CEO of Fashion Pakistan and organized Pakistan’s first Fashion Week in 2009. She currently heads Pharma Bureau, the association of research-based multinational pharmaceutical companies in Pakistan.
Tushna D Kandawalla
Trustee
Tushna Kandawalla is the Chief Executive Officer of Captain PQ Chemical Industries (CPQ), a leading manufacturer in Pakistan’s chemical sector. She brings over 20 years of leadership experience in manufacturing, finance, strategy, and corporate governance. Alongside her professional career, she is committed to advancing education, driving social impact, and building stronger communities. She serves on the Board of Habib Metropolitan Bank and is a trustee of iCare Fund America, The Captain Foundation, and The Noorani Foundation. Prior to joining CPQ, she worked at Home Box Office (HBO) in New York and Arthur Andersen LLP in Boston, USA. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Brown University and a Master of Business Administration from Boston University and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Amjad Ali Khan
Trustee
Amjad Ali Khan is the co-founder and former managing partner of Afridi & Angell. He led the firm’s banking and financial services practice and advised on both conventional and Shariah-compliant transactions. His work also included advising private equity firms, investors, and companies on UAE and cross-border transactions, acquisitions, and financial matters. Amjad is an active speaker at conferences and seminars and has authored several specialized publications. He brings extensive legal, financial, and governance experience to his role as a trustee.
Shahida Azfar
Trustee
Shahida Azfar is an accomplished international development leader with more than five decades of experience in public health, education, child protection, and humanitarian response. She held several senior leadership positions at UNICEF, including Deputy Executive Director for Partnerships, Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Director of the Global Child Survival Partnership, and UNICEF Representative for Bangladesh, Egypt, and Namibia. She also served with UNFPA as Director of the Country Support Team for South and Central Asia, as well as with the Population Council, Jhpiego, and the Family Planning Association of Pakistan. She continues to serve on several boards and advisory bodies, advancing the well-being of women and children worldwide.