About the Board
The decision making body of Partnership-Afghanistan Canada is the Board of Directors, comprised of experts in relevant fields and professions. Membership on the Board is achieved through an election in the General Assembly meeting each year. Founding members,
(CEO, Field Director and Central Secretary and Administrator) become automatic and permanent members of the BoD.
The Board is responsible for the overall activities of PAC. This includes the evaluation of projects, providing advice and guidance to both central and Field Directors and officers, financial evaluations and boycotting, calling monthly, quarterly, annual and emergency meetings. Each board member has the right of one vote in any decision making process. Board members receive no financial compensation for their contributions to PAC.
Board of Directors
Karim Qayumi, MD, Ph.D, FRCSC
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & CHAIRMAN
Experienced Program Director with a demonstrated history of innovation holding patents, trademarks and copyrights.Experienced working in medical Education, curriculum development, educational technology development.
Shahnaz Qayumi, M.A.
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER & BOARD MEMBER
Shahnaz Qayumi has a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and Psychology and has taught extensively at universities and colleges in Kabul, Afghanistan and throughout British Columbia.
Neil Griggs
BOARD MEMBER
Neil Griggs is an experienced project manager specializing in the planning, design and construction management ofprojects in Canada and other parts of the world.
David Crenna
BOARD MEMBER
Aman Nuri
BOARD MEMBER
Aman Nuri M.Sc, Geologist.
He has 10 years experience as a geologist, including 2 years with the UNDP project. In the last 34 years, he worked as a financial advisor with SunLife of Canada.
Currently retired.
Michael Janusz
BOARD MEMBER
Dr. Michael Janusz is a cardiovascular surgeon at Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He is a clinical professor of surgery at the University of British Columbia and Director of the Thoracic Aortic Surgery Service at UBC.
Mariam Hazhir
BOARD MEMBER
Mariam Hazhir has been working as a Secondary Teacher for 8 years with Surrey School District. She obtained her degree at UBC in English and Microbiology, and shortly after obtained her Bachelor’s in Curriculum and Instruction at SFU and completed her PDP training. More recently, she completed her Master of Educational Leadership and Administration at Yorkville University. Her principles of making connections to land for learning and strengthening inter-generational relationships and knowledge is evident in her community work. Mariam was the Teacher Lead and Co-Curriculum Developer for FarsiDarBC. Mariam’s curriculum writing strategies and leadership resulted in Farsi being approved as a teachable second language within the province. Mariam’s work in PAC includes helping curate Biology lessons in Farsi for the M-learning audio platform podcast to combat the ban of education abasing young girls by the Taliban. Mariam’s success in her teaching practices has been featured on National Television numerous times such as CBC, The National, CTV and other media outlets. Mariam has been interviewed for CBC podcasts along with neuroscientists in her work as a Math Teacher combating student’s Math anxiety. Currently, Mariam works as the Indigenous Graduate Advocate for Surrey Schools and is the Indigenous Department Head: supporting Teachers at her school integrate Indigenous content into their pedagogies. Her community work includes but is not limited to collaboration with nonprofit organization BC4Afghans and New West Minister’s Anvil Centre New Media Art Gallery: helping provide STEM workshops for newcomer/refugee migrants. She is passionate about helping youth take an interdisciplinary approach towards the sciences and the arts!
Ahmad Baktash Nuri
BOARD MEMBER
Ahmad Baktash Nuri is a serving member in the Canadian Armed Forces. His occupation in
the military is in Finance and Financial Services Administration.
He is a student at Royal Military College of Canada and Simon Fraser University studying for
his degree in Economics and Political Science.
He has over 15 years experience in the Financial/Investment/Insurance industry.
He runs his own Investment/Insurance business as a Financial Advisor as well.
He has helped the Afghan Sport Organization in Vancouver for 5 years by helping organizing
events and team sport events in order to promote athletics and foster community
togetherness.
Mohib Waziri
BOARD MEMBER
Mohib Waziri has a degree in Information Technology specialized in Web & Mobile applications. He is currently working on CyberPatient project with Can-Health International under Dr.Karim Qayumi supervision. He is actively engaged in community and cultural programs in Vancouver, Canada.
Shabnam Hazrati
BOARD MEMBER
Shabnam was born in Kabul, Afghanistan. When Taliban took over, and girls were forbidden to go to school, Shabnam started primary school in Panjsher province. After the fall of Taliban she continued her studies at the Educational Psychology faculty in Kabul University. During university, Shabnam was working as an editor, producer and radio operator for Amozgar Radio. Shabnam’s work career started from here, and after that, she worked as a project coordinator in Panjshir province for women empowerment project. In 2012 she joined the Partnership Afghanistan-(Canada) Organization as a volunteer and served as the project coordinator for M-Learning Project. After that, Shabnam worked at the Independent Election Commission as a Media Liaison officer, as a Capacity Building Officer for the Afghan Women Education Center, and as a UN Volunteer for the UNDP project for Gender Equality enhancement in Afghanistan.
Currently, Shabnam is in Turkey to get her Master’s degree and is continuing her work with PAC for implementing Community Self Care Demonstration Program (CSDP) training in Afghanistan. Apart from these jobs mentioned above, Shabnam has worked with many more youths Organizations and with Darkht e Danesh online library as a volunteer editor.
In Shabnam’s opinion, if you want to be happy and have peace of mind you need to serve others and help societies to bring positive change. That is why she loves working voluntarily and feels genuine happiness within that.