RISING BEYOND THE CEILING      

One Hundred Inspiring Muslim Women of India in Canada 2024


Rising Beyond The Ceiling (RBTC) is a global initiative to shine  a spotlight on achievements and contributions of Muslim women of India, both in the country and in countries around the world. 

The Canada RBTC 100 Women Global Inspirations List seeks to recognize Muslim women  from India who have made their mark  in different professions in Canada.  The 100 stories capture the  resilience, challenges and their immigrant experience in building a career in a new environment and country.  For more information contact RBTC Canada Coordinator Ms. Naila Saeed at canadachildcare@gmail.com 

 NOMINATION CRITERIA : RBTC 100 CANADA 2024   

Nominations of inspiring Indian Muslim women who moved from India and are now living and making a contribution in Canada are invited. The women can be professionals in any of the categories - academicians, doctors, lawyers, authors, poets, painters, scientists, researchers, corporate and international development professionals, entrepreneurs, economists, journalists or any innovative field.  The nominees would need to be alumni of any educational institution in India ( school, college, university).  

All RBTC 100 Canada honorees have done their initial studies in educational institutions in India and later moved to Canada. They have contributed and received accolades and successes in the many fields from academics and medicine to arts and entrepreneurship. These achievers, though a small sliver of the thousands of others, are a  source of pride their country of origin and immigration and to their Alma Mater institutions in India.   RBTC 100 Global Honorees profiles will serve as an inspiration and role model for the next generation of Indian, as well as all immigrant women, who are working to achieve their goals and make an impact in the world.  

 Criteria for RBTC 100 Global Inspirations (i) Professionals who studied initially in India and then moved to Canada (ii) They have made their mark in their chosen field in North America  (ii) They can be citizens of any country today , however were native of India prior to moving to Canada,   (iii) They have an educational affiliation and alumni of a school, college, university in India (iv)  They identify themselves as Muslim women.  

Mail with brief 200-250 word summary profile, links and photo to  risingbeyondtheceiling@gmail.com   or canadachildcare@gmail.com

RBTC Canada Coordinator. NAILA SAEED  Managing Director at Early Years Education System (EYES) Child Care. Toronto, Canada.  Contact:  canadachildcare@gmail.com  

Naila Saeed is the Founder and Managing Director of EYES - Early Years Education System, a Child Care franchisee.  An entrepreneur, founder of EYES Childcare, which has grown from a single daycare into a thriving franchise with 26 locations across Ontario. Ms. Saeed holds a Master's Degree in Public Administration. She worked earlier as a Childcare Operator in the North York, Scarborough and Woodbridge area. She has 18 years of childcare industry experience both as provider and center operator enhancing principles and practices of child learning and development. 
 In addition to her entrepreneurial success, Naila plays a pivotal role in various community and advocacy organizations. She is the Vice President of the Canadian Council of Indian Muslims, Naila also serves on the Advisory Board of the Professional Immigrants Network. Her leadership extends to her role as Vice President of the Ansaar Foundation. Additionally, Naila is the Secretary of the North America Aligarh Muslim University Alumni Federation. Naila is deeply engaged in community organizing, focusing on outreach and advocacy against hate and for social justice. She has also worked for youth and seniors with Not-for-Profit Organizations, helps new immigrants in settling and has worked with Syrian refugees. She has been recognized by the Government of Ontario for her dedication and contribution to the community.
 Links/References

Nominees : Inspiring Muslim Women from India  in Canada ( in alphabetical order)    

Expertise in Medicine   

 RBTC Global Nominee. ZEBA ANSARI.  Chief of Paediatrics at Halton Healthcare & Assistant Professor of Paediatrics at McMaster University , Hamilton, Ontario,  Canada.  Alumni:  JN Medical College, AMU, Aligarh. India.  Click side arrow for profile details. 

Dr. Zeba Ansari is the Chief of Paediatrics at Halton Healthcare & Assistant Professor of Paediatrics at McMaster University , Hamilton, Ontario,  Canada. She graduated from JN Medical,  AMU Aligarh. Detail profile awaited
Links/References:



RBTC Global Nominee. MAHAM FATIMA, Psychotherapist, Independent Practice. Healing Collective, Toronto, Canada . Alumni: To BE CONFIRMED . Click side arrow for profile details. 

Dr Maham Fatima is a psychiatrist and psychotherapist born and raised in India. She believes that sometimes, you or a loved one needs immediate assistance for a crisis like an acute psychiatric condition, panic attack, or severe depression. She works to prevent serious psychiatric disorders from escalating through early identification of -- and intervention for -- potentially hazardous emotional crisis. As a psychiatrist her opinion and views involve that the first step in treating a mental health issue is admitting you need help. The next is finding a place where you and your loved ones are comfortable that you will receive compassionate comprehensive care so you can feel like yourself again. 
Maham  is a Canada based psychotherapist who works with clients experiencing difficulty with their moods (like feeling low/depressed/unmotivated), work/life stress, body/pain issues, relationship difficulties, child-parent relationship, peer pressure/relationship, attachment issues, childhood/ unresolved difficulties, trauma/PTSD, mental, physical or sexual abuse. 
She graduated from OISE- the University of Toronto, Canada with an M. Ed in Counselling and Psychotherapy. Maham has also volunteered as a Community Therapist at Woodgreen Community Services – Walk-in Clinic .Working with HIV positive clients where the families of the clients helped her understand that she wanted to pursue a career in counseling and she opt for it. She is hard-working and committed towards her work. Maham is offering phone and video therapy sessions during the Covid-19 pandemic. For her clients to make it easy she is  offering her services at a sliding scale to anyone who cannot afford the regular rate. This shows her passion and commitment to her clients and work. 
She earned her  B.A. (Hons.) and M.A.(Hons.) in Psychology in India . 
Links/References:https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/maham-fatima-toronto-on/456834https://www.healingcollective.ca/collective-members/maham-fatima/https://www.linkedin.com/in/maham-fatima-488488161/?originalSubdomain=ca

Strides in Science/STEM  ( in alphabetical order)



RBTC Global Nominee. ALMAS SIDDIQUI. Associate Scientist at Paraza Pharmacy, Montreal, Canada. Alumni: Amity University, Noida, India. Click side arrow for profile details. 

Almas Siddiqui is an Associate Scientist at the Department of Metabolism and Pharmaco- kinetics at Paraza Pharma Inc, Montreal Quebec. 
Ms. Siddiqui has a  M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering from Ecole Polytechnic de Montreal where her thesis title include optimisation LAL assay in plate reader and methods to reduce interference in chitosan for toxin detection. She is the achiever of Meditis Scholarship by NSERC and GRSTB ( Group de Recherche en Science et Technologies Biomedicals ) scholarship by Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal. Her another project during her Masters was Bypassing the multidrug resistance in Breast Cancer. Almas has also worked as a Research & Development Intern at Harvard Medical School and have an extensive work experience in Cell culture : stem cells , endothelical cells and more.
Almas earned her undergraduate degree of Bsc in Zoology from Aligarh Muslim University and Master's degree in Microbiology from Amity University , Noida . 

Links/References:https://www.linkedin.com/in/almas-siddiqui-6ab21b17/?originalSubdomain=ca

RBTC Global Nominee. AMIYA AKRAM. Environment Analyst at Testmark Laboratories Ltd, Garson, Ontario. Canada. Alumni: Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. Click side arrow for profile details. 

Amiya Akram is an Environment Analyst at Testmark laboratories Ltd in Garson,ON  is a proven leader in the provision of licensed and accredited environmental lab testing. She is engaged in  providing  routine and customized analyses in the areas of inorganic, organic, microbiological and toxicological testing .
She is an Environmental Professional with experience in Consulting, Teaching and Research. Ambiya has dealt with real time projects in environmental monitoring, waste management and impact assessment. She is  Capable of identifying environmental problems and giving solutions to the same in a cost-effective manner.  
One of her well known published paper is  Noise pollution: A threat to sustainable environment. The paper presents results obtained in a monitoring study on environmental noise pollution in the city of Aligarh which is a rapidly developing urban centre and a hub of lock industries.
Coming from Aligarh Uttar Pradesh, she earned  Master's of Technology degree in Civil Engineering and Environment Engineering from Aligarh Muslim University.  She has also been a College Instructor at Kuppam Engineering college ,  India.
Links/References
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amiya-akram-e-i-t-54784b175/?originalSubdomain=ca

RBTC Global Canada Nominee. ORUSA AKHTAR. Full Stack Web Developer. Toronto. Canada. Home Town: Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Profile brief to be added


RBTC Global Nominee. SADAF ZAHRA,  Protein Biochemist. Lecturer and Research Scientist at University of Windsor, Canada. Alumni: Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh India. Click side arrow for profile details. 

Sadaf Zahra is a Protein Biochemist with more than 14 years of experience in research associated with protein characterization and purification. Dr. Sadaf specialises in parasite and mammalian cell culture, drug screening, protein /enzyme assays and kinetics, chromatography, electrophoresis, western blot, free radical and antioxidant analysis. Her computational skills include protein modeling and molecular dynamics. Softwares: Modeller, GROMACS, VMD, Chimera, Pymol and Ambertools.
Dr. Sadaf is currently working at University of Windsor as a Sessional Lecturer and as a Research Scientist. She has also taught at the Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Muscat Governorate, Oman.
Dr. Sadaf also has experience in project management, people management and writing scientific research papers and research grants. She is skilled in enzyme and protein analysis, drug screening on parasite and free radical analysis and excellent supervisory skills including planning and managing and breakthrough initiatives. Dr. Sadaf also has strong skills in budgeting, planning, scientific writing, communication, public speaking, organizing and managing. 
Dr. Sadaf Zahra is also a scientific writer and communicator evidenced by invited talks, writing research proposals, case reports, lab manuals and handouts, curriculum development. She has more than four publications in reputed journals, conference presentations and one book chapter. She has strong leadership and people management skills, managed a team of 4 Assistant Professors and 2 lab technicians by providing professional guidance, training and setting up SMART goals. 
Dr. Sadaf, a resident of Canada, completed her studies, Bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in Biochemistry, and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Bio Chemistry from Aligarh Muslim University, India.

RBTC Global Nominee. SAHAR ABBASI, Quality Assurance Lead at AppLab, Toronto, Canada. Alumni: Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India. Click side arrow for profile details. 

Sahar Abbasi is  currently the Quality Assurance Lead at AppLab, a Toronto based Technology company and a leader in strategy, design and development of Mobile Apps. Over a 5 years of professional experience in software  Testing and Business Analysis , she leads and manage QA team effectively and efficiently. Being a QA Lead , she expertise in innovative exceptional app experiences to drive business success for clients and create positive impact. Prior to this , she was the QA Analyst for the same app based company. She has also been the System Application & Product  (SAP) tester at 2i Solutions Inc, Mississauga Ontario. 
Sahar is certified with International Software Testing qualification Board (ISTQB) Certified Tester Scheme from Canadian Software Testing Board (CSTB) . She has also worked as the Wealth Management Advisor of ICICI bank where she provided financial services to High net income clients.
Sahar has delivered her services for many esteemed  Insurance Companies & Banks . She  worked as Wealth Management Advisor at the Bank of Americ Meryll , Gurugram and Associate Manager -training and content Development at Max New York Life Insurance Companies. 
Sahar earned her Master's in Business Administration from Aligarh Muslim University. Her specialisation during post graduation includes Finance and Marketing.
Links/References:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sahar-abbasi-1b4121a1/?originalSubdomain=ca

RBTC Global Nominee. ZUBIA MANSOOR, Senior Machine Learning Scientist at lululemon | Mentor & Advocate of Women in STEM | Painter. Vancouver, Canada. Alumni: St. Xavier's College, Kolkata, India. Click side arrow for profile details. 

Zubia Mansoor is a Senior Machine Learning Scientist at Lululemon Athletica where she support the machine learning and data science needs of the global digital marketing, e-commerce, and product teams.  She enjoys working with data and exploring new industries, ranging from a quantitative analyst at a billion-dollar pension fund, a research collaborator on COVID-19 host genetics, and a statistical consultant at a multinational paper manufacturing company. Today, my work involves taking on leadership roles, extracting business value in the deep learning space, and coding with different programming languages. I am a part of several women-centric organizations in technology, have taught data science and machine learning courses, and mentored students at hackathons.
She graduated with a master's in statistics, with a specialization in data science, machine learning, and computer vision from Simon Fraser University in Canada. 
Links/Referenceshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/zubiamansoor/?originalSubdomain=ca

Taking Entrepreneurship Forward ( in alphabetical order)


RBTC Global Canada Nominee, GHAZAL ALVI Co-Founder & CEO at IV Technologies (P) Limited; Director of Social Media & Business Blogging at The SWAT Institute, Ontario, Canada.  Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Contributing author to amazon international best seller. 

Ghazal Alvi, Co-Founder & CEO at IV Technologies (P) Limited. Ghazal Alvi, is a digital media strategist & consultant to coaches, authors, and speakers. She has over 10+ years of Web Marketing Strategy experience with core disciplines in Search Engine Optimization, Social Media and Digital Marketing for User Engagement.

Ghazal Alvi is a contributing author of the Amazon international best-seller "Wake Up: A Woman’s Guide to Transformation, Prosperity, and Health!" [2018], edited by Steven E Schmitt, which is a collection of 29 women authors’ specifically conceived and designed to give the reader a wide a range of unique perspectives from a woman’s point of view. Ghazal Contributed to the chapter on Change, Growth and Transformation. 

St Josephs Convent Bhopal. 

References/Sources

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ghazalalvi/?originalSubdomain=in

https://twitter.com/ghazalalvi

https://www.amazon.com/Wake-Up-Womans-Transformation-Prosperity/dp/0999497839/ref=sr_1_11

https://ask.fm/professionals/ghazal-alvi%27s-email/157318140


RBTC Global Canada Nominee, PERWEEN ZAMAN Co-Founder Zaman IT Consulting Inc. Toronto, Canada.  Alumna: Utkal University, Odisha. Click side arrow for profile details. 

Perween Zaman has been providing quality Information Technology (IT) consulting services in Canada for over 25 years to major Telecom Companies and Banks in Toronto, Canada. She is a highly skilled IT professional specializing in overall IT architecture and governance (Solution, Integration, Data, Security and Enterprise). Parween along with her husband, Dr. Khaliq Zaman started their IT consulting company in Toronto called Zaman IT Consulting Inc. for providing IT consulting services to large companies for their IT projects. Perween’s focus has been in designing innovative engineering solutions using distributed designs and architecture to integrate her client’s systems with those of the vendors and end users using state of the art messaging services and SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) technologies and delivering the solutions in a high-pressure environment.  She was also involved in training global teams spread across various continents like North America, Europe, and Asia to handle the solution that she has helped deliver.

Perween Zaman is a B.Sc. (Physics Hons) from Utkal University, Odisha and a M.Sc. (Physics) specializing in Solid State Physics from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) where she was the only girl in the class. She moved to Canada about 26 years ago. She has consistently upgraded her skills by getting herself certified in technologies provided by Oracle Corporation (Middleware Application Servers and SOA Suites), Sun Microsystems (Core Java) and BEA (WebLogic Servers) before the latter two companies were acquired by Oracle Corporation. Perween was awarded the National Science Talent Search Scholarship by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) India, after her high school. 

After completing her education at AMU, Perween joined UCO Bank as a Probationary Officer and had a successful career as a senior manager heading the Advances Department and Foreign Exchange Export Department at their New Delhi, Parliament Street Branch. When Indian banks started computerization, Perween was called upon to automate and computerize the then manual operations of the bank. She was one of the first persons to start the computerization initiative and successfully computerized several departments of the bank’s business lines. Perween opted for voluntary retirement and immigrated to Canada, where she ventured upon her successful IT career that spanned almost 25 years. 

Perween is also a trained Indian Classical dancer and has given stage performances throughout India. She has been trained by Padmashree Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra in Odishi dance and has attained Nrityabhushan degree from Kala Vikas Kendra, Cuttack, Odisha. She is also a trained Kathak dancer and has acquired the Madhyama diploma from the then Bhathkhande Sangeet Vidyapeeth, Lucknow in Lucknow Gharana of Kathak dance. The Madhyama exam was an all-India exam and Perween got the second position at the tender age of 10 years.After she became an empty nester, she picked up her love for dancing and joined the Shiamak Davar Toronto Dance School for several years and gave stage performances during their Summer and Winter Funks.

Perween has a passion for gardening and has been awarded appreciation certificates by the city several years in a row. She along with her techie husband, who built the automated watering system, have designed, and maintained a wrap-around garden around their Oakville (near Toronto) home which is a summer attraction of the neighborhood. She enjoys working out and hits the gym regularly. She loves reading and travelling around the world.

References/Sources


Leadership in Corporate Sector/Banking


RBTC Global Nominee., GHAZALA ZAIDI. Portfolio Manager- Commercial Credit  at BMO Financial Group, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Alumni: Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India. Click side arrow for profile details.  

Ghazala Zaidi  works as Portfolio Manager- Commercial Credit  at BMO Financial Group, Ontario, Canada. Ghazala is a Moodys Certified Commercial Credit Manager with over 8 years of in-depth expertise in making credit decisions, loan recommendations and Monitoring, Financial Statement & Ratio Analysis and Structuring Competitive Credit deals.  She has handled an assigned portfolio of over $500MM. in varied industries including Real Estate and Equipment Financing, out of which more than 70% in New Business. 
Ghazala has a Masters in Business Administration, Financing and Marketing from Aligarh Muslim University, India. She earlier worked with the State Bank of India and as Credit Manager with Bank of Baroda in India before migrating to Canada. 
Besides her work in corporate lending, Ghazala is also a public speaker

Links and References:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ghazalazaidi/


RBTC Global Nominee, UZMA ASIF. Architect. Project Manager at Arguson Projects Inc. Ontario Canada Alumna: Nagpur University, Maharashtra, India. Click side arrow for profile details.  

Uzma Asif is a qualified Architect , with 20 years of experience.  certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and certified LEED Green Associate having worked in Canada and across the Middle east (Muscat,Bahrain & Dubai) and India. With academic credentials and extensive experience in construction she has been successful in leading and managing multidisciplinary Design Teams to achieve predetermined objectives within set timelines, budget and quality constraints and delivered projects of varying scale and complexity in the public and private sectors.

Uzma grew up in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh and did her schooling at St. Joseph's Convent Bhopal. She has a bachelors in architecture from Nagpur University. Uzma is a super social animal and has deep interest and has capabilities of organizing small to medium size events . She runs a group in Toronto called “ Bhopalies in Canada” and gathered lot of Bhopalies and organizers annual meet ups to stay connected . 

Her mantra “ You are enough just as you are”

References/Sources

https://www.linkedin.com/in/uzmaasifpmp/?originalSubdomain=ca


Change Makers in Social Development



RBTC Global Nominee. SIBGHAT USMANI. PhD. Social Auditor,  Arche Advisers. Toronto, Canada. Alumni: Jamia Millia Islamia University, Delhi, India. Click side arrow for profile details. 

SIBGHAT USMANI Social Auditor @ Arche Advisors
ExperienceField Education Manager @ Ryerson UniversityResearcher @ Access Alliance and Institute of Work & HealthCommunity Development and Evaluation Coordinator @ Alliance for South Asian Aids Prevention (Asaap)Ethical Trade Executive @ Primark Stores LtdFaculty Associate @ Gautam Buddha University School of ManagementConsultant @ UpsacsLecturer @ Amity UniversityConsultant @ DSAC (Desarrollo de Software de Alta Calidad)
 EDUCATIONRyerson University(Social Work)
2019 - 2020Jamia Millia IslamiaDoctor of Philosophy (Social Work, Philosophy)
2011 - 2016Indira Gandhi National Open University(Management)
2009 - 2009Jamia Millia Islamia(Social Work)

References/Sources:

Demonstrating Legal Acumen 

RBTC Global Nominee. SAHAR AIJAZ,  Senior Legal Counsel at Sustainalytics, a Morningstar Company. Toronto, Canada. Alumni: National Law University, India. Click side arrow for profile details. 

Experienced commercial and transactional attorney. Strong competence in business advisory, contract review and negotiation. Dual-qualified - Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas and in India. Sehar Aijaz is a business law attorney serving entrepreneurs, small businesses and nonprofits in the Greater Austin Area. Sehar is licensed to practice law in the State of Texas and has been a member of the Bar since 2017. She graduated from the National Law University, India with a dual degree in Arts and Law in 2013. She has been named a Texas Rising Star by SuperLawyers since 2020 and listed as one of Austin’s Top Attorneys in Business Law by Austin Monthly Magazine. Sehar is active in the Austin community and volunteers her time with several organizations. She has been on the board of the Austin Bar Association’s Solo Small Firm section since 2018 and is on the board of Gifting Care, a non-profit organization supporting breast cancer patients. Sehar is an alumnus of the Texas Opportunity and Justice Incubator where she was presented with the TOJI Values Award in 2018.
Links and Referenceshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/seharaijaz/

Administering Quality Education  ( in alphabetical order)

RBTC Global Nominee. HINA TAJ AHMED . Educational Assistant for York Region District School Board, Canada.  Alumni: Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India. Click side arrow for profile details.  

My name is Hina Taj Ahmed, and my journey has been one of learning, growth, and giving back. In 1994, I completed my Masters's degree in English Literature from AMU, and shortly after, started my first job as a Corporate Trainer in the Ministry of Social Affairs in Bahrain. For 8 years, I dedicated myself to this role, but I felt a pull towards something more meaningful.
In 2005, I moved to Toronto, Canada, and although there were several opportunities in the workforce, I decided to give back to the community by volunteering at different schools. I wanted to help develop a reading program and support students with various special needs and learning disabilities as I aimed to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young learners, nurturing their minds with care and compassion. For the next 10 years, I devoted myself to this cause, finding immense satisfaction in seeing the kids improve and grow under my guidance.
Today, I work as an Educational Assistant for York Region District School Board, continuing to inspire and support the next generation of learners. Throughout my journey, I have learned the importance of perseverance, empathy, and dedication. These values have shaped my character, helping me overcome obstacles and make a positive impact on those around me. I am grateful for my experiences and look forward to continuing to make a difference in the lives of others.
Links and References


RBTC Global Nominee. NAILA SAEED  Managing Director at Early Years Education System (EYES) Child Care). Toronto, Canada. Alumni: Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India. Click side arrow for profile details. 

Naila Saeed is the Founder and Managing Director of EYES - Early Years Education System - Child Care franchisee.  An entrepreneur, founder of EYES Childcare, which has grown from a single daycare into a thriving franchise with 26 locations across Ontario. Ms. Saeed holds a Master's Degree in Public Administration. She worked earlier as a Childcare Operator in the North York, Scarborough and Woodbridge area. She has 18 years of childcare industry experience both as provider and center operator enhancing principles and practices of child learning and development. 
 In addition to her entrepreneurial success, Naila plays a pivotal role in various community and advocacy organizations. She is the Vice President of the Canadian Council of Indian Muslims, Naila also serves on the Advisory Board of the Professional Immigrants Network. Her leadership extends to her role as Vice President of the Ansaar Foundation. Additionally, Naila is the Secretary of the North America Aligarh Muslim University Alumni Federation. Naila is deeply engaged in community organizing, focusing on outreach and advocacy against hate and for social justice. She has also worked for youth and seniors with Not-for-Profit Organizations, helps new immigrants in settling in GTA and has worked with Syrian refugees. She has been recognized by the Government of Ontario for her dedication and contribution to the community.
 Links/References

RBTC Global Nominee. NOOR AYESHA,  Founder-Managing Director at Iqra International School and Iqra Juniors. Calgary Alberta, Canada. Alumni: Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belagavi, Karnataka, India. Click side arrow for profile details.  

Founder-Managing Director at Iqra International School and Iqra Juniors
Links and Referenceshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/noorayesha00/

RBTC Global Nominee. SEHAR FAZILAT, Vice President Operations and Finance at McMaster University. Canada.  Alumni: Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India. Click side arrow for profile details.  

Saher Fazilat is Vice President Operations and Finance at McMaster University. She has served as the Chief Administrative officer at University of Toronto, Canada's largest University. As the senior non-academic executive  at UTM Saher advised UTM leadership and was responsible for the overall business administration at UTM. 
Saher Fazilat has also served as the assistant vice-president, campus facilities and capital projects (CFCP) at Ryerson University, Canada. In this role, she was  responsible for the planning, design and construction of new buildings at Ryerson, as well as overseeing campus infrastructure maintenance. At this position she has worked to create a collaborative structure that provided strategic direction in city-building initiatives and sustainability.
With more than 17 years in the industry, Saher brings a wealth of experience. In the past , she was executive director of facilities development and engineering at Western University where she led construction, property and energy projects. Prior to joining Western, Saher was division head of new construction and major renovations for the Town of Oakville, managing the city’s largest facilities construction portfolio, including Transit Facility Oakville, renovations to Queen Elizabeth Community Centre, and Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. A recognized expert in construction and engineering, she was the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for design and construction and received the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Community Sustainability Award in 2012.
Being the CAO of UTM she is at an important position and has proved her talent and hard work towards the achievements of the University. She also holds certifications in leadership development and is an inspiration in Public speaking and development.
Saher received her undergraduate degree in civil engineering from the Aligarh Muslim University and earned her M.Sc in building engineering and management from the School of Planning and Architecture in India. She holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Business, York University, and has completed the executive leadership and change management program at Harvard Business School.
Links and References
https://www.linkedin.com/in/saher-fazilat-a58a6015/?originalSubdomain=ca

Creative Contributors to the Arts  & Media 

RBTC Global Nominee. SHAZIA JAVED , Writer, Photographer and Filmmaker, Mississauga, Canada. Alumni: Jamia Millia Islamia University, Delhi, India. Click side arrow for profile details. 

Shazia Javed is a writer, photographer and filmmaker She  is an award-winning, Indo-Canadian filmmaker known for documentaries, 'Namrata' and '3 Seconds Divorce'. Shazia began her filmmaking career in New Delhi and now lives and works in Toronto. 
In 2012, she founded her own media production company, LifeSketch Media Inc, to create engaging content that reflects the realities of diverse communities. LifeSketch Media Inc has produced videos for social media branding , promotion training and public awareness campaign. Shazia's work centers on underrepresented perspectives from her communities and her films are being continuously used by grassroot organisations to create a dialogue for social change. 
Her education includes Master's of Fine arts in Film and  Graduate Diploma in Asian Studies from York University, Toronto, Canada. She has  earned MA in Mass Communications from Jamia Millia Islamia University' New Delhi. Shazia also holds Certificate program for Emerging producers from Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. (NAIT), Edmonton Canada. She enjoys taking filmmaking workshops in community settings 
Her films have been broadcast internationally and screened at prestigious film-festivals including Hot Docs, DOXA, Durban International, Reelworld and Mumbai. Javed’s previous credits include the feature documentary 3 Seconds Divorce, which focuses on the plight of Muslim women activists challenging the tradition of oral divorces in which men can abandon their wives with a mere utterance. The film won the audience award at Toronto’s ReelWorld Film Festival and landed distribution through Netflix.
She has been awarded with numerous awards like Winner Breakthrough Development Award 2020,  Marty Award for Digital media arts, Audience Choice Award for  ' 3 Secs Divorce.Shazia Javed  was  the winner of the 2020 DOC Institute Breakthrough Development Award  for projects emphasizing questions of identity and belonging. Javed’s winning project Sister, Don’t Go That Far questions faith and prescribed gender roles. 
Shazia's films have been supported by National Film Board of Canada, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Edmonton Arts Council, and Doordarshan. Her work has featured on CBC National, BBC Radio, Omni TV, Radio-Canada International, Mississauga News, UN Women's report and Times of India. She is listed among 11 outstanding filmmakers to look out for in Our Front Cover's 2018 issue.
Javed's writings have been published in various newspapers, online magazines and academic journals. In 2010, Edmonton Arts Council hosted an exhibition of her photo-essay on Edmonton’s Muslim Women. Her research interests include Muslim women's social movements, transnational feminism and documentary films.

Links/Referenceshttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm5036765/https://www.linkedin.com/in/javedshazia/?originalSubdomain=ca

RBTC Canada Global Inspirations Team



"While the focus of Rising Beyond The Ceiling is on journeys travelled by Muslim women achievers from India, the stories will inspire all women and girls in India, and around the world, at every stage of their lives, in all areas of endeavor and open a door to new ambitions..........”     Dr. Farah K. Usmani 
A passionate champion of woman, DR. FARAH K. USMANI  is the Founder and President of Rising Beyond The Ceiling, a global initiative to shine a spotlight on the achievements of Muslim women of India and contribute towards changing their stereotypical narrative.  Dr. Usmani is an International Health and Development leader based in New York. She has experience of over twenty-five years working with the United Nations International Civil Service (UN-ICS) in several countries across all regions of the world and has provided policy, planning, programming, and technical leadership with a focus on women and girls. Prior to joining the United Nations in 1997, Farah worked with the public sector and non-governmental donor programs in India. She also serves as the  Global Vice President of SAFAR Foundation, India which works on Supporting Action For Advancement and Rights of women, girls and marginalized populations.  
Dr. Usmani has broken several gender stereotypes in her professional and personal life. She is the first woman from her home state of Uttar Pradesh, and the first Muslim woman from India, to work with the United Nations International Civil Service at Director level in New York. She was also the first women to top the All-India Medical Entrance Examination of Aligarh Muslim University in 1978, where she completed her medical studies. Dr. Usmani has received several awards and recognitions as well as merit fellowships from the World Bank and British Council.  Besides service recognition awards and certificates from the United Nations, UNFPA, she is also the recipient of the 2021 Mahatma Award for Social Impact for contribution to women, girls, and minorities.   Farah has an M.D. in Obstetrics and Gynecology from Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, India and a Master’s in Health Policy Planning and Financing given jointly by the London School of Economics and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, U.K. London.  

Rising Beyond The Ceiling  is supported by SAFAR Foundation . SAFAR stands for Supporting Action For Advancement & Rights.

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