About Us

Our Leadership Team

A Penny Appeal aid worker stands among the rubble of a collapsed building, assessing damage in a disaster-stricken area under clear skies

Board to Trustees

Our Senior Leadership Team are dedicated to driving meaningful change, steering our efforts to break the poverty cycle and build brighter futures.

  • United Kingdom
  • United States of America
  • Canada
  • Middle East
  • Australia
  • South Africa
  • Mohammed Junaid Akhtar
    Chair

    Mohammed Junaid Akhtar is a respected community leader with extensive experience in the charity sector. He has held trustee and senior leadership roles across well‑known charities throughout the country. Currently working for a statutory organisation as a safeguarding expert, he combines expertise in charity law, governance and finance with a strong commitment to justice through his role as a Magistrate Judge. His achievements include developing innovative safeguarding frameworks for faith‑based charities and securing increased funding for community initiatives. In a short period of time as Chair of Penny Appeal, he has strengthened the organisation’s governance, delivered cost savings and is leading change to enhance effectiveness and sustainability. He is providing strategic direction to ensure the charity remains focused on impact, accountability and long‑term growth in support of the communities it serves.

  • Mohammed Khizar
    Trustee

    Mohammed Khizar brings extensive experience in project management, charity leadership, and Islamic studies, making him an exceptional addition to Penny Appeal. As Chair of the Sufi Abdullah Foundation, he has developed strategic plans, implemented policies, and ensured financial and operational oversight to achieve sustainable impact. His professional background includes delivering complex government projects, engaging stakeholders, and fostering resilience in challenging environments.

  • Huma Shamas
    Trustee

    Huma Shamas brings a wealth of expertise in health and social care, with over a decade of experience leading and developing care services. As a co-founder and trustee of Inspiring Champions, she has been instrumental in setting strategic goals to empower vulnerable families and children in disadvantaged communities. Currently serving as a Registered Care Manager, Huma is dedicated to delivering high-quality, person-centred care while maintaining exceptional regulatory standards. Her strong leadership, organisational skills, and commitment to inclusivity make her a great addition to the team.

  • Jatinder Singh Panesar
    Trustee

    Jatinder Singh Panesar brings experience in commercial estates, safeguarding and charity relief, providing valuable expertise to support Penny Appeal’s mission. Having recently taken on the role of Chair of the Safeguarding Sub‑Committee, he will strengthen the charity’s safeguarding arrangements and oversight. His previous experience includes working with regulators to develop frameworks and leading initiatives that delivered meaningful, sustainable impact for communities in need.

  • Umar Tariq
    Trustee

    Umar Tariq brings valuable expertise in graphic design and marketing, alongside several years of experience running a successful business. He offers strong practical insight into current organisational and operational challenges, enabling him to contribute effectively at a strategic and governance level. Umar has been actively involved in a range of charity projects and is deeply committed to delivering for donors who place their trust in the charity. He will also support the sub‑committees, where his creativity, industry awareness and leadership skills will contribute to the development of sustainable and impactful strategies.

UK Senior Leadership Team

  • Ishaq Israr
    Ishaq Israr
    CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
  • Ahmad Bostan
    Ahmad Bostan
    Director of Marketing & Communication
  • Kamran Shahid
    Kamran Shahid
    Director of Finance
  • Steven Abiona
    Steven Abiona
    Director of IT
  • Rehan Dawer
    Rehan Dawer
    Chair

    Rehan is a social impact entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, and leadership mentor with 27 years of experience in strategic planning, organizational development, and enterprise management. He has held management roles at Bank of America, American Express, Morgan Stanley, and Guidance Residential, where as part of the founding executive team he led the start-up’s first $1 billion in sales and marketing strategy. Rehan is committed to building human-centred, sustainable institutions and serves as a founding board member of Communities in Schools of Northern Virginia, helping “at risk” students graduate and attend college.

  • Shaun Ahmad
    Shaun Ahmad
    VICE CHAIR

    Shaun has been with Penny Appeal USA since the beginning and was formerly the Board Treasurer. Shaun is a businessman, investor and philanthropist. He has been involved with several community service organizations that promote interfaith dialogue, foster racial and ethnic understanding, and work to fight poverty.

  • Prianka Fatima Alam
    Prianka Fatima Alam
    Trustee

    Prianka Fatima Alam has a master’s in Industrial Organizational Psychology and serves as Deloitte’s Global Talent & Organizational Transformation Leader. She advises USA Federal Health clients on communication, change management, leadership development, and technology adoption, while also leading global initiatives on mental health, well-being, gender balance, and diversity, equity, and inclusion for Deloitte’s 300,000+ professionals. Before Deloitte, she directed policy research at IMPAQ International and began her career at Johns Hopkins conducting research on treatments for drug addiction.

  • Wasim Lala
    Wasim Lala
    Trustee

    “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” – Arthur C. Clarke. Wasim believes advancing technology—especially cloud and now GenAI—is key to unlocking the full potential of data and creating “magic” experiences for stakeholders, from seamless customer journeys to faster, more accurate health insurance claims. With over a decade of consulting experience across MENA, Europe, Latin America, and North America, he is passionate about helping organizations modernize at pace and cost-effectively. He also leads several DE&I initiatives.

  • William Galvin
    William Galvin
    Chair
  • Sameena Qureishi
    Sameena Qureishi
    Trustee
  • Omair Khan
    Omair Khan
    Trustee
  • Adeem Younis
    Adeem Younis
    Trustee

Canada Senior Leadership Team

  • Fawad Kalsi
    CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
  • Rabea Soofi
    Director of Programs
  • Reead Rahamut
    Director of Finance
  • Hajira Khan
    Director of Marketing
  • Owis Hikmat
    Director of Development
  • Mohammed Junaid Akhtar
    Chair

    Mohammed Junaid Akhtar is a respected community leader with extensive experience in the charity sector. He has held trustee and senior leadership roles across well‑known charities throughout the country. Currently working for a statutory organisation as a safeguarding expert, he combines expertise in charity law, governance and finance with a strong commitment to justice through his role as a Magistrate Judge. His achievements include developing innovative safeguarding frameworks for faith‑based charities and securing increased funding for community initiatives. In a short period of time as Chair of Penny Appeal, he has strengthened the organisation’s governance, delivered cost savings and is leading change to enhance effectiveness and sustainability. He is providing strategic direction to ensure the charity remains focused on impact, accountability and long‑term growth in support of the communities it serves.

  • Mohammed Khizar
    Trustee

    Mohammed Khizar brings extensive experience in project management, charity leadership, and Islamic studies, making him an exceptional addition to Penny Appeal. As Chair of the Sufi Abdullah Foundation, he has developed strategic plans, implemented policies, and ensured financial and operational oversight to achieve sustainable impact. His professional background includes delivering complex government projects, engaging stakeholders, and fostering resilience in challenging environments.

  • Huma Shamas
    Trustee

    Huma Shamas brings a wealth of expertise in health and social care, with over a decade of experience leading and developing care services. As a co-founder and trustee of Inspiring Champions, she has been instrumental in setting strategic goals to empower vulnerable families and children in disadvantaged communities. Currently serving as a Registered Care Manager, Huma is dedicated to delivering high-quality, person-centred care while maintaining exceptional regulatory standards. Her strong leadership, organisational skills, and commitment to inclusivity make her a great addition to the team.

  • Jatinder Singh Panesar
    Trustee

    Jatinder Singh Panesar brings experience in commercial estates, safeguarding and charity relief, providing valuable expertise to support Penny Appeal’s mission. Having recently taken on the role of Chair of the Safeguarding Sub‑Committee, he will strengthen the charity’s safeguarding arrangements and oversight. His previous experience includes working with regulators to develop frameworks and leading initiatives that delivered meaningful, sustainable impact for communities in need.

  • Umar Tariq
    Trustee

    Umar Tariq brings valuable expertise in graphic design and marketing, alongside several years of experience running a successful business. He offers strong practical insight into current organisational and operational challenges, enabling him to contribute effectively at a strategic and governance level. Umar has been actively involved in a range of charity projects and is deeply committed to delivering for donors who place their trust in the charity. He will also support the sub‑committees, where his creativity, industry awareness and leadership skills will contribute to the development of sustainable and impactful strategies.

  • Dr Muhammad Khan
    Trustee
  • Soad Mehana
    Trustee
  • Ahmad Abdul
    Trustee
  • Latiff Mponda
    Trustee
  • Naseema Mall
    Trustee
  • Nazeer Jama
    Trustee
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