Ms. Shazia Khan, Esq., Executive Director
Shazia is founder and Executive Director of EcoEnergyFinance. Prior to founding EEF, she worked as a consultant at the Africa Energy Division of the World Bank and at the Global Environment Facility. While still an intern with the Global Environment Facility, she had the privilege of reviewing an extremely successful solar photovoltaic project in Bangladesh. She began researching the possibility of replicating this project in Pakistan and other countries where the potential for solar radiation is very high and access to electricity is very low. She has also consulted in the general counsel’s office of the Grameen Foundation, the National Development Finance Corporation in Karachi, Pakistan, and the Center for Human Rights Legal Aid in Cairo, Egypt. Shazia graduated from Smith College in 1998 with a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science. In 2003 she received a Juris Doctor from Vermont Law School where she studied environmental law with a concentration in energy issues. She currently lives in Washington, D.C. where she is a licensed attorney. She is committed to providing clean energy, an enhanced quality of living and economic opportunities to the 2 billion people living in energy poverty around the globe.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Shuaib Siddiqui
Shuaib is a Portfolio Assoicate at Acumen Fund Pakistan where he primarily focuses on the housing and renewable energy sectors. Prior to Acumen Fund, Shuaib worked for two years in the Quantitative Alpha Generation Group at Citadel Investment Group, a hedge fund based in Chicago, where he focused on developing trading strategies utilizing fundamental company data. Prior to that, he was an Assistant Vice President at Merrill Lynch working on The Global Analytic and Thematic Research team. He holds a BA in Economics from New York University.





Sarah  Ahmed
Sarah is a Manager at Chemonics International (CI), overseeing USAID-funded democracy and governance projects in Afghanistan. Prior to joining CI, Sarah managed U.S. Department of State-funded projects in Iraq, focused on political party, governance, and civil society strengthening, in addition to several regional Middle East initiatives working to empower youth and women. Sarah has also worked as a research associate for Raasta Development Consultants in Karachi, Pakistan where she researched human trafficking trends. Sarah graduated from American University’s School of International Service with a Master’s degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution. Sarah has spoken at interfaith programs, rallies, and participated in panel discussions on civil liberties in the U.S. post-9/11, women in Islam, human rights and Islam, human trafficking in South Asia, and women's political participation in Iraq.


Kalsoom Lakhani
Kalsoom is director for ML Resources Social Vision, where she assesses funding and provides support for the division’s venture philanthropic initiatives. Kalsoom also runs the blog, CHUP, or Changing Up Pakistan, which aims to raise awareness on the issues affecting Pakistan. Prior to her work at ML Resources, she was a senior analyst at Lincoln Group, LLC, a strategic communications firm based in Washington, D.C. She received an M.A. in International Affairs/Conflict Resolution from The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, and a B.A. in Foreign Affairs and Middle East Studies from the University of Virginia.

Samir Kanani, MD
Samir attended the University of Texas at Austin and graduated summa cum laude with a degree in psychology and biology. He earned his MD degree at the University of Texas Medical School at Galveston, and served an internship at Pennsylvania State University. He completed his residency in radiation oncology at the University of Maryland, where he was Chief Resident. He dedicated his final year to research and training in brachytherapy (radiation implants) and radiosurgery.





Javeria Shahab, MPH
Javeria received her bachelor’s degree from Siena College in Loudonville, NY and her Masters in International Public Health from New York University. She currently serves as a Group Account Supervisor at Draftfcb Healthcare in New York, NY, where her responsibilities consist of assisting pharmaceutical companies in strategy, competitive landscaping, message positioning, etc. She brings to EEF her tactical implementation expertise as a program director, organizing many international congresses and supervising the development and delivery of high-science content for key opinion leaders all over the globe. Javeria has a special place for development work and helping to empower the most fragile sectors of society to be sustainable and progressive. She has organized, coordinated, and implemented health screening drives throughout New York City for the South Asian Health Initiative, held fundraisers for the Pakistani Earthquake victims, and most recently assisted in relief efforts for the refugees of SWAT.

STAFF

Ms. Naila Siddiqui, Esq., Deputy Director
Naila will be in Pakistan overseeing the implementation of the organization's pilot project. Prior to joining EEF she served as a Staff Attorney in the Legal Division of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit where she reviewed asylum appeals, pro se habeas petitions, and other civil claims brought by prisoners.  Her interests are in the areas of human rights and access to social and economic justice.  Prior to attending law school she worked on a project to deter guard on prisoner assaults in maximum security prisons while working at Prisoners’ Legal Services (formerly known as Massachusetts Correctional Legal Services).  During law school she worked with the National Prison Project of the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Institute of Corrections Project Addressing Prison Rape, the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, and was a Student Attorney in the International Human Rights Law Clinic.  Naila received her J.D. from American University, Washington College of Law and her B.A. from New York University in Anthropology.   She is licensed to practice in New York State.

Ms. Sania Khan, Esq., Program Associate
Sania received a B.A. from Syracuse University in International Relations and Political Science, and a J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law. She has spent time working with Relief International in Pakistan in the context of post - earthquake relief efforts, and is currently Vice-Chair of the Asia-Pacific Committee for the American Bar Association, Section of International Law. She has a strong commitment to development work and intends on spending her career strengthening the intersection between the role of law and international development, specifically in the context of basic infrastructure development and efficient usage of natural resources. She is licensed to practice in New York State.


Mr. Lee R. Glass, Esq., Program Associate
Lee earned his B.A. in Philosophy from the College of Charleston and a J.D. from Vermont Law School. Prior to joining Ecoenergy Finance, he was working with the Center for Resource Conservation in Boulder, CO on renewable energy projects and grant writing. He has also worked within Congressional offices in Washington, DC and the State of Tennessee's Department of Human Services, represented homeless and indigent clients in administrative court and worked in the environmental field with the Public Interest Research Group. Lee is a licensed attorney who is committed to working for the public's interest, be it domestically or internationally.

ADVISORS

Mr. Naeem Ashraf, JD, Strategic Business Advisor
Naeem is the Senior Analyst for ActionNet Inc., a rapidly growing government contractor that provides grant management support to federal and commercial customers. As Senior Analyst, he currently works with the Federal Transit Administration on their Transportation Electronic Award Management (TEAM) program, a project and financial management application, which helps make Federal Assistance Programs more accessible to the public. Naeem has extensive prior experience in collaborating with various NGOs, public officials, and civil rights groups in order to create dialogue about legislative and civil rights issues. He has spoken in public forums, participated in panel discussions and interfaith dialogues to promote awareness about ethnic, social, and financial issues affecting American Muslims. Naeem graduated from American University's School of International Service with a B.A. in International Development with a focus on the Middle East and the Asian Subcontinent. In 2001 he received a Juris Doctor from St. Thomas University's School of Law in Miami, FL with an emphasis on International Law. While in law school, he was the President of the International Moot Court and President of the International Law Students Association. As the Strategic Business Advisor, Naeem will direct Fund Development for EEF and work on developing short & long terms goals for the organization.  He will work with EEF in conceiving, developing, implementing, and maintaining various avenues of fund development.

Ayesha Ahsan Malik
Ayesha is a Fulbright Scholar pursuing a Masters degree in Financial Engineering at Columbia University. She completed her undergraduate degree in Economics in her hometown Lahore, Pakistan, from the Lahore University of Management Sciences. During her undergraduate program she gained practical experience in the field of finance through an internship at CitiGroup’s Corporate and Investment Banking Division. After graduation she worked with the Ministry of Finance of Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank on a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Sector Development Project. Her experiences have given her insights into the gaps that exist in the SME sector of Pakistan. After completing her graduate degree she would like to be involved in providing unique financial solutions to these companies, thus playing an important role in both the development of the financial services industry and the SME sector in Pakistan. Ayesha is very passionate about the development of her country. In Pakistan she was involved in running the Lahore Chapter of a volunteer-based NGO, Association for Development of Pakistan (ADP). The organization facilitates the operations and finances of development related projects in the fields of health, education, shelter, drinking water, and sanitation all over Pakistan. She is interested in exploring new avenues in the field of finance for the development of Pakistan. Ayesha would like to be involved in providing unique financial solutions, playing an important role in both the development of the financial services industry and the SME sector in Pakistan.