20 years since the Indian Ocean tsunami – one of the worst natural disasters in history, which killed around 230,000 people in 14 countries and caused billions of dollars of damage – Islamic Relief has been speaking to survivors and aid workers about their experiences. Survivors in Indonesia, where more than 130,000 people…
Read moreAhead of the 20th anniversary of the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami and earthquake, humanitarians met in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, in August to discuss the state of country’s humanitarian sector. For Candra Kirana, Islamic Relief Indonesia’s Deputy CEO and Head of Operations, Candra Kirana, reflecting on the 2004 disaster has both professional and personal…
Read more20 years ago, Professor Ede Surya Darmawan was one of the first Islamic Relief staff to respond to the enormous earthquake and tsunami that devastated communities around the Indian Ocean. Here, Ede, now Chair of Islamic Relief Indonesia’s Board of Trustees and Professor in Public Health Development at Jakarta’s Universitas Indonesia, looks back…
Read moreThis month marks 20 years since an enormous earthquake and tsunami devastated communities around the Indian Ocean. Here, Haroon Kash, now Head of Programme Funding and Partnership Development at Islamic Relief, reflects on arriving in Aceh 1 week after the disaster to join the response. 20 years ago, I learned what a tsunami…
Read moreThis month marks 20 years since an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe claimed the lives of around 230,000 people, and forever changed the lives of many more. Early in the morning of 26 December, one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded sent huge tsunami waves barrelling into coastal communities around the Indian Ocean, and…
Read moreWhile COP29 discussions on the negative impacts of climate change are echoed around the world, in places like Indonesia’s West Nusa Tenggara province, the realities are already starting to bite. In the small village of Songgela, Andi is at the forefront of a local battle against climate change. The 55-year-old tends to his…
Read moreThe theme for International Women’s Day 2024 is ‘Inspire Inclusion’, celebrating the diversity and inclusion of women to create more equal societies, and fairer environments where women feel empowered. To mark International Women’s Day, we are sharing stories of some of the amazing women Islamic Relief supports around the world. Stitching a future…
Read more‘Invest to prevent violence against women and girls’ is the rallying call for this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign. It is a theme that challenges us to all to take positive action to drive change – something that an inspirational young Indonesian woman called Tin has certainly done in…
Read moreDisabilities are often associated with images of wheelchairs and crutches, but there is an entire spectrum of so-called ‘invisible disabilities’ that affect people’s lives. One such person is Iwan, a 17-year-old Indonesian boy whose lack of eyesight since birth has not dimmed his vision for a life full of potential. “I don’t carry…
Read moreThe issue of early forced marriage continues to be one of the biggest challenges facing girls worldwide. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) predicts that if the situation remains the same over the next decade, 140 million girls around the world will marry before their 18th birthday. Many courageous and determined individuals are…
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Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.
Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.
Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.
Nadeem Azhar
Nadeem joined Islamic Relief Worldwide in September 2022. He has worked in the charitable sector for over a decade.
He studied Modern History and Politics at Manchester University, and at the University of Law in London before qualifying as a solicitor in 2011.
Nadeem is an experienced corporate, commercial and governance lawyer, having worked with various faith-based and grant making charities as well those in health and education settings. He was a partner at a law firm in London before moving in-house where he focused on setting up and restructuring charities and social enterprises.
Most recently, Nadeem was Lead Counsel at Mind, a leading mental health charity, where he co-authored a new federation agreement, revamped legal processes, and played a major role in developing its strategic and fundraising partnerships.
Nadeem has been a charity trustee for the Seafarers Charity, as well as many grant-making bodies and theatre companies.
Adnan Hafiz
Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.
Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.
Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.
Martin Cottingham joined Islamic Relief in 2012 as IRUK Media Relations Manager, and was appointed Head of Communications in 2015 before taking up his current position as Director of External Relations and Advocacy for Islamic Relief Worldwide.
Martin has helped Islamic Relief to increase its mainstream media profile and expand its campaigning work, producing hard-hitting advocacy reports on floods in Pakistan (2011) famine in Somalia (2012) disaster risk reduction (2013) and aid to Afghanistan (2014). He has over 20 years’ experience working in media, communications and marketing roles for international development and environmental charities.
Martin graduated from the University of London with a degree in English and Drama (1982-85) then trained as a journalist with a postgraduate diploma at City University (1986-87). He has previously worked for Christian Aid as Editor of Christian Aid News and Media Relations Manager (1988-97) for Oxfam as Regional Campaigns Manager (1997-2000) and at the Soil Association as Marketing Director (2001-2006), as well as working for a wide range of organisations as a freelance writer, researcher and communications consultant.
Waseem Ahmad joined the Islamic Relief family over 24 years ago, serving as Programme Officer in the Balochistan province of south-western Pakistan before becoming Head of Programmes in Pakistan. Waseem then moved to Oxfam and Tearfund before returning to Islamic Relief to establish our mission in Malawi. Later serving as Head of Programme Funding and Partnerships, Waseem led the response to major crises across the globe, including the East Africa drought, Pakistan earthquake and the Indian Ocean Tsunami.
Waseem then served for nearly 6 years as our Director of International Programmes, during which time the charity secured and retained the coveted Core Humanitarian Standard certification in recognition of the quality of our programming. He was appointed CEO of Islamic Relief in May 2021.
With a special interest in community mobilisation and infrastructure, Waseem received an MSc in Project Planning and Management from the University of Bradford, as well as an MSc in Economics from Arid Agriculture University in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Waseem has also worked for Lepra Health in Action and is a member of the International Civil Society Centre’s Board of Trustees. The father-of-3 enjoys walking and playing football, and is a keen birdwatcher.
