Discover insights, experiences, and views from our colleagues and those we serve right across the world
Five years to the day after the adoption of the Paris Agreement, the world meets this Saturday 12th December for the Climate Ambition Summit. This brings together heads of government ready to make new commitments to tackle climate change, and to deliver on what they previously agreed. Islamic Relief’s Senior Policy Advisor Jamie…
Read moreNermina, who lives in Gracanica in Bosnia and Herzegovina, experienced many years of domestic abuse. Here the 43-year-old reveals how Islamic Relief has helped her and why she speaks out to empower others. My husband was an alcoholic and I had a difficult marriage for the 15 years I was married to him.…
Read moreAn estimated 38% of young people in the Gaza Strip have considered suicide at least once. With mental health becoming endemic in Gaza, Islamic Relief’s Heba AbuJarbou examines the multifaceted impact of youth unemployment. Crisis within a crisis Years of emergencies and protracted humanitarian crisis have all but exhausted the resilience of The…
Read moreThis Islamophobia Awareness Month highlights one of the greatest political and moral challenges facing the world. Reflecting on the devastating consequences of Islamophobia, our head of global advocacy Shahin Ashraf argues that covert prejudice is as harmful as overt hate – and everyone must hold themselves accountable. There’s no doubt that Islamophobia is…
Read moreIslamic Relief believes that helping children to thrive is an investment in a better future. This Universal Children’s Day, inspirational Salimata, 16, reveals how we help her secure positive change for children in Mali’s capital city. I am an orphan sponsored by Islamic Relief. I live with my grandmother, my younger sisters, and…
Read moreThis Universal Children’s day, Nighar from Bangladesh describes how Islamic Relief’s orphan sponsorship programme allowed her to gain an education and supported her through a very difficult period of time after her father passed away. When I was a child my father was a vegetable seller. He didn’t earn very much, but we…
Read moreJamie Williams, senior policy advisor for Islamic Relief, welcomes a new report outlining how we’re working with people in Africa and Asia to deal with the consequences of the climate crisis. Released this week, ‘Adapting for Climate Justice’ outlines our efforts to help people adapt to the changes caused by global heating and…
Read moreA vegan for three decades, Martin Cottingham reflects on increasing awareness of the benefits of eating less meat – and why it is relevant to Islamic Relief. World Vegan Day, November 1, is not necessarily an event you would expect a Muslim organisation to pay much attention to. But as a vegan of…
Read morePeople with disabilities are often in greater need of humanitarian assistance, but are less likely to receive it. Islamic Relief protection and inclusion advisor Sherin AlShaikhAhmed examines what Islamic Relief is doing to make sure our humanitarian action serves everyone in need. Last year alone Islamic Relief delivered over 150 emergency projects, providing…
Read moreHumanitarian aid has to transform to deal with the effects of climate change, warns Islamic Relief’s Senior Policy Advisor for Poverty Reduction, Jamie Williams in an article in Voice Out Loud, the influential journal of European humanitarian non-governmental organisations. Islamic Relief has been responding to emergencies for the past 36 years. From our…
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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.
