Discover insights, experiences, and views from our colleagues and those we serve right across the world
Jamie Williams, Islamic Relief’s senior policy advisor for poverty reduction, reflects on the life and legacy of a man who helped to shape Islamic Relief’s climate policy. The death has been announced of the great climate scientist, mentor and campaigner Professor Saleemul Huq. Recognised across the world as the leading authority on climate…
Read moreMuhammad Qasim Ali, communications coordinator at Islamic Relief, highlights how we are supporting local humanitarian organisations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of the STRIDE project. In the heart of the DRC, where resilience is tested daily, a remarkable transformation is underway. The DRC is one of the world’s most…
Read moreAmid the ongoing escalation, an Islamic Relief worker* in Gaza shares his growing sense of despair as an end to the violence remains out of sight. We are exhausted as the weight of each day grows still heavier on our shoulders. Life is becoming unbearable. The pain and suffering are increasing by the…
Read moreReflecting on the impact meeting the people Islamic Relief supports has had on him, regional media creator for the Middle East and Eastern Europe, Khaled Al-Wakeel, shares a poem inspired by Islamic Relief’s work.One day I found myself coming back from a visit to the field and writing some lines of poetry. Sometimes…
Read moreMore than a week after relocating his family south, an Islamic Relief worker* in Gaza finds the search for water, food and electricity increasingly challenging, and their environment, increasingly dangerous. It was after midnight when a huge blast shook the flat where we’ve been staying since we fled our home. Some picture frames…
Read moreContinuing his dispatches from Gaza, an Islamic Relief aid worker and father of 2* describes the ever-present fear and scramble for survival that ordinary Palestinian families are facing. I am afraid. My days are filled with a relentless stream of news telling me they targeted civilian houses and dozens have died. In the…
Read moreAman Soufi, humanitarian advocacy advisor at Islamic Relief, recently interviewed Hamza, a charity worker in Gedaref province, Sudan. Hamza shared the ongoing hardships he faces due to the armed conflict, but still holds out hope for a peaceful resolution between the warring parties and the recovery of their country. Alongside many people in…
Read moreDisplaced and struggling to find water, an Islamic Relief worker* describes the hardships their family has faced since fleeing their home in Gaza. I’m writing this on the second day after evacuating our home, following Israeli orders to move to the south of the Gaza Strip. The situation here is no different, bombing…
Read moreWater is essential for life on our planet but, as Elizabeth Mandala, communications and reporting officer at Islamic Relief Malawi, explains, not everyone has equal access and the effects of this can touch every area of a person’s life.There is a popular idiom that says: “Water is life”. Water is certainly necessary for…
Read moreAs Israel orders more than 1 million people to evacuate northern Gaza amid an unprecedented escalation, an Islamic Relief worker* describes days of dwindling resources in his last blog before the internet is cut off. Every day in Gaza now starts with artillery sounds. Warships at sea hit the beach and surrounding areas,…
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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 20 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.
