Discover insights, experiences, and views from our colleagues and those we serve right across the world
Islamic Relief’s Senior Policy Advisor for Poverty Reduction, Jamie Williams, is in Germany attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference and shares his experience hearing a speech from the UN Security General. Islamic Relief is just finishing its first week at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Germany. Here we are trying to…
Read moreEight-year old Yomna describes her life inside bombarded and blockaded Gaza. My name is Yomna. I am 8 years old and I love my dad, mum, and brother – and our cat. I live in Gaza Strip in Palestine. We used to live in a flat, it was so pretty. There was a…
Read moreIn his second of 2 blogs, Islamic Relief’s Senior Policy Advisor for Poverty Reduction, Jamie Williams, focuses on how locally-led adaptation can address the impacts of climate change. You can read Jamie’s previous blog in the series here. In part one we detailed how the world is heating and that its climate systems…
Read moreAn exhausted Islamic Relief aid worker* in Gaza describes heartbreak as ceasefire hopes quickly turned to despair when Israel ordered Rafah evacuation. Around a week ago, I was reading the news and spotted a one-line news item saying the Palestinians accepted a deal for a ceasefire. I didn’t think much of it, expecting…
Read moreIn the first of 2 blogs, Islamic Relief’s Senior Policy Advisor for Poverty Reduction, Jamie Williams, talks about the effects climate change could have on our world over the next 5 years. Last year was the warmest on record, overtaking by a large margin 2016, the previous warmest year. July was the hottest…
Read moreExhausted by more than 6 months of bombardment and attacks, an Islamic Relief aid worker* in Gaza reflects on a birthday blighted by suffering, but refuses to give up hope. Yesterday was my birthday. My life is nothing like I imagined it would be when I turned 40. I am displaced, have lost…
Read moreAs the crisis in Gaza passes its 200th day, an Islamic Relief aid worker* reflects on how his family and others have coped with shortages of food and cash, and uncertainty about the future.It has been over 200 days since this war began, though I lost exact count a while ago. The situation…
Read moreIt is 1 year since a brutal war erupted in Sudan, pushing the country to the verge of famine and creating the world’s biggest displacement crisis. Many of Islamic Relief’s own staff have been deeply affected by the violence. Elsadig Elnour, Islamic Relief’s Country Director in Sudan, reflects on the events of the…
Read moreIn her first blog of the year, regular blogger and Communications and Media officer, Elizabeth Mandala recounts the devastating impact a string of crises is having on farmers in Malawi. From Covid-19 to Cyclone Freddy, situations in recent years have left many people in Malawi traumatised. Not so long ago, the country was…
Read moreNearly 6 months since the unprecedented escalation began in Gaza, an Islamic Relief aid worker* struggles with loss and fear but retains a hope for peace that cannot be extinguished. It has been almost 6 whole months of this war and there is no end to it. I look back on these past…
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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.
