Oxford HR was proud to partner with Malala Fund again to lead the search for their new Chief Executive Pakistan—an appointment that marks a significant step in strengthening the organisation’s presence and impact in the country. This individual joins the global Executive Leadership Team and will be based in Pakistan.
Malala Fund is working toward a world where all girls can learn and lead. It advocates for resources and policy changes needed to give all girls a secondary education. In Pakistan, Malala’s story is well known, and in some sections of society her message and mission are controversial.
Given this context, the role demanded a leader of exceptional courage, resilience, and cultural sensitivity, someone able to lead with nuance in complex environments and represent the organisation on a global stage.
This has been quite a rewarding process for us at Oxford HR. We had the privilege of engaging with exceptional women leaders across Pakistan whose insights and lived experiences deeply enriched our process. Their stories highlighted both the challenges and the remarkable progress being made in girls’ education. We gained valuable insights on Pakistan’s political landscape and the embedded grassroot movements advocating for education.
We curated a strong longlist of outstanding Pakistani women leaders and successfully supported the appointment of Nishat Riaz – an inspiring leader with 25 years of experience in advocating for education as a fundamental human right. In her previous role, Nishat was the Global Head of Higher Education Systems and Internationalisation at the British Council.
Nishat has a deep passion for education and girls’ empowerment, being the first in 800 years of her family’s history to attend secondary school and the first female engineer from the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. Her appointment as Chief Executive Pakistan reflects her commitment to give back to society and drive meaningful change in her home country.
A full case study is coming soon!
