Governance
Ms. Ayesha Gulzar
Ms. Gulzar has built an impressive career as a management consultant and Master Trainer, bringing together two decades of international experience across multiple continents and sectors. Her educational foundation is particularly strong, combining technical expertise through her MIS degree from the University of Connecticut with strategic leadership training from Yale University, and further specialization in modern business approaches through Oxford University’s programs in social media and social entrepreneurship.
Her professional focus on enterprise development and microfinance, especially in agricultural value chains, positions her at the intersection of traditional business development and sustainable economic growth. This specialization is particularly relevant given the global emphasis on food security and agricultural innovation. Her work spans both hybrid and traditional value chain creation, suggesting she understands how to bridge modern technological approaches with established agricultural practices.
Her specialized experience with two non-banking microfinance companies (NBMFCs) is particularly relevant given the critical role microfinance plays in development and poverty alleviation. This sector experience provides her with practical understanding of financial inclusion challenges, client assessment, risk management in underserved markets, and the operational complexities of reaching low-income populations with financial services.
The combination of formal certifications in microfinance and development sector training, along with her role as a master trainer, indicates both technical competency and the ability to transfer knowledge effectively. Her experience as a master trainer suggests she can distill complex concepts and share best practices, which is valuable for organizational capacity building and knowledge management.
Her participation in workshops, exposure visits, and seminars both domestically and internationally demonstrates continuous learning and exposure to global best practices in development work. This ongoing professional development is crucial in a field that’s constantly evolving with new approaches and methodologies.
As an independent director, her anthropological background and development experience position her well to provide strategic oversight with a focus on social impact and community engagement.
Malik Safdar Ali
Mr. Safdar brings a well-rounded financial leadership profile with over two decades of experience spanning multiple industries and organizational contexts. His dual qualification as a Chartered Accountant combined with an MBA in Finance & Accounts provides him with both technical expertise and strategic business acumen – a combination that’s particularly valuable for senior financial leadership roles.
His career trajectory shows progressive responsibility, starting as Chief Accountant and advancing through various managerial positions over nine years before transitioning to director-level responsibilities at RCDP. This progression suggests strong performance and growing trust from organizations in his capabilities.
The nine-year tenure as Head of Finance and Accounts in the sugar industry is particularly noteworthy, as this sector typically involves complex operations including agricultural inputs, manufacturing processes, and commodity trading. This experience would have exposed him to supply chain finance, seasonal cash flow management, and the unique challenges of agribusiness – skills that are highly transferable to other industries.
His role as member of RCDP’s Board of Directors audit committee demonstrates governance expertise and the confidence of his peers in his oversight capabilities. Being an active board member since RCDP’s formation indicates long-term commitment and institutional knowledge, which is valuable for organizational continuity and strategic decision-making.
The corporate governance training from Hikmah Consulting shows his commitment to best practices in organizational leadership, which is increasingly important as organizations face greater scrutiny and regulatory requirements.
His expertise in strategic and financial planning, systems, and control management positions him well in contributing to organizational growth and risk management. The combination of operational experience, board governance
Ms. Umm-e-Kalsoom
Ms. Kalsoom brings a unique blend of academic rigor and practical development experience to her role as an independent director at RCDP. Her 12-year career trajectory through various national and international organizations in managerial and leadership positions demonstrates her ability to adapt and perform across different organizational cultures and contexts.
Her educational background in Anthropology at the M.Phil level from Quaid-i-Azam University provides her with a distinctive analytical lens that’s particularly valuable in development work. Anthropological training offers deep insights into social structures, cultural dynamics, and community behavior patterns – skills that are essential for understanding the communities and beneficiaries that development organizations serve. This academic foundation likely enhances her ability to design culturally appropriate interventions and understand the social implications of development programs.
Mr. Naeem Shahid
Mr. Naeem brings a distinctive combination of technological acumen, international business experience, and cultural competency that positions him as a valuable strategic asset to RCDP’s board. His 18-year track record in profitable business execution demonstrates consistent performance in delivering results across different market conditions and business environments.
His MBA in Information Technology from BZU provides him with a strong foundation in both business strategy and technological systems – a combination that’s increasingly critical as organizations navigate digital transformation and leverage technology for operational efficiency and market expansion. His noted talent for quickly grasping technological advancements suggests he can help RCDP stay current with emerging tools and platforms that could enhance their development impact.
The specialized certification in Managing Across Cultures (MAC) from the joint venture of Howard, Oxford, Cambridge, and Preston Universities is particularly noteworthy. This prestigious program indicates serious investment in developing cross-cultural leadership capabilities, which is essential for any organization working in diverse cultural contexts or seeking international partnerships. Combined with his Organization Behavior studies in the UAE, this suggests sophisticated understanding of human dynamics in multicultural business environments.
His role as CEO of Halal Foundation and certification as a Halal Lead Auditor through International Halal Integrity (IHI) Malaysia demonstrates expertise in a rapidly growing global market segment. This specialized knowledge could be valuable for RCDP if they work with agribusiness or food-related enterprises, as halal certification is increasingly important for market access in Muslim-majority countries and Muslim consumer segments globall
Mr. Mubarik Ali Sarwar
Mr. Mubarak professional journey represents an exceptional depth and breadth of experience in social development that spans nearly three decades. Starting your career in 1997 with the Punjab Private Sector Ground Water Development Project funded by the World Bank provided you with early exposure to large-scale, internationally funded development initiatives, which likely shaped your understanding of rigorous project management and donor requirements.
The progression from working on various projects supported by major international organizations like DFID, ILO, and UNDP to founding AGAHE in 2004 demonstrates entrepreneurial vision and the confidence to translate your accumulated expertise into independent organizational leadership. This transition from implementer to founder shows your evolution from executing others’ visions to creating your own institutional platform for development impact.
AGAHE’s portfolio of over 250 projects and programs is remarkable and speaks to your ability to build and sustain an organization that consistently delivers results across multiple thematic areas. The diversity of your partnerships – spanning government departments, academia, development partners, and local civil society organizations – indicates sophisticated stakeholder management skills and the ability to work effectively across different institutional cultures and requirements.
Mr. Mubarak thematic expertise covering Education, Health, Microfinance, WASH, Food Security, Sustainable Livelihood, Climate Change, and Disaster Risk Resilience represents a comprehensive understanding of interconnected development challenges. This holistic perspective is particularly valuable because these sectors often overlap and influence each other – for instance, how climate change affects food security, or how WASH interventions impact health outcomes.
The focus on areas like Climate Change and DRR positions you at the forefront of contemporary development challenges. These are increasingly critical areas as communities worldwide grapple with climate adaptation and building resilience against various shocks and stresses.
Mr. Mubarak 28-year journey from project implementer to organizational founder and leader of a substantial development portfolio demonstrates not only technical expertise but also the leadership, vision, and institutional building capabilities necessary to create lasting development impact. The longevity and scale of AGAHE’s work suggests you’ve successfully built systems and approaches that can deliver consistent results across diverse contexts and partnerships.
Ms. Arooj Javed
Ms. Arooj brings a valuable educational perspective to RCDP’s board that complements the financial and business expertise of other directors. Her 12-year career in educational leadership and management provides her with unique insights into human development, capacity building, and institutional learning – competencies that are directly transferable to development work.
Her current role as curriculum coordinator and master trainer with Progressive Education Network (PEN) demonstrates expertise in designing and implementing systematic learning approaches. This experience is particularly relevant for development organizations, which often need to build capacity among beneficiaries, staff, and partner organizations. Her ability to structure learning processes and transfer knowledge effectively could be valuable for RCDP’s training and development initiatives.
The Master’s degree in Social Sciences from Punjab University Lahore provides her with a broad understanding of social dynamics, community structures, and development challenges. This academic foundation, combined with her practical educational experience, gives her the analytical tools to understand the social context in which development programs operate and their potential impact on communities.
Muhammad Asim
Muhammad Asim brings significant grassroots development experience and academic depth to RCDP’s board through his 14-year career focused on community and women empowerment. His combination of practical field experience and ongoing doctoral studies in sustainable development creates a valuable bridge between academic research and implementation realities.
His extensive experience in microfinance and social sector work aligns well with RCDP’s likely focus areas. Having trained thousands of staff in financial literacy demonstrates both his technical expertise and his ability to scale knowledge transfer – a critical capability for organizations seeking to expand their impact. His deep understanding of microfinance services and their role in economic empowerment provides practical insights into how financial inclusion can drive community development.
The focus on women empowerment is particularly significant, as women often face unique barriers to economic participation and are frequently key drivers of community development outcomes. His specialized experience in this area suggests understanding of gender-sensitive approaches to development programming and the specific challenges women face in accessing financial services and economic opportunities.
His current role as District Head across multiple high-profile organizations – Oxfam GB, Oxfam Hong Kong, Punjab Skills Development Fund, and Punjab Education Foundation – demonstrates his ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives. Working with international NGOs like Oxfam provides him with exposure to global development standards and best practices, while his involvement with Punjab-based organizations gives him deep local context and understanding of regional development challenges.
His expertise in coaching and mentoring development sector teams is valuable for organizational capacity building and staff development. This skill is particularly important for development organizations that often need to build local capacity and develop internal expertise.
