Education

University of Cambridge
MPhil International Relations
2010 – 2011
Activities and Societies: Cambridge Commonwealth Scholar, Wolfson College Scholar

University of Sydney
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)Government
2015 – 2018
Activities and Societies: Recipient - University of Sydney International Scholarship (USydIS),
Center for International Security Studies

University of Oxford
BA History and Politics
2009 – 2010
Activities and Societies: Oxford University Pakistan Society

The George Washington University

BAInternational Affairs
2006 – 2010
Activities and Societies: Dean's Honor List, Summa Cum Laude, Outstanding Academic
Achievement Award. Student Coordinator PM's Flood Relief Fund.

Honors & Awards

 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award

The George Washington University
Oct 2016
Received the highest alumni award from the George Washington University for my extensive
work in security, foreign policy and development in Pakistan, Australia, and the US.Received the
highest alumni award from the George Washington University for my extensive work in security,
foreign policy and development in Pakistan, Australia, and the US.
 Forbes 30 Under 30
Forbes Magazine
Jan 2016
Recognized by Forbes Magazine for its 30 Under 30 list of global leaders in Law and Policy for
my work in the Government of Pakistan and security and defense sector. Recognized by Forbes
Magazine for its 30 Under 30 list of global leaders in Law and Policy for my work in the
Government of Pakistan and security and defense sector.

 Extraordinary Contribution to South Asia

University of Sydney Pakistani Society
 Jun 2015
Recognized by the Pakistani Society at University of Sydney for establishing the first ever South
Asia Study Group at the University of Sydney - an initiative to bring together the academic and
policy community on South Asia in Australia.Recognized by the Pakistani Society at University
of Sydney for establishing the first ever South Asia Study Group at the University of Sydney - an
initiative to bring together the academic and policy community on South Asia in Australia.
 University of Sydney International Fellowship
University of Sydney
Mar 2015
Received the prestigious USyd Fellowship for 4 years to pursue PhD at University of Sydney in
Government and International RelationsReceived the prestigious USyd Fellowship for 4 years to
pursue PhD at University of Sydney in Government and International Relations
 Cambridge Commonwealth Fellowship
University of Cambridge
Sep 2010
Selected for the prestigious Cambridge Commonwealth Fellowship for Graduate studies.Selected
for the prestigious Cambridge Commonwealth Fellowship for Graduate studies.
 Outstanding Academic Achievement Award
George Washington University
Aug 2009
Honored with the Outstanding Academic Achievement award by the George Washington
University for being in the top 2% of the class.Honored with the Outstanding Academic
Achievement award by the George Washington University for being in the top 2% of the class.

Experience

Head of the Nerve Center
Indus News Network
2019 – Presentless than a year
Lahore, Pakistan
Established the Nerve Center at the media house. Leading, with my team, the Research,
Innovation and Narratives of the entire media network.Established the Nerve Center at
the media house. Leading, with my team, the Research, Innovation and Narratives of the
entire media network.

Senior Research Fellow
Lahore University of Management Sciences
2019 – Presentless than a year
Lahore, Pakistan
Leading the project ‘Humanizing the State: A Roadmap to Put People First’ at the
Mahbub ul Haq Research Center within LUMS.Leading the project ‘Humanizing the
State: A Roadmap to Put People First’ at the Mahbub ul Haq Research Center within
LUMS.


Columnist
The Express Tribune
May 2013 – Present6 years 5 months
Writing fortnightly on issues related to politics, governance, development, security and
foreign policy.Writing fortnightly on issues related to politics, governance, development,
security and foreign policy.


University of Sydney
3 years 10 months

o Director, South Asia Study Group

May 2015 – Feb 20193 years 10 months
Sydney, Australia
Established the South Asia Study Group as a forum to bring together the academic,
policy and research community working on South Asia in Australia to find local
solutions to our local problems.
 Hosted the first of its kind The Pakistan Summit to discuss economic and security
issues of the country and opportunities for the cooperation between Pakistan and
Australia. The event was attended by over 150 people including prominent
academics, government officials, diplomats and members of the South Asian
community.

Published several research studies for think tanks and newspaper articles related to
South Asia and Australia.Established the South Asia Study Group as a forum to bring
together the academic, policy and research community working on South Asia in
Australia to find local solutions to our local problems.

Hosted the first of its kind The Pakistan Summit to discuss economic and security
issues of the country and opportunities for the cooperation between Pakistan and
Australia. The event was attended by over 150 people including prominent
academics, government officials, diplomats and members of the...Show more
o Casual Lecturer
Feb 2017 – Feb 20181 year 1 month
Sydney, Australia
Taught International Security and International Relations courses at the
undergraduate level.Taught International Security and International Relations
courses at the undergraduate level.


Senior Expert on Pakistan
United States Institute of Peace
Sep 2016 – Dec 20164 months
Washington D.C. Metro Area


Government of Pakistan
2 years 4 months

o Founder/Project Director of Peace-Development Unit

Nov 2014 – Oct 20151 year
Islamabad, Pakistan
Established as a ground breaking initiative in the Government of Pakistan, the Peace
and Development Unit, a partnership project with the United States Institute of Peace
(USIP) aims to integrate peace narrative in the development discourse of Pakistan.

For the first time in Pakistan development spending is being linked with the peace
goals and outcomes to ensure stability in the country by approaching development
in the right manner.

The Peace and Development Unit will not only integrate peace and stability as one of
the KPI’s of development projects, but also conduct research and assessment studies
on peace and conflict in the country for policymakers and public.

Activities of the unit:

Help technical sections of Planning Commission by providing empirical research on

projects falling in the domain of peace and development
Carryout analytical research of federal PSDP vis-à-vis peace
Earmark projects that directly affect conflict-stricken areas and take necessary
measures to ensure sustainable development
Identify Key Performance Indicators (KPI) in projects for ensuring peace and taking
development to grass roots
Monitor and evaluate implementation of select projects in coordination with M&E
arm of Planning Commission
Help reform the Planning Commission and introduce new methods to inculcate
peace element in development arena of public sector i.e. revision of PC forms and
organization of roundtable conferences to spread the word
Identification and mapping of conflict zones
Promote the concept of peace leading to development among public sector
employees
Take the mandate of peace and development unit down to the provincial Planning
and Development departments/boards
Publication of bi-annual reports
Review and recommendations on educational curriculum to integrate peace and
interfaith harmony
Established as a ground breaking initiative in the Government of Pakistan, the Peace
and Development Unit, a partnership project with the United States Institute of Peace
(USIP) aims to integrate peace narrative in the development discourse of Pakistan.
 For the first time in Pakistan development spending is being linked with the peace
goals and outcomes to ensure stability in the country by approaching development
in the right manner.

The Peace and Development Unit will not...Show more

o Special Assistant to Federal Minister of Planning,
Development & Reforms
Jul 2013 – Mar 20151 year 9 months
Islamabad, Pakistan
Worked in a senior advisory role directly with the Federal Minister of Planning,
Development and Reforms - Government of Pakistan across all cutting edge sectors
including the development of National Vision, Institutional and Governance Reforms,
Capacity Building, Social Sector mainly education and poverty, Youth programs and
media management.

Established the first of its kind the Peace and Development Unit in the Government
of Pakistan to promote peace and harmony in Pakistan through right development
strategies and spending.

Initiated and led the highly successful national Young Development Fellows (YDF)
Program from start to end as the Project Director.

Part of the strategy team that formulated the Vision 2025 of Pakistan.

Worked extensively with donor agencies including DFID and USAID on improving
quality of education, integrating ICT and education for all throughout Pakistan.

Assigned as a project member of IT restructuring and E Government enablement in

Pakistan working directly with Microsoft and IBM public sector consultants on
automating the government, and introducing technology in public sector to improve
effeciency and transparency.

Member of the Institutional Reforms in Government (IRG) and Innovation in

Government initiatives. Worked on developing a model for civil services reforms
based along the lines of US and UK civil services.

Part of the public – private partnership program through which engaged all the
private stakeholders, industries and academia to fight poverty, and formulate
inclusive growth policies.
 Member of the working group on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Worked in a senior advisory role directly with the Federal Minister of Planning,
Development and Reforms - Government of Pakistan across all cutting edge sectors
including the development of National Vision, Institutional and Governance Reforms,
Capacity Building, Social Sector mainly education and poverty, Youth programs and
media management.

Established the first of its kind the Peace and Development Unit in the Government
of Pakistan to promote peace and harmony in Pakistan through...Show more

Visiting Scholar
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Jul 2012 – Sep 20123 months
Washington D.C. Metro Area

Lecturer
National University of Science and Technology (NUST)
2011 – 20121 year
Islamabad, Pakistan