​​Deans and Officers

The day-to-day activities, both academic and administrative, of Aga Khan University are overseen by the President and a number of key university officers.





Dr Carl A​mrhein

Provost and Vice President, Academic

He joined as AKU’s Provost and Vice President, Academic on October 8, 2017.​
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Ms Shagufta Hassan

Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer​​​​

As Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer for the Aga Khan University (AKU), Ms. Hassan oversees all financial affairs of the University and its healthcare system across six countries. She is responsible for the University's operational and financial strategy, planning and budgeting, accounting, audit, and treasury functions.​
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Mr Navroz Surani

Interim Vice President, Human Resources​​​​​​

The Vice President of Human Resources (VPHR) will provide strategic human resource leadership and development for Aga Khan University as it continues to grow geographically and expand its programmes.​
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Mr Sohail Kassamali

University General Counsel

​​The General Counsel is responsible to oversee the University’s legal matters nationally, internationally and advise accordingly. 

The mandate includes reviewing and/or preparing documents, agreements, legal opinions and legislation analyses as required.​​

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Ms Zahra Somani

Chief Advancement Officer

Zahra Somani is the Chief Advancement Officer for the Aga Khan University. A member of the University Leadership Team, she leads a global division devoted to nurturing relationships and financial sustainability with the University’s community of alumni, donors, and partners.
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Mr Shaukat Ali Khan

Global Chief Information Officer

Shaukat Ali Khan is the Global Chief Information Officer (CIO) at the Aga Khan University and Hospitals (AKU). A member of the University Senior Leadership Team, Shaukat is responsible for all ICT systems, serving over 20,000 users across AKU’s global portfolio of Hospitals, Medical Centers and University locations in Asia, Africa and United Kingdom.​
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Mr Syed Mohammad Sohail

Chief Facilities and Administrative Services Officer

Syed Mohammad Sohail was appointed as the Chief Facilities and Administrative Services Officer in Pakistan in May 2023. He provides strategic planning support to university/campus management for all technical activities of facilities that help in the smooth functioning of overall operations.​
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Dr Shehzad Jeeva

Chief Executive Officer, Examination Board​​​​

The Chief Executive Officer, Examination Board is responsible for promoting quality education in schools through examinations for secondary school and higher secondary school levels, training of teachers, and development of supplementary materials.
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Dr Anjum Halai

Vice Provost, Asia and UK and Dean, Faculty of Arts and Sciences

The Vice Provost of University responsible to develop and operationalize strategies to achieve the academic plans and programmes within the geographic domain.
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Dr Tashmin Khamis

Vice Provost, Quality, Teaching and Learning​​​​​​

She is responsible for the professional educational development for faculty across all disciplines including on teaching with technology.
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​Dr Salim S. Virani

Vice Provost, Office of Research and Graduate Studies

As Vice Provost, Research, Dr Virani leads and facilitates AKU’s global research and international collaborations across South Asia, Europe, and East Africa in the areas of medicine, nursing, education, culture, media, climate change, and environmental sciences.
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Dr Laila Akbarali

Interim Vice Provost, Student Affairs and Services & University Registrar​​​​

In early 2020, the University created the Office of Student Affairs and Services to bring a number of student services,​ under a single, University-wide, operation.
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Dr Peter Gatiti

Associate Vice-Provost & University Librarian​​​​

He oversees University global network of 12 libraries dispersed in 6 countries on 3 continents situated on the diverse campuses in Pakistan, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and the UK.
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Professor Stephen Lyon​

Inaugural Dean, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Pakistan

Professor Lyon provides the strategic direction, in collaboration with the Provost, and is responsible for the curriculum, management and implementation of the programme, promoting the University, and facilitating relationships with supporters, and key stakeholders of the programme.
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Professor Nancy Booker

Dean, Graduate School of Media and Communications​​​​

Ms Nancy Booker is the Associate Professor and Dean at the Graduate School of Media and Communications.
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Dr Farid Panjwani

Dean, Institute for Educational Development, Pakistan​​​​

Dr Panjwani is driven to improve the quality of education, particularly in developing countries and in Muslim contexts.​ 
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Dr Jane Rarieya

​Dean, Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

The Dean of Institute for Educational Development, East Africa is responsible for the leadership, operation and management of the Institute.
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Dr ​Leif Stenberg

Dean, Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilizations​​​​​​

Dr Stenberg received his PhD in Islamic Studies from the Lund University, Sweden in 1996 with the publication of his award-winning thesis entitled 'The Islamization of Science: Four Muslim Positions Developing an Islamic Modernity". ​
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Dr Adil H. Haider

Dean, Medical College, Pakistan​​​​

Dr Adil H. Haider is an alumnus of AKU’s MBBS programme, and also holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
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Dr Lukoye Atwoli

Dean, Medical College, East Africa

Dr Atwoli is a Professor in Psychiatry with extensive leadership, teaching, and academic research experience.
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Dr Eunice Ndirangu

Dean, School of Nursing and Midwifery, East Africa​​​​

Dr Eunice Ndirangu-Mugo joined the Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery, East Africa (AKU-SONAM EA) in 2006 as an Assistant Lecturer. Since then, she has worked as a Senior Instructor, Academic Head and Interim Dean, before being confirmed as the Dean in 2020. 

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Dr Tazeen Saeed Ali

Interim Dean, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Pakistan​

Dr Tazeen Saeed Ali currently serves as Interim Dean, the Shakur Jamal Endowed Professor and Associate Dean of Research and Innovation at AKU-SONAM, Pakistan, with a joint appointment as faculty member at the Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU Medical College. 

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Dr Faisal Ismail

Regional Director (South Asia)​, Centre for Innovation in Medical ​Education​​​​

Dr Faisal Ismail oversees simulation developments in the South Asia region, furthering the 'ONE CIME' concept that unifies multiple international locations for enhanced healthcare education.
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Dr Michael Moneypenny

Regional Director (East Africa), Centre for Innovation in Medical ​Education​​​​

Dr Michael Moneypenny is directing simulation developments in Nairobi, Dar Es Salaam and Kampala, working alongside Dr Faisal Ismail in creating 'ONE CIME' with the goal of improving healthcare education.
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Dr Zul Merali

Founding Director, Brain and Mind Institute

He is a neuroscientist and pharmacologist by training (McGill University, University of Ottawa and Wharton), with over 40 years of academic engagement.
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Dr Zulfiqar Bhutta

Founding Director, Institute for Global Health and Development

He has successfully collaborated with major multi-national and bilateral agencies, and governments on policy, research and knowledge transfer-based interventions aimed at improving the health and welfare of children and families..
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Professor Amina Abubakar

​Director​, Institute for Human Development​​​​

Amina Abubakar is a full Professor and Director for the Institute for Human Development.
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Dr Junaid Razzak

Director, ​​Centre of Excellence for Trauma and Emergencies

Dr Razzak is the Director of the Centre of Excellence for Trauma and Emergencies at the Aga Khan University and a Professor of Emergency Medicine and Population Health at Weill Cornell Medicine.
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​​Mr Nadeem Mustafa Khan

Senior Advisor, VP Health Services Office​​​

Mr Khan is responsible for coordinating strategies and actions relating to French Medical Institute for Mothers and Children in Kabul, Afghanistan as well as assist in new projects in healthcare.
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