Zahra Somani has been named as the Chief Advancement Officer for the Aga Khan University, effective April 3, 2023. The announcement was made today by President Sulaiman Shahabuddin.
Zahra will join the University Leadership Team and lead a division devoted to nurturing relationships and financial sustainability with the University’s global community of alumni, donors, and partners. Reporting to the President, she will work closely with relevant committees of the Board of Trustees, University leadership, Deans, Directors, and senior volunteers.
"I am confident that her diverse skill set, and significant experience will greatly contribute towards the development of a sophisticated advancement function at AKU," said President Shahabuddin.
“I am honoured to be joining President Shahabuddin’s leadership team at this exciting juncture for AKU. AKU plays an essential role through its teaching, research, and health system,” said Zahra. “I am looking forward to working with AKU’s highly acclaimed faculty, professionals, volunteers, alumni, friends, and donors to advance the mission of this great institution.”
Zahra is a thoughtful leader and has a background that spans both business and non-profit leadership. She currently serves as President of the Aga Khan Council for Edmonton and has previously led fundraising nationally for the Aga Council for Canada as Member for Resource Mobilization. She is Past Chair of the Edmonton Community Foundation, an organization that stewards over $700 million of endowments that support charitable causes. She brings extensive governance and fundraising experience, having chaired the board of the Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation and Norquest College's capital campaign. She also served on the University of Alberta's Board of Governors.
Zahra is currently Partner at Pirani Group. She is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) and the University of Alberta Business Advisory Council. She also holds an ICD.D designation, the highest designation granted by the Institute of Corporate Directors. In 2022, she was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in recognition of her service to Canadians.
She succeeds Asif Fancy.
Zahra may be reached at zahra.somani@aku.edu
