Our Team
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Mohamed Shaheen
BOARD CHAIR AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Dr. Mohamed Shaheen completed his Bachelor’s degree at Dalhousie University, Halifax, before moving to Montreal to complete his Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering at McGill University. His doctoral research focused on low-power electronics for mobile and biomedical devices.
Mohamed has extensive experience in the innovation sector, having been involved in several technology startups, and is currently an Innovation Consultant advising the public and the non-profit sectors. In 2013, he founded the Silk Road Institute, an organization dedicated to creating captivating and professional artistic and cultural programming that strengthens Muslim representation, visibility, and contributions within the Canadian cultural mosaic. In 2018 the organization launched Canada’s and North America’s first professional Muslim theatre company. He now serves as the organization’s Chair of the Board of Directors.
Mohamed is a Fellow of the Ariane de Rothschild Fellowship in Social Entrepreneurship at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School. His writings have appeared in the Globe and Mail and the Montreal Gazette, and he has been featured on CBC Radio One. He is also an avid photographer.
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Fareh Malik
PROGRAMS AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Fareh Malik is a poet, author, and spoken word performer based in the GTA, Ontario. In his emerging career, Fareh has won several awards for his writing. He was named the 2022 RBC PEN Canada New Voices Award winner. He was also the winner of Hamilton Art’s Shirley Elford Prize, The 2022 October Project Poetry Award, and MH Canada’s 2020 Poetry Contest. Fareh has had his poetry published in journals internationally. His debut book Streams That Lead Somewhere was longlisted for the Gerald Lampert Memorial Award. His work has been featured through establishments such as The Art Gallery of Hamilton, San Antonio’s McNay Art Museum, and The National Arts Centre. Fareh was also named a finalist for the 2021 Best of the Net anthology, a finalist for So To Speak’s 2021 Poetry Contest, and has been fascinated with taking his written and spoken work, and finding interdisciplinary homes for it.
Fareh Malik’s debut book Streams That Lead Somewhere was published in August 2022 with Mawenzi House Publishers. You can visit the Store section of the site to purchase it.
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Sana Saidi
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Sana Saidi is an award-winning multifaceted Designer & Art Director from Tkaronto/Toronto, specializing in experimental and expressive design. Conceptual narratives enable Sana to communicate her ideas with the world, which further adds value to her craft. She finds meaning in her process, understanding all her design decisions and exploring all possibilities to produce memorable projects.
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Ayna Imam
EVENTS AND OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
Ayna Imam is well known for her passionate dedication to supporting a variety of forms of art. With a passion for narrative and books at her core, she directs her energy into a variety of artistic pursuits. Her academic aspirations are mirrored in her pursuit of a degree, which also highlights her commitment to comprehending and improving the cultural environment. Ayna's efforts are characterized by a sincere desire to use the power of art to improve communities because she believes that it can inspire, inform, and bring people from every aspect of life together.
Our Board
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Mohamed Shaheen
BOARD CHAIR AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Dr. Mohamed Shaheen completed his Bachelor’s degree at Dalhousie University, Halifax, before moving to Montreal to complete his Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering at McGill University. His doctoral research focused on low-power electronics for mobile and biomedical devices.
Mohamed has extensive experience in the innovation sector, having been involved in several technology startups, and is currently an Innovation Consultant advising the public and the non-profit sectors. In 2013, he founded the Silk Road Institute, an organization dedicated to creating captivating and professional artistic and cultural programming that strengthens Muslim representation, visibility, and contributions within the Canadian cultural mosaic. In 2018 the organization launched Canada’s and North America’s first professional Muslim theatre company. He now serves as the organization’s Chair of the Board of Directors.
Mohamed is a Fellow of the Ariane de Rothschild Fellowship in Social Entrepreneurship at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School. His writings have appeared in the Globe and Mail and the Montreal Gazette, and he has been featured on CBC Radio One. He is also an avid photographer.
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Haniya Sheikh
BOARD VICE CHAIR
Haniya is a litigation lawyer at the Department of Justice with over 17 years of practice in multidisciplinary areas of the law, including dealing with high profile matters involving judicial reviews, civil and Charterissues. She is currently the Ward 12 Representative for the Parent Involvement Advisory Committee to the Toronto District School Board (TDSB).
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Nazia Sharfuddin
BOARD MEMBER
Dr. Nazia Sharfuddin is the Chief Resident of General Internal Medicine at the University of Alberta who is a strong champion in health equity and advocacy. She is also completing Harvard Medical School’s Safety, Quality, Informatics and Leadership certification program. Nazia is on the Executive Board of Directors of the Professional Association of Residents Physicians of Alberta where she chairs multiple provincial committees, notably as the Co-Founder & Co-Chair of the Inclusivity & Anti-Racism Working Group. Nazia works on anti-racism research and institutional change management at the University of Alberta. Nazia will be moving to her hometown of Toronto in summer 2021 where she will be working as a General Internist at Trillium Health Partners and Sunnybrook Hospital.
Nazia is the co-founder of Salaam B’y, a social enterprise focused on championing inclusion through storytelling and education based on the award-winning documentary film she co-produced, Salaam B’y – A Story of a Muslim Newfoundlander. Keen on community building, she is also on the Board of Directors of Edmonton’s Islamic Family Social Services Agency.
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Narjis Karani
BOARD MEMBER
Narjis Karani is a designated Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with over a decade of experience within the finance industry, as an Auditor, Tax Professional & Academic. She graduated as a UofT Top Scholar and completed her CPA experience at KPMG LLP. before joining The Office of the Auditor General of Canada. Narjis specializes in several areas within finance, including small-medium enterprises, NPOs, charities, government entities & personal finances.
Narjis is a CBC Op-Ed contributor & an award-winning champion of civic engagement. She previously served on the board of The Canadian-Muslim Vote.
Narjis is an avid storyteller & public speaker. She brings her passion for screenwriting, painting & filmmaking to the Silk Road Institute with the hopes of contributing to diversity within the arts.
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Farah Fatima
BOARD MEMBER
Farah Fatima is the Director of Innovation at CIBC where she spends her days finding simple solutions to the big challenges facing the financial services industry. She’s a graduate from the University of Toronto and has previously been co-chair of Scholarships for at the Muslim Awards of Excellence (MAX).