Berak Hussain
Registered Psychotherapist | The Muslim Counsellor
Berak is an expert on issues of mental health, social justice, Muslim women and psychotherapy. Berak Hussain is a Registered Psychotherapist practicing in a medical university clinic in Canada. She has a BA in Psychology and a Masters in Educational Counseling from the University of Ottawa.
Hira Hyder
Journalist Hum TV
As a broadcast journalist, Hira has hosted multiple faith based TV Shows for the youth on various international channels such as Toronto360 TV, Al Qaim TV and Ahlulbayt TV. Hira is also recognized as a prominent Shia Muslim journalist in the realm of social media for her annual ‘Muharram Series’; in which she aims to ethically eradicate the misconceptions of Islamic sectarianism through academic research. As an ardent believer of humanitarian causes, Hira has actively worked alongside various charities such as Depilex SmileAgain Foundation for acid attack surviors, The Citizens Foundation for the education of underprivileged children in Pakistan, Project Ramadan to eradicate Canadian food insecurity and Penny Appeal’s ‘Thirst Relief Program’ for the construction of water-wells in Afghanistan.’ ‘Hira Hyder is a Toronto based Journalist, motivational speaker and mental health advocate. Currently, Hira works with DML - HUM TV Canada as their broadcast journalist and writes for multiple lifestyle publications on topics ranging from mental health awareness, women empowerment, social issues and spirituality. Presently, she is serving the Government of Canada as a council member of the Mississauga, Erin Mills Women’s Council under the leadership of MP Iqra Khalid.
Zahra Ali Syed
Environmentalist/Journalist
Zahra Ali Syed is a Karachi-based sustainability consultant, educator, and journalist who has been working with the public and private sectors for over 14 years. She has educated over 10,000 children about eco-literacy since 2009 through her startup the Learning Garden. In 2018, Zahra established The Green Pilgrim Movement to address the problem of plastic waste left behind by pilgrims during Arbaeen in Iraq. Today, The Green Pilgrim collaborates with The Holy Shrines, local government, business councils, and community members to make sustainable Arbaeen a reality. Currently, Zahra is a student for an MA in Media, Ethics, and Social Change at the University of Sussex, UK. She is certified by IMF, Harvard, the University of Maryland, and The Geoff Lawton Institute on climate change, sustainable development, permaculture design, and public leadership. She contributes her writings on Islamic Environmentalism for Ataba Imam Ali (s).
Dr. Rebecca Masterton
Scholar/Presenter
Dr Rebecca Masterton graduated with a PhD in Islamic esoteric literature of West Africa from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, in 2006. She converted to Islam in 1999 and has been teaching, speaking and lecturing for twenty years on social, political and spiritual issues in the Muslim community She has published two books and various articles and translations, related to Islamic spirituality. Currently she teaches through her own platform, the Centre for Shia and Cultural Studies. Since she was a teenager, Dr Masterton has been concerned about the destruction of the natural world and keeps up to date with issues such as deforestation, factory-farming and over-fishing. She considers it a normal part of what it is to be Muslim to take care of and nurture our environment, as well as to combat cruel treatment of animals.
Batool Reza
Transformational Leader
I am a versatile Transformation Leader with over 15 years of project management, and customer satisfaction experience. I am currently the CMA’s Business Services lead and responsible for a Project and Business Analysis team with 8 direct reports. I am also lead the Customer Service team which includes 10 individuals who deal with all first line IT and Business solution complaints. I have delivered several transformation and infrastructure upgrade projects and work equally well with technical colleagues and non-technical senior stakeholders. I enjoy the problem solving delivering multi discipline projects/change programmes for organisations facing very tight timescales. I am a member of the Institute of Risk Management and specialise in risk-based project management methodologies.
