Samina Rizwan is the CEO and Founder Partner of The CalmKaaj Network (Pvt.) Limited, a coworking space and professional services provider for the community. CalmKaaj aspires to transform loosely connected groups of people into a healthy community of members, who contribute high value to their business ventures in particular, and to the community’s ecosystem in general. The flagship project, CalmKaaj coworking space in Islamabad, is operational, and a number of followup projects such as community and partnerships, professional services, and learning pathways are in the pipeline. After 20 years of a global career in big tech, Samina returned to Pakistan and became associated with Code for Pakistan, a not-for-profit initiative where, as Country Director, she built support for civic tech.
Samina joined Oracle in 2001 as Managing Director, South Asia Growth Economies, and established Oracle’s presence in Pakistan, which led to Pakistan’s leadership of other countries in the region, including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Afghanistan. Samina’s last assignment with Oracle was as Vice President of Key and Lead Accounts, where she took stewardship of Oracle’s most critical customer accounts in ASEAN. Prior to that, she led the ECEMEA Analytics & Big Data team, which architected data mgmt. platforms for customers. Over the past 20 years, Samina’s focus has been on establishing and scaling operations in new geographies and introducing cutting- edge solutions and technologies into the regions she has been responsible for such as MEA, SAGE, and ASEAN.
Before Oracle, Samina was Director, Information Systems, at Paktel Limited, a subsidiary of UK telecom company Cable and Wireless. She began her career 30 years ago in Washington DC as a Systems Analyst for The American Security Bank Limited. Her industry experience mainly consists of technology solutions in banking, telecom, and the public sector.
Samina founded Rizwan Scholars, a trust registered in Pakistan, which sponsored tertiary education scholarships for students from underserved communities in the country. Samina maintains a strong interest in Pakistan’s evolving startup ecosystem, investing in early-stage startups that offer tech interventions in education, healthcare, agriculture, the inclusion of marginalized communities, and indigenous small and medium industries.
Samina holds an Executive MBA from the Lahore University of Management Sciences and a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems from American University in Washington DC. She is a Certified PMP from PMI and a Certified Board Member from PICG. Currently, she serves as Member of Advisory Boards of USAID IPA and the National Incubation Center Peshawar. Samina lives in and operates from Islamabad.
Association, Certifications and Awards
Dr. Nadeem Inayat holds a Doctorate in Economics and has over 37 years of diversified experience in the corporate sector. He has vast experience in corporate governance, policy formulation, project appraisal, implementation, monitoring & evaluation, restructuring, mergers and acquisitions.
He also has conducted various academic courses on Economics, International Trade and Finance at reputable institutions of higher education in Pakistan. He is also a member of Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE).
He also holds directorship on the Board of following companies:
Mr. Kazmi is a fellow chartered accountant with over 35 years of experience in a diverse range of sectorial and functional strata within national and regional economies. The key areas of his specialization are greenfield and brownfield projects, strategic collaborations, mergers and acquisitions, accounting and finance, strategic level audit and assurance and tax reforms and strategic level advisory.
Mr. Abbas brings with him rich experience in Governance, Public Administration, Personnel Management and Financial Management.
He holds a Bachelor degree from the University of Karachi. He joined Pakistan Navy in June 71 and after completion of training got commissioned in 1973. He got inducted into District Management Group in March 1980.
During his 34 years long span of illustrious public service, he has worked as Deputy Commissioner of District Jhelum, Gujranwala and Faisalabad where his role included Administration of Criminal Justice, Civil and Revenue legal matters and monitoring of development projects. He also held senior assignments at provincial level, such as Provincial Secretaries of Labor, Transport and Industries in the Government of Sindh, besides being Secretary Social Welfare, Women Development with the Government of the Punjab.
Additionally, he has worked as Director General Lahore Development Authority as well as Director General Parks and Horticulture Authority Government of the Punjab. Mr. Abbas was elevated to the highest positions as Federal Secretary Ministry of Housing and Works, Managing Director Pakistan Housing Authority, Chief Secretary Government of Sindh, Secretary Board of Investment and finally before retirement as Secretary to the Ministry of Interior, where he dealt extensively with Financial and Administrative matters. He has been Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sindh Bank.
He also holds directorship on the Board of following companies:
Mr. Bokhari is a career banker with 34 years of experience in domestic and international banking. He started his banking career in 1985 with Bank of America, where he handled diverse assignments over 15 years. Subsequent to leaving Bank of America in July 2000, Mr. Bokhari joined Habib Bank Limited where he was Head of Corporate and Investment Banking.
In May 2004, Mr. Bokhari took charge of UBL as President and CE and remained in this position until June 2014. During this ten-year period, UBL ventured into new diversified business and revenue streams namely consumer financing, e-commerce, branchless banking, asset management and general insurance. UBL became the second largest private commercial bank in Pakistan with a network of over 1300 branches including 18 branches in 7 countries. Mr. Bokhari was also the Chairman of UBL Tanzania, UBL AG Zurich and Director of UBL UK.
Mr. Bokhari had a two-year stint ending in December 2016 as President and CE of NIB Bank (Wholly owned subsidiary of Fullerton Financial Holdings – Temasek, Singapore).
Mr. Bokhari has also served as Minister of State & Chairman Board of Investment (BOI), Prime Minister Office, Pakistan, from March 2020 to June 2021.
Mr. Bokhari has been actively involved with private sector programs for health and development of education in Pakistan. He was founding Director of the Karachi School for Business and Leadership. Mr. Bokhari has also served as Director State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Board & Member Monetary Policy Committee. He also serves on the Board of Governors of Shaukat Khan Memorial Trust (SKMT), Patients’ Aid Foundation and Kidney Center.
Lieutenant General Muhammad Mustafa Khan, HI (M) (Retired) joined the Board of Directors on June 20, 2013.
Lieutenant General Muhammad Mustafa Khan, HI (M) (Retired), was commissioned in Pakistan Army in April, 1974. During his long meritorious service in the Army, the General Officer had been employed on various command, staff and instructional assignments including the prestigious appointment as Chief of General Staff and Corps Commander of a Strike Corps/Commander Central Command.
The General is a Graduate of Command and Staff College Quetta and Command & Staff College Fort Leavenworth USA. He is also a graduate of Armed Forces War College Islamabad (National Defence University) and completed Senior Executive Course from USA and holds Master Degrees in War Studies and International Relations. He has attended Finance for Executives Course at INSEAD France.
In recognition of his meritorious services, he has been conferred the award of Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military). The General brings along a vast and diversified experience in operational, administration, management and evaluation systems up to various level of Command.
Presently the General holds the offices of Managing Director of Fauji Foundation and is Chairman on the Board of various Fauji Group of Companies including Fauji Cement Company Limited, Fauji Fertilizer Bin Qasim Limited, Fauji Cement Company Limited, Mari Petroleum Company Limited (Formerly Mari Gas Company Limited), Fauji Kabirwala Power Company Limited, Foundation Power Company (Daharki) Limited, Daharki Power Holdings Limited, Fauji Akbar Portia Marine Terminal Limited, FFC Energy Limited, Foundation Wind Energy-I Limited, Foundation Wind Energy-II (Pvt) Limited and Managing Director of Fauji Oil Terminal & Distribution Company Limited. After the recent acquisition of Askari Bank Limited by Fauji Foundation Consortium, Managing Director Fauji Foundation is also Chairman of the Bank.
An avid reader and a keen golfer.