Advisory Board
Chairman Advisory Board
Dr Nafees Zakaria
Dr Mohammad Nafees Zakaria has prominent diplomatic landmark achievements. Establishment of Tech Forum with membership of British Pakistani and Silicon Valley USA’s American Pakistanis in 2019; Royal visit to Pakistan of Duke & Duchess of Cambridge, TRH Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2019; launching a Consortium of Universities for collaborative research in water purification and nano-material research, an effort by young Pakistani Assistant Professor Dr. Usman Ghori, are some of the feathers to Zakaria’s cap. Zakaria’s rich and diverse diplomatic experience spans over 3 decades. He served at the Headquarters in Islamabad and Pakistan Diplomatic Missions Abroad in various important capacities. He held coveted positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs such as Director General Europe, Director General, South Asia & SAARC and Additional Foreign Secretary/Spokesperson. His diplomatic Assignments took him to Pakistan Diplomatic Missions at Abu Dhabi-UAE; Jakarta-Indonesia; BangkokThailand, twice to the U.K.; Canada & Malaysia. Nafees Zakaria served as High Commissioner for Pakistan to the United Kingdom and has, inter alia, remarkable achievements to his credit including the promotion of bilateral trade between UK and Pakistan. He also remained Ex- Officio Chairman Board of Trustees Wali Mohammad Trust, UK; Patron, Association of Pakistani Physicians & Surgeons, UK (APPSUK), Ex-Officio Member Board of Governors, Commonwealth of Nations.
Senior Member Advisory Board
John Tucknott
John Tucknott CMG MBE has over 40 years of experience at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office including extensive experience in Pakistan, where, from 2013 - 2016 he was Deputy High Commissioner (based in Karachi), Director of Trade and Investment for Pakistan and UK Trade Champion for Pakistan . He is a former British Ambassador to Nepal and has held senior positions in Lebanon, Sweden and Iraq where he was Deputy Ambassador from 2017-2020. John retired from HM Diplomatic Service in 2021 and is now Chair of UK Education in Iraq which is seeking to expand the availability of UK educational qualifications (ELT, ITC skills, Further Education and Higher Education) throughout Iraq.
Member Advisory Board
Rashid Iqbal
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UK & Ireland Executive Board
Chairman
Julian Hamilton Barns
Julian Hamilton Barns (“JHB”) – JHB is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England & Wales. JHB is also qualified in Hong Kong. He specializes in cross border corporate finance and Mergers and Acquisitions. He has significant experience in dealing with international joint ventures and transactions involving partners in different legal jurisdictions. In recent years JHB has focused on the oil and gas and natural resources and energy sectors. He is currently involved in securing listings in London and Singapore for various clients.
CEO
Rashid Iqbal Khan
Rashid is an educationalist, he has worked in Further and Higher Educational Institutions for over 20 years and has written modules and learning activities for undergraduates and postgraduates programmes and for Edexcel (a leading UK examination board). Rashid is the beating heart of PBBC and he looks after business on a day to day basis bringing together all stakeholders using his substantial international business and government connections. He also has significant experience in organising official trade missions, events and government relations. Since the inception of the PBBC, Rashid had supported its work and had played a key role in developing the organisation.
Director Commercial & International Trade
Salman Afzal
Salman Afzal is Board member and Director Commerce & International Trade of Pakistan Britain Business Council UK. He is member of Conservative Party and has been selected as Borough Councillor candidate by Wokingham Conservatives leadership for 2024 elections. He is Founder and CEO of Comstar Global UK Ltd which is providing IT & Telecom services in UK since 2009, Ex-CEO of Eurodexx Telecom UK. He has done BEng from NED University Karachi and MSc Network system from UK, He is also PMI certified project management professional. During his 25 years of successful carrier as a business & community leader, he has delivered various multimillion projects within UK, EU, US, and China and provided portfolio/program leadership to various blue-chip companies in Ecommerce, IT, Telecom and Pharmaceutical industry. He has also led merger & acquisition projects in Telecom sector. He is currently working with AWS as a EMEA regional Portfolio lead.
Vice Chairman
Nigel Peters
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Ambassador Northern Ireland
Frank Shivers
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Pakistan Executives
Director Trade & Investment
Waqar Ullah
Waqar Ullah is a Director of Trade & Investment (Punjab Chapter). Waqar Ullah is presently heading the operations of “The Next Premier Consultant” (TNPC) in Lahore. Apart of this also providing representational support to few UK business partners in Pakistan for their market growth and providing linkages. Waqar has worked with the British High Commission for about 19 years. This job includes running independently UK Trade Operations in Lahore to promote UK businesses in the region covering all major sectors in the country like Education, Life Sciences, Agriculture, Infrastructure, Food & Drink, Environment, Energy, etc. Waqar is a renowned Business Development professional having capabilities of building relationship and maintaining in Pakistan with key businesses, trade bodies, regional business chambers, major stakeholders. Having good knowledge about business dynamics in the country across multi sectors and especially considered as an expert about the local knowledge of Punjab. Some of the most prestigious achievements by Waqar are launching UK Educational Institutes in Pakistan like LSBF, CIMA, Study Group, BPP University, ABE, etc. He has done business research work for numerous UK / International companies for establishing their presence in Pakistan and made several Business Development visits to UK and Scandinavian countries for attracting Investment. Apart of this also worked with the Invest UK team, Scottish Enterprise and local organizations for their establishment in the UK.
Chief Coordinator
Umaimah Makhdoom
Umaimah is a Chief Coordinator at PBBC. Presently working as a Director Operations in Lahore of “The Next Premier Consultants” (TNPC) which is an education consultancy organization. Umaimah has done her Masters studies in Media and Communication and is also awarded Dean’s Merit Award from her University. Previously she worked as an International Relation and Business Development Head for a Education Consultancy organization. Her major expertise involved developing academic linkages with global study destination like UK, Australia, USA, Turkey, Canada etc. and developing business relations with the local stake holders. Umaimah is progressing as a Business Development professional having capabilities of building and maintaining relationship in Pakistan with key businesses, trade bodies, regional business chambers, major stakeholder by having good knowledge about business dynamics in the Punjab region.
Director Trade & Investment (KPK, Islamabad)
Sonia Saleem
She is a Founder and CEO of Smart Education Technologies Group/SET Pakistan/SETI UAE/Xinovate UK. She has done M.Sc. in Strategic Project Planning and Management from Heriot- Watt University, Edinburgh Scotland, UK in 2008 and a fellowship in Strategic Project Marketing and Management from Harvard University in 2011. She is also honored to receive The Honorary Doctorate of Excellence and ICON Award for Innovation in Education by EDU European University and ICONS Awards USA. Sonia is known for her entrepreneurial skills, highly driven and focused Chief Executive with over 13 years of Business experience. She has been the pioneer to introduce UK Trade Investment Linkages for companies for several projects and also brought several renowned brands and create their strong network in Middle East and South Asia. She is official Member of Islamabad Women Chambers & Commerce, PMI, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce, Pakistan Software Export Board, Pakistan Software House Association, DUBAI CHAMBERS, International Association of Innovation Professionals, UAE Innovation Committee. World Business Hub and UAE Block chain Initiative.
Country Head
Dr Moin Uddin Ahmed
Moin Uddin Ahmed is CEO – Center for Professional Development Educational Partner: Anglo – German Education / Germany / UK Training Partner -CISCO Academy -USA, former Vice chancellor Metropolitan university, Project Director Akoond university. He is Educationalist, Skills based Training Promoter, Edupreneur. He has acquired his master degrees in English Literature, Linguistics, Economics and now pursing PhD in foreign languages pedagogy in Pakistan and providing educational services / consultancy to NUST University, NED University, Sir Syed University, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, CBM University, Greenwich University, Karachi University (SYMPDC) IQRA University, NUML University, Hamdard University, Sindh Madarsatul Islam University, Usman Institute of Technology University and many other institutions. He liaison with all the PBBC’s Pakistan and UK offices for trade, technical training and education promotion.