ADVISORY BOARD
Dr. Gulzar Haider
is a teacher, practitioner, and theoretician who centers his research on Islamic architecture. Serving as the Dean of the School of Architecture and Design at Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, he has established one of the most eminent academic programs in the country through his tireless dedication and experience.
Javed Jabbar
Senator (R) Javed Jabbar is a screenwriter, filmmaker, and advertising mogul. As an elected member of the Senate of Pakistan, he has with extensive experience in public affairs, grass-root development, welfare organizations, international affairs, and a variety of government departments.
is an art advisor to several collectors and a consultant to Frieze Art Fair in London and New York. She is also a trustee of the Lahore Biennale Foundation UK, member of the Steering Committee of the Aga Khan Museum patrons in London, and founding member of the South Asian Acquisition Committee of the Aga Khan Museum patrons in London.
Dr. Haider has won numerous research and development grants, while lecturing across North America, Europe, and Asia; additionally, he has been a design consultant to several architectural practices and a juror to many international architectural competitions.
His work for international organizations, including the UN and the OIC (Organization of Islamic Conference) is highly regarded. With over 55 papers, reports, and articles, his interest in mathematics and architectural structures has led to the publication of unique and innovative research.
Beyond his political career,he is the founder of MNJ Communications (Pvt.), known for producing distinctive and unique advertising content. He wrote and produced the Pakistani film ‘Ramchand Pakistani’ and ‘Beyond the Last Mountain’ (1976) which was critically acclaimed at international film festivals; the film was celebrated due to its realistic and gender-sensitive portrayal of women.
Through his vast experience, he has mentored successful marketing and advertising practitioners; additionally, he was also the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the AdAsia 2019, promoting more impactful and thoughtful advertising in the country.
The founding member of the South Asian Acquisition Committee (SAAC) at Tate Modern, UK. Mehreen has played a pivotal role in developing the Pakistani art market.
Under her guidance, Bonhams has become a leader in Pakistani art, and still holds records for most of the major artists. She arranged the first ever auction of Middle Eastern art in the USA in May 2010.
Salima Hashmi
Salima Hashmi is an academic, artist, activist, curator, and contemporary art historian. She is the founding Dean of the Mariam Dawood School of Visual Art and Design at Beaconhouse National University; a Professor of Fine Art at National College of Arts for thirty years, and served as the Principal of the College for four years.
Sarmad Ali
With more than 30 years of experience in marketing, advertising, and media management, Sarmad Ali stands as the Managing Director of Jang Media Group, Pakistan’s largest media conglomerate, sustaining a presence in print, broadcast, and the digital space. Prior to this, he worked as Director Client Services for IAL/Saatchi. Presently, he is also the Secretary General of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) and has previously served as its President and Joint Secretary.
Suha Ozkan
Suha Ozkan is an architect, architectural theorist, and the author of a number of books on contemporary architecture; he is also the former Secretary-General of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture and Founding President of World Architecture Community.
As an extension of her role as a curator and academic, Hashmi has established an art gallery of her own, known for featuring experimental works of young artists, it supports the evolving voice of Pakistani art; often it is the challenging and the avant-garde that will find its way into her gallery.
Additionally, she curated the critically acclaimed exhibition ‘This Night-Bitten Dawn’, hosted by the Gujral Foundation and the Devi Art Foundation in Delhi, which opened at the Delhi Art Fair, 2016.
As an artist and activist, Hashmi’s work focuses on the suffering of women in Pakistan’s highly patriarchal society, a journey that began under the rule of Zia-ul-Haq.
Described as of one of Pakistan’s marketing thought leaders, Sarmad was awarded the coveted Marketing Excellence Award 1999 and was ranked amongst Pakistan’s Top 100 Business Leaders. Sarmad received the Asian Brand Leadership Award from the Asian Brand Congress in 2007 and the 50 Most Talented CMOs Award at the World Marketing Summit in 2013.
He was the Chairman AdAsia 2019 Organizing Committee; is the President of the International Advertising Association’s Pakistan Chapter; and serves on the council of the World Branding Forum. He has also been on the Jury of the Global AME Awards as well as the M&M Global Media Marketing & Advertising Awards, Festival of Media Awards, and INMA awards.
His Classifieds campaign that included the use of QR Codes won WAN-IFRA’s Asian Media Award for Best in Newspaper Marketing in 2016 and PAS Awards 2017, while his augmented reality campaign – Jang Real – won WAN-IFRA’s Best Innovation New Product in 2017.
From 1982-2007, he helped establish the Aga Khan Award as one of the premier architectural institutions of the world dedicated to the recognition and celebration of work of highest excellence.
Dr. Ozkan is also involved with a number of universities and institutions including METU, the UIA, the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements and the Hassan Fathy Institute.
