Our Team

Meet Our Team

Get to know the passionate professionals dedicated to making our mission a reality.

Rahim Jami

Founder & Managing Partner

Rahim Jami

Rahim Jami is a dedicated educationist and human rights advocate with more than 20 years of experience in promoting access to quality education, particularly for girls in Afghanistan. He believes that education is a fundamental right for all and has worked tirelessly to ensure access to quality education in line with Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 4, which emphasizes inclusive and equitable education for all.

Throughout his career, He has collaborated with various non-profits, human rights institutions, and educational networks to enhance educational opportunities and advocate for marginalized communities. His diverse experience encompasses curriculum development, instructional design, and professional development for educators, all aimed at improving educational quality and equity. He has led initiatives that aim to empower girls and improve educational opportunities in challenging circumstances.

Jami has conducted extensive research on education systems and policies, particularly in emergencies, and has been an active voice for marginalized communities. His advocacy has been recognized with several awards, including the Best Supporter of Education Award in 2018, Peace Builders Award in 2020, and Best Supporter Human Rights Award in 2021.

As the founder of the Education Defenders Network (EDN), Jami continues his commitment to advancing global education initiatives. He actively fosters dialogue and collaboration to ensure that every child, especially girls, has the opportunity to access quality education and realize their potential. His ongoing efforts are driven by a deep commitment to social justice and the transformative power of education in building equitable societies.

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Hooria Sardarzada

Founder & Managing Partner

Hooria Sardarzada

Hooria Sardarzada is an educator, gender equity advocate, and women studies specialist with extensive experience leading initiatives that connect education, women’s empowerment, and refugee advocacy across Canada and internationally.

She believes that education is both a fundamental right and a tool of resistance, particularly for women and girls living under gender apartheid and in conflict-affected contexts. Through EDN, she advances global efforts to ensure inclusive and equitable education in line with Sustainable Development Goal 4, with a focus on protection, dignity, and opportunity for marginalized learners.

Hooria has also been recognized for her expertise in GBA+ and equity-informed approaches, and for her ability to build bridges between grassroots resistance, policy advocacy, and education access. Her work continues to be driven by a deep commitment to social justice and the belief in education’s power to transform lives and build equitable societies.

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Advisory Council

Enayat Nasir, Ph.D.

Afghanistan

Enayat Nasir

Enayat Nasir is an educational researcher, policy analyst, and PhD scholar whose work critically examines the intersections of gender, equality, and education, particularly within contexts affected by conflict and authoritarian governance. His research sits at the nexus of educational leadership, policy reform, and institutional accountability, approached through comparative and international education frameworks.

With over a decade of experience in research and field engagement, Enayat has designed and led evidence-based advocacy campaigns and educational initiatives in Afghanistan, expanding access to learning opportunities for marginalized populations, especially girls and women. His work has been recognized nationally and internationally for advancing inclusive education and for elevating civil society participation in education policy discourse.

His broader vision is rooted in the belief that access to quality education is essential for building peaceful, prosperous, and just societies. He advocates for education as a transformative force capable of addressing systemic inequality, poverty, and climate vulnerability, and of expanding opportunities for all—regardless of gender, ethnicity, or socio-economic background.

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Funmilola Oni-Adeniyi, Ph.D.

South Africa

Funmilola Oni- Adeniyi

Dr. Funmilola Oni-Adeniyi is a lawyer, human rights advocate, and development leader with a fearless passion for justice and inclusion. With over 15 years of experience across Africa, Funmi has shaped programs, led research, and championed advocacy at the intersections of human rights, gender justice, education and social inclusion. She holds a PhD in Law, specialising in Human Rights Protection, and has dedicated her career to ensuring that the voices of marginalised communities - especially women and girls - move beyond being heard to being truly included in shaping decisions that affect their lives.

Her work is rooted in people-centered development, driving policy influence, capacity building, and knowledge sharing that spark real, systemic change. Whether it’s embedding GEDSI principles into complex urban projects or advancing education as a tool for empowerment, Funmi brings a strategic yet deeply human approach to every space she enters. At the heart of her work is a belief in the transformative power of advocacy and education  - whether formal or informal - to empower individuals, build resilience, and drive systemic change. 

Known for her courage and refusal to see “NO” as a final answer, Funmi is also an adventurer at heart, finding joy in new places, people, and challenges.

Dr. Oni-Adeniyi’s leadership continues to inspire transformative policy shifts and innovative practices, building toward a future where equity, inclusion, and justice are not ideals, but everyday realities.

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Kahsay Hailu Negash, Ph.D.

Ethiopia

Kahsay Hailu Negash

Dr. Kahsay Hailu Negash is currently serving as a Vice President for Research and Community Service at Adal Medical University. He is an experienced researcher and academician in education (Inclusive Education, Special Needs Education, Teacher Education), Social Sciences, Research and Languages with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry and NGOs. He is skilled at lecturing, curriculum development, strategic plan writing, academic writing, research, translation, training manual preparation, training and academic administration. Dr. Kahsay has a strong experience in the education profession with a doctorate degree focused on Inclusive Education from the University of South Africa, and master's and bachelor's degrees in the English language from Addis Ababa University. He is also a member of Global Society of Tigrian Scholars (GSTS), International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development (ISSBD), Translators without Borders (TWB) and Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).  Dr. Kahsay has attended several international conferences, trainings, seminars and workshops. He has also published different articles in his area.

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Başak Büyükçelen, Ph.D.

Canada

Başak Büyükçelen

Başak Büyükçelen is the CEO of Pressbooks, an education technology company that empowers institutions to create, adapt, and share accessible digital learning materials. With over fifteen years of leadership experience across operations, strategy, and organizational development, she is passionate about building strong, people-centred teams and advancing equitable access to education.

Before becoming CEO in 2024, Başak served for five years as Pressbooks’ Chief Operating Officer, where she focused on organizational design, team development, and cultivating a culture of care and inclusion. Her work emphasized creating conditions for people to thrive and aligning company practices with its mission to serve education communities worldwide.

Earlier in her career, Başak founded and ran The Supper Society, a not-for-profit organization that helped newcomers to Canada integrate into their communities and connect with locals through shared meals and dialogue. The initiative reflected her belief in the power of human connection and inclusion to bridge cultures and foster belonging.

A graduate of the Stanford Graduate School of Business LEAD program, Başak brings a global, human-centred perspective to leadership. Born in Türkiye and based between Canada and Mexico, she speaks four languages and believes education is one of the most powerful pathways to equity, opportunity, and understanding across cultures.

 

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Mfon Effiong Akpabio, Ph.D.

Nigeria

Mfon Effiong Akpabio

Mfon Effiong Akpabio is an education and research professional with extensive experience in program and project management, policy consulting, and stakeholder engagement. Based in Abuja, Nigeria, he is committed to advancing inclusive, equitable, and high-quality education through evidence-based research and strategic program design.

He currently serves as International Project and Research Officer at Maven Day (Brazil), where he co-leads the Europe Expansion Project Team and conducts international research to support organizational development objectives.

Previously, Dr. Akpabio worked as a Research Consultant with Extern (U.S.) and as a Research and Program Consultant with Marie Stopes International (Abuja), contributing to program evaluation, capacity building, and curriculum improvement.

Early in his career, he served as an Education Consultant to the Bayelsa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), where he provided strategic policy advice and developed reform frameworks aimed at improving teaching quality, curriculum relevance, and learning outcomes across public schools.

He holds a PhD in Education (TESL) from Ahmadu Bello University, an MSc in Curriculum Studies and Educational Technology from the University of Port Harcourt, and a B.A.Ed. from Niger Delta University. His professional certifications include Project Management Essential Certified (PMC) from M.S.I., USA; Managing Projects Program from Emerging Tree; Implementation Research on Infectious Diseases of Poverty from the World Health Organization (WHO); BSAFE from the United Nations (UN); and the MEAL Essential Certificate.

 

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Yuliya Fakhr, Ph.D.

Canada

Yuliya Fakhr

Yuliya Fakhr is an education and innovation strategist passionate about building systems that make learning accessible, future-ready, and globally connected. She brings over a decade of experience spanning research, policy, and professional learning with a focus on responsible innovation, workforce development, and digital transformation in education.

Yuliya has led and supported multi-stakeholder initiatives that bridge academia, government, and industry, advancing programs in artificial intelligence, health innovation, and leadership capacity building. She also founded Bright North Learning Lab, a professional education firm that designs modular, human-centered courses on AI literacy, cross-sectoral leadership, and digital upskilling for educators and emerging professionals.

Her work sits at the intersection of learning, innovation, and equity, empowering institutions and learners to navigate change with confidence and purpose.

Yuliya holds a PhD in Medical Sciences and a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, both earned with distinction. She is deeply committed to creating inclusive pathways for underrepresented learners and promoting education as a tool for social resilience and collective progress.

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Thanuja Thananayagam, Ph.D.

Canada

Thanuja Thananayagam

Thanuja is a Sri Lankan-born antiracism practitioner with over two decades of dedicated experience in holistic human resources. She is a seasoned professional expert in various facets of the field, and her journey encompasses talent acquisition, talent management, equity, diversity, and inclusion, all centered around cultivating an environment where every individual feels a sense of belonging. Thanuja's passion for fostering inclusivity and fairness has led her to become a prominent advocate for equity and diversity, consistently driving initiatives that bridge gaps and promote understanding.

Beyond her HR expertise, Thanuja held an MBA and MEd, and had recently completed her Ph.D. in Social Justice Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. She is a devoted antiracism researcher, exemplifying her commitment to dismantling systemic prejudices and generating knowledge that fosters meaningful change. Her research focused on the challenges faced by immigrant women of colour in navigating the Canadian job market. She hopes that her research findings will shed light on the need for an intersectional approach to federal policy decisions.

As a mental health advocate, she’s a board member of GenWell, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting human connection. She’s also a member of the advisory council of ElevateHer, a program that advances gender equity and promotes inclusive workplace practices that support women’s career advancement and leadership.

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We’d Love to Hear From You

Education Defenders Network (EDN) values open communication with our supporters, partners, and stakeholders. Whether you have a question, an idea for collaboration, or need more information about our work, we are here to connect.

Have a specific inquiry? Use our online contact form to get in touch. 
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