About Us

Nazish has been with CERB since 2017 and currently heads the research helm of CERB. Her role is to ensure CERB has access to evidence-based research related to responsible business on the private sector.

Nazish has an MSc in Poverty Reduction: Policy and Practice (Specialising in Natural Resource Management) from SOAS, University of London and an undergraduate degree in Environmental Sciences from King’s College London. Nazish has previously worked both in the private and development sector, including establishing a Karachi centric skill based volunteering programme and has taught subjects related to environment and sustainable development as adjunct faculty at NED, Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture and SZABIST.

Email: nazish@pbc.org.pk

Dure Sameen Akhund has joined our Research team as a Research Associate. She has done her MSc in Sustainable Development (specialization in Gender and Social Inequality) from SOAS, University of London and her Bsc (Hons) from LUMS in Social Sciences, giving her a deep understanding of sustainable development ideas, institutions, policies and networks.  As a result of her education and diverse work experience which ranges from the banking sector to education and entrepreneurship, she possesses the necessary critical thinking skills required to help for-profit organizations adopt business strategies and activities that meet the challenging needs stakeholders today while protecting, sustaining and enhancing the human and natural resources that will be needed in the future.

Sameen brings a broader understanding of the environmental, economic and social issues impacting modern businesses and can help assist companies to better manage their risks and opportunities that both market and non-market conditions create. Sameen has previously worked as a Banker, a Gender Consultant and has also taught in the graduate programme at SZABIST University.

Safia Hussain is a Programme Coordinator at the Centre for Excellence in Responsible Business (CERB), where she has been contributing to the organisation’s mission for over two years. She holds a Master’s degree in Politics, Governance and Public Policy from the University of Sheffield, and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Social Development and Policy from Habib University.

Safia also holds a professional certification in Sustainability Reporting. Her work spans several thematic areas, including ESG issues, inclusion, and private sector development. In her role at CERB, she has designed and delivered trainings focused on ESG integration, inclusive workplace practices, and sustainable development strategies—engaging stakeholders across the private and development sectors.

Earlier in her academic journey, Safia studied Social Welfare at the University of California, Berkeley, where she examined the intersections of social work and policy, particularly in relation to gentrification, substance abuse, and policing.

Deeply committed to advancing women’s education, she is the founder of ‘Hadaf,’ an initiative that fosters learning opportunities for women and girls. In her leisure time, she enjoys reading with a cup of coffee or catching up with friends.

Khizra Jamil Khan has been working at the Centre of Excellence in Responsible Business (CERB) as a Sustainability Communications Associate. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Anthropology and Sociology from LUMS. Her work focuses on research, writing, and strategy across projects related to gender, sustainability, and responsible business.

At LUMS, Khizra explored how individuals engage with institutions and public systems, with a particular interest in care work, gender, and social trust. Her senior project examined the everyday experiences of family planning fieldworkers in Lahore, focusing on emotional labor, distrust in state healthcare, and how gendered care work sustains public health systems. This academic grounding continues to shape her approach to communication—centering clarity, inclusion, and meaningful engagement.

Outside of work, Khizra enjoys reading existential literature, watching documentaries, and taking her chai very seriously.

Meet Aafreen Qayum Khan, a third-culture kid with roots in Pakistan, raised in Singapore, London and Indonesia. Her journey through cultures and continents has shaped a deep commitment to gender justice, social equity, and inclusive policy.

Now working as a Research & Policy Analyst for Gender and Inclusion at the Centre of Excellence in Responsible Business (CERB), Aafreen leads projects that challenge systemic barriers for women in the workplace, translating research into action through corporate engagement, policy reviews, and diversity diagnostics.

Aafreen holds a BA in Public Policy and Human Geography from King’s College London and an MA in International Political Economy from City, University of London. She’s also a proud International Baccalaureate graduate, having completed Sixth Form in Singapore.

Her passion for gender equity isn’t just academic; it’s deeply lived. From supporting education access for girls at Caring for Cambodia, to volunteering at Blue Dragon in Hanoi, Vietnam, and working with children at orphanages in Haridwar, India and Chiang Rai, Thailand, Aafreen has consistently sought out spaces where she could lead with purpose and empathy.

Whether she’s writing about workplace rights, mentoring young changemakers, or simply curled up with a book and a cup of tea, Aafreen is all about making an impact with heart.