Board of Directors

Awais Shaikh is a management consultant with extensive experience in strategic management and purpose-driven leadership across corporate, nonprofit, and entrepreneurial sectors. A former executive at Fortune 100 companies, Awais has developed expertise in guiding large-scale strategic initiatives, partnership development, and organizational transformation. Recently, he co-founded Forerunners, a values-based community of entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals committed to aligning purpose with professional success. In addition to his professional pursuits, Awais is deeply committed to family and community. He enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, both of whom attend Al Fatih Academy (AFA). Over the years, Awais has volunteered with AFA, contributing to initiatives such as the volunteer hour tracking system and the Hour of Code program. His work reflects a dedication to service and the empowerment of values-oriented leadership in both his personal and professional spheres.

Mahwish Hamlani is a consultant focused on helping her clients achieve business value through technology. She has been part of the Al Fatih Academy community for the last eleven years and previously served as the PTO president for six years. Mahwish also serves on the board for two local non-profit organizations that support girls and women pursuing STEM careers. Mahwish enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, who both attend AFA.

Nusra Alam is a dedicated educator and community member, currently teaching in LCPS while serving as a secretary on the board of Al Fatih Academy. With a passion for fostering student growth, Nusra brings valuable insights from her teaching experience back to the board. As a parent of children attending AFA, Nusra remains deeply committed to enhancing the educational environment for the institution as a whole. Nusra’s four kids have all been a part of Al Fatih Academy at some point in their school careers, with one currently in Middle School at AFA.

Thoufiq Kaleemullah is a technologist by profession with over 25 years of experience in technology consulting and systems implementations. He has been an AFA parent for 11 years. Thoufiq has three daughters, the eldest of whom graduated from AFA two years ago and is currently a sophomore at Westfield H.S. His other kids are in 2nd grade and Pre-K at AFA. He has served on the AFA board for 7 years and has supported several committees including facilities and fundraising. He also serves on the board of Indian Muslim Relief Council (IMRC - DC Chapter) and helped launch a non-profit called Archy Foundation with his daughter. Thoufiq loves spending time with his family and playing sports including tennis, badminton, and pickleball.

Imaney Ahmad has a background in Science, having a Bachelor’s in Molecular and Microbiology from the University of Central Florida as well as earning her Doctorate from Temple University in Dental Medicine. She runs her own dental clinic in Herndon, VA. She has been a dedicated parent at Al Fatih Academy for over 12 years with one child being an AFA alumni and currently still has three children attending. She has been part of AFA's PTO, Health Mitigation & Fundraising committee. She is very committed to helping AFA provide an inclusive nurturing environment that helps build our children’s character in a prophetic way.

Humera Rahman is a dedicated member of the Al Fatih Academy Board of Directors. A famous Chinese proverb serves as inspiration for her commitment to AFA: "If your plan is for one year, plant rice. If your plan is for ten years, grow trees. If your plan is for one hundred years, teach your children." She recognizes that education is an investment in the betterment of ourselves, our understanding of religion, and improvement in society.

Firas Barzinji is an attorney who serves as General Counsel for a private equity firm based in Herndon. In his role, Firas oversees diverse investment portfolios spanning technology, agriculture, and publicly traded securities, bringing both legal expertise and strategic insight to each venture. A native of Northern Virginia, Firas is deeply committed to supporting and advancing the local Muslim community. He is particularly dedicated to AFA, where both of his children are students.

Sameer Qudsi is an engineer and entrepreneur providing software consulting services to the Federal Government. In this role, he oversees program execution, business growth, technology development, strategy, and finance. Sameer also serves on multiple non-profit boards and committees focused on education and international development. He enjoys spending time with his son who attends AFA and also enjoys traveling, photography, and flying.

Ms. Afeefa Syeed is the Director of the Center of Innovative Religious Education at Al Fatih Academy. She also serves as an advisor to the AFA Board of Directors. She has worked for the past 30 years with nonprofits, government agencies, and international organizations to implement an understanding of cultural context and religious literacy in their programs and policies. She develops various curricula and training for educators and institutions to integrate a more spiritually grounded framing in their work. Ms. Afeefa is a cultural anthropologist who focuses on identity and self-determination in women’s leadership, social entrepreneurship, educational innovation, social justice, and religious expression. As a founder of AFA, Ms. Afeefa has helped to shape the educational programs of the school to include peace education, service-in-action, and place-based learning. Ms. Afeefa has served as Senior Advisor at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and has been a Scholar Consultant for the Carter Center. In addition to her work at AFA, she is currently a Research Associate with Cambridge University’s Institute on Religion & International Studies, Senior Fellow and Advisory Council Member for the Institute for Global Engagement’s Center for Women, Faith & Leadership, and on the Advisory Board of the Ghazali Children’s Project at Fons Vitae.

Ms. Pervin Divleli is the Human Resources Manager and Senior Education Consultant at Al Fatih Academy. She also serves as an advisor to the AFA Board of Directors. She has worked for over 25 years in the education field, and is committed to Muslim Schools and Islamic education. She was instrumental in the establishment and continuation of Al Fatih Academy and the development of its unique curriculum. Over the years she has served as an AFA board member, AFA teacher, and AFA administrator. She holds a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education and has years of practical hands-on experience working in Muslim schools. Pervin enjoys gardening, reading, and spending time with her family. She is looking forward to traveling and seeing more of the world.