Our Thought Leaders
Dr. Moeed Yusuf
Policy & Development
Dr. Moeed Yusuf's expertise encompasses strategic governance and evidence-based policymaking that shapes regional security architectures, addressing how institutional leaders navigate geopolitical complexity while advancing sustainable development.
PhD in Political Science from Boston University, having served as Pakistan's youngest National Security Adviser and Associate Vice President at the U.S. Institute of Peace. Research fellowships at Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center and publications by Stanford and Georgetown University Press inform his expertise in strategic policymaking across complex regional contexts.
Dr. Ruhi Khalid
Leadership Psychology & Organizational Wellbeing
Dr. Ruhi Khalid applies psychological frameworks to leadership development and organizational health, addressing how mental wellbeing, resilience, and behavioral insights enhance executive decision-making and institutional performance.
Director of the Institute of Psychology at BNU with a PhD from the University of Glasgow and postdoctoral training as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Pittsburgh. Over five decades of academic leadership include expanding and advancing the Department of Applied Psychology at Punjab University where she introduced the MPhil and PhD programs and founding BNU's Institute of Psychology. Over five decades of academic leadership include expanding and advancing the Department of Applied Psychology at Punjab University where she introduced the MPhil and PhD programs and founding BNU's Institute of Psychology. She also established mental health counselling centers at both Punjab University and BNU. In addition, serving on the Punjab Healthcare Commission and Mental Health Authority. With over 100 research publications and internationally recognized psychometric tools, she brings specialized expertise in therapeutic interventions, organizational psychology, and executive wellbeing to leadership development.
Her groundbreaking work introduces psychological science into Pakistan's executive education framework, training leaders in emotional intelligence, resilience building, and evidence-based behavioral approaches that enhance decision-making quality and organizational performance—pioneering a critical dimension of human resource development that positions Pakistan's leadership to manage stress, build high-performing teams, and create psychologically healthy organizational cultures essential for sustainable competitive advantage.
Dr. Zain-ul-Abdin
Transformation & Change Management
Dr. Zain-ul-Abdin equips leaders with adaptive frameworks to navigate organizational disruption, translating complex business challenges into actionable strategies that drive sustainable institutional change.
Former Director of LUMS Rausing Executive Development Centre with extensive experience at PwC Academy Middle East. International consulting across five continents has shaped leadership programs that enable executives to build adaptive organizational capabilities and steer transformation in evolving economic landscapes.
Prof. Rashid Rana
Visual Arts Thinking
Professor Rashid Rana, founding faculty member and current Dean of BNU's School of Visual Arts and Design, brings over three decades of experience integrating creative practice with transformative education. He demonstrates how artistic innovation and visual thinking can extend beyond the arts to address complex organizational challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration.
An internationally acclaimed artist, his works are part of the collections at the British Museum and the Metropolitan Museum, and he designed the award-winning Exterior of Pakistan Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. He is the recipient of the Asia Society’s Game Changer Asia Art Award and Pakistan's Sitara-i-Imtiaz. As Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair on Inclusion through Art, he promotes diversity through transdisciplinarity. His pioneering work in visual arts equips Pakistan's executives and organizational leaders with a greater understanding of the arts and creative expression, fundamentally reshaping how the nation's professionals approach strategic challenges and fostering a culture of creative leadership essential for Pakistan's competitive positioning in the global creative and knowledge economy.
Mr. Omar Hassan
Design Thinking
Omar Hassan advances Design Thinking through spatial innovation and material experimentation, demonstrating how architectural methodologies bridge theoretical exploration with practical industry application.
Founding Dean of the Razia Hassan School of Architecture at BNU and principal of Oh+A, with an M.Arch from Rhode Island School of Design. His research in architectural tectonics and sustainability, combined with international practice experience, creates dynamic exchange between academia and industry in contemporary building systems.
Mr. Zaeem Yaqoob Khan
Creative Economy
Zaeem Yaqoob Khan develops evidence-based frameworks connecting cultural industries with economic development, demonstrating how data-driven approaches to creative sectors catalyze entrepreneurship in emerging markets.
Leads Pakistan's first UNESCO International Fund for Cultural Diversity project with credentials in Data Economics and Development Policy from MIT's J-PAL. Graduate degrees in Computer Science and Development Studies, combined with experience across World Bank Group, GIZ, and UNESCO, inform his research in creative economy development and innovation ecosystems.
