Nurjehan Mawani

Nurjehan has held senior leadership positions in legal and regulatory institutions and has a distinguished record of service as a leader, diplomat and volunteer.

Building on her legal career in the United Kingdom and Canada, Nurjehan served as Chair and CEO of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) and then as Commissioner of the Public Service Commission of Canada. She also served as Advisor on Diversity to the Canada School of Public Service.

Between 2005 and 2019, Nurjehan served as Diplomatic Representative of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) first to the Kyrgyz Republic and subsequently to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. As AKDN ambassador, Nurjehan worked in close collaboration with governments, international partners and civil society institutions.

Recognition for Nurjehan’s contributions to the public service and the advancement of women include receiving the Order of Canada and the Public Service of Canada Outstanding Achievement Award. In 2007, she received the UNIFEM Canada Award for “an innovative ability to bridge law and policy and for far-reaching effects of the guidelines impacting the lives of thousands of refugee women and girls.”