COO

Chief Operating Officer, Ms. Zahara Khan's primary area of expertise is human development using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT4D).

Zahara did her Masters in Computer Science (cum laude) from FAST National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences (FAST-NUCES), the leading computer science education institution in Pakistan. A true believe in individual social responsibility & sustainable business models for development, Zahara left her lucrative job in the corporate sector and co-founded d.o.t.z technologies to develop various software applications, such as e-Sehat, a tele-consultancy application, and e-stores used to market the “one village, one product” products internationally.

During her career, Zahara has led many multi-stakeholder public-private partnership (PPP) projects such as the National Education Database Program (NEDP) for informed policy-making, the Family Resource Center project, and the Pakistan Education Initiative which envisions connecting the 175,000 schools in the Pakistan Public School System.

Over the years, Zahara has envisioned and implemented many programs aimed at inclusion of women in the ICT sector. She is the founding member of the community-based Institute of Computer Studies (Karachi), Graduates of FAST (a scholarship program by FAST-NUCES alumni) and a Mentorship Program for young social entrepreneurs & computer science students.

Zahara is the first Pakistani recipient of the Anita Borg Change Agent Award, which recognizes up-and-coming leaders that impact or advance women’s participation in technology. Zahara also serves on the Board of Directors of the Project Management Institute (Karachi-Pakistan Chapter).