I’m an author, writer and strategist working at the intersection of international development, education, and media.
I’m the author of Pakistan, an acclaimed cookbook praised by LA Times, Bon Appétit and Eater for its powerful storytelling and in-depth reporting about food culture in Pakistan. I also founded Pakistan Eats, an award-winning platform for exploring heritage, identity, and migration through the lens of food. My writing, mainly focused on the food culture of underreported communities, has appeared in Al Jazeera, Condé Nast Traveler, and NPR, among others. I also write a monthly Substack and a quarterly column for Dunya Digital.
Alongside my writing, I’ve spent over a decade leading and supporting education and development projects across Asia, Africa and the U.S. At UNESCO Cambodia, I worked closely with the Ministry of Education on the country’s COVID-19 education response and managed the lifelong learning portfolio focused on out-of-school youth and female garment workers. At Creative Associates International, I led a 90+ person field team to execute USAID’s award-winning Pakistan Reading Project. I also helped design and pitch a $50M education program in Somalia that provided safe and equitable education for marginalized learners. As a consultant, I regularly advise NGOs on strategy, program design and proposal development for education projects across Asia and Africa.
I’ve lived and worked in Cambodia, Mexico, Pakistan, the Philippines, and the U.S. I’m currently based in Manila and will be relocating to Washington, D.C. in summer 2025.