Leadership Team

Rahimunissa Riaz Ahmed

Founder and Chairperson

Mrs. Rahimunissa Riaz Ahmed has extensive experience in corporate and government administration. She provides oversights into the governance and overall operations of Riaz Ahmed Foundation (RAF). She has been responsible for RAF’s smooth functioning and many notable successes since its inception. She has led initiatives to provide food and education to underserved communities. She also founded a program to offer technical education to women, helping them attain financial independence. Her vision is for peace and harmony to prevail in the world, with no discrimination between the haves and the have-nots. She is very empathetic towards others and has been helping the needy right from her childhood. Her dream is to mitigate the pain and hardships of the destitute as much as possible. Providing quality education together with professional skillset especially for women and girls so as to empower them and help them stand on their own is of great importance to her. She believes when everyone is self-reliant, there will be love and happiness everywhere. She has a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Economics from the University of Madras and enjoys gardening, reading, and spending time with family.

Kausar Riaz Ahmed

Co-founder

Dr. Kausar Riaz Ahmed is a scientist by training. She is a big believer in equal opportunity and the ripple effect of small actions. Working alongside other leaders in RAF, she has been instrumental in driving RAF’s work in education, empowerment, food and nutrition. She has been responsible for developing much of RAF’s mission and for standing up the foundation. She has a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University. She loves to read, go on long walks, and dream about ‘Utopia’.

T. Riazur Rahman

Managing Trustee

Mr. T. Riazur Rahman has several decades of experience at the Food Corporation of India as well as at other government organizations both in India and abroad. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in social work. He champions sustainable solutions and guides with mobilizing resources to achieve high impact with our initiatives. As an attorney, he has been actively engaged in providing free legal advice and support services to the financially disadvantaged. He is always ready to go out of his way to resolve problems brought to his notice. He has a Master of Arts (M.A.) and a Bachelors in Law (B.L.) from Madras University. He has a large extended family and adorable grandchildren with whom he spends most of his time.

Sarthaj Begum Jaffar Hussain

Finance Trustee and Manager

Mrs. Sarthaj Begum Jaffar Hussain oversees day-to-day management, employee recruitment, and management of RAF finances. She is an empathetic leader, who ensures that all activities of the foundation are executed with compassion and consideration for those we aim to serve. By nature, she is passionate about helping people around her. She is service-minded and very hospitable (becoming a nurse was her childhood dream 😊). She is an asset to the Foundation. She has a Masters in Commerce (M.Com.) from the University of Madras. She lives with her husband and two boys, whom she loves to bits.

K. Mohamed Rafiq

Trustee

Mr. K. Mohamed Rafiq has extensive experience as an auditor and working with the government. He recently retired from the Accountant General’s Office in India after over three decades of service. He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for his exemplary service. He founded the Quba Educational and Social Trust (QEST) to promote education and social well-being of underserved communities. During the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, he helped rehabilitate hundreds of survivors and worked tirelessly to get them a fresh start in life. He is known for always being available to help others. He takes keen interest in the management of RAF and ensures safety of the students who attend classes at RAF. He has a Masters in Commerce (M.Com.) and Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Application (PGDCA) from the University of Madras. He is very dynamic and popular among the local community as an advisor and benefactor. He likes to travel and spend time with his family, especially his grandson.