Durdana Ansari

Durdana Ansari OBE (born 1 March 1960)[1][2] is a British entrepreneur, public speaker and activist for female empowerment.[3] She is a former charity director, journalist, presenter and producer at the BBC World Service.[4] She has interviewed politicians, Kashmir earthquake victims, Afghan refugees, Bollywood and Pakistani actors, artists, film directors and poets, and received an Order of the British Empire in 2012 for creating economic development program for Muslim women.[5][1] She serves as a Brand Ambassador to Mirpur University of Science & Technology (MUST), the Swat Relief Initiative (SRI), and as a trustee for ‘Quest for Education’ (QFE).[6][7]

Durdana Ansari

OBE
Born (1960-03-01) 1 March 1960
Bahawalpur, Pakistan
NationalityBritish Pakistani
EducationBirkbeck, University of London
Notable credit(s)
  • BBC The World Today
  • BBC Outlook
  • BBC Meridian
  • BBC English Teaching Programme
  • BBC Urdu Service
Children4

Early life

Durdana Ansari was born in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, then grew up in Islamabad. She moved to London where she received her degree in media and journalism from Birkbeck University.[3]

Career

Ansari was appointed Hon Lt Cdr in 2018 and promoted in 2019 to Hon Cdr Royal Navy.[8] She currently works as an adviser to the Royal Navy, holds community events nationwide for young individuals between the ages of 18 to 35 to meet naval officers and recruitment officials to learn about careers in the Royal Navy. She also works with community leaders, local councillors, borough mayors, academics, teachers, and parents of young individuals who have shown an interest in naval careers.[8] Durdana was also appointed as an Instructor based on her experience with British society and BAME communities.[8]

Ansari established The Pearl Foundation to teach functional spoken English, reading, writing and computer skills to British-Muslim women, as well as integrate these women into wider society by building self-confidence and enhancing quality of life.[9] Her work with The Pearl Education Foundation and the Ethnic Minorities Foundation (see below) led to the recruitment of approximately 9,000 students and 700 volunteers.[9]

Ansari led a small program to teach Muslim women the importance of learning English and IT skills.[10] Her work at the Ethnic Minorities Foundation was recognised by the Queen with the award of an Order of the British Empire.[11]

Ansari spent 22 years producing, directing, and interviewing prominent personalities for the BBC World Service, the largest international broadcaster in the world, owned and operated by the BBC.[5]

BBC programmes included the following:

Ansari produced, directed and presented a bilingual Sunday Brunch Show for the global PTV channel. Content included current affairs, arts, drama, TV, film and personalities of current interest.

Personal life

Durdana has four children, 2 boys and 2 girls. Her first child, Amina Art Ansari, is an artist with paintings of the British royal family hanging in Windsor Castle.[12][13]

Awards and honours
  • 2012 Order of the British Empire (OBE)[14]
  • 2018 Honorary Commander Royal Navy[3]

Charity

In addition to the foundations she has contributed to or started, she has participated in the Imran Khan Cancer Hospital, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Islamic Relief, and Helping Hands.

References
  1. "New Year honours list: OBEs". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  2. Din, Naya. "Meet the British Royal Navy's first Muslim honourary commander". SAMAA. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  3. "Durdana Ansari Appointed As First Muslim Commander In British Royal Navy". UK44. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  4. Farooq, Usman. "The Pakistan Achievement Awards, UK and Europe, 2014". eBuzz Today. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  5. London, My. "Journalist made an OBE for services to Muslim women". My London News. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  6. "Quest for Education Board of Trustees". Quest for Education. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  7. "Board Members". SWAT Relief Initiative. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  8. "Navy News September 2018". Newspaper of the Royal Navy. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  9. Usman, Maryam. "Charity starts Pakistan operations". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  10. Salman, Peerzada. "Tribute paid to seasoned journalist". Dawn. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  11. Masood, Tooba. "Pakistani journalist: Durdana Ansari, OBE, takes time out for Karachi over a cup of tea". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  12. Yawari, Musa. "I take out anger and sadness through art". BBC. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  13. "British Pakistani Artist Amna Ansari maker her mark in international arena". Times of Islamabad. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  14. Mirza, Qaiser. "Durdana Ansari, recipient of OBE (Most Excellence Order of British Empire)". Siasat Pakistan. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
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