Ziauddin Yousafzai

Ziauddin Yousafzai is an educator and human rights campaigner who champions equal access to education with unwavering conviction and courage. As co-founder of Malala Fund, UN Special Advisor on Global Education, and educational attaché to the Pakistani Consulate in Birmingham, he draws on decades of activism, including peacefully resisting the Taliban's efforts to close schools in Pakistan's Swat Valley whilst raising his daughter Malala to speak out for children's rights. His work empowers organisations and audiences to understand how fostering equality, supporting girls' education, and challenging injustice creates lasting social change and builds more inclusive communities.

When the Taliban closed schools across Pakistan's Swat Valley, Ziauddin Yousafzai made a choice that would change history. As head of Khushal Public School in a region consumed by political violence, he peacefully resisted efforts to deny children their education, keeping his school open and raising his daughter Malala to believe that every child, regardless of gender, deserves the right to learn. That conviction would spark a global movement after Malala survived an assassination attempt in October 2012, targeted by Taliban gunmen for her outspoken campaigning for girls' education. The attack, intended to silence their voices, instead amplified them across the world. Malala's miraculous recovery and subsequent recognition as the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 2014 transformed her father's lifelong activism into an international platform for change.

Today, Ziauddin serves as co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Malala Fund, the organisation he established with his daughter in 2013 to ensure every girl can access twelve years of free, safe, quality education. His role as United Nations Special Advisor on Global Education and educational attaché to the Pakistani Consulate in Birmingham positions him at the centre of policy discussions that shape educational access worldwide. His advocacy has contributed to tangible outcomes, including the ratification of Pakistan's first Right to Education Bill following a UN petition launched in Malala's name. Beyond institutional work, he has shared their story through his autobiography, *Let Her Fly*, and the award-winning 2015 documentary *He Named Me Malala*, reaching millions with a message rooted in lived experience. His affiliation with the Awami National Party and his founding role with Global Peace Centre Canada further demonstrate his commitment to education as a vehicle for peace and social progress.

Ziauddin empowers audiences to understand that challenging injustice begins with the choices we make in our own communities. He demonstrates how fostering equality, particularly through girls' education, creates ripple effects that transform societies and build inclusive futures. His speaking engagements help organisations recognise the courage required to stand against oppression and the practical steps needed to support educational access for marginalised groups. Audiences leave with renewed conviction that creating lasting change demands not only advocacy but also the willingness to take personal risks for collective progress. Through his work, Ziauddin shows that the most powerful legacy we can create is one that gives others the confidence and language to speak for themselves.