Iran Davar Ardalan is an award-winning AI strategist and storyteller with a career spanning NPR, National Geographic, and the White House Presidential Innovation Fellowship program in Washington D.C. She is currently at Booz Allen, where she has led groundbreaking research in large language models and risk mitigation, and drives modernization, AI integration, and digital transformation across mission-critical initiatives. In 2025, she was a finalist in two categories of the Booz Allen Gen AI Academy Awards for her innovative work in generative AI and storytelling.  A veteran journalist, Ardalan served as Head of Weekend Programming at NPR News, overseeing the editorial direction and production of national shows across the network. She later became Executive Producer of Audio at National Geographic, where she led acclaimed, award-winning podcasts. She is the co-author of AI for Community (Taylor & Francis, 2025), advocating for the role of AI in cultural heritage. Also an artist and member of the Annapolis Arts Alliance, her AI Currents series, featured at Gallery 57, uses handcrafted acrylic and collage to explore AI’s patterns and limitations. Ardalan’s pioneering AI research has been recognized in The New York Times and her news productions honored with multiple Webbys, an Ambie, Signal Awards, a NASA team leadership award. She is a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Ardalan was also featured in Zippy the Pinhead. When she’s not shaping the future of AI or layering paint in her studio, Ardalan finds joy on the open water, sailing the Chesapeake with her husband, an environmental engineer, and their blended family of eight children and almost five grandchildren, a lively crew bound by love, laughter, and the rhythm of the tides.

Shirin Amani Azari is a highly accomplished psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, and published author with over two decades of experience in trauma therapy. Her work has focused extensively on supporting victims of torture, refugees, asylum seekers, and frontline healthcare professionals. Fluent in Swedish, Farsi, English, and Zoroastrian Dari, Shirin brings a rich cross-cultural perspective to her clinical and literary work. She currently serves as a Clinical Assessor at Frontline 19, providing specialist PTSD therapy to ICU and ITU doctors and nurses across the UK. She also works as a Clinical Supervisor at Docklands Outreach, mentoring therapists who support young people in partnership with CAMHS. In addition, she offers therapy to the Iranian community via Iran Wire and has long contributed to organizations such as the Refugee Support Centre, Refugee Therapy Centre, and Mapesbury Clinic, where she specializes in trauma-informed care. Shirin is the author of Once Upon a Time in Tehran (2010) and Once Upon a Time in Uppsala (2023), the latter of which was a finalist for the People’s Choice Awards. Her storytelling has been featured across international media, including Manoto TV and Chandshanbeh ba Sina, and she has spoken at numerous public events and NHS Trust initiatives. In 2024, she was named a finalist for the Asian Women Achievement Awards in the Public Service category and was previously nominated for a Community Service Award by the Zoroastrian World Congress. A passionate mental health advocate, Shirin is the creator of Kitchen Therapy on Instagram Live, using food and conversation as tools for emotional well-being. Her academic work has been published in journals such as The Psychotherapists, International Psychotherapy Journal, Transformations PCSR Journal, and Therapy Today. Connect with Shirin: LinkedIn | Author Page | Instagram | Facebook

Dr. Nehzat Farnoody, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist with a specialty in Cross-Cultural Psychology. Dr. Farnoody was accepted into the Master's program in Clinical Psychology at the University of Kansas in 1969 in the United States as one of the top students. In 1975 she acquired her Ph.D. from USIU (an APA accredited program) in San Diego. She was recruited by Tehran University and functioned as Associate Professor, Chair of Psychology Department, Director of Clinical Counseling Center, and was an active member of the University Assembly where she taught at JSU from 1975 to 1980. Dr. Farnoody has provided over 30 years of community service here in Los Angeles, in an effort to raise awareness on Mental Health, and has hosted several Media Literacy programs in helping families cope with cross-cultural conflicts. From 1989 to 1992 Dr. Farnoody hosted radio and television programs on psychological topics interactively with her wide audiences. Her practical solutions for people’s problems increasingly widened her popularity, and to comply with this growing demand, she increased her programs from 1995 to 2001 and complemented that with publishing numerous articles in varying newspapers and magazines in California. In 1999, the Mayor of Los Angeles appointed her as the “Incredible Woman Making History” for serving her community in Los Angeles. Dr. Farnoody has a passion for raising awareness on women’s rights issues. Dr. Farnoody has given over 200 seminars, conferences, and has given many lectures on psychological and socio-cultural topics such as: Successful Relationships, Parenting, Healthy Families, Healthy Societies, The Psychology of Democracy, Psychology of Love, Emotional Intelligence and several other topics. Since 1986 Dr. Farnoody has been a guest lecturer to prestigious Universities such as Brown University, UCLA, UC Berkeley, UCSD, Johns Hopkins University, and several others. Because of her profound passion for the subject of human psychology, she always studies the new findings and theories on the subject. Dr. Farnoody has published well over 100 articles in popular magazines in two different languages and has produced several CDs to comply with the demand of her vast audiences on topics such as ABCs of parenting, Emotional Vitamins, Self-Esteem, From Narcissism to Love and Intimacy and more… Dr. Farnoody is the author of the popular book ‘ABCs of Parenting’, and has translated several books to English such as ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’, ‘Todd’, and ‘Crisis’. Dr. Farnoody’s unrelenting curiosity on the psychology of spirituality has urged her to explore the psychology of religion, what compels religion, how it fragments humans into hostile spiritual tribes and how it can be fixed. Besides Dr. Farnoody’s commendable achievements, her quest to explain the psychology of faith distinguished her from most of the rest of the applicants who applied for this position. Hence, Happiness in Wisdom invited her to join this committee and we are pleased that she accepted to join us.

Mariam Khosravani is the Founder of the Iranian American Women Foundation, an educational nonprofit organization based in Irvine, CA, with chapters in Northern California, New York, Los Angeles, and Orange County. Since its inception in 2012, the IAW Foundation has hosted multiple leadership conferences, workshops, and seminars with over 20,000 participants from around the globe. She was also the Executive Director of the Coastline Community College Foundation in Orange County, California. She managed the college foundation and its assets and was responsible for raising funds to assist and support over 18,000 students. Mariam has been active in the field of philanthropy as a consultant, speaker, and trainer for the last twenty years. She is passionate about humanitarian aid and has assisted in the expansion of several non-profit organizations in California. She has raised millions of dollars in funding for various local, national, and international organizations. Mariam was previously the President of The Africa Project, an organization supporting children in the continent of Africa. The Mayor of Irvine also appointed her as the Community Services Commissioner, a position she held for eight years. She was the chair of the Investment Council for the United Way of Orange County and served on a number of boards, including the Public Broadcasting Station (PBS) SoCal, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the California Community College Foundation, the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA), Keep Children In School (KCIS), and the Network of Iranian American Professionals of Orange County (NIPOC). She has received many awards and recognitions for her contributions to the community and her passion for making a difference. She received the 2015 Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Woman of Philanthropy award from Comerica Bank and the LA Lakers, and many others.

Niki Karimi, Iranian Actress, filmmaker, writer, photographer, and producer, was born in Tehran, Iran, in 1971.  At school, she became interested in theater and writing and started her career by directing plays. In 1989, Karimi started acting in cinema with The Bride. The movie was extremely successful and became a cult in the history of Iranian cinema. After that, she played in more than forty films and won many national and International awards. In 2001, Karimi made a documentary " To Have or not Have " which focused on couples who are suffering from infertility and also couples who decide not having a child from beginning. Her feature directorial debut was with 2005’s Yek Shab ( One Night ). This film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival's Un Certain Regard. She made her second feature film, Chand Rooze Baad ( A Few Days Later ), in 2007, which was shown at the Rome Film Festival. "Soote Payan" ( Final Whistle ) is her third feature film, which premiered at the Pusan Film Festival. In 2020, she shot her fifth film, “ Atabai " in Azerbaijan, Iran, for which she received the award for best film and best director from the Iranian critics society. She has been a Jury member in important festivals like Cannes , Berlin , Locarno, and many others.

Iran Davar Ardalan is an award-winning AI strategist and storyteller with a career spanning NPR, National Geographic, and the White House Presidential Innovation Fellowship program in Washington D.C. She is currently at Booz Allen, where she has led groundbreaking research in large language models and risk mitigation, and drives modernization, AI integration, and digital transformation across mission-critical initiatives. In 2025, she was a finalist in two categories of the Booz Allen Gen AI Academy Awards for her innovative work in generative AI and storytelling.  A veteran journalist, Ardalan served as Head of Weekend Programming at NPR News, overseeing the editorial direction and production of national shows across the network. She later became Executive Producer of Audio at National Geographic, where she led acclaimed, award-winning podcasts. She is the co-author of AI for Community (Taylor & Francis, 2025), advocating for the role of AI in cultural heritage. Also an artist and member of the Annapolis Arts Alliance, her AI Currents series, featured at Gallery 57, uses handcrafted acrylic and collage to explore AI’s patterns and limitations. Ardalan’s pioneering AI research has been recognized in The New York Times and her news productions honored with multiple Webbys, an Ambie, Signal Awards, a NASA team leadership award. She is a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Ardalan was also featured in Zippy the Pinhead. When she’s not shaping the future of AI or layering paint in her studio, Ardalan finds joy on the open water, sailing the Chesapeake with her husband, an environmental engineer, and their blended family of eight children and almost five grandchildren, a lively crew bound by love, laughter, and the rhythm of the tides.

Sadaf Ghaem-Maghami is currently Professor of Gynaecological Oncology at Imperial College, London and Honorary Consultant Gynaecologist and gynaecological Oncologist and chief of service for gynaecological oncology at Imperial NHS Trust. She graduated from the London Hospital Medical School in 1990 and completed her training as an obstetrician gynaecologist at Northwest London training programme and subspecialised in Gynaecological oncology at Hammersmith Hospital in 2004. She received her PhD in Immunology from University of London in 2001. She leads a research group at Imperial College, contributing to research and training of the next generation of scientists and doctors. She has published scientific papers in high impact journals and has carried out research in novel technologies to improve diagnosis and treatment of women with gynaecological conditions. She has won several national awards and has secured several large competitive research grants both in the UK and abroad to carry out her work. She has held numerous positions nationally and internationally in her field such as chair of the National Scientific Advisory Committee and the Academic Committee of the Royal College Of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, member of the FIGO Reproductive and Environmental Health Working Group, President of Section of O&G of the Royal Society of Medicine, officer and Trustee of the British Gynaecological Cancer Society, chair of the multidisciplinary tumour board at Northwest London Gynaecological Cancer Centre, expert member of several committees at National Institute of Clinical Excellence NICE) and scientific journal editorial positions. Through these appointments she has contributed to key national and international guidelines in women’s health. She is a gynaecologist, subspecialist in gynaecological oncology, an accredited colposcopist, an avid advocate of women and their reproductive health, a wife and mother of two daughters.

Tara Aghdashloo is an award-winning writer, director, multidisciplinary artist and poet born in Iran. She is a published author who has worked as an essayist and journalist before transitioning to film. In 2020 she completed a masterclass at the London Film Academy by renowned filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf, who remains as her mentor. Since then, her three short films have been commissioned by BFI Network, Canada Council of the Arts, BBC, Ontario Arts Council, and Toronto Arts Council among others, and competed at festivals globally, with over 20 nominations and 10 wins. Tara’s debut narrative feature is a UK-Canada co-production supported by Telefilm Canada and Ontario Creates. Tara is a vocal intersectional feminist and advocate for global south and human rights in the SWANA region. Previous to filmmaking, she’s worked as a writer, journalist and documentary-maker with works appearing on BBC, Channel 4, Financial Times, Harvard Business Review, The Guardian, and many more. 

Elham Fardad’s professional career spans 25 years in senior leadership roles in blue chip multinationals including GE, News Corp and EY, where she has advised clients on their most challenging operational problems. Elham advises leadership teams on strategy, operations and talent. She is the Founder and CEO of the charity Migrant Leaders, is a Fellow member of the ACCA and a member of multiple Advisory Boards. Migrant Leaders was the winner of the Social Mobility Award 2023 at the prestigious Inclusive Awards. Elham is the author of the book Migrant Magic and had the honour of being selected as a Coronation Champion in 2023. In 2024 Elham was awarded the Freedom of the City of London by The Lord Mayor of London.

Bibi Kasrai is a dynamic entrepreneur, philanthropist, and culinary innovator and influencer based in San Diego, California. In 2009 and as the founder and CEO of Harvard Cookin' Girl, she created a unique space that brings together individuals of all ages to explore and enjoy healthy globally inspired cuisine. Her establishment has garnered recognition from prominent media outlets, including Nickelodeon, NBC, VOA, BBC, CBS, and Harvard Business Review, and has received acclaim not only from educators, school districts, and parents alike but also major corporations around the world who have hosted the corporate team building events at her studio​. Before venturing into the culinary world, Bibi had a distinguished career at the World Bank, and in the nonprofit development. She served as the Chief Development Officer for organizations such as the J. Craig Venter Institute and the XPrize Foundation, where her efforts contributed to significant initiatives like the $30 million Lunar Prize. Her tenure at Scripps Health and Walker Digital further highlights her expertise in major gift fundraising and public relations. Bibi's academic credentials are equally impressive. She earned her MBA from Harvard Business School and holds both a BA and MA in television journalism from Moscow State University. Fluent in multiple languages, including French, Russian, Persian, English, Spanish, Polish, Bulgarian, and Italian, she exemplifies a commitment to cultural diversity and global understanding. ​She has been named one of America’s best mentors by the Insight Institute. Beyond her professional pursuits, Bibi actively engages in philanthropic endeavors. She served as a volunteer advisor to the Encyclopedia Iranica board, has launched the VivaIranica! -a campaign to encourage cultural philanthropy among younger generations. During the Woman, Life, Freedom campaign she launched the Myshare4freedom campaign that raised funds to assist the injured youth. Additionally, she manages the Kasrai Foundation, honoring the poetic legacy of her father, Siavash Kasrai, a notable Iranian poet. ​ She has recently launched her own videocast called “Khooneye Ma” on youtube.

Samira Kazemzadeh, also known as Samira KM, is a holistic practitioner, breath therapist, and educator in Five Element Acupuncture, devoted to helping others reconnect with their innate capacity to heal. She blends Five Element Acupuncture, breath therapy, Spinal Energetics, and subconscious reprogramming to support deep transformation across body, mind, and spirit. Her trauma-informed and intuitive approach facilitates energetic release, nervous system regulation, and emotional balance. Alongside her one-to-one work, Samira teaches at a Five Element Acupuncture school, hosts weekly online breathwork sessions through her To The Point series, and leads seasonal workshops aligned with the rhythms of nature and the wisdom of the Five Elements. With a special passion for empowering women, Samira holds space for reconnection, embodiment, and personal power—guiding others back to the wisdom of their own bodies.

Shaadi is a Senior Managing Consultant at IBM with over 12 years of experience in AI strategy and implementation, guiding multinational clients across diverse industries. A passionate AI leader and strategist, she specialises in responsible and ethical AI adoption, combining deep technical expertise with strong business acumen. Shaadi is also a vocal advocate for flexible working, currently embracing a 4-day workweek. She believes that technology has the power to enable people to design work around the lives they want to live.

Farzaneh Majed is ROI Institute Partner and Balanced Scorecard Institute Strategic Partner and Advisory Board Member with over 20 years of successful business development, change management and innovation experience who has a passion for excellence and thrives on driving change. Farzaneh’s extensive career at the global level has resulted in many successful initiatives being adopted lucratively. She believes in simplifying processes and delivering results through strategic planning and effective execution. As the Partner of the ROI Institute, Farzaneh is a Certified ROI Professional (CRP) and has conducted both Impact Studies as well as Impact Evaluations. Farzaneh has coached the Procurement Department of a public hospital in Saudi to develop a team that is going to be responsible for measuring the results of their purchases.  Farzaneh has coached faculty members of a Saudi governmental body for the past 7 months on conducting an ROI study on a programme they have attended. In addition to leading ROI Certification courses, Farzaneh has personally conducted an ROI study which took 12 months for a governmental body in Saudi Arabia.  They wanted to measure the impact and ROI of Strategic Planning and Strategy Execution. She not only designed and developed the programme for them, but also, assisted them in collecting Action Plans for Level 3, Application, followed by developing objectives for Level 4 – Impact. They actually achieved a positive ROI.  As the CEO and Managing Partner of Transform Alliance (TA), Farzaneh is committed to assisting organizations to achieve transformation through the engagement of their people with TA’s alliance partners. Having identified the mission of the organization, clients are guided and closely monitored on the journey from Strategy Formation and Implementation of Change Management. A key focus throughout is the end result and measurement of the ROI on each project. Farzaneh is an advocate of Inclusion and Collaboration and owes her success to putting herself in the other person's shoes and seeing the world from their perspective and seek a win-win solution. As Partnership Director, she transformed the relationships Informa had developed with key accreditation and certifying bodies as well as Informa’s pool of subject matter experts. She was instrumental in identifying new talent to ensure the sustainability of the business. Farzaneh established the Training, Learning & Development Division of Informa (Former IIR Middle East) and was selected as Centre of Excellence for Training among Informa Group and achieved Innovation Award for continuous improvement.  Farzaneh is a Key Performance Indicator Professional (KPIP), Balanced Scorecard Master Professional (BSMP) and has a Master’s Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University. She has an Honours degree in Combined Sciences (Statistics & Biology) from the University of Brighton in the UK.

In 2013, Shirin made history by becoming the first Iranian woman to compete in ITU World Triathlon Grand Final in London. In 2016, she became the first Iranian woman to represent Iran in Ironman World Championship in Kona, and in 2018 she won the Middle East Ironman 70.3 Championships. In recent years she has ventured into the realm of ultra-endurance cycling. In 2023, she participated in the Transcontinental Race, a gruelling 4,000 kilometres self-supported cycling race across the European continent, and in 2024 supported a group of female athletes to also race. Shirin is an adamant believer in the power of sport; how it pushes us to set goals, break limits, and believe in what we’re capable of, both on and off the field. She dreams of a world where everyone regardless of their background, gender or nationality can access the benefits of sport.

Mana runs the popular page @theiranianvegan, a space dedicated to sharing plant-based persian dishes, anthropology and food stories. Mana launched the platform after noticing a lack of cultural representation in the vegan world, and to show that plant-based eating does not come at the cost of losing our culture and heritage. She has since amassed over 250,000 followers. In 2022, she left a career in law to pursue her passion. She is anchored by the mission to introduce a growing health and climate-conscious population to Iranian cuisine and culture, and to use food as a vehicle to foster cross-cultural understanding. High demand led her to run London's first ever and only plant-based Persian restaurant, Mana's Plant-Based Persian Cuisine. The pop-up in King’s Cross received the Diner's Choice Award by OpenTable in 2022. She went on to teach sold-out cooking classes, running supper clubs and events. She has been interviewed for the LSE Middle East Centre's podcast. She has been featured on Manoto TV on several occasions to speak about Persian vegan food and facilitate cooking demonstrations. She has been featured in several magazines and was named as one of 150 women leaders of the future by the vegan women's summit.