British entrepreneur and public speaker (born 1960)
Durdana Ansari OBE (born 1 March 1960)[ 2] [ 3] is a British entrepreneur, public speaker and activist for female empowerment .[ 4] She is a former charity director, journalist, presenter and producer at the BBC World Service .[ 5]
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 .[ 4]
Career
Ansari spent 22 years producing, directing, and interviewing for the BBC World Service .[ 6] She received an Order of the British Empire in 2012 for creating an economic development program for Muslim women.[ 6] [ 2] [ 7]
Her BBC programmes included The World Today (radio programme) , Asian Network (Urdu), Outlook, Meridian, English Teaching Programme, and BBC Urdu Service.[citation needed ]
Ansari was appointed as an Honorary Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy in 2018, she was promoted in 2019 to Honorary Commander;[ 8] and once more in 2021 to Honorary Captain, becoming the first Muslim to reach the rank.[ 9]
Ansari established The Pearl Foundation to teach functional spoken English, reading, writing and computer skills to British-Muslim women.[ 10]
She also 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).[ 11] [ 12]
Ansari has also participated in the Imran Khan Cancer Hospital, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Islamic Relief, and Helping Hands.[citation needed ] [ 13]
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.[ 14] [ 15]
Awards and honours
2012 Order of the British Empire (OBE)[ 16]
2018 Honorary Commander Royal Navy[ 4]
2021 Honorary Captain Royal Navy[ 17]
References
^ "Asim Azhar is proud of aunt for becoming Royal Navy captain" . 14 July 2021.
^ a b "New Year honours list: OBEs" . The Guardian . 31 December 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2011 .
^ Din, Naya. "Meet the British Royal Navy's first Muslim honourary [sic] commander" . SAMAA . Archived from the original on 17 January 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2020 .
^ a b c "Durdana Ansari Appointed As First Muslim Commander In British Royal Navy" . UK44 . Retrieved 19 April 2019 .
^ Farooq, Usman. "The Pakistan Achievement Awards, UK and Europe, 2014" . eBuzz Today . Retrieved 16 October 2014 .
^ a b London, My (31 December 2011). "Journalist made an OBE for services to Muslim women" . My London News . Retrieved 30 September 2013 .
^ Masood, Tooba (10 April 2012). "Pakistani journalist: Durdana Ansari, OBE, takes time out for Karachi over a cup of tea" . The Express Tribune . Retrieved 11 April 2012 .
^ "Navy News September 2018" . Newspaper of the Royal Navy . Retrieved 30 September 2018 .
^ "Durdana Ansari becomes first Muslim captain of the British Royal Navy" . BOL News. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021 .
^ Usman, Maryam (17 November 2015). "Charity starts Pakistan operations" . The Express Tribune . Retrieved 17 November 2015 .
^ "Quest for Education Board of Trustees" . Quest for Education . Retrieved 26 April 2020 .
^ "Board Members" . SWAT Relief Initiative . Retrieved 26 April 2020 .
^ London, My (31 December 2011). "Journalist made an OBE for services to Muslim women" . MyLondon . Retrieved 14 October 2021 .
^ Yawari, Musa. "I take out anger and sadness through art" . BBC News . Retrieved 13 October 2019 .
^ "British Pakistani Artist Amna Ansari maker her mark in international arena" . Times of Islamabad . 8 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019 .
^ Mirza, Qaiser. "Durdana Ansari, recipient of OBE (Most Excellence Order of British Empire)" . Siasat Pakistan . Retrieved 12 April 2012 .
^ "Durdana Ansari becomes first Muslim captain of the British Royal Navy" . BOL News. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021 .