Fahad Ahmad

Fahad Ahmad is a consultant, researcher, and program evaluator who works with social purpose and community-based initiatives to enhance the impact of their mission.

Fahad is currently a PhD candidate at the School of Public Policy and Administration at Carleton University. He has received the Social Science Humanities and Research Council's Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Studies Doctoral Scholarship for his doctoral research that examines the impact of counter-radicalization policies on the work of community and nonprofit organizations that provide support to migrant and diaspora communities. Fahad is a research affiliate of the Canadian Network for Research on Terrorism, Security and Society (TSAS).

Prior to pursuing his PhD, Fahad was Chief Operating Officer and then, the interim CEO of Soliya, an innovative nonprofit that mobilizes young adults from western and predominantly Muslim societies to foster greater cross-cultural understanding. He led Soliya's merger with one of the world's largest peacebuilding organizations, Search for Common Ground, where he was appointed as the VP of Strategic Initiatives. 

Fahad provides consulting services to social justice and arts nonprofits that includes advice on strategic planning, partnership, operations, community mobilization, and fundraising. In 2015, he was invited to join the board of directors of Thousand Currents, a San Francisco based funder that supports Global South grassroots groups led by women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples. He was elected as Chair of the board of directors of Thousand Currents in 2017. He also serves as a board member of the Ontario Council of International Cooperation.

Fahad enjoys teaching and mentoring. He is an instructor for the course, "Leadership in the Social Sector" at the Schulich School of Business, York University. Fahad's diverse experiences and background make him a creative problem solver. He has worked as a computer engineer, made short films, and lived and worked in the Middle East, India, Canada, and the U.S. Fahad holds graduate degrees from York University in Canada (MBA) and the University of Wisconsin Madison (MS), as well as a Bachelor's degree from India.