SAM GILL (Moderator)

As Doris Duke Foundation's President & CEO, Sam Gill heads national grant programs, spanning arts, environment, research, and well-being. Sam's research and assessment expertise drives DDF's mission of building a more creative, equitable, and sustainable future.

AMINAH BAKEER ABDUL-JABBAAR

Aminah is a writer, producer, director, and professor at California State University, Los Angeles, known for her impactful work in film and television, deeply rooted in South Central LA's community, with achievements including winning the Liddel Art Award for her short film Personal Touch, participating in Film Independent’s Project Involve and Screenwriter’s Lab, and receiving the Visionary Award at the Pan African Film Festival for her documentary Bilalian, while her latest project, the narrative feature film Muslimah’s Guide to Marriage, has already garnered acclaim, winning the Audience Award at the Pan African Film Festival, and she is currently in development on a TV series at HartBeat Productions.

WAJAHAT ALI

Wajahat Ali, a beloved TED speaker and writer for major publications, including the New York Times and the Washington Post, explores urgent issues like immigration and politics with boldness, hope, and humor. His memoir, "Go Back to Where You Came From," a journey of a Muslim Pakistani-American, offers a surprising and emotional perspective on life. Known for his intellect, humanity, and heart, Ali brings humor and empathy to his presentations on building a compassionate and inclusive America.

KHADIJAH SHARIF-DRINKARD

Khadijah serves as Senior Vice President of business Affairs at ABC News. Former SVP of Business & Legal Affairs at BET (ViacomCBS), she began her career at Nickelodeon where she got her start in the Talent and Production Department.  She helped launch Dora the Explorer, Diego, The Backyardigans and worked on other hits like SpongeBob SquarePants.  Khadijah has negotiated groundbreaking industry deals, such as “The New Edition Story”, “The Bobby Brown Story” and the “Black Girls Rock! Awards Show.”  She graduated from Columbia University and earned her law degree from Fordham University School of Law.  Khadijah is the Immediate Past Chairwoman of the Board of Directors for the Black Entertainment & Sports Lawyers Association (BESLA), Chair Emerita for Columbia College Women and serves on the Executive Board for the Columbia College Alumni Association (Columbia University).  Khadijah penned a chapter on her life for the book, Living Islam Out Loud: American Muslim Women Speak.

ZOHREEN SHAH (Moderator)

Zohreen Shah is a national correspondent at ABC News, where she can be seen on platforms including Good Morning America, World News, and Nightline. She is passionate about covering presidential politics and stories about the South Asian and Muslim community. She has reported extensively on the dynamics between the American presidency and Muslim Americans. Her reporting also led to an American citizen being able to escape Gaza and reunite with his family in California.

AHMED AHMED

Ahmed Ahmed, an Egyptian-American comedian, transitioned from acting to stand-up comedy to amplify his voice, gaining international acclaim in his 30-year comedy career. Co-founding the Axis Of Evil Comedy Tour, which aired on Comedy Central, he has appeared on major TV shows and films. His award-winning documentary, "Just Like Us," premiered at Tribeca Film Festival, leading to a White House dinner invitation with President Barack Obama.

IRAM PARVEEN BILAL

Iram Bilal, an award-winning filmmaker and advocate for inclusivity, is a prominent voice in the Muslim community and global cinema. She drives measurable change with her socially impactful storytelling, founding Pakistan's first professional screenwriting lab, and earning recognition from organizations like Film Independent and Women in Film. Her latest film, "WAKHRI" (English Title: One of a Kind), premiered successfully at the Red Sea Intl. Film Festival and is set for a North American premiere at SXSW 2024.

AIZZAH FATIMA (Moderator)

Aizzah Fatima is a versatile artist known for her work as a filmmaker, actor, playwright, comedian, and former Google engineer. Her feature film Americanish won 25 festival awards and was released internationally by Sony. Fatima's TV pilot script, Muslim Girls DTF: Discuss Their Faith, won the 2020 Roddenberry Foundation Impact Award and premiered at SeriesFest 2022. She has received grants and fellowships from The Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art and The New York Foundation for the Arts and is acclaimed for her solo play Dirty Paki Lingerie, which has toured globally.

HAMZA HAQ

Named one of Canada's Rising Stars by The Hollywood Reporter in 2017, Hamza Haq stars as Bashir "Bash" Hamed in CTV medical drama Transplant, earning a 2021 Canadian Screen Award for Best Lead Actor, in a series that follows an ER doctor who fled Syria for Canada to resume his career in emergency medicine. Haq's credits include roles in Indian Detective, This Life, Jett, Quantico, and The Art of More, with film appearances in My Salinger Year and the upcoming Delia's Gone. Honored as Playback's Breakout Star of the Year in 2020, Haq is also recognized for his advocacy work with organizations like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Canada Media Fund's MADE/NOUS initiative.

FAWZIA MIRZA

Fawzia Mirza is a queer, Muslim, South Asian-Canadian-American writer and director with multiple film and television credits including the feature Signature Move (17), which they co-wrote, produced, and starred in. They directed the short films The Queen of My Dreams (12), I Know Her (19), Saya (19), Noor & Layla (21), TIFF selection The Syed Family Xmas Eve Game Night (21), Brown Elephant (22) and Auntie (22). The Queen of My Dreams (23) is their feature debut.

ASAD BUTT (Moderator)

Asad Butt has more than two decades of experience working in startups, investing, and media. For 10 years he managed global accelerator programs in education technology and pet tech. In 2020, Butt launched Rifelon Media to elevate diverse voices in podcasting and film. His work as a producer has been recognized by the Webby Awards, the Asian American Podcasters Association, and the AVA Digital Awards. Butt serves on the board of The Capital Network.

IMAN ZAWAHRY (Moderator)

Iman Zawahry is a pioneering hijabi American-Muslim filmmaker, with a career marked by over 150 worldwide film screenings and accolades such as an Emmy award and a Princess Grace Award. She co-created the first American Muslim film grant and serves as Director of Film Programs at the Islamic Scholarship Fund, advocating for underrepresented female voices in film. Currently a faculty member at the University of Florida, she focuses on narrative film and has been recognized for her mentorship and inspirational impact, including being named one of UF's Most Inspirational Women.