At NIT, leadership is guided by vision, integrity, and accountability. Our governance structure brings together academic pioneers, industry leaders, and education reformers to ensure the Institute remains true to its mission of excellence and innovation.
Founder and Chancellor
Shahzeb Shabbir Awan, Founder and Chancellor of NIT, holds an LLB (Hons) from the University of London and leads Shabbir & Sagheer Educational Services. Inspired by his father’s legacy, he is launching Pakistan’s first AI-focused university, powered by Arizona State University, in 2025.
Founding Board Member
Jahanzeb Burana is an entrepreneur and Harvard MBA, co-founder of Hoopoe, and a founding board member of NIT Lahore. A former CEO of PBIT, he now contributes to education and investment policy through roles in the GCC and Pakistan’s Task Force on FDI.
Board of Governors
Dr. Rick Shangraw, President of Cintana Education, is a global leader in higher education transformation. He previously led ASU Enterprise Partners, managing $1.5B in assets, and ASU’s research enterprise, securing $1.2B in funding—helping ASU earn recognition as the #1 Most Innovative University in the U.S.​
Dr. Cagri Bagcioglu, a visionary in global higher education, has led major international university expansions. As Laureate Turkey CEO, he transformed Istanbul Bilgi University. Now at Cintana Education, he drives global growth through academic scaling, international strategy, and policy-based initiatives.​
Aysha Chowdhry, Senior Advisor at The Asia Group, is a global investment and U.S. policy expert specializing in U.S.–South Asia economic ties and GCC investment. She has advised Fortune 50 CEOs and policymakers, with prior roles at RHGM and the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Alan Diaz, Managing Partner at Edscope Ltd and Senior Advisor at Cintana Education, is a Cambridge graduate and global investment strategist. Formerly SVP at Laureate Education, he led multi-billion-dollar international education investments, advancing institutional growth, financial sustainability, and academic excellence across four continents.​
Dr. Saahir Shafi, Associate Professor at CSU Dominguez Hills, is a leading expert in health policy, governance networks, and public administration. A former Board Member of ASPA, she advances policy-driven solutions for modern governance and holds a Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University.​
Rafique Buriro, Additional Secretary at Pakistan's Ministry of IT, is a senior Pakistan Administrative Service officer with vast experience in federal and provincial roles. He’s led key departments, managed World Bank/USAID projects, and holds master’s degrees in Public Policy, Economics, and English. He is also a published writer.
Dr. Anjum Nasim, former Professor of Economics at LUMS, played a key role in establishing its Economics Department and served in numerous academic leadership roles. With a PhD from Essex, he later joined IDEAS as Senior Fellow. His research spans fiscal federalism, public finance, and development economics.
Dr. Tayyaba Tamim, Dean of the School of Education at LUMS, holds a PhD from Cambridge. She leads research on social justice, language policy, and inclusive education, with work funded by USAID, the British Council, and the World Bank. She also trains faculty through HEC and PHEC programs.
Arizona State University
At NIT, our commitment to academic excellence is strengthened through our partnership with Arizona State University (ASU), recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the most innovative university in the United States for ten consecutive years (2016 – 2025). ASU is a leading public research university that champions inclusion, drives research with real-world impact, and takes responsibility for advancing the economic, social, cultural, and overall well-being of the communities it serves.
