Dr. Khawaja Azimuddin is a gastro-intestinal surgeon in Houston, TX. He specializes in minimally invasive and robotic surgery for colon cancer and treats the diseases of the Colon & Rectum. He is an Asst. Professor of Surgery at Texas A&M University of Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons, and the Royal College of Surgeons of England and Edinburgh. He has authored numerous scientific research articles, medical book chapters, and a surgical textbook. In his free time, Dr. Azimuddin is an avid ceramic tile artist and his work has been displayed at numerous libraries, art shows, and festivals. Many of his large-scale murals are installed in public places such as the Masjid AlSalam in Houston and the Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital Dr. Azimuddin has published a book about his childhood experience as a refugee/ civilian POW after the 1971 war. The book “The Boy Refugee: A Memoir from a Long-Forgotten War” has been acclaimed all over the world and is available on Amazon & Barnes & Noble.

Born in Lahore, Pakistan and now residing in Spring, Texas, Zulfiqar Ali is a founding board member of the Islamic Arts Society. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University. His professional experience includes General Motors, NASCAR Auto Racing and Oil & Gas industry. He received his formal training in calligraphy from Haji Mohammad Azam also known as Munawwar Raqam in Urdu Bazar, Lahore, Pakistan. Haji Azam is a master calligrapher and is the author of “Tadrees-e-Khattati” book on Nastaliq script. Calligraphy is a form of meditation for Mr. Ali. He mastered in Nastaliq script which is popular in Iran, Pakistan, India and Western China. Nastaliq is primarily used for written poetry and as a form of art. He uses traditional reed qalam (pen), ink and paper for his calligraphy. He also taught many Nastaliq calligraphy classes. He has performed live calligraphy at Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Calligraphy Guild, Springworld International Festival, ICNA Annual Convention, TCF Annual Gala, Islamic Arts Festival and Aaj TV show.

Mr. Tahir serves as Commissioner for Houston Planning and Houston Airports. Mr. Tahir has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Cullen College (’84) and an MBA from Bauer (’99,) both at UH, and a J.D. from Thurgood Marshall (2013.) He is licensed in the State of Texas as an Attorney and a Professional Engineer (inactive.) Tahir started out as an Automation and control systems engineer on the Houston Ship channel (1984) working on the automation of machine tools and Gantry robots. He worked as a Robotics engineer for Automaker of Houston working on manufacturing automation. Moved to New York (1986) to work for Ciba-Geigy of Basel Switzerland, as the Lead Control systems engineer in US, gaining extensive international experience with projects and contractors. He worked with BL Technology (1989) on control systems for Houston’s wastewater treatment plant. He joined Phillips Petroleum (1990) and worked with MW Kellogg and Honeywell on the rebuild of Polypropylene and MTBE plants after the devastating industrial disaster. In 1992 Tahir joined SABIC’s European JV “Ibn Zahr” with Neste oy of Finland and Enichem of Italy. He won Honeywell’s Chairman award and presented a paper a Mideast conference (1994) on leading a re-design of Control systems project titled “Brain surgery.” While at SABIC, he also trained with Yokogawa in Singapore. Tahir became a business owner in 1996. He was in the gasoline business with Exxon, Phillips 66, Mobil, and Conoco-Phillips from 1996-2012. Mr. Tahir also owned Taji Controls & Instrumentation from 1996-2009. Tahir served as President of ISDI, an international development & consultancy firm on various projects in South Asia and the Middle East (2004-9.) Currently, he has a consulting and Legal practice in Houston. Mr. Tahir serves on the Board of UH Bauer College of Business. He is a founding Board Member of the Islamic Arts Society and serves as the Chair of Islamic Society of Greater Houston’s Government & Public Affairs. He is married to Yasmeen who works for Northwestern Mutual Life. They have two boys - Emad works for PWC as an accountant and Farhad works for Shell in procurement.

Fahim Somani is a highly skilled fine artist, sculptor, and calligrapher renowned for his diverse use of mediums and captivating artwork. Somani's artwork seamlessly merges the rich traditions of calligraphy and sculpture with contemporary expressions, resulting in a compelling fusion of Eastern and Western artistic styles. By bridging cultures and embracing tradition alongside modernity, Somani's work holds a universal appeal, captivating individuals from all walks of life. In addition to his artistic practice, Somani has also curated several exhibits, demonstrating his expertise in shaping artistic narratives and showcasing the work of other talented artists. Through his curatorial efforts, he has skillfully curated exhibits that explore the intersection of Islamic art, geometry, and spirituality. By carefully selecting and arranging artworks, he creates cohesive and thought-provoking exhibitions that engage and inspire viewers. To further expand his artistic repertoire, Somani pursued courses in graphic design and art history at the prestigious Glassell School of Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. His contributions extended beyond personal artistic endeavors, as he was entrusted with designing the first Fanous (Torch) for Jubilee Games and spearheading the Exhibition Senior Manager role for Jubilee Arts, an event that showcased his versatility in guiding categories, exhibition space design, and graphic elements for both paintings and sculptures. Somani's talent has garnered international acclaim, earning him recognition as a finalist at the prestigious Global Art Awards in Dubai, UAE. His commissioned artwork, including paintings and sculptures has found a prominent place in esteemed institutions such as Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, Nizari Federal Credit Union branches in Sugar Land and Dallas, Texas, and Pioneer Community Center in Richmond, Texas. His artwork, encompassing paintings and sculptures, has been exhibited at renowned venues including Agora Gallery in New York, the Asia Society in New York and Houston, and City Hall in Houston, Ismaili Center in Sugar Land, Islamic Arts Society in Houston, and the Museum of Fine Arts Houston's Kinder Morgan Exhibition. Furthermore, Somani has generously shared his expertise through engaging workshops on Islamic art, calligraphy, and sculpture at esteemed institutions such as the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Lone Star College, University of Alberta, and various chapters of AKYSB (Aga Khan Youth & Sports Board) in Pakistan and the United States.

Zakia Lalani is a board member of the Islamic Arts Society since its inception. She is a Registered Nurse by profession and works at Memorial Hermann Hospital system. She is a proud wife of Representative, Dr. Suleman Lalani, first-ever Muslim elected in the state of TEXAS as a House Representative from Fort bend county. She is a mom of three handsome boys, Nayal, Ashmal & Bazil. She is actively engaged & involved in many community & public-serving organizations. She an ambassador of World Speech Day for the last 4 years. She is a member of the legislative ladies club for the 88th legislation. Her passion is to serve communities and build bridges. She is a nature lover and loves to capture nature through her camera lens. Her life purpose is to serve others in whatever capacity she can. Make your service, a service of conviction not a service of convenience. IAS is very close to her heart, she is a proud ambassador of IAS. Her life mantra is “Keep smiling & keep searching within!”

Shaheen Janjua Rahman is a Pakistani American artist based in Houston. She relocated from Pakistan to Canada as part of a diplomatic family stationed at the Pakistan Consulate in Montreal. After getting her secondary and baccalaureate education, she completed a graduate degree in Plant Biology in Montreal and worked in the field of plant sciences before eventually moving to the United States. While raising her family, she actively volunteered in schools and the local community while also serving as an adjunct college faculty member teaching Biology. Shaheen’s artistic journey began with watercolors before she discovered Ebru, a Turkish paper-marbling art form that emerged from the ancient Silk Road trade routes. In her art practice, she celebrates her cultural traditions through this medium and presents her work at galleries and events throughout Houston. She also uses her art practice to express her Muslim cultural traditions, educating the broader Houston community on Ebru and its significance in Islamic arts and culture. By presenting Islamic art within specific contexts, she helps explain nuanced understandings of Islamic culture and dismantles stereotypes. Like her fellow board members,Shaheen believes in the power of the arts to bring people together and reach new audiences in the diverse communities that have made Houston their home. In 2017, Shaheen introduced the Islamic Arts Society to the Houston Mayor’s Office through an Islamic Art exhibit at Houston City Hall. In 2018 she was asked to lead the Islamic Arts Society (IAS) outreach efforts in Houston which resulted in a growing partnership with the Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH) and the Asia Society Texas Center. She has also organized IAS art programs and displays at several prominent institutions such as Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts, The Jung Center, local universities, places of worship, the International Museum of Muslim Cultures in Jackson, MS, and Philbrook Museum in Tulsa, OK. In 2019, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner appointed Shaheen to the Board of Directors of Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) to help oversee and enhance the City of Houston’s arts and culture programs, where she is currently serving her second term. In this capacity, Shaheen Co-Chairs HAA’s Grants Committee as well.

Dr Monira Hamid-Kundi is a general/ colorectal surgeon from Houston Texas affiliated with The Methodist Hospital. She is a graduate of the Aga khan university medical school as serves as an Emissary for the Aga Khan Foundation. Dr Hamid- Kundi is a very socio-politically active individual. She is the current Chair of the International medical graduates council of the Texas Medical Association(the largest medical society in USA). She is also a delegate for the Harris County medical society, Houston Texas, and part of the Republican Party Caucus. She is a member of the Founders committee for the Islamic Society of North America. Dr Kundi's social activities are focused towards empowering immigrant women to attain financial and entrepreneurial independence. She is on the board of Shifa Women's Center and Muslim Women Leadership Forum. She is also involved multiple projects in Pakistan through The American Pakistan Foundation and Child Life Foundation.