Durdana Ansari
 | A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. (May 2020) |
Durdana Ansari | |
|---|---|
 Durdana Ansari | |
| Born | 1 March 1960 |
| Nationality | British Pakistani |
| Education | Birkbeck, University of London |
| Notable credits |
|
| Children | 4 |
| Relatives | Asim Azhar (nephew)[1] |
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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]- 2012 Order of the British Empire (OBE)[16]
- 2018 Honorary Commander Royal Navy[4]
- 2021 Honorary Captain Royal Navy[17]
References
[edit]- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.