Anwar Khan: President & CEO
Anwar Khan, the founder of OBAT Helpers, working as Lead Auditor of Quality Management System with one of the leading Automotive Manufacturer, holds his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from NED University of Science and Technology, Karachi and Masters in Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University, Indianapolis. He is a certified Quality Auditor and a member of the (ASQ) American Society of Quality. He is also associated with numerous social service, educational and voluntary activities.
Dr. Aisha Zafar: Vice President
Aisha Zafar is practicing with Respiratory and Critical Care Consultants in Indianapolis and works as a hospitalist at Methodist Hospital and the Rehab Hospital of Indiana. She is very actively involved with several medical organizations and also with other NGO'S. With her experience and knowledge, she adds true value in planning and executing all the major programs of the organization.
Carleen Miller: Secretary
Carleen Miller, MA, LMHC, LMFT is the Executive Director of Exodus Refugee Immigration Inc. a not-for-profit organization that resettles international refugees and asylees to the Indianapolis area. Previously, Ms. Miller served as the Director of Social Services for The Julian Center a non-for-profit organization which provides services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Additionally, Ms. Miller maintains a private psychotherapy practice in Indianapolis. Ms. Miller is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with the State of Indiana . Ms. Miller is also an advanced PhD student in Clinical Social Work at The Institute for Clinical Social Work in Chicago , IL
Mehnaz Qureshi: Treasurer
Mehnaz Qureshi, Masters in Accounting, MPA, highly experienced professional, owner of Indy Tax Service, a full service tax planning company,filing taxes for individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations for last 7 years. Indy Tax Services also provides Bookkeeping and Payroll for businesses. Currently, working with many non-profits organizations including North, South, and West side Islamic centes of Indianapolis. Married with three kids.
Ibad Ansari: Director
A Fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC) and a member of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, Dr. Ibad Ansari is a practicing cardiologist at The Indiana Heart Hospital. His academic accomplishments are equally impressive, B.Sc ( Aligarh Muslim University ), BS in Chemistry (Northeastern Illinois University of Chicago), MS in Biochemistry ( University of Illinois ) and MD ( American University of the Caribbean in the British West Indies ). He devotes his free time in working for the cause of the under-privileged and pursuing other philanthropic activities. Dr. Ibad heads the Muslim Alliance of Indiana and is also actively involved with ISNA.
Shariq Siddiqui: Director
Shariq Siddiqui graduated from Indiana University School of Law - Indianapolis in May 2005 with a Doctor of Jurisprudence. Mr. Siddiqui received his bachelors in history from the University of Indianapolis and his masters in philanthropic studies from Indiana University and is pursuing a Ph.D in Philanthropic Studies from Indiana University. Mr Siddiqui is currently employed by the Julian Center serving victims of domestic violence and is also a contract Marion County Public Defender. Mr. Siddiqui has worked at the Islamic Society of North America, Indiana Civil Rights Commission, Marion County Prosecutor's Office and the HSBC Banking Corporation (formerly known as Midlank Bank PLC). Mr. Siddiqui has clerked with the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. During law school, Mr. Siddiqui, took part in the Civil Practice clinic representing clients in family law, social security and Medicaid cases. Mr. Siddiqui was a Program on Law and State Government Fellow presenting a paper on ethics in state and local government.
Siddiqui is involved in a number of community activities and serves as the Executive Director of the Muslim Alliance of Indiana which serves over 280,000 Muslim Hoosiers; as a board member of the School of Knowledge, Indiana's first full-time Islamic school; as a board member of ObatHelpers, which serves stateless people in Bangladesh; board member of Bridging the Gap, an interfaith group seeking to build bridges amongst the various faith groups in Indianapolis and various other local nonprofit organizations. Siddiqui lives in Plainfield, with his wife Sobia and children, Fatima, Amal and Safaa.
Lennie Myars: Director
A man of rich experience and enviable wisdom, retired from one of the leading Automotive Manufcturerin in 2004 as a Co-Lead for the program on Quality Management and Team Building, after a highly illustrious career of nearly four decades. A journeyman die maker by trade, he graduated from the Mallory Technology Institute, Indianapolis in 1968.Lennie Myars is actively involved in leadership and management roles in numerous organizations that include Bargersville Christian Church, Bomyar LLC, Paradise lake Home Owners Association, and Bartimaeus Lodge UD. A committed family man, he has five children and 10 grandchildren. Lennie has a special heart for motorcycle riding, lodge and fishing.
Afshan Khan: Director
Afshan brings in a refreshing practical outlook in managing the activities of the organization. Her immaculate planning and execution skills add strength to the organization. Afshan derives immense satisfaction in working for the benefit of destitute women and is actively involved with different social service and women welfare organizations. Married to Anwar Khan, the founder director of OBAT Helpers, the couple has three daughters.
Shujaat Wasti: Director
Shujaat Wasty has a Masters in Educational Technology and is currently pursuing further graduate studies. He works for the government of Canada and is involved with other Canadian non-profit organizations and charities, as well as several community and social service initiatives on volunteer basis Montreal and Ottawa, including organizing sporting events, educational seminars, fundraising dinners and food drives for the local needy population.
Dr. Shahid Athar: Advisor
Dr. Shahid Athar, MD, FACP, FACE, a U.S. citizen. He received medical degree from University of Karachi and Endocrinology Fellowship at Indiana University School of Medicine where he is a Clinical Associate Professor. He is an Endocrinologist in private practice in Indianapolis, USA. He is a fellow of American College of Physicians and American College of Endocrinology. He is a past president of Islamic Society of Greater Indianapolis (ISGI) and Interfaith Alliance of Indiana (IAI). He is an author of 7 books (including Islamic Perspective in Medicine and Health Concerns for Believers) and over 120 published articles on medical and Islamic topics. He has spoken to many churches, civic organizations, universities and colleges on various topics including Islam, interfaith, spirituality and medical ethics in USA and overseas. His other affiliations include Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Islamic Medical Association of North America (past president and chair, medical ethics), and Indianapolis Committee for Foreign Relations (ICFR).He is not affiliated with any political or religious party. For his interfaith activities, The Indianapolis Medical Society in 2002 awarded him Gov. Otis Bowen Award for Community Service .His latest book is Healing the Wounds of Sept.11, 2001(Authorhouse) . He can be reached via his e mail, sathar3624@aol.com .webpage www.islam-usa.com . He is married to Shaista Nasreen. They have four children
and four grand children.
Dr. Talha Siddiqui: Advisor
Born , 1963, Karachi, Pakistan
HSC, Karachi Grammar School, 1979
MBBS,Dow Medical College, 1989
Chief of Anesthesia, Western Memorial Regional Hospital , Canada 2000-2005
Interventional Pain and Anesthesiologist, Rappahanock General Hospital, 2005- 2007
Anesthesiologist and Interventional Pain Specialist, Fairfax,VA.
Permanent member of APPNA and DOGANA .
Emily Johnson: Advisor
Emily Johnson is a New York-qualified attorney who has practiced as a securities and corporate lawyer in both London and Dubai. Johnson began her legal career as a capital markets attorney at the global law firm, Linklaters, where she worked with a wide variety of clients throughout India, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and the GCC. During that time, Johnson was seconded to Grameen-Jameel Pan Arab MicroFinance where she provided in-house commercial and legal advice on the structuring of an offshore investment vehicle for the MENA region and researched regulatory issues and transformation opportunities for microfinance institutions in the region. Johnson subsequently worked as in-house counsel for Dubai’s largest real estate/health/leisure developer, providing legal counsel and strategic advice to the business and management teams. Most recently, Johnson was selected as a Liberian Law Fellow by the Carter Center and Washington & Lee University Transnational Law Institute, where she provided strategic and legal advice to the Human Rights Division of the Liberian Ministry of Justice. Johnson is also on the Advisory Board of Balthazar Capital, a Dubai-based microfinance advisory firm.
In 1998, Johnson received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from the College of William & Mary, Virginia. Johnson subsequently worked as a litigation legal assistant for the law firm of Shearman & Sterling in New York before moving to Niger, West Africa to serve as a Community Development Volunteer for the U.S. Peace Corps from 2000 to 2001. Following her volunteer service, Johnson went on to receive her Juris Doctorate, with honors, in 2005 from George Washington University Law School in Washington, DC, where she also served as Executive Articles Editor of the George Washington International Law Review.
Emily Johnson will be helping OBAT on Micro Finance Projects planning and execution.
Maarij Syed: Advisor
Maarij Syed did his PhD from Notre Dame (Indiana) in Physics and joined Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s department of Physics & Optical Engineering. He is currently an Associate Professor at Rose-Hulman and divides his time between research and teaching. Having had the benefit of studying both here in the USA and in Pakistan has allowed him to closely observe various models of teaching and education, and their strengths and weaknesses.
Maarij Syed will be helping OBAT in educational projects, and make them more effective and value added.
