Trustees
Faye Behbehani
Trustee Faye Behbehani is an independent cultural and heritage consultant. She received her bachelor's in Business Management and International Studies from Bentley College, USA, in 2003 and her master's in the History of Art and Architecture of the Islamic Middle East from SOAS, University of London, in 2023. She holds the position of Trustee within the Barakat Trust, contributing to the organization's governance and decision-making processes. In this role, she is actively involved in overseeing engagement and membership development [...]
Hamida Alireza
Founder & Trustee Hamida A. Alireza, was born in USA, raised and educated in Switzerland. In 1987, she founded The Barakat Trust, together with Shahnaz Bagherzade and Tarik Alireza. She has overseen the Trust’s evolution, funding more than 500 students in a range of specialisations across the globe over 35 years. She is also a board member of The Barakat Trust's Academic Advisory Committee and is instrumental in communicating with and developing the grantees database. Hamida is also a founding [...]
Mustafa Hussain
Trustee Mustafa Hussain has over two decades of financial experience helping clients to plan governance, succession and private wealth structures and solutions. He is Chair of the Board for the Accuro Group and is Managing Director of Accuro's London office. He joined Accuro after working for Taylor Wessing LLP and has worked in London, Singapore, and Kuwait, regularly advising Middle Eastern clients. He brings invaluable financial and banking insight to The Barakat Trust, sitting on our advisory board before [...]
Rabya Alfadl
Trustee Rabya Alfadl was raised in Saudi Arabia and educated in the USA. She graduated in Psychology from Wellesley College, Massachusetts, and then completed a range of executive management and leadership courses and a Diploma in Behavioural Science at The London School of Economics. Having worked in marketing, brand management, research design and strategic development in both the public and private sector with some of the world's leading organisations ranging from Focus EuroRSCG, Bahrain Telecommunications Co., Unilever Arabia, PLC Arabia, [...]
Rima Alsafadi
Trustee Rima Al-Safadi was raised and educated in Damascus, Syria graduating with a BA in English Literature & Civilisation from Damascus University. Rima brings a diverse range of skills and experience to her role as Trustee, having founded and managing various businesses including ‘The Glass Art’, ‘Wow Flowers’ and ‘Dania Trading Establishment’, all of which are based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. She has been active in the voluntary sector as a member of a wide variety of charities, including The [...]
Sara Alireza
Trustee Sara A. Alireza, was born in London, raised and educated in Saudi Arabia and the UK. Having graduated from The London School of Economics in industrial and business economics, Sara worked for Banque Baring Brothers, Switzerland as an analyst focusing on emerging markets. In 2005, she became a trustee of the Barakat Trust and has been responsible for fund management, organising a diverse range of cultural events and fundraising activities including gala dinners, lectures, workshops, exhibitions, concerts and craft [...]
Shahnaz Bagherzade
Founder & Trustee Shahnaz Bagherzade was born in Iran, with a high school degree ‘Abitur’ from Germany. She holds an MPhil in Islamic Art & Architecture from Oxford University and supports various charities preserving the material culture of the Islamic world. She is a member of the Trust's Academic Advisory Committee and takes a lead strategic role on financial matters.