Born some 52 years ago, Saira Khan commenced her career as a Registered Nurse and moved into the Corporate Arena in 1990 where she held a number of key leadership roles in the Medical Health Insurance Arena.

16 Years ago she moved into the NGO sector and has held several senior executive positions with local and international NGOs throughout Africa including being CEO of the SA Society of Physiotherapists, Director of Development at Afrika Tikkun, Country Director at the Freeplay Foundation (UK) and Executive Director, Africa Region at Survivor Corps. Her experience in Africa and South Africa specifically has predominantly been in the health, education and poverty sector of NGOs and sustainability is key to her approach.

Mrs. Khan is a dynamic, highly competent and strategic person with demonstrable skills and technical experience in both the Corporate and NGO sectors. This experience was gained in Medical Healthcare, Early Childhood Development, Fundraising (International and National specializing in Public Private Partnerships ), Programme Development and Management, Advocacy and Human Rights, Strategy and Development (NGO and Corporate), Customer Service Delivery, International Development focusing on Fundraising, Strategic and Operational Management of Multiple departments/projects across several country programs, Financial Management (Budgets, Forecasting, Resource Management and Reporting), Organizational Change and Development as well as CRM (Customer Relationship Management).

She moved from the corporate sector to the NGO sector in 2003 when her son was involved in a serious car accident. Saira now dedicates her life to poverty alleviation initiatives and is currently the CEO of Stop Hunger Now SA.

As CEO of Stop Hunger Now Southern Africa, Saira successfully led and beat the Million Meal Challenge on Mandela Day this year, a mere 7 months into taking on her position with the organisation. Saira is committed to encouraging ordinary South Africans to participate in socio-economic development and is a major support of volunteering which in South Africa is beginning to gain momentum. She is committed to eradicating hunger in the world and passionate about working with children and education.

She is a board member of the Central Gauteng Mental Health Society, Safer South Africa Foundation and Stop Hunger Now SA, She sits on the Advisory board of the Women’s Economic Forum, and Advocated for Disability Rights Bill to be passed in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi during her tenure as Executive Director Africa with International NGO Survivor Corps which was successful.

Saira successfully undertook the first ever WORLD MILLION MEAL CHALLENGE on Mandela Day in 2015, and also successfully undertook the first ever GLOBAL MEAL PACKAGING CHALLENGE during Mandela Week 2016 where she packed over 10 Million Meals for vulnerable communities in South Africa, USA (20 states), India, Peru, Phillipines, Italy and Malaysia.