Azim Noordin Khamisa was born in Kenya, Africa, of eastern heritage, educated in London (the Mecca of international business), has lived in Canada, and is now a deeply-rooted and fully realized citizen of the United States. Azim is an author, peace activist, and global inspirational speaker who first trained in mathematics, economics, and international finance in the United Kingdom. A successful international investment banker with over 45 years of experience, he has conducted business in India, Africa, Middle East, Canada, the USA, Europe, and Asia. Azim is famous for taking action for societal transformation as the Founder and Chairperson of the Tariq Khamisa Foundation now in its 25th year (www.TKF.org) and Co-Founder of the Constant And Never Ending Improvement (CANEI) program established in 2001 and currently active in nine cities and is in its 19th year (www.yapi.org/canei/).

Azim serves on the Board of Directors of various non-profit and for-profit organizations, including the Partnership for Youth Empowerment. He was inducted onto the Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Sponsors at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. Azim serves on the Board of the Institute of Noetic Sciences and is a member of the Wisdom Council of the Summer of Peace. Azim is a strong proponent of collaboration and believes that while no single nonprofit has the complete solution, collectively we do.

Because of his work in impacting social policy and norms, Azim is a highly regarded and respected leader and a sought-after speaker nationally and internationally. Having given over 1000 presentations to grade schools and university students and over 600 keynote speeches at conferences worldwide – including an audience of 300,000 at the “Stand for Children” rally in Washington D.C. in 1996 – Azim has received over 80 regional, national, and international awards. These include the National Crime Victims Special Community Service Award presented by former President Bill Clinton (April 1997) and Attorney General Janet Reno. In December 2002, he received the prestigious “Search for Common Ground” international award for “Building Peaceful Communities” along with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Ted Koppel. Other awards include 2003’s “California Peace Prize,” 2006’s “Freedom Heroes Award,” 2008’s “Death Penalty Focus Award” and “The Spirit of Crazy Horse Award,” the latter being given alongside Muhammad Ali.

In June 2004, Azim participated in the Synthesis Dialogues, with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, held at the Pope’s summer residence in Castelgandolfo, Italy. Azim also met with the Dalai Lama at the Vancouver Peace Summit in September 2009. Azim’s profound work has been featured in the likes of The New York Times, Oprah Magazine, People Magazine, Parade Magazine, Washington Post, and the U.S.A. Today as well as on NBC’s Today Show, NBC Nightly News, CBS’s Early Morning Show, and KPBS’ Fresh Air.

A well-traveled, multi-lingual naturalized United States citizen, he resides in La Jolla, California, where he now offers virtual advisory as a board member for the time being until the pandemic allows for open travel once again.

To learn more about Azim’s personal trajectory into the non-profit world, please view his TedTalk here and visit TKF.org or AzimKhamisa.com for a full list of personal accomplishments, testimonials, and professional experience.