Arifa Virani

As the Director of Marketing and Communications, Arifa provides direction, guidance, creative vision, and leadership to the organization. She leads the implementation of marketing and communication campaigns from ideation to final analysis and refinement.

Arifa spearheads the marketing and communication strategies by developing, planning, executing, and evaluating the efforts and communicating with stakeholders. Further, she builds awareness and focuses on the positioning of the organization in its broader national context. Additionally, Arifa works on business development, grant writing and research, prospective client outreach and management, and builds sustainable relationships with external affiliates. She has professional experience in marketing, communications, management, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution in Canada, Norway, and the United Kingdom.

A recognized creative thinker and leader, Arifa approaches projects and teams from a multidimensional perspective. She is the Vice-Chair of the Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity (DEI) Committee and the Chair of the Lunch & Learn portfolio.

Arifa graduated from SOAS University of London with her M.A. in International Studies and Diplomacy and holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Alberta. She also holds a certificate in Mediation from the ADR Institute of Alberta.

What I enjoy the most is exploring new countries and new cultures with my husband. Skiing in the winter and spending the summer by the ocean, practicing yoga, meditation, journaling, trying out new tasty recipes for my family and friends, and reading are other things I really enjoy.