Executive Team
The PBBC Board
UK Board

JULIAN HAMILTON BARNS
CHAIRMAN
Julian Hamilton Barns (“JHB”) – JHB is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England & Wales. JHB is also qualified in Hong Kong. He specializes in cross border corporate finance and Mergers and Acquisitions. He has significant experience in dealing with international joint ventures and transactions involving partners in different legal jurisdictions. In recent years JHB has focused on the oil and gas and natural resources and energy sectors. He is currently involved in securing listings in London and Singapore for various clients.

RASHID IQBAL
CEO/Trade Champion
Rashid is an educationalist, he has worked in Further and Higher Educational Institutions for over 20 years and has written modules and learning activities for undergraduates and postgraduates programmes and for Edexcel (a leading UK examination board). Background in Media and Communications has enabled him to design and develop teaching and learning resources including delivering teaching and training. Rashid is the beating heart of PBBC and he looks after business on a day to day basis bringing together all stakeholders using his substantial international business and government connections. He also has significant experience in organising official trade missions, events and government relations. Since the inception of the PBBC, Rashid had supported its work and had played a key role in developing the organisation.

NIGEL PETERS
VICE CHAIRMAN
Nigel Peter is a Vice Chairman of PBBC
Nigel Peters OBE
Vice Chairman PBBC,I joined PBBC as I have known the CEO of the PBBC, Rashid Iqbal, for some years, and am pleased to offer advice to him and other board members through my role as Vice Chairman. There are a number of excellent business opportunities for UK companies in Pakistan, which the PBBC helps to promote via conferences, webinars and trade missions. 1997 – Dec 2017 20 years I led on all of British Expertise’s international development work worldwide. Geographic interests included Africa, Central Asia, South Caucasus and the Caribbean. I also organised CATBIG (Central Asia & Trans Caucasus Business Information Group) events, a region I have been visiting for over 20 years. I was delighted to receive an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June 2017, for “services to UK export promotion in eastern Europe and Central Asia”. I retired from British Expertise in December 2017.

SYED ABDUL HASSAN
TREASURER
Hassan manages the financial aspects of the PBBC, his line of profession is mainly in high end jewellery. As a Bespoke Diamond Jewellery designer based in Hatton Gardens in London which produces exquisite and unique jewellery. Elegance-Diamonds has worked incredibly hard to get where it is today, gaining over 20 years experience, building trust by closely working with each client till they are completely satisfied and that quality of our workmanship is supported by guarantee.

ZEESHAN HUSSAIN
Director of Manchester & Midlands Region
Zeeshan is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales and an accredited Mediator to international standards. As a director of a boutique UK based Corporate law firm, he works primarily with business leaders to ensure they are properly supported on all commercial legal affairs. In addition to his work in the corporate sector, Zeeshan represents senior executives and directors. Zeeshan began his career working in-house for a FTSE 100 company before taking on national roles at leading UK law firms and was part of the management team who pioneered and launched the first (and largest) consumer legal services business in the UK.
Senior Executives
JONNY O'ROURKE
Head of Media & IT
Jonny is an IT & Media specialist owning a successful business providing IT support to his client base. Jonny now maintains PBBC website and brings substantial IT skills to the team. His immediate focus will be to develop interactivity for website users, enhancing PBBC ability to develop business between UK & Pakistan businessmen.
HAJIRA AHMAD
Head of Events
Hajira is the founder & director at EBH, an event management and production company that was created to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary through unrivaled creativity, expertise and dedication to deliver high-end tailor made events to suit the varied clients needs. Since the very successful launch, Hajira has produced many high caliber events, some of which have been for very high profile & International designers & brands. Apart from designing, managing and producing events, Hajira has been organising THINK PINK events for cancer charities for the past 14 years. Hajira is dedicated to raising awareness & funds for cancer charities.
Saeeda Ahmed
Saeeda Ahmed has over 20 years of solution driven projects which benefit the economy, society and industry. What drives her passion is lasting, sustainable change for society and the economy. She has designed award-winning successful education and labour market programmes which meets the needs of industry, the economy and society. Saeeda as a postgraduate of Cambridge University has developed extensive networks for the benefit of economies, people and the environment. Saeeda has spoken at over events internationally including in Davos 2020 about planned international rollout of sustainable cities, OIC opportunities and connecting Muslim countries with the wider world for trade and investment. Saeeda will bring British and International STEM Degrees and Masters and entrepreneurship opportunities to numerous countries. Saeeda will advise and support PBBC on Education, Professional Development and International Strategic Partnerships (particularly on trade and growth).
Pakistan Outreach
Kalim Farooqui
VICE CHAIRMAN PBBC & PSBC
Born, raised and educated in Karachi at the Karachi Grammar School, he successfully completed his Bachelors and Master’s degree in Engineering from the University of Houston, Texas. Kalim is as an active member of various Bi-Lateral Business Forums, he facilitates trade and investment between Pakistan and its major trading partners such as Japan, Germany, Switzerland, United Kingdom. Kalim is well connected within the diplomatic and business community both in Pakistan and overseas. On occasion Kalim has been invited to be part of business delegations showcasing Pakistan overseas. Such undertakings, over the years, has enabled his company Technology Links to be counted amongst the responsible corporate citizens of Pakistan for its commitment to get involved and contribute towards this vital need in a developing country. Thus, endevouring towards a stronger public-private partnership for development.
Imran Khalil
PUKBC
CEO FLOAT Securities (Pvt.) Ltd Financial Services / Investments / Capital Markets. Float Securities (Private) Limited is a licensed Stock Brokerage and Investment house of Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). The company provides dedicated Equity Trading, Investments and Stock Brokerage services to high net worth local and foreign clients.
WAQAR ULLAH
Waqar Ullah is a Director of Trade & Investment (Punjab Chapter). Waqar Ullah is presently heading the operations of “The Next Premier Consultant” (TNPC) in Lahore. Apart of this also providing representational support to few UK business partners in Pakistan for their market growth and providing linkages. Waqar has worked with the British High Commission for about 19 years. This job includes running independently UK Trade Operations in Lahore to promote UK businesses in the region covering all major sectors in the country like Education, Life Sciences, Agriculture, Infrastructure, Food & Drink, Environment, Energy, etc. Waqar is a renowned Business Development professional having capabilities of building relationship and maintaining in Pakistan with key businesses, trade bodies, regional business chambers, major stakeholders. Having good knowledge about business dynamics in the country across multi sectors and especially considered as an expert about the local knowledge of Punjab. Some of the most prestigious achievements by Waqar are launching UK Educational Institutes in Pakistan like LSBF, CIMA, Study Group, BPP University, ABE, etc. He has done business research work for numerous UK / International companies for establishing their presence in Pakistan and made several Business Development visits to UK and Scandinavian countries for attracting Investment. Apart of this also worked with the Invest UK team, Scottish Enterprise and local organizations for their establishment in the UK.
Umaimah Makhdoom
Umaimah is a Chief Coordinator (Punjab Chapter) at PBBC. Presently working as a Director Operations in Lahore of “The Next Premier Consultants” (TNPC) which is an education consultancy organization. Umaimah has done her Masters studies in Media and Communication and is also awarded Dean’s Merit Award from her University. Previously she worked as an International Relation and Business Development Head for a Study Abroad Consultancy organization. Her major expertise involved developing academic linkages with global study destination like UK, Australia, USA, Turkey, Canada etc. and developing business relations with the local stake holders. Umaimah is progressing as a Business Development professional having capabilities of building and maintaining relationship in Pakistan with key businesses, trade bodies, regional business chambers, major stakeholder by having good knowledge about business dynamics in the Punjab region.
Sonia Saleem
Sonia Saleem is a Director of Trade & Investment (Federal & KPK Chapter) at PBBC. She is a Founder and CEO of Smart Education Technologies Group/SET Pakistan/SETI UAE/Xinovate UK. She has done M.Sc. in Strategic Project Planning and Management from Heriot- Watt University, Edinburgh Scotland, UK in 2008 and a fellowship in Strategic Project Marketing and Management from Harvard University in 2011. She is also honored to receive The Honorary Doctorate of Excellence and ICON Award for Innovation in Education by EDU European University and ICONS Awards USA. Sonia is known for her entrepreneurial skills, highly driven and focused Chief Executive with over 13 years of Business experience. She has been the pioneer to introduce UK Trade Investment Linkages for companies for several projects and also brought several renowned brands and create their strong network in Middle East and South Asia. She is official Member of Islamabad Women Chambers & Commerce, PMI, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce, Pakistan Software Export Board, Pakistan Software House Association, DUBAI CHAMBERS, International Association of Innovation Professionals, UAE Innovation Committee. World Business Hub and UAE Block chain Initiative. https://www.setinternational.ae/team https://segroup.tech https://setpakistan.com