We are deeply saddened to announce the passing away of our former chair and trustee, Dr. Humayun Khan, a distinguished diplomat and former Director of the Commonwealth Foundation, on 22nd September, 2022.  He did much to help set the direction of travel for the Foundation, making it easier for the trustees to develop and maintain the work of the trust. He was also a devoted brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle and a pillar of 

strength for his family. We extend our deepest sympathies to all his family and friends.

We are pleased to be reminded of this wonderful plaque dedicated to our founder, Lady ‘Vicky’ Noon, put up some years ago at the Arts Council of Pakistan, in Karachi, in recognition of her many contributions to the development of arts in the country.

What is it about the universities of Oxford and Cambridge and their constituent colleges that have nurtured so many men and women who have gone on to make such immeasurable contributions to Pakistan? 

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We are delighted to welcome a new trustee, confirmed at our recent board

of trustees meeting hosted at the Ancient Iran and India Trust in Cambridge.He is Professor Faisal Devji, who has written extensively on Pakistan and on intellectual ideas to do with South Asian history and politics. He is director of the Oxford University Asian Studies Institute and a Fellow of St Antony’s College. Please see here for his brief bio. This bring to nine the membership of our board.

Two of our Trustees were welcomed as special guests at the recent welcome gathering for all international scholars at Cambridge University, held at the Twelvetrees Hotel, hosted by the new vice-chancellor, Professor Stephen Toope. Dr Paul Flather, the Chair of the Vicky Noon trust and Professor Haroon Ahmed, were two special guests praised in the opening speeches for the contribution the trust made as one of the many partner bodies that works with the hugely successful Cambridge Commonwealth Trust (CCT). The VNEF is poised to renew its 25-year partnership with Cambridge in the coming months to continue to support able and successful graduates coming from Pakistan to study at the leading university. Pictured are left to right Professor Ahmed, Professor Toope, Dr Flather and Helen Pennant, the director of the CCT.

We welcome Ameena Sayid OBE as the newest member of our Board of Trustees. She is managing Director of Oxford University Press Pakistan, with additional responsibilities for the Middle East, Central Asia, and North Africa. She is the first woman in Pakistan to be President of the Overseas Investors’ Chamber of Commerce Industry (OICCI) in its 150 year history, and to become head of a multinational company. In 2005, she was awarded the OBE by the Queen, and in 2013, the Chevalier des Arts et Lettres by the Government of France. She is the founder and director of the Karachi and Islamabad Literature Festivals.

Our complete Board of Trustees can be found here.