Tamara Hasan Abed, member of the Board of Trustees of Brac University and Managing Director of Brac Enterprises, has been elected the new Chairperson of the board with effect from July 25, 2019. She succeeds Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, the Founding Chairperson of Brac University.
Sir Abed confirmed this leadership transition through an announcement on 19th September 2019. He said, “At the age of 83, I feel the time is now right for me and others who joined the University's Board of Trustees with me to make way for a new generation of leadership in the Board. Hence, I am retiring from my role as Chairperson.”
Tamara Abed has been serving as a member of the board since January 2011 and a member of the syndicate since March 2011. She has also been the Chair of the board finance committee since December 2016.
Sir Abed founded Brac University in 2001, focusing on generating new knowledge and promoting critical thinking amongst our students. Since its inception, Brac University has become one of the most reputed educational institutions in Bangladesh.
Tamara Abed brings extensive experience in investment banking, entrepreneurship and social enterprises, with a career spanning over two decades, said the press release. As the Managing Director of Brac Enterprises, she heads 13 social enterprises including Aarong, Brac Dairy, and Brac Seed and Agro Enterprise.
She has an MBA in Finance from Columbia University, USA. She completed her BSc in Economics at London School of Economics. She has represented Bangladesh globally and was honoured by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader in 2010. Tamara is an Asia 21 Young Leader. In 2014, she received the Outstanding Women Leadership Award from the World Women Leadership Congress.
Sir Abed added, “I am very pleased that Brac University's Board of Trustees has been enriched by the diverse experience of its distinguished members. The present Board comprises individuals with leadership experience in governance, enterprises, research, development, technology, art and culture.”