Mahir has a unique blend of leadership experience both in banking and not-for-profits.
Throughout his career, Mahir has founded and managed multiple successful start-ups in the financial services, for-purpose, and social enterprise sectors.
Mahir served as founding CEO of IIFC Group, Founding CEO of Thrive Microfinance, Founder and CEO of Regional Opportunities Australia (ROA) and Founder and Executive Director of HADIA Foundation.
Prior to that, Mahir worked for the World Bank, United Nations and served as a financial adviser to government.
Currently, Mahir is the Chief Operating Officer of a digital start-up bank that aims to introduce Islamic banking in Australia. The bank is set to bring choice in banking to a wide segment of the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities of Australia.
Born in Afghanistan, Mahir became a refugee three times in his life. As a refugee child, Mahir was deprived of access to normal education and hence has taken every opportunity in life to equip himself with as much relevant education as possible to broaden his views but also to aid in the delivery of his professional work.
As such, he has two master’s degrees – an MBA specialising in Finance and Master of Commerce from the University of Sydney specialising in Project Management. As part of his graduate degree, Mahir specialised in Accounting. Mahir also is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
Mahir was shot by the Taliban in 2012 which forced him to seek refuge in Australia. He is now an Australian citizen and calls Sydney home. His life experiences has taught him an appreciation for life, resilience, determination and service to humankind be it in the form of banking or charitable work.
In addition to being a director on the board of The Benevolent Society, Mahir sits on the Human Rights Watch committee and is as founding director of the HADIA Foundation which provides humanitarian aid overseas.
MBA, MComm, GAICD
Director since 22 May 2023