Staff Reporter :
In a significant leadership transition, UNICEF has announced Muhammed Aziz Khan as the incoming chair of the UNICEF International Council, succeeding Maria Ahlström-Bondestam, the council’s inaugural chair.
Khan will officially assume the position in November 2024, according to a press release received from UNICEF on Saturday.
The UNICEF International Council is a prestigious assembly of approximately 150 private philanthropists and partners, many of whom hail from the world’s leading business families and global influencers. This council is dedicated to optimising philanthropic investments for children by pooling their funding, leadership, and expertise. Collectively, members have contributed more than $552 million to UNICEF, supporting children worldwide.
Aziz Khan, the founder and chairman of the Bangladeshi conglomerate Summit Group, is also the founder and trustee of the Anjuman and Aziz Charitable Trust (AACT), alongside his wife, Anjuman Khan.
Since joining the UNICEF International Council in 2022, Khan and his family have been active contributors, driven by a deep commitment to shaping a better future for children. They have sponsored schools, built hospitals, and supported projects addressing drug addiction and violence against women and children in Bangladesh.
“I am a believer in the power of education-not only for its ability to lift people out of poverty but as a unifying force for good,” Khan stated. “I see education as the bedrock of modern civilisation and the builder of trust amongst humanity, and that by enhancing understanding, education has the power to reduce social conflicts and bring more harmony into the world.”
In response to the educational disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Khan decided to focus AACT’s efforts on education, prioritising getting children back into classrooms and helping them catch up on lost schooling.
UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Kitty van der Heijden expressed her enthusiasm for Khan’s upcoming tenure: “The UNICEF International Council has a proven record of delivering high impact at scale.
Having mobilised hundreds of millions of dollars to support UNICEF’s essential work around the world, our trusted philanthropic partners are committed to investing in solutions for children. I am pleased to welcome Aziz Khan as the next UNICEF International Council Chair, and I look forward to working with him to shape a better, fairer future for all children.”
Under Khan’s leadership, the UNICEF International Council aims to expand its membership by positioning itself as the natural home for philanthropists dedicated to children’s rights. The council will strengthen its role as a convening platform on key global issues, explore bespoke philanthropic journeys and strategies, and find ways to amplify its impact on children’s lives through strategic investments in their futures.
“We are committed to enabling access to quality education and health systems, building climate resilience, amplifying the voices of youth, and driving action in emergencies,” Khan said. “Our goal is to scale up strategic investments in children to secure the ultimate return: a future where all families and communities can prosper.”