Zahra Lutfeali is the Regional Co-Director (North America) Programs & Partnerships.

Zahra comes to AKF with over 15 years of dedicated leadership in the international development sector, having honed her skills in managing intricate, multi-million-dollar programs aimed at driving impactful change with leading international development organizations including PATH, Counterpart International, and Aga Khan Foundation Afghanistan. Zahra’s approach centers on leveraging data to craft robust implementation strategies, establish sustainability benchmarks, and influence policy decisions. Throughout her career, she has successfully led diverse teams across 33 countries, applying her expertise in program design, data utilization, and impact assessment to deliver tangible results. Notably, her adeptness in resource mobilization strategies has contributed to securing over $500,000,000 USD in revenue across various development sectors, underscoring her commitment to driving meaningful progress and lasting change.

Zahra is also deeply entrenched in her community and is currently serving as the Chair of the Board of Directors of API Chaya, a Seattle based NGO focused on supporting women and children who have experienced abuse. Zahra holds a BA from the University of Washington and a Masters Degree from Columbia University.