The day-to-day operation of Human Appeal is overseen by a corporate Leadership Team comprised of the Chief Executive and six divisional directors. They are responsible for shaping our goals and ensuring we achieve them. The Chief Executive is responsible to the Trustees for the management of Human Appeal.
Dr Mohamed Ashmawey
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Mohamed Ashmawey has led the Human Appeal family as CEO since April 2019. He has many years’ experience working for the charity sector, including as CEO for Islamic Relief USA and Islamic Relief Worldwide, as well as a consultant on the development sector across Europe and the Middle East. Until 2016, he was also a member of the Civil Society Advisory Team created by the World Economic Forum.
Prior to that, he worked for 18 years as an engineer and as a manager for General Motors, having completed a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland.
Dr. Ashmawey is committed to ethical, conscientious development, and dedicating his skills to empower the most vulnerable people around the world.
In recognition of his leadership drive to continuously enhance Human Appeal's humanitarian operations, the Humanitarian Hero Award was won by Dr Mohammed Ashmawey in Brussels at the AidEx 2022 global conference. The AidEx Humanitarian Hero Award sets out to recognise and celebrate stand-out individuals from the humanitarian aid and development community worldwide.
Owais Khan
Deputy CEO
Owais Khan has spent the last 14 years working within the development sector, dedicated to working and inspiring others to connect Human Appeal resources, donors and partners with those facing urgent and ongoing humanitarian crises all over the globe.
Prior to joining Human Appeal, Owais streamlined the English and Arabic website and online donation process for a leading charity in the MENA region, generating £2.5m in donations in the first month and spearheading production and delivery of engaging content. He also established a global communications steering group at another leading global humanitarian aid organisation, and steered the marketing strategy for their global Ramadan campaign.
Since joining the Human Appeal family in September 2014, Owais has ensured seamless communication of Human Appeal’s core mission, as well as celebrating the organisation’s 25th anniversary. As Deputy CEO, he reports directly to the CEO and Chair of the Board of Trustees, and oversees the organisation’s daily operations. He is also responsible for leading the charity’s development, growth, and ongoing digital transformation to ensure that Human Appeal connects to both donors and people in need internationally, to deliver the organisation’s goal of being Here for Every Human.
