Advisory Group

Dr. Fadila Grine

Dr. Fadila Grine is the Senior advisor to the President of Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum, Istanbul,
Turkey, and former Director of Family and Social Affairs to the Department of Humanitarian, Cultural
and Social Affairs at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. An active member of the OIC Council
of Muslim Women, Dr. Grine has long been a strong advocate of the rights and significance of family
and women in all fields of development, with a focused interest on youth, elderly, marriage, leadership
and culture. During her time as Visiting Associate Professor to the Department of Islamic History and
Civilization, University of Malaya, Malaysia, she served as Head of Research as well as Head of the
International Bureau of Consultancy and Training. Dr. Grine obtained her Masters degree from IIUM
and PhD in Islamic Culture and Civilization from the Academy of Islamic Studies, University of
Malaya, and has published extensively in her field of expertise. Furthermore, Dr. Grine is an
accomplished life coach and consultant for marriage and family, and previously worked as cultural
consultant with the Edmonton Public School Board of Alberta, Canada. A member of several
international committees, boards and panels on women and family, and has worked extensively on
youth and development. Moreover, she has conducted a range of workshops and trainings on marriage,
parenting, women in education, research, and leadership, among many others. A mother to 5, Dr. Fadila
Grine is dedicated to her family, community and the future of family, women, and youth.

Sandra Pertek

Sandra Pertek is a gender and social development practitioner with over 10 years of experience across
settings and regions. She is currently a Doctoral Researcher at the University of Birmingham and part
of a research initiative – SEREDA (sexual and gender-based violence in the refugee crisis: from
displacement to arrival) and a Director of EQUISTY. She worked on several research projects and
consulted governmental and non-governmental organizations. Previously she served as Senior Policy
Adviser on Gender at a leading humanitarian agency, where she spearheaded a gender mainstreaming
strategy into policy and international programs. She holds an MSc in Social Development Practice
from University College London and a BA in European Studies from the University of Warsaw.

Dr. Amina Easat-Daas

Dr Amina Easat-Daas is an Early Career Academic Fellow and lecturer in politics in the school of
Business and Law at De Montfort University, Leicester (UK). She is affiliated to the Stephen Lawrence
Research Centre, the Centre for Urban Research on Austerity and the Local Governance Research
Centre. Prior to this, Dr Easat-Daas worked on EU funded Counter-Islamophobia Kit project at the
University of Leeds (UK). Dr Easat-Daas earned her PhD at Aston University, Birmingham (UK)
where she studied the nature of Muslim women’s political participation in France and francophone

Belgium. Her research interests include the study of Muslim women, Muslim youth, Islamophobia and
creatively countering-Islamophobia in Europe, gendered dimensions of Islamophobia, and ‘European-
Islam’. In her capacity as an emerging Islamophobia studies specialist, she has been invited and has
presented her research findings at the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, the Carter Center
(USA), and the OSCE-ODIHR among others and has appeared on national and international media on
numerous occasions to discuss Muslim current affairs. She is currently engaged in research centered
on ‘Creatively Countering Islamophobia’ and is examining the use of Muslim-led and Muslim-centered
festivals in the city as an anti-racist and counter-Islamophobia tool. As such, Dr Easat-Daas has
recently become an Ambassador for the non-profit organization, Milton Keynes Islamic Arts and
Culture (MKIAC). Dr Easat-Daas regularly writes around her research areas and her forthcoming
publications include her monograph entitled ‘Muslim Women’s Political Participation in France and
Belgium’ which will be published as part of the Palgrave Macmillan Series, New Directions in Islam.

Alfiaz Vaiya

Mr. Vaiya was the Coordinator of the European Parliament Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup
(ARDI). He was responsible for re-establishing the cross-party group within the European Parliament
and led the legislative and non-legislative work on a wide range of issues such as racism,
discrimination, migration, counterterrorism/radicalization, online content including hate and
disinformation, workplace diversity and political representation. Mr. Vaiya was the principle liaison
between Intergroup Members and European Institutions, international bodies, governments, civil
society, think tanks and private sector. Prior to his role at ARDI, Mr. Vaiya was at the Secretariat of the
European Parliament Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Religious Tolerance and Project
Manager at Human Rights Without Frontiers where he worked on human rights in foreign policy.
Outside of work, Mr. Vaiya was the Co-Founder/Co-spokesperson of Me Too European Parliament and
helped co-create the most signed election manifesto campaign of the 2019 European elections. Mr.
Vaiya is also the Co-Convener of the Transatlantic Minority Political Leadership Conference (TMPLC)
which aims to support a network of diverse elected officials in the U.S. and Europe to address the
underrepresentation of diverse populations in policymaking; and advance policies and initiatives in
support of inclusive and equitable societies. Mr. Vaiya also sits on the Tech for Inclusion Advisory
Committee of the German Marshall Fund of the United States and the Board of Human Rights Without
Frontiers. For his work, the Obama Foundation invited Mr. Vaiya to an Emerging Young European
Leaders town hall discussion with President Obama. The German Marshall Fund of the United States
also selected him for the prestigious Marshall Memorial Leadership Fellowship (MMF) in the United
States which he undertook in October 2019. Mr. Vaiya holds a MA from the University of Birmingham
and an LLB from Leeds Metropolitan University.

Raghad Altikriti

Raghad Altikriti is the president of the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB). She was in the
leadership of Muslim Women Society in the UK and a member of the international hijab campaign and
has been a delegate to many conferences around the world. She specializes in topics concerning
Muslim women and youth in the West. She contributes regularly with politicians and decision-makers
to the discussion of islamophobia in the West and its effect on the Muslim community. She is a
motivational speaker and activist and has extensive experience in leadership and engagement. She
holds many sessions of self-development and inspiration through faith with youth with the aim of
raising a generation of well-developed future leaders.