Uzma brings over 15 years of accounting and financial expertise across corporate and non-profit sectors in Houston. Most recently she served as Financial Controller at Catholic Charities, directing financial operations for community-wide services. Driven by a belief that every child deserves access to quality education, she founded Aspiring Futures USA to bridge that gap. Her leadership is guided by a commitment to fiscal discipline — maximizing the impact of every dollar entrusted by donors and partners.
Uzma holds an MBA in Accounting from the University of Houston and a BSc in Mathematics and Statistics from Kinnaird College, Lahore.
Rafey is President of TRIULTA and a seasoned executive with more than 23 years of global leadership across technology and innovation. He has served in C-level roles including CIO and Senior Vice President of Technology at SunGard Energy and Commodities. His career spans strategy definition, mergers and acquisitions, business integration, and building high-impact organizational partnerships. As a Partner at COBAIT, he has delivered transformative software and cybersecurity solutions across multiple industries.
Rafey holds a B.S in electrical engineering from University of Houston and brings the proven ability to scale organizations with purpose — applying his strategic vision to advance Aspiring Futures USA's mission.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafeykazi/
Abyar Aejaz
Board Director
Abyar is an Executive Director in Project Development and a chemical engineer with nearly 20 years of experience across oil, gas, and chemical industries. She leads complex, multidisciplinary engineering projects — delivering results on time and within budget while upholding the highest safety standards.
Her expertise spans project management, budgeting, quality assurance, and mentoring the next generation of engineering professionals. Abyar holds specialized knowledge in process safety consulting, translating accepted industry standards into practical, real-world solutions.
Abyar holds Chemical Engineering degree from University of Houston. She channels her operational discipline and leadership skills into advancing Aspiring Futures USA's mission of educational equity.
Taha serves as Head of Venture Capital Investments at Aramco, overseeing a $7B+ portfolio focused on digital innovation, sustainability, and energy transition.With more than 25 years in the energy industry, he has held senior leadership roles at Chevron and Delek US, building a track record of strategic investment and portfolio growth.Taha has served on multiple corporate boards — including Utility Global, Aperio, Strohm, and Clarke Valves — championing technologies that reshape how the world produces and consumes energy.
His investment philosophy emphasizes GHG emissions reduction and ESG integration, reflecting a deep commitment to a more sustainable future.
Taha holds an MS in Business with Technology Management from Columbia University, a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M, and a BSc in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Karachi.
Tahir is a seasoned information technology leader with deep expertise in enterprise systems, IT service management, and business process optimization. He currently serves as Operations Manager at Bulerez Consulting, where he leads IT resource planning, ERP integration, and organizational efficiency initiatives.
Throughout his career, Tahir has strengthened the technology backbone of growing organizations, enabling them to serve their communities more effectively. His dedication to social impact extends well beyond the boardroom — he has volunteered with Junior Achievement, Rebuilding Together, and multiple NGOs.
Tahir holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma, and he brings that same analytical rigor to supporting Aspiring Futures USA's growth.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tmehmood/
Abyar Aejaz
Director
Director with AF USA. Abyar is currently working as Process Technologist for TritenlAG and has 16+ years of process engineering experience. Abyar has prior experience serving on the Executive Board for American Institute of Chemical Engineers
Young
Directors
Taha Asmat
Director of Humanitarian Programs & Outreach
Taha Asmat, a senior pre-med student at the University of Houston, is dedicated to service and uplifting underserved communities. As an officer for UMR, he leads humanitarian outreach efforts. At Aspiring Futures USA, Taha supports youth mentorship and education access for children in Pakistan. His compassion-driven leadership focuses on long-term change through equity and opportunity
Siraj Qureshi
Director
Siraj graduated from UPenn with a major in Economics, minors in physics and math. He has worked in finance at the Kraft-Heinz company, and most recently as a Finance Manager for a Fermented Food Holdings, a portfolio of food companies. There, he plays a pivotal role in financial planning, forecasting, business strategy, and acquisitions. Siraj has experience working in mentorship, fundraising, and strategic planning in the non-profit space, and contributes to Aspiring Futures in donor relations, event planning, and strategy. In his free time, Siraj enjoys weightlifting, hiking, and trying new foods.
Ali Syed
Director of Strategic
Communications & Mentorship
Ali Syed is a finance student at the University of Houston's Bauer College of Business, passionate about mentorship, public service, and youth development. As Project Downtown Coordinator for UMR, he leads weekly meal drives in Houston. At Aspiring Futures USA, Ali serves as a lead spokesperson, creating content and offering career guidance to students in Pakistan. With interests in ESG, financial literacy, and education access, he uses business as a tool for impact and equity
Ali Qureshi
Director - Agenda Planning
Ali Qureshi, a Kinesiology student born in Karachi, is passionate about health equity and youth engagement. He works on NIH-funded research, serves as a medical scribe, and leads wellness and cultural projects in Houston. Through Aspiring Futures, he helps shape meaningful agendas that reflect youth voices and global impact
Mohammad Sabir
Marketing and Outreach
Mohammad Sabir is a finance major at the University of Houston’s Bauer College of Business and an original member of Aspiring Futures. A key mentor, he helped shape the mentorship model and continues to guide students in career and personal growth. With interests in finance and marketing, he supports the organization’s expansion and is passionate about using business to drive equity and youth empowerment
Young Directors
Director
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Etiam dignissim magna eu varius commodo. Nam libero velit, lobortis non maximus non, mattis tincidunt lacus. Duis eu rutrum urna. Sed sed suscipit arcu, at tincidunt risus. Aliquam convallis lobortis nisl ac condimentum. Sed et maximus velit, eu blandit turpis. Sed vulputate quam laoreet justo iaculis, a venenatis nunc placerat. Aenean turpis purus, maximus id scelerisque nec, consectetur ac felis. Nullam tellus diam, cursus ac commodo id, sagittis auctor metus. Donec pretium consectetur sem, eu cursus ipsum ornare ac. Sed velit orci, sodales gravida arcu quis, congue porta tellus
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Etiam dignissim magna eu varius commodo. Nam libero velit, lobortis non maximus non, mattis tincidunt lacus. Duis eu rutrum urna. Sed sed suscipit arcu, at tincidunt risus. Aliquam convallis lobortis nisl ac condimentum. Sed et maximus velit, eu blandit turpis. Sed vulputate quam laoreet justo iaculis, a venena
Uzma Qureshi is the President of AF USA. She has 15+ years of accounting and financial experience and more recently worked as a Financial Controller with Catholic Charities, a non-profit organization serving the greater community in Houston. Uzma has taken an active role to support the educational needs of underprivileged children by joining AF USA and plans to develop the financial strategy to operate with minimal administrative cost and deliver maximum value of donor contribution. Uzma holds MBA in accounting from the University of Houston and a BSc in Mathematics and statistics from Kinnaird College, Lahore Pakistan
Uzma Qureshi
Founder/President
As a Partner at COBAIT, successfully delivered innovative solutions to businesses including developing software products in multiple verticals as well as IT solutions helping organizations and leaders with business IT planning, management, cyber security and business continuity. Top performing executive with a 23-year track record of innovation and success in managing, expanding and growing global organizations, including C-Level experience with fortune 500 company. Rafey worked as a CIO and Senior Vice President of Technology for SunGard Energy and Commodities and built an impressive record of achievement through a series of increasingly responsible leadership positions for the global organization. Rafey played a pivotal role in defining strategy and solutions, creating tactical and strategic partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, business integration and providing overall vision and direction to the company which led to the growth and success of the business.
Rafey Kazi
Director
With an MBA in Marketing and over 8 years of experience in healthcare and IT, I excel at transforming client challenges into innovative, technology-driven solutions. My expertise involves directly engaging with clients to uncover their needs and translating these insights into user-centric product designs. I am dedicated to optimizing processes for greater efficiency by integrating advanced technologies and streamlining operations. My track record includes developing solutions that significantly enhance functionality and user experience. Outside of work, I am passionate about exploring diverse cuisines, traveling, and enjoying quality time with family and friends. I am also committed to supporting community initiatives and finding meaningful ways to give back. In my free time, I immerse myself in reading and home projects, continually seeking opportunities for personal and professional growth.
NIDA GHANCHI
DIRECTOR
Siraj graduated from UPenn with a major in Economics, minors in physics and math. He has worked in finance at the Kraft-Heinz company, and most recently as a Finance Manager for a Fermented Food Holdings, a portfolio of food companies. There, he plays a pivotal role in financial planning, forecasting, business strategy, and acquisitions. Siraj has experience working in mentorship, fundraising, and strategic planning in the non-profit space, and contributes to Aspiring Futures in donor relations, event planning, and strategy. In his free time, Siraj enjoys weightlifting, hiking, and trying new foods.
Siraj Qureshi
Director
Director with AF USA. Abyar is currently working as Process Technologist for TritenlAG and has 16+ years of process engineering experience. Abyar has prior experience serving on the Executive Board for American Institute of Chemical Engineers
Abyar Aejaz
Director
Syed M. Taha Hussain is a Secretary of AF USA. Taha serves as Venture Partner of DK Innovation, Delek US, a corporate venture capital fund, and holds a Board position at Utility Global and Aperio. Previously Venture Executive at Chevron, Taha has 25+ years of experience in the oil and gas industry with several corporate Board positions including Strohm (Airborne) and Clarke Valves. Taha received his M.S. in business with technology management from Columbia University in New York. He also has B.S. in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M and B.Sc. in analytical chemistry from the University of Karachi. Taha has prior experience serving the non‐profits including positions with NACE Foundation and Columbia Alumni Association Board for Texas chapter and as a teacher with Sunday school
Syed M. Taha Hussain
Secretary
Tahir Mehmood is a Director at AF USA. Tahir is currently working as an operational Manager at Bulerez Consulting. Experienced Information Technology Leader with a demonstrated history. Strong information technology professional skilled in Business Processes, IT Service Management, Resource Management, Integration, and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). Tahir is committed to social work and collaborated with many NGO’s including Junior Achievement and Rebuilding Together etc. to contribute to uplifting the deserving segment of society. Tahir holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma, Norman
