Advisory Board
Sohail Warraich
Advisory Board Head
Sohail Warraich is a head of Advisory Board of Institute of International Relations and Media Research (IIRMR). He is senior journalist, anchor and analyst. He has been affiliated with GEO TV since its inception and had started his career in journalism through print media in December 1985. He is one of the most popular host of the GEO TV Programmes Ek Din Geo k Sath, an interview-based TV program on lifestyles of celebrities. He also used to host Left Right, a political talk show posing right-wing and left-wing political arguments. He used to come on a programme Meray Mutabiq every Sunday, an opinionated interview/talk show based on Warraich's analytical views on current issues along with journalists Hassan Nisar and Iftikhar Ahmad. He holds a master's degree in English literature from the University of the Punjab Lahore.
Senior journalist and analyst Sohail Warraich had short stint in Dunya News in capacity of Executive Director. He is also author of two books 'ghaddar koun and 'qatil kaun'. In this book Ghaddar Kaun (Who is a Traitor?). He is now working in the capacity of senior editor in Daily Jang and senior executive producer in Geo TV.
Azmat Rasul
Sr. Executive Member
Azmat Rasul is a senior executive member of advisory board of Institute of International Relations and Media Research (IIRMR). He teaches at Valdosta State University and has been a Postdoctoral Research Scholar in the School of Communication at the Florida State University (FSU).
Trained as a critical/cultural scholar in South Asia and Europe, Rasul also specialized in quantitative research designs after joining FSU and pursued an MS degree in Measurement and Statistics in the College of Education at FSU. He has won several academic awards including College Leadership Award in and the Mathew Grindy Prize. As a qualified academic and professional, he has been working with large public relations firms and academic institutions in various capacities.
Rasul has published 20 papers in refereed and non-refereed research journals, three book chapters, and a book. He has presented his work at more than 40 peer-reviewed national and international conferences in different countries. For the last 15 years, Rasul has a dynamic and continuing research agenda focusing on the interplay between politics and entertainment, persuasive effects of political entertainment on attitudes, global entertainment industries, and framing of political and cultural issues in international media.
Raees Insari
Sr. Executive Member
Raees Insari is senior executive member of advisory body of Institute of International Relations and Media Research (IIRMR). He is Lahore Bureau Chief of Geo News / TV. Being senior political analysts, he keeps pitching articles, features and news stories on current affairs. He had worked as Controller News in Karachi for Geo News / TV. Mr. Insari had long professional attachment as senior journalist for Jang Group of publication.
Yang Huan
Sr. Executive Member
Yang Huan is senior executive member of Advisory Board of Institute of International Relations and Media Research (IIRMR). Ms. Yang Huan is Chief Editor of China Radio International Online with long experiences in covering international events.
She has a keen interest in affairs of Asia including the South Asian sub-continent. Along with her coverage of key international events, she has interviewed some of the world's prominent figures, including former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Michael Rudd, former Mayor of London Boris Johnson and the Nobel Prize winner in economic sciences Thomas J. Sargent.
Ms. Yang Huan received a Master's degree from University College London where she studied International Public Policy. She is a contributor of English commentaries for chinaplus.cri.cn and Global Times.
Greogry Heller
Sr. Executive Member
Greogry Heller is a senior executive member of advisory body of Institute of International Relations and Media Research (IIRMR). He is a senior journalist with focus on foreign affairs and economic diplomacy specializing energy sector (oil, gas, renewable energies, regulation).
Having worked on specialized publications, Energy Plus, municipal magazines, public policies / public finances (The Gazette des Communes), he had stint at "The Tribune" which is the second French economic newspaper. He acquired master degree from University Paris III Sorbonne Nouvelle.
Shahzada Irfam Ahmed
Sr. Executive Member
Shahzada Irfan Ahmed is senior executive member of advisory board of Institute of International Relations and Media Research (IIRMR). He works as Senior Correspondent with The News on Sunday, the weekly section of Pakistan’s leading English daily The News (www.thenews.com.pk). Internationally, he is not only associated as a stinger with Wall Street Journal and correspondent with IPS feature service but also engaged on assignment-to-assignment basis with Channel 4 of UK, National Geographic and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), USA. He won Daniel Pearl Fellowship in 2009 and got an opportunity to work as Staff Reporter with daily Houston Chronicle, in Houston, Texas, USA for five months. He is also a fellow of “Innovation in Journalism” programme launched at Stanford University, Stanford, California. In 2008, he was short-listed as finalist by Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) for Development Asia Journalism Awards (DAJA) to be held in Tokyo, Japan. He was declared the “Labour Reporter of the Year” by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and travelled to Turin, Italy, to attend a course for journalist on labour issues, in November 201 Irfan is a qualified media trainer who has taught at the University of Punjab and Safma Journalism School and completed journalism courses from the University of Missouri, Columbia (Missouri) and Poynter Institute, Tampa, Florida. As a media consultant, he has worked with GIZ, USAID, SPO Pakistan, Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), HomeNet Pakistan, Pakistan Institute for Labour Education and Research (PILER), Labour Education Foundation (LEF), Network for Consumer Protection, Pakistan, ILO, Civic Action Resources (CAR) Pakistan, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and others.
Javed Farooqi
Sr. Executive Member
Javed Farooqi is senior executive member of advisory board of Institute of International Relations and Media Research (IIRMR). He is senior journalist and media analyst on foreign affairs, diplomacy, politics and governance. Extending his services as bureau chief at Capital TV, he has been working as senior correspondent at GNN.
Zulqernain Tahir
Sr. Executive Member
Zulqernain Tahir is a senior executive member of advisory board of Institute of International Relations and Media Research (IIRMR). He is earning a good name as senior journalist working with “DAWN” (a leading English-language newspaper of Pakistan known for its moderate and balanced views) for the last 18 years. For the last 10 years or so he has been covering the coveted political beat and doing special reports. Uncovering a good number of financial scams in different government departments are also to his credit. He also writes for the Press Trust of India (an Indian state news agency). He contributed to BBC.Urdu, The Telegraph and Herald. He often gives his opinion on different political issues to local and Indian news channels like CCN-18, India Today and NDTV. Mr Zulqernain won the Pakistan Punjab Government's first National Health Awards 2009 (two bronze medals against special reports on polio). Besides, he got the Punjab Government’s awards for outstanding contribution to the cause of protecting environment in 2004 and the Lahore Conservation Society's award for protecting the heritage of Lahore in 2006.
Ghulam Hussain Awan
Sr. Executive Member
Ghulam Hussain Awan is senior executive member of advisory board of Institute of International Relations and Media Research (IIRMR). Making a big splash on print media, he made everybody sit up and take notice in the field of electronic media. He is working as Bureau Chief of 92 News in United Kingdom.
Anwar Hussain Sumra
Sr. Executive Member
Anwar Hussain Sumra is senior executive member of advisory board of Institute of International Relations and Media Research (IIRMR). He works as head of Investigation Cell 92News Group, Lahore. Having served as senior Correspondent in BOL News Channel, Express Tribune, Daily Times, The Post, Pakistan Observer, he earned fame as whistleblower journalist with credit to unearth multiple scams that created big ripple in every concerned circle.
A large number of his investigative reports, bylines, features and special reports have gone on air on various channels. He received media laurels like "Certificate of Excellence in Journalism" on investigative report, availed Fellowship for 45 days under the banner of Pakistan U.S Journalist Exchange program in Pioneer Press, Minnesota USA in 2013. Pakistan Institute Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) published his articles on governance issues in its annual report on governance. He won a story competition on Gender Equality organized by International Council for Journalists (ICFJ) exchange program, Center for Excellence in Journalism (CEJ) of Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi during Pakistan-U.S Alumni Summit in 2015.
José Manuel Marquitos de Abreu Ferreira
Sr. Executive Member
José Manuel Marquitos de Abreu Ferreira is a senior executive member of advisory board of Institute of International Relations and Media Research (IIRMR). He held position of vice president of Portugal Journalist Association.
He performed as senior corporate leadership and management positions in media (tv, newspapers and radio) with international exposure in Europe, Angola, Mozambique. Mr. Jose launched innovative and significant media projects including CNL - first TV news channel in Portugal. He also contributed in the launch of Publico, Chinese channel distribution.
He made a big splash as board member of Controlinvest Media SGPS, board member of Lusomundo Media (DN) and JN newspapers, TSF radio…), President of CNL - Canal de Notícias de Lisboa, President of the board of Publico Newspaper, Radio Nova, Douro Content producer in the Sonae Group, Interlog (Apple distributor in Portugal)
Digby Wren
Sr. Executive Member
Digby Wren is a senior executive member of advisory board of Institute of International Relations and Media Research (IIRMR). Following 25 years career in communications and media with long stints in Europe, America and Asia, Digby Wren has pursued an academic career with a focus on International Relations.
Currently, he is a Deakin University (Melbourne, Australia) Visiting Scholar at Sichuan Normal University Chengdu China (SNU) teaching Academic Research and Writing, Intercultural Understanding, Communications and Media, and International Relations. Current doctoral research activities include a research focus on China's Belt and Road Initiative and its effect on Global Trading Networks, Global Security Competition, Education and Cultural exchanges, Previous honours and MBA research and professional work has concentrated on media and communications, education exchange and curricula development.
Hassan Siddique
Sr. Executive Member
Hassan Siddique is a senior executive member of advisory body of Institute of International Relations and Media Research (IIRMR). He is PhD fellow from Punjab University in Communication Studies. Mr Hassan is an author of various research articles on media in reputed journals and has also been working in various public and private sector media organisations.
Rao Dilshad Hussain
Sr. Executive Member
Rao Dilshad Hussain is senior executive member of Institute of International Relations and Media Research (IIRMR). With vast immersive and practical experience in print and electronic media, currently he holds the position of Bureau Chief West in City News Network (CNN).
Being a whistleblower media practitioner, he is credited to dig in unexplored areas and stories that remain unreported and under-reported. Having anchored issues of democracy, governance system, civicamenities, socio-economic affairs and public issues, he makes big waves in regional and national landscape. He often covers activities and functions of diplomats, politicians and civil dignitaries. He has received awards for special coverage of events.