The British Council, the United Kingdom's leading institution for cultural relations and educational opportunities, has appointed Amir Ramzan as the Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

In his new role, Ramzan will lead British Council teams across the 17 MENA countries. This includes overseeing the British Council MENA’s work in arts, English, and education, with the aim of nurturing deeper connections, understanding, and trust between the people of the UK and the MENA region.

Ramzan Amir said: “Having previously had the privilege of working in this region, I am delighted to rejoin the exceptional British Council MENA team. I am looking forward to working with our partners in the region and the UK and supporting new collaborations as well as building upon existing connections so we can continue to make a difference in young people’s lives.”

Ramzan started his journey with the British Council as a teacher and subsequently progressed to the position of Deputy Director in British Council Syria where he effectively managed the English, teaching and exams activities. His dedication and expertise paved the way for him to take on various significant roles within the British Council's global network.

Notably, he served as Deputy Director in Nigeria and later as Country Director in Iraq from 2014 to 2016.  During his time in Iraq, Ramzan led initiatives to improve access to quality education for children impacted by conflict and fostered dialogue between diverse communities.

His unwavering commitment to connecting these disparate groups served as a powerful catalyst for promoting peace, prosperity and understanding among them.

Subsequently, Ramzan took on the role of Country Director in Saudi Arabia and Gulf Lead from 2016 to 2019, during which he oversaw extensive teaching and exams operations, managed complex organisational change and successfully led the Cabinet Office-funded British Council Next Generation programme, which aimed to facilitate the transition from oil dependence to a knowledge-based economy.

He has been the Country Director in Pakistan since 2019, successfully leading one of our largest operations amid the challenges of Covid-19, During his tenure, he orchestrated cultural events celebrating the 75th anniversary of UK-Pakistan relations and played a key role in policy development through the Next Generation Pakistan report. He also oversaw substantial growth in the council’s exams, English, education, and non-formal education programmes, securing significant new partnerships, especially in girls' education. – TradeArabia News Service