Aftab Ahmed

Experience

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  Nestlé

  Jun 2015 - Sept 2015

  Talent Acquisition Intern

  Organized talent hunts at North South University and Bangladesh University of Professionals. Acted as primary lead in talent acquisition process by sorting resumes and identifying candidates for potential interviews across sales, corporate and finance departments. Supported Talent Acquisition executives in preparing marketing materials, speeches and briefing notes.

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  University of Toronto - University of St. Michael's College

  Sept 2015 - Jun 2017

  Continuing Education Assistant

  Provided administrative and logistical support to Program Manager in the Department of Continuing Education. Supported class sizes of 10 - 75 students with resources, class administration and day-to-day tasks

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  Policy Research Institute (PRI) of Bangladesh

  May 2016 - Aug 2016

  Policy Research Intern

  Assisted Directors in data collection, report editing, quantitative analysis and macroeconomic research in trade, business, regional integration, tourism and sectoral studies. Researched and provided briefing reports and summaries on industry-based sustainability schemes, VISA liberalization in South Asia, challenges in the textiles industry and foreign policy affairs.

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  The Daily Star, BD

  Dec 2016 - now

  Columnist

  Policy Commentator with over 65 published articles on themes relating to democracy, digital governance, education policy, foreign policy, public health, economic development and constitutional reform. Articles available at: https://www.thedailystar.net/author/mir-aftabuddin-ahmed

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  University of Toronto Students' Union

  Jun 2017 - Apr 2018

  Associate Vice President — University Affairs

  Represented 38,000 undergraduate students through high-level strategic initiatives and academic affairs support programs, collaborating with administrators to enhance on-campus student welfare. Prepared strategic documents and policy reports addressing academic barriers faced by racialized and international students, and the systemic impacts of notetaking policies on students with disabilities. Developed the Global Dialogue Series, engaging predominantly experts-of-color and diasporic stakeholders in town-hall style discussions on topics like international student rights and human rights. Show less

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  CISS Canada, MLI and ILSC

  Jun 2017 - Aug 2017

  Office and Accounts Manager — St. Michael's Summer Programme

  Managed the financial database of over 200 students and 20 staff members at summer camp. Acted as principal liaison with financial institution with regards to camp budget management. Provided students with administrative support in their banking needs. Maintained records and documents for camp petty cash, day-to-day expenses and student welfare. Provided logistical support in event planning and execution.

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  University of Toronto

  Dec 2017 - Feb 2018

  Researched, analyzed and prepared briefing notes and summary reports on international student trends and global university rankings. Supported the development of logistical, institutional and background reports and business insights documents for outbound Presidential and Vice-Presidential visits to Singapore, China, Rwanda and Ethiopia. Provided logistical support and qualitative policy insights on collaboration between the University of Toronto and Mexican Secretariat of Energy. Conducted graphical and policy analysis for engagements with external partners including MasterCard Foundation, Lee Foundation, CALDO Consortium and Global HR Forum. Show less

  • International Relations Student Intern — Office of the Vice President, International (OVPI)

    Sept 2017 - Feb 2018

  • Student Ambassador — Office of Student Recruitment

    Dec 2017 - Jan 2018
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  Dhaka Tribune

  Feb 2018 - now

  Columnist

  Policy Commentator with over 35 published articles on themes relating to governance, political challenges, global affairs, financial markets and humanitarian affairs. Articles available at: • https://www.dhakatribune.com/author/mir-aftabuddin-ahmed• https://archive.dhakatribune.com/author/mir-aftabuddin-ahmed

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  TD

  Nov 2018 - Aug 2023

  Provided expert financial advice to over 40 clients, including those from low-income, racialized, and newcomer backgrounds. Advised on investment strategies, debt consolidation, secured and unsecured lending, self-directed financial tools, financial literacy, investment toolkits, mortgages, the first-time home buyer's program, and estate management. Additionally, successfully acquired and managed investment portfolios exceeding $10 million by maintaining a relationship management pipeline.Conducted research and analysis on emerging economic trends, evolving financial and banking-related legislative regulations, monetary policy guidelines, and industry codes of conduct. This research supported annual strategic client acquisition planning, and setting advice and sales benchmarks. Produced internal strategic memos covering investment climates and financial markets, with a focus on North America. Obtained the Investment Funds license from the Canadian Securities Institute.Functioned as the team lead, specializing in estate management, power of attorney, and customer complaints conflict resolution services, while serving as a referral facilitator to partners in TD Wealth Management and TD Financial Planning. This role involved managing confidential and sensitive files and acting as the primary point of contact for providing advice to new-to-bank and newcomer clients. Show less Managed a relationship management pipeline of over 75 clients, providing day-to-day financial advice, risk management solutions, personal credit options, and guidance on digital banking platforms.Led financial literacy, financial inclusion, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion initiatives, as well as community outreach efforts for a team of over 30 banking professionals in the Yonge-Lawrence neighborhood in Toronto, significantly enhancing client-community engagement.Facilitated referrals exceeding $15 million to wealth management partners and collaborated with community partners to provide advice to newcomers and low-income clients on basic banking products.Provided pandemic-related emergency banking advice and guidance to low-income individuals, including facilitating mortgage payment deferrals, specialized financial relief packages, loan deferrals, Canada Wage Benefit and Canada Emergency Response Benefit applications. Show less

  • Investment Consultant

    Apr 2022 - Aug 2023

  • Personal Banking Associate

    Dec 2019 - Mar 2022

  • Customer Experience Associate

    Nov 2018 - Dec 2019
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  BacharLorai

  Mar 2020 - now

  Co-Founder and Director of Policy Research

  Co-founded an international not-for-profit social impact agency aimed at advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in Canada and Bangladesh. Key responsibilities include curating the organization's strategic vision, mission, and operational values, as well as managing two staff members. Engaged in policy analysis and designing research projects and evidence-based policy briefs. Also serving as the current Editor-in-Chief of ImpactInk, BacharLorai's newsletter, with experience as the Editor for the "Ending Period Poverty" and "Community Healthcare in Barishal" policy briefs, and in co-authoring two annual reports.Executed comprehensive project management for over 25 crisis response and community-led projects in Bangladesh, focusing on areas like climate action, economic empowerment, emergency preparedness, and public health interventions. Responsibilities included design, communication, and strategic oversight of the annual project pipelines. Established and maintained partnerships with international donors and project partners, ensuring a streamlined supply chain. Key achievements included distributing medical and relief supplies and virtual public health communication materials during the pandemic to vulnerable demographic groups including low-income and climate-vulnerable populations, Indigenous communities, and people with disabilities, homeless individuals, and Rohingya refugees.Engaged in thought leadership, policy discourse, consensus-building and strategic debates as a podcast moderator, with a focus on public health crisis preparedness. Additionally, co-authored the article "Crisis Management through Digital Social Innovation" for the Canadian Science Policy Centre. Show less

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  Max Bell School of Public Policy

  Aug 2022 - Aug 2023

  Master Of Public Policy

  I graduated from an 11-month, full-time postgraduate professional development program at McGill University. This program emphasized teaching, research, policy engagement, and public outreach, equipping students with the skills to become practitioners in the public policy landscape, both in Canada and internationally.Areas of Focus included Microeconomics for Public Policy, Global Macroeconomic Policy, the Canadian Policy and Political Landscape, Information and Media Literacy, Comparative Government Structures, Law and Human Rights in Public Policy, Reasoning About Public Policy, Analytical Methods for Policy Evaluation, Theory and Practice of Program Evaluation, and Scientific Expertise and Evidence.My capstone project, sponsored by the Bank of Canada, was focused on designing a comprehensive policy brief. This brief centered on the social policy implications of a less-cash society and its effects on vulnerable populations, also identifying policy recommendations to mitigate financial exclusion: https://www.mcgill.ca/maxbellschool/policy-lab-2023/less-cashIn another project, my colleagues and I wrote a policy brief for the inaugural Hunter Prize in Public Policy. Titled "Enhancing Access to Diagnostic Imaging: A Proposal for a Pan-Canadian and Interoperable Teleradiology Network," we explored the role of teleradiology in reducing diagnostic wait times. Our team was a top 10 finalist in the competition: https://thehub.ca/2023-09-26/hunter-prize-a-pan-canadian-digital-highway-using-teleradiology-to-reduce-wait-times/As Vice President of International Student Affairs at the Public Policy Association of Graduate Students, I led the International Affairs portfolio, providing support, advice, and guidance to international students. My role also involved organizing and implementing career events and workshops for international students. Show less

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  The Bell Newsletter

  Sept 2022 - Jul 2023

  Chief Editor

  Led the planning, coordination and revision of policy-adjacent articles for the student run newsletter of the Max Bell School of Public Policy at McGill University. Edited and written by Max Bell School MPP students under the supervision of the Professor Andrew Potter, The Bell provides short, accessible op-eds, interviews, and briefings looking at policy making both in Canada and at a global level. The newsletter explores innovative approaches to policy and lifts up conversations that deserve to be amplified. Show less

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  Max Bell School Policy Lab

  Nov 2022 - Sept 2023

  Policy Lab Member

  Led a capstone project sponsored by the Bank of Canada. This project centered on understanding the policymaking cycle using a people-centered approach. The goal was to assess, evaluate, and offer creative, feasible, and practical solutions to counter the exclusionary effects of less-cash society for four demographics: domestic abuse survivors, seniors, Indigenous Peoples, and homeless populations. Conducted policy analysis of both global and Canadian economic and monetary systems, utilizing interdisciplinary social science research methods. This analysis integrated insights from 25 targeted stakeholder consultations with organizations representing cash-dependent groups. Undertook comprehensive empirical research, encompassing literature reviews, jurisdictional scans, and a mix of primary and secondary social policy research techniques. This included conducting interviews and surveys, thorough assessments of policy reports, critical analyses of academic journal articles, and evaluations of media content. Developed four policy recommendations, each with built-in monitoring and evaluation frameworks and implementation timelines, to address financial exclusion among vulnerable demographics. The recommendations presented to the Bank of Canada included the proposal for Voluntary Codes of Conduct by major financial institutions to better serve homeless individuals and Indigenous Peoples. Additionally, there was advocacy for the need to assess the legislative protection of cash through the establishment of a Cash Committee comprised of individuals representing cash-dependent demographics. Shared the findings and recommendations through a publicly-accessible policy brief, a presentation to the central bank representatives, academics, and policy experts, media interviews, and two op-eds for The Line and Policy Options. These efforts were designed to elevate public awareness regarding financial exclusion in a less-cash society, particularly affecting cash-dependent groups. Show less

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  McGill University

  Feb 2023 - Jun 2023

  Research Assistant

  Designed and implemented programming initiatives in partnership with the US-based think tank, the Wilson Center. This included organizing a high-profile international conference on international security and foreign policy in Montreal, focusing on the Arctic and US-Canada relations, in June 2023.Engaged in over 20 stakeholder consultations with Inuit groups, Indigenous think tanks, foreign policy experts, national security professionals, public servants, and policy professionals from the United States and Canada. These consultations informed the design of the June 2023 conference, underpinning a co- created, participatory, and input-driven approach to event planning and enrolling diverse panelists.Provided project management support to Vincent Rigby, the former National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada. Conducted research, maintained communications with attendees and panelists, codified post-event evaluations, organized meetings, and wrote policy memos. Show less

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  Policy Magazine

  May 2023 - now

  Contributing Writer

  Regularly author op-eds for Canada's leading publication aimed at policy practitioners and public sector representatives, concentrating on dissecting patterns in various policy frameworks. These articles offer in-depth analysis, strategic perspectives, and practical recommendations for tackling emerging economic, social, and foreign policy issues. Link: https://www.policymagazine.ca/author/aftab-ahmed/

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  City of Toronto

  Sept 2023 - now

  Leading efforts with the Strategic Policy and Service Planning Unit at the Toronto Shelter and Support Services Division on three major files: developing Service Restrictions as part of the Shelter Safety Action Plan, collaborating with partners such as Ontario Health and wider shelter service providers to develop the Homelessness Health Services Framework focused on harm reduction, mental health, and primary care services, and providing ongoing policy support related to seniors experiencing homelessness.Leading and conducting ongoing qualitative and quantitative research and analysis of trends and activities related to shelters, specifically evaluating the strengths, weaknesses, and effectiveness of policies such as the Toronto Shelter Standards. This research informs the development and refinement of the Service Restrictions policy, the Homelessness Health Services Framework, and policies supporting seniors experiencing homelessness.Developing and facilitating stakeholder engagement processes with shelter residents and clients, ensuring that the Service Restrictions policy, Homelessness Health Services Framework, and seniors' homelessness policies are rooted in the needs, experiences, and expertise of those most impacted. This involves applying appropriate conceptual and analytical frameworks to ensure involvement and accountability from the shelter residents and clients.Providing strategic expertise, advice, and support to staff, management, senior management, City divisions and agencies, and community partners to achieve shared goals related to shelters and homelessness. This includes preparing Council reports, research analyses, budget/resource requests, briefing notes, presentations, correspondence, policy reports, recommendations, and other materials specifically related to Service Restrictions, Homelessness Health Services Framework, and policies for seniors experiencing homelessness. Show less Rotation 2: Seniors Services and Long-Term Care DivisionLed the implementation of a city-wide change management initiative called CareTO with the Resident Care and Services team. Conducted policy research and engaged in stakeholder consultations to develop a resident-centered, emotion-based approach to care. Provided training to Long-Term Care staff on stakeholder engagement methodologies such as focus groups, interviews, and surveys to create strategic recommendations for implementing CareTO.Developed training modules and stakeholder engagement plans to facilitate CareTO adoption across long-term care homes. Designed CareTO-related marketing content and delivered presentations to long-term care homes. Provided project management support for the CareTO implementation.Rotation 1: Transportation Services DivisionLed a public policy project within the Capital Projects and Programs Unit of the Project Design and Management Section. Conducted policy research and drafted a 250+ page report titled "A Public Policy Analysis for Transportation Noise Monitoring and Mitigation: Strategies for the City of Toronto’s Transportation Services Division," using methodologies like jurisdictional scans and stakeholder consultations to develop urban noise management policy recommendations.Explored best practices in noise management, recommending low-cost measures and automated monitoring technologies. Developed a strategic vision for a Noise Barrier Program, aligning with Toronto’s sustainable noise management goals, particularly in marginalized neighborhoods. Provided project management support for the Highway 2A Safety Improvements and Sound Mitigation Project, coordinating with Toronto Hydro and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, and developed presentations and briefing notes for the Deputy Mayor and city leadership. Show less

  • Policy Development Officer

    Jun 2024 - now

  • Toronto Urban Fellow Researcher

    Sept 2023 - Jun 2024