Aziz Khan named next Chair of UNICEF International Council

UNICEF has announced Muhammed Aziz Khan as the incoming Chair of the UNICEF International Council, succeeding the inaugural Chair, Maria Ahlström-Bondestam. Khan will assume the position in November 2024, according to a media release from UNICEF issued on May 24.

The UNICEF International Council is a distinguished community of approximately 150 private philanthropists and partners, many of whom are from the world’s leading business families and global influencers. The council aims to optimize philanthropic investments for children by pooling their funding, leadership, and expertise. Collectively, members have invested more than $552 million in UNICEF, supporting children worldwide.

Aziz Khan, founder chairman of the Bangladeshi conglomerate Summit Group, is also the founder and Trustee of the Anjuman and Aziz Charitable Trust (AACT), alongside his wife, Anjuman Khan. Since joining the UNICEF International Council in 2022, Khan and his family have been active contributors.

Driven by a commitment to shaping a better future for children, Khan and his family have sponsored schools, built hospitals, and supported projects addressing drug addiction and violence against women and children in Bangladesh.

“I am a believer in the power of education – not only for its ability to lift people out of poverty, but as a unifying force for good. I see education as the bedrock of modern civilization and builder of trust amongst humanity and that by enhancing understanding, education has the power to reduce social conflicts and bring more harmony into the world,” said Aziz Khan.

In response to the educational disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Khan decided to focus AACT‍‍`s efforts on education, prioritizing getting children back into classrooms and helping them catch up on lost schooling.