Azra Naseem is the Director of Blended and Digital Learning at the Aga Khan University (AKU) and a faculty member at the Institute for Educational Development. She is a recognized leader and innovator in digital learning, with over two decades of strategic and hands-on experience advancing technology-enabled education across South-Central Asia, East Africa, and the UK.

Azra has played a pivotal role in designing, implementing, and scaling inclusive, quality-driven, and contextually grounded blended and online learning ecosystems. Her leadership includes establishing AKU’s first institution-wide digital learning strategy across multiple geographies and guiding the university’s pandemic-driven digital transformation, ensuring a seamless transition to virtual learning across disciplines. The scholarly paper documenting this work received the Emerald Literati Award for Outstanding Paper.

She has designed and led global online faculty development initiatives, including the widely recognized Online Teaching in Higher Education (OTHE) program, and led the digital learning framework for the Lifelong Learning, Education and Development of Skills (LEADS) program, supporting marginalized populations through online micro-credentials. Azra has also advised the University of Central Asia on digital learning frameworks and collaborated with international organizations such as Academics Without Borders to influence policy and practice in the Global South.Her recent initiatives include establishing AKU’s AI in Education Playground and developing institutional guidelines on the use of generative AI in higher education. Her research focuses on human-centered learning design, AI-supported learning environments, digital collaboration, and inclusive design. A Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK), Azra has received multiple awards for innovation and leadership and continues to mentor EdTech startups and support national digital education initiatives in Pakistan and beyond.