Zahra Shah

Zahra Shah is an award-winning  AI and Frontier Technology Expert, Board Director/NED, Advisor, Investor, Entrepreneur, Media Commentator, Speaker, and Writer with extensive experience across technology, finance, and social impact sectors. She serves on multiple boards driving innovation, responsible AI adoption, and strategic transformation.

 

Board Roles:

Board Advisor, NexaQuanta (AI Transformation Consultancy and IBM Partner on the Watsonx Responsible AI Platform for Enterprises).

Senior Board Advisor & Investment Committee Member, TeamUp Ventures (Tech-Focused Venture Capital Fund).

Co-Founder & Investor (Former CCO & NED), Seers (AI-Powered Privacy & Consent Management Platform).

Advisor on Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the Commonwealth Businesswomen’s Network (CBWN).

Chair & President, OPEN London CIC (London Chapter of OPEN Global, Fostering Global Entrepreneurship).

Trustee, UK Association for Medical Aid to Pakistan (UKMAP).

Trustee (Former CEO), British Pakistan Foundation  (UK BAME Nonprofit).

Former Expert Member, Technology Advisory Panel (TAP) at the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Former Chair, Google Female Founders Europe-Wide Support Group Initiative.

Former Co-Chair, TIE London Women(Global Nonprofit Supporting Entrepreneurs).

Judge, Mentor, Media Commentator, Speaker & Writer:

Regular Judge at Entrepreneurs Collective (UK Tech Accelerator).

Judge, Speaker, and Mentor at Foundervine (UK Government Accelerator for Underrepresented Communities).

Established Speaker at Global Conferences (e.g. London Tech Week, Fintech Week London, Vermeg FutureFit, FinCrime, PrivSec, Global Innovation Summit, Google Women Techmakers, Asian Tech Pioneers, Transpire Global Directors Network etc.).

Regular Media Commentator (e.g. BBC, Channel 4, Awaaz FM, Bloomsbury Radio etc.).

Contributing Writer at the AI Journal.

Professional Background:

With over a decade of experience as a Management Consultant at Accenture in Financial Services – Capital Markets, Zahra led strategic projects for global investment banks (e.g. Credit Suisse, UBS, HSBC, RBS, Lloyds Banking Group). Her expertise includes implementing AI-driven FinTech and RegTech solutions for regulatory compliance (e.g., KYC, AML, Basel III, MiFID, Cross-Border Sanctions).

 

Education and Certifications:

Financial Times Non-Executive Director (NED) Diploma

MBA Essentials Certification, London School of Economics (LSE)

MSc in Analysis, Design & Management of Information Systems, London School of Economics (LSE)

8 AI & Generative AI Certifications, IBM

Climate & Sustainability Certification, Conduit Academy