Technology, society, & the layers between : A conversation with Sara Wahedi

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• Sara Wahedi, University of Oxford
• Monday 17 March 2025, 17:15-18:30
• Bill Gates Senior House, 17 Mill Lane, Cambridge.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Jack Earl.

Join us for an engaging conversation with Sara Wahedi, acclaimed tech entrepreneur and human rights advocate, and Usama Javed Mirza, co-founder and CEO of Saving 9, a non-profit organization providing emergency healthcare to rural communities. Sara is the founder of Ehtesab, an award-winning mobile app that provides real-time crisis alerts in Afghanistan, and was named one of Forbes 30 Under 30 for her groundbreaking work in harnessing technology for social good. As a Women for Women ambassador and an advocate for digital transparency and democracy, she is deeply invested in rebuilding communities through innovative tech solutions.

In this conversation, Usama Javed Mirza will explore with Sara the key aspects of her work, including the challenges of leading a tech startup in conflict zones, her vision for the future of digital crisis management, and the intersection of technology, governance, and human rights.

Speakers

Sara Wahedi, a Clarendon Scholar at the University of Oxford, is the Chief Executive Officer of Civaam, a civic-tech startup focused on building innovative technological solutions for crisis regions, designed and developed by local technologists. Sara’s commitment to leveraging technology for social impact has earned her numerous accolades, including TIME Magazine’s Next Generation Leader, MIT Technology Review’s Innovators Under 35, and Forbes’ 30 Under 30. In 2023, she was also recognised as One Young World’s Entrepreneur of the Year.

Usama Javed Mirza, a Gates Cambridge Scholar, studied Physics and Philosophy at LUMS (Pakistan) and later pursued Education as a Fulbright Scholar at Columbia University. In 2017, Usama founded Saving 9, a social enterprise known for pioneering initiatives like Pakistan’s first women-run ambulance, the world’s second mental health ambulance, and the Socio-Emotional Inclusion Index for youth mental wellness. His PhD research focuses on decolonizing science education within an Islamic framework, addressing the lack of dialogue between science and religion and the effects of colonialism in the Global South.

This talk is part of the je364's list series.

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• Bill Gates Senior House, 17 Mill Lane, Cambridge

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