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About Aanya
Aanya Niaz is the Global Education Equity Leader at Amazon Web Services where she spearheaded and now leads their $100 million commitment of technology to organizations building learning solutions, globally. She is also an influential leader on smart AI design and adoption, simultaneously pursuing her PhD on the role of AI in learning at the University of Cambridge. Most notably, Aanya has led the development of Pakistan's premier English as a Foreign Language curriculum for pre-primary grades with The Citizens Foundation, contributed to international education policies with the OECD, taught with Teach For America in New York, and Raise The Children in South Africa and advised on a range of policy and practitioner activities related to the education sector, including with the USAID.
In early 2025, Aanya was nominated for AfroTech's 50 influencers in Tech in recognition of her influence in the innovation and equity space. She was also featured on BAM Radio in a powerful segment titled 'how a new genre of creative collaborations is closing the education divide'. Later this month, Carvd N Stone will publish a spotlight on Aanya's leadership and innovation journey. Aanya is the youngest Board Trustee with the UK's International Education Development Forum (UKFIET), and an Advisory Member on AI skills at the Humans in the Loop Foundation.
Aanya is the founder of The Maple Group, a dedicated network of education leaders bridging the gap between researchers and practitioners. Previously, she received her MSc in Comparative and International Education from the University of Oxford, and her double-major BA in Global Development and Foreign Affairs at the University of Virginia.
Detailed bio - If you want the full story...
Aanya Niaz is the Global Leader for Education Equity at Amazon Web Services (AWS), and a global thought leader on smart and equitable AI design and adoption. In her role at AWS, she launched and now leads Amazon's $100 million technology commitment empowering organizations building digital learning solutions around the world. Aanya is an influential voice on smart and equitable AI, bringing a rare blend of commercial and impact expertise to the forefront of conversations related to technology. She's currently also pursuing her PhD examining the role of AI on learning in Global Majority Contexts at the University of Cambridge.
In early 2025, Aanya was nominated for AfroTech's 50 influencers in Tech in recognition of her influence in the innovation and equity space. She was also featured on BAM Radio in a powerful segment titled 'how a new genre of creative collaborations is closing the education divide'. Later this month, Carvd N Stone will publish a spotlight on Aanya's leadership and innovation journey. Previously, she was selected as one of three TEDX women to deliver a talk from across Pakistan, where she focused on the role of assessments on learning accessible on ted.com.
Most notably, Aanya has led the development of The Citizens Foundation’s English as a Foreign Language curriculum for pre-primary grades, advised on international education policies with the OECD, taught with Teach For America in New York, and Raise The Children International in South Africa. She has also served as an advisor on curriculum, teacher leadership development, education policy and implementation practices across a range of organizations in Pakistan including SABAQ, Idara Taleem-o-Agahi, The History Project, Beaconhouse and USAID.
She is also the Founder of The Maple Group, a dedicated network of education leaders (160+ members, 25+ countries) bridging the gap between researchers and practitioners in Education. She is the youngest Board Trustee of UKFIET, UK's International and Education Development Forum, Advisory Board Member at the Humans in the Loop Foundation and an advisor to multiple EdTechs, non-profits and consortiums on learning, development and opportunity for underserved learners.
Aanya is a student fellow at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence. She earned her Master's in Comparative and International Education from the University of Oxford in 2017. Aanya was awarded a full University scholarship to attend the University of Virginia on account of her academic performance, where she completed her Bachelor's degree with a double major in Foreign Affairs and Global Development Studies in 2011.