About

International Development Expert

Mr Nasir Kazmi has over 25 years of experience in international development and engagement, specialising in education, youth development, health, and good governance. He focuses on the education sector, offering a systems perspective that spans all levels, from early childhood and basic education to technical and vocational education and training, youth skills development, and university education.

Nasir is committed to fostering inclusive and equitable development, alleviating poverty, and advocating for marginalised populations to realise meaningful social change. His technical skills and management background enable him to achieve exceptional results in areas such as enhancing governance and accountability, and strengthening system capacity and implementation. He has established and served on Ministerial and Technical Working Groups, worked successfully with diverse stakeholders, and developed collaborative approaches and sectoral support interventions in various countries and regions.

Countries experience: Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Botswana, Brunei, Cyprus, Fiji, Ghana, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, UK, USA and Zimbabwe.

Expertise

  • International Development

  • Policy dialogue, diplomacy, and advocacy

  • Government processes, education governance & reforms, and system strengthening

  • Strategy and delivery

  • Programme/Project management & implementation

Background

Nasir Kazmi studied Economics and Statistics at the University of the Punjab before completing an MSc in International Relations at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. He was awarded the prestigious FCO Chevening Scholarship to pursue an MBA in International Management at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Nasir began his career as a Research Officer at Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission and subsequently worked with UNDP. He later joined the British Council, where he held several senior leadership roles, including Director of Grant Funded Programmes and Director of the British Council in Islamabad. He also served as Deputy Chief of Party and Chief of Party Designate for a USAID-funded Higher Education Programme in Pakistan.

He went on to serve for over a decade at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London in a senior role as Education Adviser, supporting system-wide education reform and policy development across Commonwealth countries. Following this, he became Lead Adviser for System Strengthening at Education Development Trust in the UK.

Nasir subsequently joined the Thuso Group as an Associate Partner, providing strategic advisory and consultancy services to governments and development partners. He currently heads Policy Programmes at the Royal Academy of Engineering in London.

In addition to his executive roles, Nasir serves as a Trustee of the Council for Education in the Commonwealth and as an Independent Governor at the University of West London.

He is based in London, United Kingdom.