PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
SKILLS
WORK HISTORY
NARGIS ZAHRA
Focused and determined professional in the field of research and international politics with 10 years experience in editing,research. A results-driven editor/researcher/teacher with extensive experience in analytical, security and political issues, has in depth expertise in logic and philosophy, analysis of economic, environmental and energy security issues, has intuitive analytical ability to attain perfection in research, analyzing the world system and application level solutions. Teaching
Counseling,
Editing,
Public Speaking
TV anchoring
Writing ( Fiction and Academic)
Research and reporting
Literature reviews
Questionnaire development
Research and analysis
04/2017 - 01/2019
Director Operations Water Filtration
Maharzada Inc. - Kabirwala, Pakistan
Imparted training to the staff about customer requests, testing features. Performed initial client assessment and analysis to begin research process. Supported Chief Operating Officer with daily operational functions. Researched and updated all required materials needed for firm and partners. Obtained documents, clearances, certificates and approvals from local, district and federal agencies. Created boardroom and courtroom multimedia presentations including video and text- sync'd depositions for enhanced understanding.
Analyzed departmental documents for appropriate distribution and filing. Strategised marketing resulting in growth of customer base. 02/2011 - 02/2017
Lecturer/ Instructor
National Defence University Islamabad - Islamabad, Pakistan Taught MSc. Classes (All four semesters) for Theories of IR, Research Methodology, Politics of Environment, International Political Economy, Contemporary Muslim World Foreign Policy. Made course outlines, suggested and designed new courses and got approvals from Board of Studies. Was member Board of Studies, Member Discipline and Scholarship committees. Worked as course coordinator, settled time table of the classes, coordinated with permanent, adjunct and visiting faculty, assigned courses and monitored day to day conduction of regular classes. 19623 Kildonan Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20879 • 301-***-**** • *************@*****.*** Served as member of admission committees, made question papers, checked exam papers conducted student interview with the panel and invigilated exams. Worked as In-charge student affairs, counseled students, resolved their issues with the administration, exam branch and discipline committees.
Conceived and conducted a successful Fun Gala for inter-ethnic harmony among students in 2013 Spring.
Co-founded and managed and edited publication of "Journal of Contemporary Studies" Worked directly with national and international partners to collaborate academically. Conducted a series of 6 seminars in 2015 on the subject of 'civil military relations in Pakistan and Security issues'
Initiated, drafted and mediated an MoU between NDU and Hans Seidel Foundation HSF. 01/2011 - 01/2017
Member Board Of Faculty
NDU
Produced ad hoc reports and documents for senior team members. Suggested new courses as per requirements of international job market. Reviewed outlines of the courses and suggested amendments. 01/2011 - 01/2017
Columnist
Dateline Islamabad - Islamabad, Pakistan
Contributed a bimonthly opinion article (1st and 3rd Wednesdays) in Islamabad. Responded to reader comments on a regular basis.
Kept a detailed schedule of column deadlines.
03/2015 - 04/2016
Conference Coordinator
National Defense University Islamabad - Islamabad, Pakistan Conceived, Prepared and held a Series of Six Conferences on the issues of 'Civil Military Relations in Pakistan" Escorted guests to assigned rooms and transported luggage. Got approvals, managed sponsoring partners.
Took care of venue booking, menu, guest travel and stay arrangements. manages volunteer groups of the students to escort, receive and pick & drop of the guests. Assigned note takes to take notes of respective sessions. Prepared and edited reports of the conferences.
12/2011 - 07/2015
Editor And Assistant Editor
National Defense University - Islamabad, Pakistan Worked closely with writers to maintain voice while removing spelling, grammatical and accuracy problems.
Reviewed each article and book review for accuracy and compliance with quality standards. Worked with printer and composer to maintain quality. Built productive relationships with writers, editors, designers and other professionals in order to successfully produce Journal of Contemporary Studies. Provided concise and constructive editorial feedback to writers. Prepared, rewrote and edited 1 piece per issue to improve readability. Determined whether a piece was ready for publication and approved final versions. Designed layouts and collaborated with production professionals to produce a refereed research Journal biannually.
Oversaw team of five people in support staff putting out the Journal every six months. Guided and motivated staff to achieve demanding targets under tight deadlines. Maintained full proficiency with Chicago Manual styled publication to meet specific requirements of Higher Education Commission.
Planned budgets and negotiated contracts with freelance writers. 01/2012 - 01/2014
In Charge Publications
National Defense University
Designed layout and composition format of the publications. Planned budgets and negotiated contracts with the writers. Coordinated peer reviewing and improvisation of the articles. Managed Staff's working hours and negotiated contracts with the free lancers. Wrote and dispatched editorial responses in mail.
09/2010 - 01/2011
Visiting Research Fellow
Islamabad Policy Research Institute - Islamabad, Pakistan Assisted President Islamabad Policy Research Institute in his upcoming work on Security and Borders. Assisted Editor in Chief of IPRI Journal in proof reading and editing of articles. Contributed analyses on PTV, Radio Pakistan and local news papers. Delivered lecture at SAFMA on State and Relaism.
Moderated and presented in in-house discussions on 'cognition and human security', in context of ongoing War on Terror.
05/2009 - 03/2010
Assistant Editor
Islamabad Policy Research Institute - Islamabad, Pakistan Collecting data, compiling, editing and proof reading monthly Fact file on contemporary issues of national, international and regional importance.
Writing Research Articles and Reports Writing opinion Articles in English Dailies. Worked with digital artists, post-production team members and other specialists to produce successful content.
Handled internal staff correspondence through emails and scheduling. Reviewed each Fact file for accuracy and compliance with quality standards. Supervised staff, including offering feedback and enforcing deadlines. Edited IPRI Fact File as an Assistant Editor, "Indian Elections 2009: Hope for a Better Future" May 2009. Edited IPRI Fact File as an Assistant Editor, "Operation Rah-e-Raast" June 2009. Edited IPRI Fact File as an Assistant Editor, "Budget 2009-10" July 2009. Edited IPRI Fact File as an Assistant Editor, "Malakand: Post Operation Reconstruction and Rehabilitation" August 2009.
Edited IPRI Fact File as an Assistant Editor, "Kerry-Lugar Bill" September 2009. Edited IPRI Fact File as an Assistant Editor, "Afghanistan Presidential Elections 2009" October 2009. Edited IPRI Fact File as an Assistant Editor, "Contours of,,Af-Pak Strategy" November 2009. Edited IPRI Fact File as an Assistant Research Officer, "Indo-Pakistan Peace Process" December 2009. Edited IPRI Fact File as an Assistant Research Officer, "Aghaz-e-Huqooq-e- Balochistan" January 2010. Edited IPRI Fact File as an Assistant Research Officer, "The Kashmir Dispute" February 2010. 03/2009 - 03/2010
Assistant Research Officer
Islamabad Policy Research Institute - Islamabad, Pakistan Planned, modified and executed qualitative research in the areas of theory and politics. Prepared summaries on current policy issues of Pakistan. Conducted legal researched and drafted legal memos and summaries on Aghaz e Haqooq e Baluchistan. Supervised internees and undergraduate students working on research projects. Worked with the Chief Editor IPRI Journal and President IPRI to to coordinate qualitative research into Research Papers.
Presented on contemporary regional and international issues in in house debates. Performed qualitative and quantitative analysis.
Documented procedures and results of Operation Raah e Raast in Swat Pakistan 2009, with a high degree of accuracy and precision.
Recorded data and maintained source documentation following good documentation practices. Collected, prepared and tested wide range of biological samples. Prepared literature for reports, presentations or submission to peer-review journals. Wrote and edited data collection forms and questionnaires. Gathered, prepared and evaluated or tested various biological samples. Stocked, organized and prepared supplies.
Prepared materials for reports, presentations and submission to peer-reviewed journal publications. 02/2008 - 02/2009
Teaching And Research Assistant
Department Of DSS, QAU - Islamabad, Pakistan
Worked with seniors to coordinate qualitative research into the areas of policy research in Pakistan regarding de-radicalzation and non traditional security issues. Conducted researched and drafted memos and summaries on the topics of politics of theory and security. Wrote and edited data collection forms and questionnaires. Prepared materials for reports, presentations and submission to peer-reviewed journal publications. Coordinated a weekly seminar on the issues of security and strategy for the PhD students at the Department Seminar Hall.
Editing and proof reading of a book on South Asian Water Security Editing of different articles on multiple strategic security issues.
Coordinator of the Seminar papers for Msc classes. Joint lectures with Dr Zafar Iqbal Cheema and Dr Nasruulah Mirza to the MSc and M.Phil. Classes. Counseling and guiding students on different research topics. Prepared teaching materials and set up audio-visual equipment. Partnered with teacher to plan and implement lessons following the course outline, goals, objectives, and philosophies.
Tutored students of peripheral areas individually and in small groups to reinforce learning concepts. Supported classroom activities, including tutoring, grading homework and reviewing exams. Created new lesson plans based on course objectives. 01/2003 - 01/2008
Director Administration
Superior Services Academy - Multan, Pakistan
Bought this academy from its owners and hired staff to run an expanded business. Rented office and classrooms in a college building.
, established Maintained employee files and handled payroll for 12 employees. Managed day-to-day classes and administrative requirements for students and staff. Administered fee structures, revenue and yearly budget and tracked all expenses. Created and maintained spreadsheets with Excel.
Taught subjects of Pakistan Affairs and International Affairs to the students of civil services exam. Coordinated interviews preparations of the passed students with the bureaucrats in individual sessions. Coordinated and conducted (combined and individual) counseling sessions, guidance seminars, prize distribution events and appointments and library trips. Sourced and purchased office materials at a fair price. Copied, logged and scanned supporting documentation. Answered client calls, emails and faxes addressing customer inquiries, solving problems and providing information.
Researched and updated all required materials needed for institutes library and students exam preparation.
09/2001 - 04/2002
Founder And Gen Secretary
Indusians - Islamabad, Pakistan
During stay at QAU campus co-founded and managed a student non-profit organization "Indusains" which was to promote cause of Indus valley civilization beyond borders through education and Arts. The Indusians were based in QAU but hailed from all backgrounds. Apart from being General Secretary of the org. I wrote scripts, acted on stage, raised funds and went to poor suburbs of QAU with my team to buy poor children books and teach them.
Indusians maintained an evening school for the kids of poor basti. Responded to customer requests via telephone and email. Conducted acting workshop, cultural mela and awareness seminar. Raised and manage funds.
Utilized problem-solving skills to analyze and resolve issues that effected Indussians operations and goal achievement.
Planned and executed events and programs resulting in increase of awareness and membership. EDUCATION
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Mapped current processes and offered recommendations for improvement. Met with stakeholders to sponsor, collaborate and join. Reviewed files, records and other documents to obtain information and respond to requests. Drafted 3 project proposals in one year.
2010
Masters In Philosophy : Defense And Strategic Studies Quaid E Azam University - Islamabad
Dissertation: Realism and Contemporary Challenges to Security 2002
Masters In International Relations: International Relations And Affairs Quaid E Azam University - Islamabad
1998
Bachelors: Philosophy And Psychology
Bahaudin Zakriya University Multan - Multan, Punjab Pakistan Awards:, Qualified 2010 DAAD PhD Scholarship for "Realism and Pakistan's Internal Security Challenges".
An entrepreneur when not on Job.
Am everything good that might happen to a cultured South Asian Woman in a global world.