Roshan Thomas
Roshan Thomas obtained her degree in optometry from Aston University in the UK before moving to Canada, where she today makes her home. Over the years, Roshan has dedicated her training to serving marginalized populations in the developing world, through projects in Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Roshan’s association with the Afghan community began in 1999, when she and her ophthalmologist husband volunteered in the refugee camps in Pakistan, eventually establishing a comprehensive eye clinic, including surgical access, in one of the most vulnerable areas of Karachi. With the return of the refugees to Afghanistan, the clinic continues to provide this service to the vulnerable local population. For this project, Roshan developed a curriculum and manual for nurses, which is delivered through the Aga Khan University in Karachi, where Roshan was appointed an honorary member of the faculty.
In 2003, Roshan established an independent school in Kabul, Afghanistan. Roshan spent the first year living among and learning about the challenges and aspirations of this most marginalized community. From her understanding, she identified early childhood development (ECD) as the greatest need for the community. She has strongly advocated the need for ECD to fall under the Afghan Ministry of Education and has worked closely with the ministry to explore ways in which ECD can be made more broadly accessible across the country. While working with and learning from the community she seeks to serve, Roshan also embarked upon an MA in education to enable her to be a better advocate for the community.
Roshan has a strong commitment to education and has actively promoted the IB through her involvement on various boards in Canada since the early 1990s. Roshan has served on the board of directors of Mulgrave Independent School in Vancouver, as president of the Canadian Club of Vancouver, as chair of the Aga Khan Education Board for British Columbia and as the founding president of the Khidma Foundation.
She is married and has three children who are all graduates of the IB Diploma Programme.
Roshan is a member of the governance committee.
