Isa Miah

Specialism: Education and International Development

Term of membership: May 2023 – May 2026

Isa is the Head of Yusuf Islam Foundation – a pioneering foundation setup by singer songwriter Yusuf Islam/Cat Stevens. The foundation is focused on education, community development and philanthropy. In this role, Isa leads the delivery of the foundation’s strategic vision, operational management and compliance. Isa represents the Foundation with partners, donors and regulators, supporting fundraising and strategic partnerships.

Isa has over 20 years’ experience working in international development, 11 of which was spent with Oxfam in programme leadership, change management and country director roles. Isa has lived and worked in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Jordan, Thailand, Pakistan and Zambia as well as having worked in over a dozen other countries. In other roles, Isa worked as Programme Director at Chemonics; a major international development consultancy and before that with Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai where he directed the international programmes of Malala Fund. Isa also led the UK fundraising of Muslim Aid and was a youth worker with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

Isa has an MSc in Globalisation & Development from SOAS, University of London, a Postgraduate Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and a BA in Political Science & Government from the University of Greenwich.

Isa lives in Essex with his wife and three small children. When time allows, he can be found in the garden trying to grow all manner of vegetables, with a particular interest in chillies.