SAMRA ZAFAR is an international speaker, human rights activist, scholar, author and social entrepreneur. After arriving in Canada as a teenage bride in a forced marriage, Samra faced more than a decade of oppression and opposition to her dream of getting an education. Today, she is the youngest alumna serving as a governor for the University of Toronto and has a rewarding career in commercial banking. Her impressive speaking portfolio includes platforms such as Amnesty International, Women in Leadership, and major universities, banks and corporations.

Samra’s story is one of Brave Beginnings, the name of the non-profit organization she founded to support abuse survivors in their journey to build lives of respect and freedom. Her story and work have been featured on prominent media platforms, including Toronto Life, CTV, CBC, Global News, Yahoo Canada and many others. Her free time is dedicated to her two daughters and her passion for empowering others through advocacy and non-profit work.