I'm a journalist, film and radio producer
Growing up in England as a second-gen Iranian immigrant, I always knew I wanted to tell stories. I started out penning a TV column for a local newspaper (and even had a short-lived stint writing horoscopes!).
Today, living in Canada, I'm a writer, film and radio producer, and a freelance journalist covering entrepreneurship, social impact and culture. Currently, I'm co-producing a documentary series about racially and culturally-diverse artists in Ottawa, set to air with major Canadian broadcaster, Bell Fibe TV1. I also wrote a radio documentary series, airing on CKCU Radio FM Canada's oldest community-based campus radio station (you can listen to Part 1 here).
In 2018, I was the TV host and narrator of Creatorland, an award-winning documentary series airing on Bell Fibe TV1, telling the stories of Ottawa’s diverse entrepreneurs. Creatorland is now streaming on CBC as a one-hour TV documentary (you can watch it here).
As well as being a columnist at Ottawa Business Journal, the city's leading business news publication (check out my column here), I write for publications like Shondaland, unpacking topics like what Persian underground artists tell us about Iran.
I'm currently working on two scripted comedies, exploring what happens when many cultures are combined in tiny, tiny quarters. I'm also developing a narrative documentary podcast about one of Iran's biggest music producers.
I'm on mission to share the kinds of stories I wanted to see when I was growing up in rural England — whether that's through film, documentary, or more.
I also do community engagement and public speaking.
- I speak publicly and moderate panels. Most recently, this included a media panel at SoGal's 2020 Global Summit in San Francisco, where I interviewed leaders in media, tech and business.
- From 2019-2020, I co-led SoGal Ottawa, the largest global platform for diverse entrepreneurs and investors. After hosting monthly community events, we took three diverse Canadian entrepreneurs to Silicon Valley for a global pitch competition, where they could attract investments and mentorship from top-tier venture capitalists (I wrote about the experience here!).
- For two years, I sat on the Board of Digi60 Filmmakers' Festival, Ottawa's leading professional development festival for new and emerging filmmakers.
Photo by Merritt.