TEDxShar e Naw Studio

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Anwar Jibawi

  Comedian

  Anwar Jibawi is a filmmaker, comedian, and digital creator known for his sharp storytelling and global reach. He began on short form platforms, building a massive audience through fast paced sketches and cinematic humor. His work now spans scripted originals, brand collaborations, and music videos that have earned billions of views across the internet. Anwar focuses on stories shaped by identity, family, and the creator’s journey in a changing digital world.

• Farbod Mehr

  Multidisciplinary Artist

  Farbod Mehr is a London-based Iranian multidisciplinary artist and architect trained at Central Saint Martins. His work fuses geometry, architecture, and Iranian mysticism — reimagining the visual language of Sufi tradition through a contemporary lens. Founder of Farbod Mehr Studio and Hypersia, a platform championing Iranian artists globally, his work is held in permanent collections at the Aga Khan Museum and Durham Museum of Oriental Art, and has appeared at Christie's, Sotheby's, and Bonhams. GQ named him among the top 15 Middle Eastern NFT artists to watch. In 2025, he introduced Nava — Iran's first AI influencer and singer — who reached 25 million views in three weeks and now has over 734,000 followers worldwide.

• Mohammad Zahir Hadid

  Head of Jobs.af

  Mohammad Zahir Hadid is the Head of Jobs.af, where he works with a deep passion for helping people find the opportunities that can change their lives. To him, Jobs.af is a door of hope a place where possibility becomes real. With a Bachelor’s in Mass Communication, an MBA, and strong project management skills, he brings clarity, structure, and purpose to every initiative. He has also contributed to multiple education projects, creating pathways for learning and growth across communities.

• Mohsen Namjoo

  Singer, Songwriter, Composer & Musician

  Mohsen Namjoo is an Iranian singer, composer, and musician often described as “the Bob Dylan of Iran.” Blending Persian poetry and folk melodies with blues and rock, he has become a defining voice of contemporary Iranian music. Born in Torbat-e Jam and raised in Mashhad, Namjoo studied classical Persian music before attending Tehran University of Art. His debut album Toranj introduced a daring fusion of tradition and experimentation that reshaped Iran’s musical landscape. Now based abroad, he continues to perform internationally, exploring themes of identity, exile, and freedom through albums like 13/8, Trust the Tangerine Peel, and Phantasm. Beyond music, he has lectured at Stanford and Brown University, inspiring audiences worldwide to rethink the boundaries of culture and sound.

• Sanzar Kakar

  Entrepreneur

  Mr. Sanzar Kakar is the Chairman of Afghanistan Holding Group (AHG), a professional services firm in Afghanistan employing over 300 employees serving 700 international clients for over 13 years. Mr. Kakar graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science Engineering and from Warwick Business School with a Masters in Business Administration. He first worked for Merrill Lynch as a Technology Analyst, creating a link for automatic reporting to the New York Stock Exchange. He started in Afghanistan as an Investment Associate for Acap Partners, setting up a $20 million venture capital facility and sourcing over 300 new opportunities for consideration. Mr. Kakar then joined as the Executive Advisor to the Attorney General’s Office of Afghanistan on a U.S. Department of State program to reorganize the institution and set up a national paper and computer criminal case management system spanning 7 justice institutions.

• Shabnam Nasimi

  Public Historian, Author & Storyteller

  Shabnam Nasimi is a public historian, writer and digital storyteller exploring Afghanistan's forgotten histories and its Persianate past. Her work combines rigorous research with accessible storytelling, reaching global audiences across social media. She is the co-founder of the Friends of Afghan Women Network, a policy advocate on migration and women's rights, and a former Home Office special policy advisor.