Meet the Spark Team
Get to know the talented individuals who make up the Spark Team. Learn about their backgrounds, expertise, and contributions to our organization.
Executive Director
Founder of Spark
Shahnaz Sultana has been a resident of White City since 2018, living with her husband and 3 handsome boys. She enjoys and is very involved within the community of White City participating in many of the local events and loves to learn and embrace the growing community of White City. Originally from Bangladesh, she completed her Bachelors of Business Administration and Computer Science from the University of Windsor, Ontario and has a completed Social Work degree in Saskatchewan. After moving from Ontario, Shahnaz has been living in Saskatchewan for more than 14 years, and is ready to contribute to the history and future of the White Butte community. Shahnaz works as a Social Entrepreneur. She likes to spend her spare time reading and writing and is very engaged to learn and contribute to history, heritage, and culture!
Shahnaz Sultana
Navila Rahman
Fundraising and Communications Director
Navila Rahman Nadi has received her B.Sc. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) in 2011. In 2013 she was nominated by Turkish Government to receive Turkish Government Scholarship to pursue her MSc in Energy Engineering at Izmir Institute of Technology (IYTE), Izmir, Turkey. While accomplishing her MSc Thesis, she was chosen as the only candidate from IYTE to have a research scholarship in the Wind Energy Department of Technical University of Denmark (DTU). After completion of her respective M.Sc. degree, she returned to Bangladesh in 2016. In 2017 she has been appointed as a senior lecturer in Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) and got involved as an instructor of power electronics and power system-based courses. Besides, she has formed IEEE IUB WIE (Women in Engineering) Affinity Group in 2018 as the first faculty advisor of this group which allowed her to get involved with the student branch activities and organize various inter university events to promote women in Engineering field. She also worked as the organizing secretary of the International Conference on Advances in Electrical Engineering (ICAEE-2019). She has published 6 journal papers and 4 conference papers in renowned journals and IEEE conferences. In 2023 she moved to White City, Regina, Sk. Her passion is to work in Education Sector and she has a hobby of painting, traveling, gardening and reciting.
Chief Patron
Nelson Kin Ying Eng is a highly esteemed figure in Saskatchewan, Canada, renowned for his multifaceted roles as an entrepreneur, social activist, and philanthropist. Hailing from Hong Kong, Nelson Eng embarked on a journey to Canada in 1985, where he established a myriad of successful enterprises, including an international travel agency and a consulting company. His illustrious career is punctuated by a deep-seated commitment to community service, evidenced by his receipt of numerous prestigious accolades such as the Saskatchewan Centenary Celebration Medal, the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Medal, and the Canadian 150th Anniversary Senate and House of Commons Medals. Beyond his entrepreneurial endeavours, Nelson is widely recognized for his unwavering dedication to fostering understanding and communication within Chinese communities and between local businesses and governments. His tireless efforts have facilitated cultural exchanges and economic collaborations between Canada and China, exemplifying his profound dedication to societal betterment. Additionally, Nelson's philanthropic endeavours extend to supporting charitable causes, notably aiding premature babies through charity auctions and galas. Moreover, he passionately advocates for the integration of Chinese culture into the diverse fabric of Canadian society, exemplified by his sponsorship of cultural festivals and events. Embodying the values of compassion and community engagement, Nelson Eng's impactful contributions have left an incredible mark on Saskatchewan and beyond, earning him widespread admiration and acclaim.
Nelson Eng
Tajwaar Rahman
Youth Coordinator
Currently an IB diploma student at Luther College, Tajwaar is young, bright student looking to make the world a better place. Having much experience in volunteering jobs and services, including volunteering at the Islamic Association of Saskatchewan, Tajwaar is well equipped with the knowledge to assist others. Being on his school's representative council for over 3 years, Tajwaar also has much experience in professional event setup and management. Tajwaar is also a musician and has been playing various types of saxophones for 7 years. In his free time, Tajwaar plays both badminton and basketball and has passion for both sports. Tajwaar has expertise in graphic design and a bit of knowledge in basic technological setup and support. He currently resides in White City and by working with Spark he hopes to ignite a brighter future for everyone
Aftab Khurshid
Brand & Marketing Advisor
Aftab Mahmud Khurshid is widely recognized as a leading Business Marketing specialist and Brand catalyst with a stellar track record in marketing for over 15 brands and rejuvenating 4 companies. With a career spanning a spectrum of leading local and multinational organizations including ACI, Siemens, Trust Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank, he has led groundbreaking initiatives such as organizing Bangladesh's inaugural Digital Marketing Summit and orchestrating the transformation of Standard Chartered Bank's brand philosophy to 'Here for good'. Aftab possesses a rich expertise in driving growth through consumer goods marketing, brand strategy, and organizational metamorphosis, demonstrating a knack for successfully launching and nurturing brands across diverse sectors. Beyond his professional endeavors, he is a highly sought-after speaker, author, and lecturer, boasting accolades such as the prestigious global brand leadership award from the Asia Brand Congress in 2007 and recognition as one of the 50 influential marketing leaders by the World Marketing Congress in 2015. Furthermore, Aftab's creative flair extends to songwriting for popular bands, and he has served as the National President of JCI Bangladesh. Presently residing in Canada, Aftab continues to wield his profound expertise and leadership to make enduring contributions to the marketing and business landscape.