Farheen Khan is a highly respected and seasoned non-profit leader with more than two decades of experience in the anti-violence, anti-poverty, and human rights sectors, working at local, regional, and national levels across Canada. She is widely recognized for her leadership, activism, and unwavering commitment to equity, community development, and systemic change.
Farheen currently serves as the Senior Manager of Philanthropy at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Canada, where she leads national strategies for major individual, corporate, and legacy giving. In this role, she manages a team of more than fifteen professionals and oversees an annual fundraising portfolio exceeding $40 million. In addition to her work at MSF, she is the Chair of the South Asian Advisory Council at the United Way of Greater Toronto.
As the Founder and Imama of Canada’s first and only Women’s Mosque, Farheen established a women-led and women-run spiritual space that is now internationally recognized and ranked fifth in the world. The mosque’s flagship program, Sisters in Power, is offered in partnership with WerkHaus Fitness Studio and reflects Farheen’s dedication to creating inclusive, empowering, community-centered initiatives for Muslim women.
Before joining MSF Canada, Farheen served as Principal Consultant at FSK & Associates, where she specialized in organizational capacity building. Her consulting work included strategic planning, governance, operations, system design, resource development, and brand management. Over her career, she has helped raise nearly $100 million for local and international organizations and has championed equitable access to funding for groups led by and serving marginalized communities.
Farheen’s contributions have been widely recognized. She received the J.S. Woodsworth Award for Human Rights and Equity (now known as the Rosemary Brown Award) in 2016 for her advocacy and community leadership. In 2025, she was named one of the Top 50 Most Influential Muslims in the Americas by Equality X for her transformative impact in equity, human rights, and community development.
A powerful and articulate communicator, Farheen has been featured across major media outlets including CityNews Toronto, CTV News, CBC, Global News, The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, Broadview, NowToronto, Canada’s National Observer, and more. She is also a former television host of The Azeeza Show and a former federal election candidate (2015), further establishing herself as a trusted public figure with a strong national following.
Farheen’s activism has played a central role in shaping community responses to gender-based violence. She has organized major initiatives such as Take Back the Night, coordinated walks and vigils for survivors, and introduced the Danger Risk Assessment to the Region of Peel. She contributed to the Sexual Violence Action Plan, Campus Safety Projects, the Regional Protocol to Support Women Survivors of Human Trafficking, and led the South Asian Community Engagement Strategy for the United Way of Peel Region. A leading voice in the field of family and gender-based violence prevention, Farheen continues to support women fleeing severe domestic, intimate partner, religious, and honour-based violence across Canada.
Farheen’s personal journey is also a testament to her resilience. Through profound self-love and transformation, she has lost 300 pounds and is now training to become a competitive powerlifter. She is the author of two books—From Behind the Veil: A Hijabi’s Journey to Happiness and A Hijabi’s Journey to Live, Laugh & Love—which share her lived experiences as a Muslim woman in Canada. Her artistic expression continues through music, with her single “We Are Light” released in October 2024.
Through her leadership, media presence, activism, and lived experience, Farheen Khan has established herself as a trusted and influential public figure dedicated to equity, empowerment, and meaningful change for marginalized communities across Canada and beyond.
To follow Farheen’s journey of strength-building and activism follow her on Instagram @farheenkhanstrong and @farheenkhan7860
Speaking Engagements:
Farheen is available to speak on a variety of topics to educate and inspire people on both social issues, as well as storytelling about her journey and her resilience, as well as the journey to reclaim her body through health and wellness.
For Speaking Engagement bookings, please email us at farheen@farheenkhan.ca