Biography
Aanya Niaz is the Global Education Equity Leader at Amazon Web Services (AWS), where she leads the AWS Education Equity Initiative - a $100M commitment of technology for organizations developing digital learning solutions for underserved communities worldwide. She is a global thought leader on equitable practices and policies in education and is currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Cambridge, focusing on the role of AI in education in low and middle-income contexts.
With extensive experience in strategy, leadership, and education, Aanya has contributed significantly to various education initiatives. She led the development of The Citizens Foundation’s English as a Foreign Language curriculum for pre-primary grades in Pakistan. She has also advised on international education policies, including assessments and evaluations, with the OECD in France. Additionally, Aanya has taught with Teach For America in New York and Raise The Children International in South Africa. She has advised on curriculum development, teacher leadership, education policy, and implementation practices across organizations in Pakistan, including SABAQ, Idara Taleem-o-Agahi, and USAID.
Aanya is the youngest Trustee on the UKFIET Board of Trustees and a Board Advisor for the Humans in the Loop Foundation. She holds an MSc in Comparative and International Education from the University of Oxford and a double-major BA in Global Development and Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia.
Sessions
- ELA-26 HED01 AI Readiness, Literacy and Governance in African Higher Education 2026-06-04 11:45
-
ELA-26
AIT25
Beyond the Bandwidth Barrier: AI-Driven Learning for Multiple Contexts with AWS Launch of the book: 'The algorithm in the room: Seeing and confronting AI’s implications for the future of education'
2026-06-04 16:30
“Beyond the Bandwidth Barrier: AI-Driven Learning for Multiple Contexts”
-
ELA-25
QUA32
Building EdTech Infrastructure for Education Access
2025-05-08 16:30
“Harnessing the Cloud for Education Equity”
-
ELA-24
TEA08
Digital Literacy: Enhancing Teachers' Skills
2024-05-30 11:45
“Harnessing the Power of Cloud to Advance Education Equity”
-
ELA-24
EMP35
Fostering Entrepreneurial Mindsets: Empowering Innovation and Growth
2024-05-30 16:45
“Harnessing the Diverse Power of Technology to Create Learning, Development and Opportunity”