Syed Qasim Omer

• As Director of Partnerships, I lead ILM UK’s strategic engagement with donors, partners, and stakeholders to expand the organisation’s reach and impact. I am responsible for building sustainable collaborations, strengthening institutional relationships, and ensuring that programmes align with ILM’s mission of providing education, relief, and development support to vulnerable communities globally.
• Developing and implementing ILM UK’s partnership strategy to foster long-term collaboration with institutional donors, INGOs, government bodies, and local partners.
• Identifying new funding opportunities and cultivating relationships that enhance resource mobilisation and programme growth.
• Representing ILM UK in high-level meetings, forums, and networks to strengthen the organisation’s profile and influence.
• Providing oversight and strategic guidance to ensure that funded programmes deliver quality, value for money, and compliance with donor requirements.
• Coordinating closely with ILM UK’s leadership, programme teams, and international offices to ensure synergy and alignment across initiatives.
• Supporting organisational development through policy input, strategic planning, and capacity strengthening of partners and field teams.

Overview:
As Trading & Partnership Manager, I was responsible for leading Shirazi Trading’s commercial operations while cultivating strategic partnerships with local and international stakeholders. My role combined oversight of trading activities with building sustainable collaborations to expand business opportunities in industrial, medical, and technology sectors across Pakistan.

Core Responsibilities:

• Directed trading operations, including vendor negotiations, import management, and contract execution to ensure profitability and compliance.
• Developed and implemented business development and partnership strategies to strengthen Shirazi Trading’s market presence.
• Built and managed strong relationships with suppliers, corporate clients, government agencies, and international partners.
• Coordinated cross-functional teams (finance, logistics, and technical services) to ensure smooth execution of trade and service delivery.
• Conducted market analysis and pricing strategies to identify new growth opportunities and enhance competitiveness.
• Represented Shirazi Trading in high-level meetings and industry forums to promote partnerships and explore joint ventures.
• Supervised and supported team members to achieve trading and partnership objectives.

• In this role, I was responsible for supporting PA Headquarters operations, promoting quality, and ensuring value for money in the delivery of projects and programmes. My work focused on compliance with internationally recognised standards and donor expectations, in close collaboration with Country Office leadership and PA UK programmes.
• Supported the Penny Appeal Global office in the UK in developing, overseeing, implementing, reviewing, and monitoring the Pakistan Programme strategy, ensuring alignment with PA’s global strategic directions and thematic focus.
• Acted as the appointed link for all international donor visits (including celebrities), queries, and communications, and served as the lead for external visits.
• Assisted Country Leadership in developing organisational policies and procedures to ensure effective use of funds with transparency and accountability.
• Worked with the in-country leadership and HQ programmes team to ensure that the PAPK office implemented policies, procedures, operational guidelines, and standards across all programmes, while facilitating coordination among PA partners in Pakistan to promote best practices, shared learning, and capacity building.
• Coordinated with the Country Director/senior management team to liaise with government bodies, INGOs, and other agencies during humanitarian emergencies.
• Led and supported the initial phase of humanitarian responses in collaboration with implementing partners and field offices.

• Overview: stationed at Wakefield
• Core Responsibilities:
• Member of the senior leadership team (SLT) at Head Quarter.
• Developed and strengthened organisation from a local charity to an international humanitarian organisation (spread its operations in 30 countries).
• Developed fundraising, donor tracking, reporting and feedback mechanism to ensure transparency and accountability at the donors’ level.
• Developed strategic partnerships with partners in 30 crisis-hit countries.
• Participated in the development of five years strategic document of PAUK with the consultation of key stakeholders.
• As support to the fundraising team, communicated with a large number of potential donors as part of fundraising campaigns to get funding for projects.
• Visited local mosques, churches and other faith-based institutions to talk about Penny Appeal’s work and raised funds for projects in Africa and Asia.
• Took essential measures for coordinating fundraising events with the local community.
• Organised and participated in TV appeals on British Muslim TV and raised funds during Ramadan.
• Worked with the in-house developers to develop a database system, Charity Fund Manager – CFM) for the organisation and trained the UK office and international staff on operating the system.
• Managed and supervised a call centre of 50 staff during the busy time of the year (Ramadan).
• Stationed at Wakefield

• Company Overview: stationed at Bradford
• As an Administrative In charge, I was responsible for the administration of the organisation including day-to-day departmental operations and supervised the work of office staff.
• Ensured that the office was fully functional and the right staff was assigned the right task.
• Developed a database for charity management in consultation with IT professionals.
• Supervised a diverse workforce (technical and professional staff) and ensured the organisation’s operations were done within an agreed timeframe.
• Designed fundraising campaigns and events in consultation with fundraising teams.
• Organized meetings with high net-worth donors to secure funding for projects.
• Member of the core team to develop a five-year organisational strategy (2013-2018).
• Stationed at Bradford

• Company Overview: United for the Needy, (Nottingham, England)
• (Assessed, Organised and Delivered specific Projects globally, working closely with the Fundraising Division, steering “Muslim Hands” regional operations proactively to meet changing and diversifying needs.)
• Primarily responsible for sponsorships in 25 countries.
• Managed, responded and resolved designated region’s queries and concerns regarding funds, projects, feedback, resources etc.
• Organised the delivery of projects to include the forwarding of instructions to the Overseas Country Manager (OCM).
• Managed feedback reports to maintain and increase Donor confidence in the organisation.
• Translated the Feedback/correspondence received from overseas recipients for the UK-based donors, i.e. Urdu to English when needed.
• Liaised and networked with local volunteers developing clear delivery channels together with support channels for the effective execution of existing and future Projects.
• Trained, direct and oversee staff on a day-to-day basis to ensure the operation and delivery of projects conform to the organisation’s high standards.
• Travelled overseas to assess and evaluate the projects and overall performance.
• Supported Fundraising activities from time-to-time.
• United for the Needy, (Nottingham, England)

• Major Responsibilities:
• Assisted Project Manager in planning, executing and coordinating the projects.
• Managed completion of donor feedback reports for submission to the line manager.
• Ensured monitoring of ongoing projects and interventions through site visits, physical verification, and document review.
• Ensured effective coordination with line departments, public offices and donor desks.
• Assisted the Line Manager in routine documentation of the projects.