Fatima Kassam currently serves as a Special Advisor to the African Union (AU) on the African Risk Capacity (ARC) project. ARC is a project of the African Union to create an African-owned, AU-led, stand-alone financial entity that would provide participating AU Member States with immediate resources in the event of a natural disaster.


Fatima previously served as Deputy Director of Governor Schwarzenegger's Commission for Jobs and Economic Growth where she focused on innovative solutions to structural problems in the California economy, creation of economic clusters around emerging industries and engagement with high-level decision makers -- particularly in Africa and Asia -- to facilitate mutually beneficial business partnerships between governments and large private firms.


Fatima has also worked extensively with non-profits that cultivate informed civic engagement and increased awareness about the perils of growth without equity. In this capacity, she designed core curriculum for the Hands On Network's nationwide Citizen Academy; Emory University's Ethics and Servant Leadership Forum; and the Aga Khan Foundation USA's Global Village in Action.