SAFN Appoints Dr. Qamar Cheema, Pradip Pariyar, and Gerard Lopez as Senior Fellows (Honorary)
The South Asia Foresight Network (SAFN) welcomes three distinguished leaders in strategic affairs, human rights advocacy, and social innovation to strengthen regional dialogue..
NEWS
SAFN
6/15/2026
Pic L-R: Qamar Cheema, Pradip Pariyar and Gerard Lopez
Washington, D.C., 15 June 2026 – The South Asia Foresight Network (SAFN), operating under the auspices of The Millennium Project in Washington, D.C., is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Qamar Cheema, Pradip Pariyar, and Gerard Lopez as Senior Fellows (Honorary), effective 15th June 2026.
These appointments reflect SAFN’s continued commitment to bringing together distinguished scholars, thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and practitioners from across the globe to advance strategic foresight, policy research, innovation, and regional cooperation across South and Southeast Asia.
Dr. Qamar Cheema is a distinguished scholar, policy analyst, and strategic affairs expert currently serving as Executive Director of the Sanober Institute, Pakistan. He previously served for fourteen years as a faculty member in the Department of International Relations at the National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad, from 2010 to 2023. He has also held visiting faculty appointments at Quaid-i-Azam University, the International Islamic University Islamabad, the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), and SZABIST Islamabad. Widely recognized for his expertise in South Asian politics, the Indo-Pacific region, and Islamist political movements in Pakistan, Dr. Cheema's analysis and commentary have appeared in leading international media outlets, including The New York Times, BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera, NPR, Sky News, Nikkei Asia, and CBC Canada, among others. He regularly participates in international conferences and policy dialogues across Europe, the United States, and Asia.
Pradip Pariyar is an author, human rights activist, and founder of the Dalit Lives Matter Global Alliance (DLMGA), where he currently leads the global #DalitLivesMatter movement. He previously served as Executive Chairperson of the Samata Foundation and Chair of the Association of Youth Organizations Nepal (AYON), the largest network of youth organizations in Nepal. Recognized internationally for his leadership and advocacy, Mr. Pariyar was selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in the Class of 2020 and received the Asia’s 21 Young Leaders Award from the Asia Society in 2018. His work has empowered thousands of young people through leadership, peacebuilding, and social justice initiatives. He was also honored with Nepal’s Youth Leadership Award in 2015 for initiating Youth Vision 2025, a ten-year national youth development policy, and was selected as a youth fellow by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in 2011.
Gerard Lopez is an accomplished Australian–Sri Lankan entrepreneur, philanthropist, and social innovator whose work has spanned business, community development, and social impact initiatives. Through his leadership in entrepreneurship and philanthropy, he has contributed significantly to fostering positive social change and empowering communities in Australia and internationally.
In their new roles, Dr. Cheema, Mr. Pariyar, and Mr. Lopez join a distinguished network of policymakers, ambassadors, academics, entrepreneurs, civil society leaders, and international experts committed to advancing strategic foresight, governance, innovation, and regional dialogue.
Commenting on the appointments, SAFN Executive Director Asanga Abeyagoonasekera stated:
"Dr. Qamar Cheema, Pradip Pariyar, and Gerard Lopez bring exceptional expertise and leadership to SAFN. Dr. Cheema contributes deep insights into geopolitics and strategic affairs; Pradip Pariyar brings a distinguished record of social justice advocacy, youth leadership, and human rights engagement; and Gerard Lopez offers valuable experience in entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and social innovation. Together, they strengthen SAFN’s mission to foster informed dialogue, foresight, and collaborative solutions across the region."
SAFN looks forward to working closely with all three appointees and benefiting from their expertise as the network continues to promote dialogue, collaboration, and forward-looking solutions to address emerging challenges and opportunities across South and Southeast Asia.
About SAFN: The South Asia Foresight Network (SAFN), under the auspices of The Millennium Project in Washington, D.C., serves as a platform for strategic foresight, policy research, and regional dialogue, bringing together experts and leaders from across South and Southeast Asia and beyond to address emerging regional and global challenges.
Media Contact: SAFN,Washington, D.C.
Email: info@southasiaforesight.net
Website: www.southasiaforesight.net
