Professor Akbar Ahmed is the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at American University in Washington, DC and the former Pakistani High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland. He is also a Distinguished Professor, Trustee of the Parliament of World Religions and Member of the Advisory Board, Senator Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Belfast. In addition to his academic and public sector careers, Ahmed has produced a number of noteworthy films and authored more than a dozen award-winning books. He produced the Jinnah Quartet and the feature film, Jinnah (1998). Ahmed’s play, Gandhi and Jinnah Return Home was performed on stage and the film of the play shown at several venues. His latest book America at the Crossroads was published in late summer 2025.