Raheel Raza, author of Their Jihad…Not My Jihad (2005), is a public speaker, diversity consultant, documentary film make, freelance journalist, and founder of SAMA (Sacred Arts and Music Alliance). Raza started writing at a young age in a culture where women were supposed to "be seen and not heard.” She bridges the gap between East and West, promoting cultural and religious diversity in print, on television and radio. An outspoken advocate for gender equality and an activist for women's rights, she has received numerous awards for her work to build bridges of understanding. She is a recipient of the City of Toronto’s Constance Hamilton Award and is the first South Asian woman to narrate a CBC documentary, “Passionate Eye.” Travelling extensively, Raza brings a fresh global perspective to her mandate “there is unity in diversity.” She has spoken at places of worship, the private sector, the Canadian Justice Department, school boards, and government institutions. She has also been invited to speak at universities in the United States and Canada, including Harvard and Columbia.