OUR TEAM
Born in Tehran and raised in Toronto, we know what it feels like to be out of place, misunderstood, and underrepresented. As we began to navigate different spaces – from classrooms and workplaces to our homes and streets, we found that the world is designed without us in mind. As sisters, our friendship and support have become the foundation on which we have been able to heal and persist. Our experience has shown us the power of community and that’s why we created Thousand&One.
CO-FOUNDERS
Hanieh Khosroshahi (she/her)
Hanieh is an independent design consultant working in social impact and digital innovation. She specializes in Human-Centred Design, product strategy, and user experience, and aims to create impactful and equitable outcomes for individuals and their communities. Hanieh is committed to designing spaces, programs, and services that work for women of colour.
Dr. Zahra Khosroshahi (she/her)
Zahra is a lecturer at the University of Glasgow, specializing in resistance in Iranian filmmaking. Her research and teaching practice is committed to decolonizing the curriculum, de-Westernizing cinema, and making the classroom accessible. Aware of the power of storytelling, Zahra helps women of colour shape their own narratives to challenge systems of power.
ADVISORY BOARD
Sapna Agarwal (she/her)
Sapna uses play, stories and everyday conversation to explore social justice issues, working primarily with young people, intergenerational groups and POC groups. She is an artist, educator, community activist, facilitator, organiser and someone who loves to stop and talk. She established and runs the Woodlands Community Anti-Racist Library in Glasgow and organises projects specifically for People of Colour.
Pooja Marwa (she/her)
Loa Pour Mirza (she/her)
Loa is a diasporic Iranian currently living in Glasgow. After eight years of experience in migrant justice organising, she now works as a pluralistic therapist, community researcher, and workshop facilitator. Her practice is guided by anti-colonial, feminist, and intersectional principles, with the intention of supporting consciousness-raising and liberatory processes both individually and collectively.
Pooja Marwaha is a part time Sociology PhD student at the University of Edinburgh, and Senior Resarch and Dissemination Officer at Qualifications Scotland. Her research explores families and personal relationships for British South Asian minorities. Pooja is passionate about advocating for minorities such as disabled individuals, queer people, women, and people of colour.