Bushra Saeed-Khan
Board Member
Bushra Saeed-Khan is a Foreign Service Officer with Global Affairs Canada. She joined the diplomatic service in 2007. Her career has a focused on international political issues and providing strategic advice to senior officials, facilitating sensitive activities in complex environments and assessing various factors of risk.
While working with the Government of Canada she travelled extensively and posted to assignments within Canada and abroad, including secondments to other government departments. In 2009, Bushra was posted to Kandahar, Afghanistan where she was responsible for border management issues, counter-narcotics, tribal relations, as well as political and local governance issues. However, in Afghanistan she was seriously injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack which killed four Canadian soldiers and a Canadian journalist. Bushra spent several years in hospital undergoing surgeries and rehabilitating.
Since recovering from her injuries and returning to work, Bushra has focused her professional career on files relating to human rights and security. This included an assignment at Canada’s Mission to the United Nations (UN) in New York. Most recently, she has been responsible for policies and programs relating to security and intelligence issues at Global Affairs Canada and the Privy Council Office.
Outside of work, Bushra enjoys volunteering with the Ottawa Hospital Foundation assisting with fundraising efforts, and is on the Board of Directors of the Carlington Community Health Centre. Bushra has previously acted as a mentor with the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization and has worked with the Canadian Institute of Canadian Citizenship as well as local food banks. She has received various awards, including the Canada-Pakistan Association Award for Outstanding Dedication and Service to Canada and the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers Award.
Bushra was born and raised in Ottawa, is a Canadian of Pakistani heritage, and studied International Development and Globalization at the University of Ottawa. She is married with two children.
Q: Why do you volunteer on the Board of the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute?
A: I was born and raised in Ottawa and have been motivated to learn as well as strive for improvement in the quality of life and health services provided in my city, specifically to marginalized communities in a manner which is inclusive and respectful. This interest was further deepened following injuries I sustained in 2009 from an improvised explosive which resulted in a leg amputation, approximately two years of rehabilitation, and over fifty surgeries at the Ottawa Hospital. Following my care from The Ottawa Hospital, I was fortunate to have recovered and returned to work, in large part due to the benefit of accessing cutting edge programs stemming from the innovative research of The Ottawa Hospital. Throughout my time as a patient, I have noted the compassion and world-class care as well as critical research where the hospital excels. However being a woman, person of colour, religious minority, and disabled I have unique insight in the provision of effective health care and areas in need of improvement and greater focus. I hope to bring this insight to the Board of the OHRI.
