Farhan Irshad – Chief Financial Officer
Farhan Irshad joined Action Against Hunger as Chief Financial Officer in 2025. For over 25 years, Farhan has been a transformative force in the global humanitarian sector, helping mission-driven organizations scale their impact, build world-class teams, and achieve operational excellence. His career has been defined by a relentless pursuit of impact, fueled by a belief that organized disruption and bold new thinking are essential to meaningful change.
Previously serving as Chief Financial and Administrative Officer (CFAO) at Melwood, Farhan led critical functions including finance, legal affairs, contract management, IT, and risk and safety, advancing the lives of people with disabilities through strategic stewardship and innovation.
Farhan is the former Chairman of the Board of Directors for NetHope, a consortium of 60 leading global nonprofits that harness the power of technology to drive humanitarian progress. Under his leadership, NetHope members—who collectively deliver over $35 billion in international aid annually—were empowered to collaborate, innovate, and amplify their reach.
As Chief Operating Officer at HIAS, Farhan oversaw a period of extraordinary growth, expanding the organization’s annual budget from $25 million to over $150 million in eight years. He previously served as HIAS’ CFO, helping position the organization as a global leader in refugee advocacy and protection.
Farhan spent 14 years at Save the Children, where he held diverse leadership roles spanning continuous improvement, global finance systems, and international program finance. At Save the Children International, a $2.2 billion NGO, he served as Head of Finance for International Programs in London and held key operational roles in Afghanistan, Haiti, Iraq, Tajikistan, Pakistan, and Indonesia.
Farhan has worked in some of the world’s most challenging environments, not only to improve systems and processes but also to learn from local programming and drive sustainable solutions. He was a first responder in the wake of the Indonesia Tsunami, Pakistan Earthquake, Darfur Crisis, and Haiti Earthquake, bringing both compassion and operational rigor to emergency response efforts.
Farhan speaks six languages, and in 2019, was honored with the AppDirect Digital Hero Award for his contributions to digital transformation in the nonprofit sector.