Ayesha is an attorney and committed community advocate who has spent much of her career working to create greater access, opportunity, and representation for communities whose voices are too often overlooked.

For more than 15 years, she has been actively involved in nonprofit leadership throughout the Chicagoland area. She currently serves on the board of Connections for the Homeless and the advisory board of Pro Bono Network, and previously served on the board of UMMA Center. Across these roles, she has seen firsthand the difference that thoughtful advocacy, community partnerships, and people willing to speak up and serve can make in the lives of others.

Ayesha is an attorney and in her most recent role spent 13 years at Nexus Pharmaceuticals, where she served as legal counsel and ultimately as General Counsel for the company. Her experience navigating complex legal, organizational, and business matters has shaped her approach to leadership: listen carefully, ask thoughtful questions, understand different perspectives, and work collaboratively toward meaningful solutions.

At the heart of Ayesha’s work is a deep belief that every community deserves to be heard, represented, and empowered to shape the decisions that affect its future. She is particularly passionate about uplifting marginalized and underrepresented communities and creating pathways for people to participate fully in civic and community life.

She is honored to bring her legal experience, nonprofit leadership, and commitment to service to the Illinois Muslim Civic Coalition. She is especially passionate about helping strengthen Muslim civic engagement, ensuring Muslim voices are represented in the broader civic conversation, and building bridges that create greater understanding and collective impact across communities.