Born in Iraq and forced to leave with her family as a child, Ban spent years working for various prominent multinational and governmental organizations. It was only after moving to Canada to pursue a second degree in gender and women’s studies at York that she finally had the chance to return to Iraq to fulfill her dream of being part of the reconstruction of her homeland.

Her life was completely transformed by the experiences gained as an organizer in executing TEDxBaghdadWomen—the very first event by and for women in today’s Iraq. She currently combines the skills and knowledge she has acquired from her education in Canada with practical involvement in development in Iraq to create bridges between Iraq and the rest of the world.