Azhar Zahid
Azhar is an independent consultant with a background in development finance, primarily working on donor funded feasibility studies to improve infrastructure project bankability. He is passionate about increasing access to finance and markets for SMEs and supporting the development of thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems in emerging markets.
As an investment analyst at LixCap, a capital advisory and economic development consultancy, he worked on projects in North Africa, Southeast Asia, and North America, partnering with development finance institutions, development agencies, government ministries and private sector actors to implement SME access to finance and agricultural and energy value chain development projects. More recently, Azhar has also provided strategic and operational support to socially impactful technology startups/projects, particularly in the fields of SME lending and Satellite Manufacturing.
Azhar has a BBA in Finance and Marketing from Al Akhawayn University, a Master of Business Administration from the University of British Columbia and a Master of Advanced Management from the Yale School of Management (with a focus on Economic Development and Public Policy).
Azhar’s areas of knowledge and interest are investment analysis, market development and value chain analysis. He is looking to expand his network in Canada’s development and impact investment community to learn more about systems investing initiatives with a particular interest in climate change adaptation.
Voting Member: Azhar Zahid
Member since 2025