Education
- M.A. in Global Creative and Cultural Industries (Chevening Scholar), SOAS, University of London
- B.S. in Media Sciences (Film & Video), SZABIST, Karachi
Core Competencies
- Strategic Communications and Public Affairs
- Narrative Design and Editorial Strategy
- Cultural and Creative Industries Strategy
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- Cross-Functional Team Leadership and Academic Programme Design
Biography
Abdul Rafay Mahmood has been Assistant Professor of Practice in Communication and Design at Habib University since August 2024. He leads the development and accreditation of core courses in Cultural Studies and Digital Media, mentors undergraduate students through studio critiques and capstone advising, and serves as a liaison between the department, university governance, and accreditation committees. Earlier in 2024, he also served as Strategic Communications & Industry Liaison Consultant at Habib University, advising on the Pakistan Media Summit and strengthening industry partnerships.
He is a media producer, academic, and strategic communications leader with over 15 years of experience across cultural strategy, public policy, media education, and communications. His professional experience includes serving as Strategy Consultant to Unilever Pakistan, where he led purpose-driven women’s sports marketing and anti-counterfeiting initiatives, and as Senior Communication Instructor with Sindh Police, designing strategic communications and crisis communication training for senior officers. His journalism and broadcasting career includes roles as Producer at PTV Quetta and Reporter at The News International. He has also contributed cultural insights on South Asia as a liaison for the UK media market with SongLines Magazine.
Alongside his industry experience, he has taught at several leading universities, including Bahria University, Greenwich University, and SZABIST, where he taught subjects such as Film Theory, Cinema History, Investigative Reporting, On-Camera Presentation, Multi-Platform Content Distribution, and Transmedia Storytelling.
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