Dr Hany El Banna is co-founder and President of Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW), an international relief and development organisation which aims to alleviate poverty and suffering of the world’s poorest people.

Born in Egypt, Dr El Banna graduated in medicine from Al Azhar University, Cairo, where he also obtained a Diploma in Islamic Studies in 1976. He was awarded the Hamilton Bailey Prize in Medicine, Dudley Road City Hospital in 1981, Birmingham UK. He completed a Doctor of Medicine (MD) in foetal pathology from the University of Birmingham Medical School in 1991.

He was awarded the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 2004. In the same year he was conferred the Ibn Khaldun Award for Excellence in Promoting Understanding between Global Cultures and Faiths (UK). The Egyptian Medical Syndicate honoured him in 2004 for his services to humanity and medicine. In 2005 he received the Kashmiri and Pakistani Professional Association Award and in 2006 he was awarded the Asian Jewel Lifetime Achievement Award. Acknowledging his universal work and influence in 2007, the UK Muslim Power 100 awarded him their lifetime achievement award.

He is a member of the Three Faiths Forum (UK) and was selected to be a member in the West-Islam World Dialogue Council of 100 Leaders group which is a part of the World Economic Forum.

Dr El Banna is a trustee of the Disasters Emergency Committee (UK) and a member of The Advisory Group to the International Department of The Charity Commission (UK). He initiated the Humanitarian Forum which sought to build bridges between Muslim and non-Muslim NGOs around the world.

Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) now works in over 35 countries. IRW responds to disasters and emergencies, and promotes sustainable economic and social development by working with local communities – regardless of race, religion or gender. In doing so, IRW focuses on water and sanitation, orphans, basic health care, education, income generation, and Waqf (Islamic Endowments).