Rahim Somani provides leadership and oversight across UNBC’s Finance and Administration Services, covering key areas: Finance (including contract and supply chain management, procurement, and distribution services), People, Equity & Inclusion (encompassing Human Resources and the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion), Information Technology Services, Facilities Management and Capital Planning, Business Services (comprising housing and residential services, hospitality, retail, the Northern Sport Centre, and transformation and strategy), and Enterprise Risk and Safety (including security and parking services). As a member of the President’s Executive Council, Rahim plays a critical role in UNBC’s strategic, financial, and operational planning, recognized for his expertise in leadership, innovation, collaboration, relationship building, and organizational development.

Rahim’s career reflects a commitment to People’s Development, Organizational Development, and Impact on Organizational Effectiveness. His doctoral dissertation explored the role of coaching in employee development, highlighting how intentional coaching practices foster positive attitudes, self-efficacy, and holistic growth. This insight informs his approach at UNBC, where he integrates development frameworks within administrative and management practices to empower individuals and advance organizational progress. Rahim emphasizes mechanisms focused on people, collaborative practices, and supportive management structures to build resilience, adaptability, and effectiveness within teams, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, exceptional service, and sustainable success.

Before joining UNBC, Rahim served with the Aga Khan Development Network for over two decades. He was the Founding Chief Financial Officer of the University of Central Asia (UCA) for 12 years, where he played a vital role in planning and developing a multi-campus university and overseeing its operations. His tenure with the Aga Khan Education Service in Pakistan spanned over a decade and included senior roles, culminating as Interim Chief Executive Officer. Throughout his career, Rahim has demonstrated a global perspective and transformational leadership, fostering organizational growth in diverse international contexts.

Rahim holds a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Leadership and Innovation from Arizona State University, a Master of Arts in Educational Planning, Economics, and International Development from University College London’s Institute of Education, and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Karachi. He is also a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Accountant (CA) in British Columbia and Ontario, as well as a Fellow of the Institutes of Chartered Accountants and Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan. Additionally, he is an alumnus of the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education.

Rahim serves as Chair of the UNBC Pension Plan Board of Trustees, Director of the UNBC Land Development Corporation, Director of the Northern Medical Programs Trust, and a Member of the Investment Advisory Committee of the UNBC Board of Governors. An alumnus of the Aga Khan School system and a recipient of the Aga Khan Scholarship, Rahim and his family are respectfully grateful to live, work, learn, and play on the unceded traditional territory of the Lheidli T’enneh. Guided by compassion, creativity, and a deep commitment to societal impact, Rahim actively serves on community and not-for-profit boards, leveraging his governance, leadership, and innovation expertise to inspire and drive meaningful change.