Parsi Times is delighted to share that Zerbanoo Gifford, one of the leading icons of our Zoroastrian community worldwide, was recently unanimously voted as the President of the prestigious World Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO).

Zerbanoo Gifford has the unique distinction of being one of our community’s most dynamic, admired, respected and loved trailblazers – and a renowned champion of women’s equality the world over.  An award-winning Human Rights campaigner, Zerbanoo is also an author and the founder of the magnificent ‘ASHA Centre’ in Britain, which works for the enrichment and empowerment of young people worldwide.

Speaking to Parsi Times on this momentous occasion, Zerbanoo Gifford shared, “Being elected President of The World Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO) is one of the greatest honours of my life… I will make it my business to implement the WZO vision of representing us to opinion formers across countries and faiths.”

Her gigantic body of humanitarian work spans fifty years of consistent and undeterred global activism. A woman pioneer in British politics, she was the former Director of Anti-Slavery International – the world’s oldest Human Rights organization. In 2007, she received the Splendor Award in Hollywood for her lifetime achievements. She was honoured at the 90th Anniversary of American Suffrage by the Sewall-Belmont Museum in Washington DC, in an exhibition commemorating key women who have advanced Women’s Rights. Recently, Zerbanoo was also the recipient of the ‘Social Entrepreneur Award 2022’, at the 12th World Zoroastrian Congress, held in New York.

The World Zoroastrian Organisation is an international body which supports Zoroastrianism, its people and traditions, with membership spread over 24 countries. WZO is headquartered in the United Kingdom with registered charitable status in the UK, India, USA and New Zealand, alongside regional representatives in Singapore and Canada. (Look out for a detailed interview with Zerbanoo Gifford as regards her future plans in her capacity as the new WZO President, in our next issue).