Zakaria Abdulle

Biography: Zakaria Abdulle is a public policy and city building professional dedicated to finding collaborative solutions to complex policy problems. He currently serves his communities across Toronto as the Chair of the Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation Steering Committee. Zak started his career in the community development sector as a Tutor at the Toronto District School Board, Youth Outreach Worker, and Program Facilitator with Toronto Community Housing before transitioning into urban-focused policymaking. Today his city building experience spans areas of housing, community safety, healthcare, education, and community economic development. He has provided community impact-driven advice to senior decision-makers in the City of Toronto, the Ontario Government, and the Government of Canada. As the former Chair of Ontario's Premiers Council on Youth Opportunities, Zak guided the development of Canada's first-ever targeted investment into Black youth through Ontario's Black Youth Action Plan. Zak holds a Master of Public Administration degree in Local Governance from the University of Western Ontario. Zak currently sits on the United Way Greater Toronto's Community Impact Committee. Zak is a past World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Shaper, CivicAction's Youth Champions Council Advisory Member, and Action Canada Fellow.