The Inayatiyya Board of Trustees
North America & Oceania

PIR ZIA INAYAT KHAN, PH.D.
President, Richmond, VA & Suresnes, France

Pir Zia Inayat Khan, PH.D., is a scholar of religion and teacher of Sufism in the universalist Sufi lineage of his grandfather, Hazrat Inayat Khan. Pir Zia is president of the Inayatiyya and founder of Sulūk Academy, a school of Sufi contemplative study and practice. He is author of Immortality: A Traveler’s Guide; Dream Flowers: The Collected Works of Noor Inayat Khan with a Critical Commentary by Pir Zia Inayat Khan; Mingled Waters: Sufism and the Mystical Unity of Religions; and Saracen Chivalry: Counsels on Valor, Generosity and the Mystical Quest. He is editor of Caravan of Souls: An Introduction to the Sufi Path of Hazrat Inayat Khan and A Pearl in Wine: Essays in the Life, Music and Sufism of Hazrat Inayat Khan. Pir Zia divides his time between Richmond, Virginia and Suresnes, France.

NOOR AMINA PETERSON
Chairperson, Boulder, CO

Noor Amina Peterson was initiated into the Inayatiyya in 2001 and has studied extensively with Taj Inayat and Gayan Macher. She is currently in the Suluk Global class of Na-koja-abad. She is a certified professional coach and recently retired from a career in Business Administration and Human Resource in small and start-up businesses. Noor Amina joined the Finance Committee in 2017 and the Inayatiyya Board in December 2020. She lives in Boulder Colorado.

RASHID BRIAN GILBANE
Berkeley, CA

Rashid Brian Gilbane is a retired clinical social worker in Berkeley California, who spent nearly 40 years in in facilities serving the severely mentally ill, both as a clinician and later a leader in policy, training and especially Patients’ Rights issues. He was initiated by Risala Laird in 2003, given the accolade of Knight in 2016, became Regional Rep in 2020 and part of the Ethics Oversight Committee in 2021. Cooking, reading, birdwatching, woodworking, walking his Golden Retriever, travelling with his wife Alice Stern, an artist, and puttering in the garden are among his other devotions. He joined the Board in 2022.

TED BASIR YASI
Freehold, NJ

Ted Basir Yasi, after many years wandering as a self described “tourist” of spiritual traditions finally found his home in the Inayatiyya, and was initiated in 2008. He is a graduate of the Jabalqa Suluk class, and became a Healing Conductor in 2018. Conflict resolution and Peacemaking have been a central theme throughout his life and remain a focus of his work. His professional experiences include working with the documentary unit of the United Nations Peacekeeping Missions in Southeast Asia and Central America. Using his heart and lens to help people see and understand each other and the world around them continues to be his passion.

AMIRA KARDISH
Tucson, AZ

Amira Kardish found her heart’s path in Sufism in the 1970’s.  It’s been a steady beat in her life ever since.  Amira retired from 26 years of teaching gifted students in critical and creative thinking. These were great life skills for someone who enjoys continually learning and growing!  Her degree is in bilingual multicultural education. She has been a part of a strong Inayatiyya community in Tucson, Arizona for decades.  As a Representative in the Inner School, she enjoys guiding, teaching, as well as advising in leadership training. Currently she is honored to be serving as Advisor to Inayatiyya leaders training in Turkey.  Amira is a graduate from Suluk in the Tasnim class and has served as Mentor in Nasim and Na-koja-abad classes. At home in the Sonoran Desert, she enjoys hiking, music, gardening, visiting with friends, her son and grand dog!