Joe McWilliams
Lakeside Leader
Mohammed ‘Mo’ Azim is the newest member of the Northern Lakes College executive team. He started on Aug. 1, as Vice President, Finance and Administration.
The ‘Administration’ part of his portfolio bears a bit of explanation. He says it covers information technology and facilities, with some capital planning in there somewhere.
And how’s it going so far?
“It’s good!” he says. “I like it.”
This notwithstanding the fact he’d been up until three in the morning the night before, getting his family moved in to their new home. They relocated from Calgary.
Azim was born and raised in Cowtown. He attended the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, where he first earned a diploma in marketing, followed by a degree in accounting.
After college, Azim did five years with an accounting firm, before moving to Calgary’s Catholic School Division as business manager. He subsequently worked for the Alberta Energy Regulator, following which he was a secretary treasurer for more than one school board, in Alberta and in British Columbia. Somewhere along the way he picked up his CPA designation.
Azim’s most recent job before NLC was as Chief Financial Officer for the Siksika First Nation. He helped get a recover centre established, worked on new funding models and was part of a team that worked on re-establishing a tribal police force.
“It was a really good experience,” he says.
But the field of education is where Azim says he prefers to be, saying “it’s where I envision staying.”
Azim and his wife Fareeha have three daughters, aged 11, six and newborn. When he’s not working or spending time with his family, he’s busy working on an executive master of business administration degree, through the University of Fredericton.
“One year left,” he says. “A big chunk of my free time is doing my EMBA.”
Otherwise, Azim says he loves the natural environment and is fond of hiking.
Getting back to his role with the college, Azim says he’s a firm believer in the value of local education. From what he’s seen the college has a strong foundation, he says, “and I’m honoured to be a part of it.”
