Akaash Maharaj is CEO of the Mosaic Institute, and leads their work strengthening pluralism within societies and peace between countries. Mosaic brings together people, communities, and nations, to foster mutual understanding and to resolve conflict. Their projects have included peaceful co-existence on the Tibetan Plateau, national reconciliation after the Sri Lankan civil war, addressing post‑genocide trauma, and dismantling post-colonial racism. Akaash also serves as Ambassador-at-Large for the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption. He has addressed the United Nations on international prosecution of Crimes Against Humanity, and he has a special commitment to reconciliation in conflict states.

Outside of his professional life, he was a national athlete for Canada. He rode with the Governor General’s Horse Guards Cavalry Squadron, and was a triple gold medallist at the International Championships of Equestrian Skill‑at‑Arms. He subsequently led the Canadian Equestrian team and federation as CEO, to its most successful Olympics and Paralympics of all time. Akaash earned his MA from Oxford University, in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, and he was the first overseas student elected President of the student government Oxford’s nine-hundred-year history. He completed further studies at the Sorbonne Université and the United Nations University.

He has a passionate interest in sport as an instrument for intercultural understanding and public integrity. He was a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee for equestrianism, and continues his work employing horses to build bridges between communities.

Akaash’s personal web site is at www.maharaj.org.