The International Youth Council has appointed a new CEO, as the World’s leading youth-led organization continues to provide a platform for young people and advocate for inclusive and sustainable youth development in all UN countries. The International Youth Council (IYC) is a Non-Government Organization founded at the Youth Assembly at the United Nations in 2007 having special consultative status at the UN ECOSOC. The International Youth Council strives to provide a global platform that promotes inclusive and sustainable youth development by aiding governments and youth-led organizations with policy formulation, leadership development, and resilience building to implement development goals. Sadham Dhikran Zarjahan, CEO of the International Youth Council, is a young professional with over a decade of experience in the development sector and aims to integrate youth-led organizations, INGOs, development partners, government bodies, private institutions, celebrities, and youth through the IYC’s new strategic plan to promote inclusive and sustainable youth development. He is a qualified and trained Industrial Engineer and is known as a passionate youth advocate on a local, national, and international level for demonstrating a strong work ethic in a variety of social work settings. His enthusiasm has been immensely stimulated by the increased demand for successful public-private partnerships, leadership, relationship-building, and positive change-making. He is also the World Muslim Communities Council’s (UAE) youth representative and has gained widespread acclaim, respect, and recognition for his accomplishments made possible by his ceaseless efforts and for showing extraordinary competence.

Mr. Sadham’s journey began as a volunteer at the International Red Cross in Sri Lanka. During his 2nd year in college, he was selected from among thousands of applicants to attend the 6th World Youth Congress in Brazil to present his environment-friendly engineering project. The basis for Mr. Sadham’s involvement in the IYC was laid during this trip and the successful establishment of the IYC chapter happened thereafter in Sri Lanka by him happened in 2012.

After being appointed as the 1st Vice Chairperson for partnerships and resources of the Commonwealth Youth Council, which was set up by Commonwealth Heads of Government, Mr. Sadham was able to implement and hold a range of youth-led programs and conferences based on the SDGs and Commonwealth Charter for the youth in the commonwealth nations. During that time, he received the opportunity to meet Former Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III of the United Kingdom.

He was appointed to the IYC headquarters in New York as a Global Executive Committee Member to revamp the entire organization in 2015. Mr. Sadham serves as the CEO of IYC Headquarters, where he manages all IYC Branches in United Nations member countries and expands international collaborations with development partners.

In 2018, Sadham joined UNIDO and worked on a project titled “EU Sri Lanka Trade Related Assistance for Enhancing Small and Medium Size Enterprise (SME) trade competitiveness in Regional and EU Markets.” He was in charge of providing technical and strategic assistance to develop SMEs’ ability to apply for technical standards, food safety systems, and quality systems, as well as to enhance their capabilities for packaging and labelling under EU and regional market regulations. Additionally, he led the GI implementation for the Ceylon Cinnamon industry and not to mention, he designed Sri Lanka’s first Food Traceability System using AI and blockchain technology.

He is also the CEO of the Zara Group LCC, a family venture involved in B2B Trade Support Services, Education Consultancy Services, Textiles, Women’s Sportswear, and Real Estate in the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and Sri Lanka.

Mr. Sadham holds a master’s degree in international organization management (Int. MBA) from Birmingham City University and a bachelor’s degree in mechatronics engineering from the University of Wolverhampton in the UK.