Skip to main content

Ariana Nexus leadership

Ariana Nexus is a Washington, D.C. consulting and professional services firm for the Afghan context, working in Pashto, Dari and 22 more Afghan languages across healthcare, government, legal, education, technology and AI, and private enterprise. Every part of every engagement is produced by its own people, with one point of accountability.

How Ariana Nexus leads an engagement

One engagement, one point of accountability, from intake to release.

  1. Managing Partner

    Oversees the firm’s operations and every engagement.

  2. Engagement lead

    Leads the engagement as the client’s one point of accountability.

  3. In-house specialists

    The firm’s own language specialists, interpreters, cleared linguists, analysts and AI data specialists produce the work. Nothing is subcontracted or brokered.

  4. Cultural Compliance Bureau review

    Terminology and cultural review before release.

  5. Release

    The work goes to the client. Interpreting engagements carry encounter records: language, variety, interpreter ID, modality, connect time and duration.

01

Managing Partner

Oversees the firm’s operations and every engagement.

Hassan Ukasha, Managing Partner, Ariana Nexus.

Hassan Ukasha

Managing Partner

Hassan Ukasha is the Managing Partner of Ariana Nexus. He founded the firm and oversees its operations and every engagement across healthcare, government, legal, education, technology and AI, and private enterprise. Under his direction, every part of an engagement is produced by the firm’s own people, with one point of accountability and no subcontracted or brokered specialists, and work passes terminology and cultural review by the Cultural Compliance Bureau before release. He grew up in Herat. He holds a B.S. and an M.P.H. from Cornell University.

Oversight
Firm operations and every engagement
Education
  • B.S.Cornell University
  • M.P.H.Cornell University
Languages
Pashto, Dari, English, Urdu, Hindi; working Arabic
Verified profiles
Hassan Ukasha’s profile

02Engagement lead

Senior Partners

Zeba Haqbani builds and runs the firm’s institutional systems, technology and AI platforms. Tamana Ghaznawi leads the healthcare practice.

Zeba Haqbani

Senior Partner

Institutional systems, technology and AI platforms

  • B.Sc.
    The University of British Columbia
Read biographyClose biography: Zeba Haqbani

Zeba Haqbani is a Senior Partner at Ariana Nexus. She builds and runs the firm’s institutional systems, technology and AI platforms. She is originally from Paktia and lived in Kabul.

Tamana Ghaznawi

Senior Partner

Healthcare practice

  • B.S.
    Cornell University
  • M.P.H.
    Cornell University
Read biographyClose biography: Tamana Ghaznawi

Tamana Ghaznawi is a Senior Partner at Ariana Nexus and leads the firm’s healthcare practice. She holds a B.S. and an M.P.H. from Cornell University. She lived in Kabul.

Principals, engagement managers and analysts

Listed by title.

Maryam Safi

Principal

  • B.A.
    Cornell University
Read biographyClose biography: Maryam Safi

Maryam Safi is a Principal at Ariana Nexus. She holds a B.A. from Cornell University.

Wasil Peroz

Principal

  • B.A.
    Milli University
  • M.Sc.
    Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg
Read biographyClose biography: Wasil Peroz

Wasil Peroz is a Principal at Ariana Nexus. He holds a B.A. from Milli University and an M.Sc. from Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg.

Shukria Sakhi

Engagement Manager

Participant recruitment and research ethics

  • B.S.
    Brown University
  • M.P.H.
    Brown University
Read biographyClose biography: Shukria Sakhi

Shukria Sakhi is an Engagement Manager at Ariana Nexus, responsible for participant recruitment and research ethics on the firm’s research engagements. She holds a B.S. and an M.P.H. from Brown University.

Hussain Ahmad

Analyst

Psychometrics and analytic tooling

  • M.Eng.
    Cornell University
  • Ph.D.
    University of Chicago
Read biographyClose biography: Hussain Ahmad

Hussain Ahmad is an Analyst at Ariana Nexus, working on psychometrics and analytic tooling. He holds an M.Eng. from Cornell University and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.

Diana Ayubi

Engagement Manager

Mental-health programs and trauma-informed care

  • B.A.
    Cornell University
  • Psy.D.
    West Chester University
Read biographyClose biography: Diana Ayubi

Diana Ayubi is an Engagement Manager in the firm’s healthcare practice, where she designs mental-health programs, including trauma-informed care. She holds a B.A. from Cornell University and a Psy.D. from West Chester University. She lived in Kabul.

03In-house specialists

Afghan language specialists, cleared linguists and the Cultural Compliance Bureau

Three in-house benches stand behind the leadership. They produce and review the work, and every member is one of the firm’s own people.

  • Afghan language specialists and interpreters

    Interpreters, translators and language specialists in Pashto, Dari and 22 more Afghan languages.

  • Cleared linguists

    Linguists with U.S. government security clearances, for government and other sensitive engagements.

  • Cultural Compliance Bureau

    Reviewers who check terminology and cultural accuracy before any work is released.

Analysts and AI data specialists work alongside them.

Not named here

Members of the bench are not named or profiled on this page. They are the firm’s core asset, and keeping their identities confidential protects them, the firm and the sensitive work they do.

Community

Connected to the Afghan community and diaspora

Ariana Nexus stays close to the communities it serves, in person.

  • Community members and the Afghan diaspora

    We connect with community members and the Afghan diaspora, and stay current with our communities through them.

  • Afghan students, alumni and scholars

    We also stay connected with Afghan students, alumni and scholars, the academic community our own team belongs to.

How we stay current

  1. By assignment

    We reach out based on the need and the assignment.

  2. In person

    We attend community events and sit with community members.

  3. Listening

    We learn what is happening in the communities and what they need.

These are relationships, not subcontracting. Every part of an engagement is still produced by Ariana Nexus’s own people.

Why this leadership team is different

We are not a firm of bilinguals.

  • Alumni and scholars, not bilinguals

    Alumni and scholars of Cornell University, Brown University, the University of Chicago, The University of British Columbia, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, West Chester University and Milli University.

  • From the Afghan community

    Our team comes from the Afghan community. Every interpreter is matched to the client’s language, exact dialect, city or region of origin, and the interpreter gender the client needs.

  • In-house delivery

    Every part of an engagement is produced by Ariana Nexus’s own people, as one engagement with one point of accountability. No subcontracted or brokered specialists.

  • Trained interpreters, never a bilingual

    Every interpreter is a college graduate, credentialed to a seven-part standard.

There is no U.S. certification for the Afghan languages, so Ariana Nexus trains its own interpreters, and other interpreters, and sets that standard in the United States.

We believe we are the only firm with such a team, compliance, coverage, community network, scholars and knowledge, along with lived experiences.

Languages: Pashto, Dari and 22 more Afghan languages

We work in 24 Afghan languages, 13 international languages and English, and offer every type of translation in all of them.

پښتودری

Iranian 12

  • Pashto
  • Dari
  • Aimaq
  • Balochi
  • Ormuri
  • Parachi
  • Wakhi
  • Shughni
  • Sanglechi
  • Ishkashimi
  • Munji
  • Yidgha

Turkic 3

  • Uzbeki
  • Turkmeni
  • Kyrgyz

Indo-Aryan 3

  • Pashayi
  • Gawarbati
  • Tirahi

Nuristani 5

  • Nuristani (Ashkun group)
  • Kati
  • Prasun
  • Waigali
  • Tregami

Dravidian 1

  • Brahui

13 international languages

  • French
  • German
  • Spanish
  • Italian
  • Hebrew
  • Urdu
  • Arabic
  • Hindi
  • Portuguese
  • Chinese
  • Russian
  • Turkish
  • Swedish

Plus English

04Cultural Compliance Bureau review

Governance, security and compliance

Named leadership, review before release, and the firm’s security and compliance record.

Governance structure

  • 01

    Managing Partner

    Hassan Ukasha

    Oversees the firm’s operations and every engagement.

  • 02

    Senior Partners

    Zeba Haqbani · Tamana Ghaznawi

    Zeba Haqbani builds and runs the firm’s institutional systems, technology and AI platforms. Tamana Ghaznawi leads the healthcare practice.

  • 04

    Cultural Compliance Bureau

    Terminology and cultural review before release.

  • Oversight

    Ethics & Safety Board

    The firm’s ethics and safety body, with its own page.

Operating model

  1. Human Intelligence Collective
  2. AI Data Factory
  3. Cultural Compliance Bureau

    Terminology and cultural review before release.

Our operating model

Named accountability

  • Security official
  • Privacy official (HIPAA)
  • Compliance lead
  • Ethics & Safety Board chair

Security and compliance

  • In-house delivery

    Every part of an engagement is produced by Ariana Nexus’s own people, with one point of accountability. No subcontracted or brokered specialists.

    Status: In place

  • Interpreter credentialing

    Seven-part standard: degree held, dual-language assessment in the specific variety, structured medical-interpreter training, NCIHC ethics, annual HIPAA training, supervised entry and periodic review.

    Status: In place

  • Business Associate Agreement (BAA)

    A Business Associate Agreement is executed before the first encounter.

    Status: In place

  • Recording

    No recording by default.

    Status: In place

  • U.S.-located interpreters

    Interpreters on U.S. assignments are located in the United States.

    Status: In place

  • Encounter records

    Produced by a live system: language, variety, interpreter ID, modality, connect time and duration.

    Status: In place

  • Cultural Compliance Bureau

    Terminology and cultural review before release.

    Status: In place

  • Compliance boundary

    No documents, data or inquiries routed through channels controlled by the de facto authorities in Afghanistan (the Taliban). No offices or operations in Afghanistan.

    Status: In place

  • Interpreter exclusivity

    Ariana Nexus interpreters work only through Ariana Nexus. A signed agreement is in place before any joint work with another firm.

    Status: In place

  • GDPR and UK GDPR

    Apply to European engagements.

    Status: Aligned

  • Security and compliance documents

    Available to qualified buyers, under NDA where appropriate.

    Status: On request
In place
True and operating today.
Aligned
Practices mapped to a named standard, with no third-party attestation.
On request
Documents available to qualified buyers, under NDA where appropriate.

05Release

Industries and practices our leadership oversees

Our partners oversee 78 capabilities across six industries and eight practices.

Industries in each leader’s remit, as on record.
LeaderHealthcareTechnology and AILegalGovernmentEducation and researchPrivate enterprisePractices
Hassan UkashaManaging PartnerHealthcare and Life SciencesIn remitTechnology, AI, and Digital PlatformsIn remitLegal, Regulatory, and JusticeIn remitGovernment and Public SectorIn remitEducation and ResearchIn remitPrivate EnterpriseIn remitPracticesRegulatory & Compliance · Consulting Services · AI & Data Engineering · Cultural Intelligence · Language Services · Digital Engineering · Tax & Accounting · Identity & Authentication
Tamana GhaznawiSenior PartnerHealthcare and Life SciencesIn remitTechnology, AI, and Digital PlatformsNoLegal, Regulatory, and JusticeNoGovernment and Public SectorNoEducation and ResearchNoPrivate EnterpriseNoPractices–
Diana AyubiEngagement ManagerHealthcare and Life SciencesIn remitTechnology, AI, and Digital PlatformsNoLegal, Regulatory, and JusticeNoGovernment and Public SectorNoEducation and ResearchNoPrivate EnterpriseNoPractices–

Industries

Healthcare and Life Sciences

Technology, AI, and Digital Platforms

Legal, Regulatory, and Justice

Government and Public Sector

Education and Research

Private Enterprise

Practices

  • Regulatory & Compliance
  • Consulting Services
  • AI & Data Engineering
  • Cultural Intelligence
  • Language Services
  • Digital Engineering
  • Tax & Accounting
  • Identity & Authentication

Capability Statement

Where Ariana Nexus works

Ariana Nexus works actively across all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

Registered as a vendor in 37 states; registration in the remaining states is underway.

We also work in Canada, Europe and Australia, depending on the type and scale of the project.

Headquarters1717 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 10th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20006

All 50 states and the District of ColumbiaHide the list of states
  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming
  • District of Columbia

Questions about Ariana Nexus leadership

Who leads Ariana Nexus?
Hassan Ukasha, Managing Partner, with Senior Partners Zeba Haqbani and Tamana Ghaznawi.
Who founded Ariana Nexus?
Hassan Ukasha, in 2025.
Where is Ariana Nexus headquartered?
1717 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 10th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20006.
What universities did the Ariana Nexus team attend?
Cornell University, Brown University, the University of Chicago, The University of British Columbia, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, West Chester University and Milli University.
What languages does Ariana Nexus work in?
Pashto, Dari and 22 more Afghan languages, 13 international languages, and English.
Does Ariana Nexus have cleared linguists?
Yes. Ariana Nexus has a bench of cleared linguists, alongside its Afghan language specialists and interpreters and its Cultural Compliance Bureau. Members of the bench are not named publicly.
How does Ariana Nexus stay connected with the Afghan community?
Its people attend community events and sit with community members and the Afghan diaspora, and stay connected with Afghan students, alumni and scholars.
Does Ariana Nexus use subcontractors?
No. Every part of an engagement is produced by Ariana Nexus’s own people.
Does Ariana Nexus work outside the United States?
Yes. Canada, Europe and Australia, depending on the type and scale of the project.

In confidence

Engagements begin with a confidential conversation with a partner.

Speak with a partner

Careers Institutional roles and the language bench. Write to us