100 WOMEN FIXING UGANDA: Meet Nashila Lalani, Executive Director, Roofings Group

Nashila Lalani is an Executive Director at Roofings Group, a role and position she has held since 2018.  

She first joined the group as the Corporate Social Investment Lead in August 2013, driving the group’s philanthropic agenda and focus until 2017 when the group decided to streamline its CSI agenda into a foundation – the Forever Foundation, and in line with the global Sustainable Development Goals.

A strong believer in the Ubuntu philosophy of community over self since early childhood, Nashila is deservedly an Executive Director and Head of Department for the branding team (advertising, PR and Forever Foundation)

The Forever Foundation consists of four core divisions, namely:

• Forever Systems focuses on practising ethical and environmentally friendly production of Roofings’ products through ensuring investment in and use of eco-friendly machinery, processes and systems that support these processes. As an Executive Director, Nashila has been vocal and pivotal in the group’s decisions to make investments in systems that are environmentally friendly.
• Forever Education which focuses on supporting schools, skilling projects for young adults, and involving staff to support these initiatives. Currently, under Forever Education, Nashila, through the Foundation, supports a Primary School in Namanve-Mukono, as a pilot project. Her vision is to see the same support pushed to many more schools. Nashila’s determination towards skilling the youth in practical and business has seen the foundation push for more strategic partnerships with organisations within the country.

• Forever Forestry which emphasizes the need for sustainable co-existence with nature by recognizing the impact of all company operations on the environment. Forever Forestry distributes over 30,000 seedlings monthly, free of charge to different communities in the country through their distribution network. A seed today, a forest tomorrow.

• Forever Health which focuses on efforts to contribute to better wellness and health in the communities where Roofings Group operates. Forever Health has joined efforts to combat the deadly COVID-19 by offering free oxygen to government-aided and mission-based hospitals.

In Nashila’s own words, “Forever Foundation was set up because we believe that together we should aim for a nation that lasts for generations to come.”

Nashila Lalani holds a Master’s Degree in Innovation and Entrepreneurship (International Business) from the Business University of Antwerp in Belgium as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (BBA) from the College of Antwerp, Belgium.

Before joining Roofings Group, Nashila worked for various brands across the hospitality, FMCG and logistics industries such as Radisson RED, Red Bull Belgium, and Interfreight Shipping. She has also volunteered at the Rotary Orphanage in Naguru, Uganda. She is skilled in hospitality, branding, management, and business development yet most importantly she is skilled in giving back while moving forward.