Dr Serra Kirdar

New York born, Dr Serra Kirdar of Iraqi origin, can easily be considered a global citizen, feeling equally at home in the US, Middle East and England where she is based with her son.

Kirdar received her schooling in London at St Paul’s Girls School, going on to earn her BA in Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oxford, where she also completed an MSc in Comparative and International Education. She then completed her DPhil at St Antony’s College, Oxford University in 2004 entitled: Gender and Cross – Cultural Experience with Reference to Elite Arab Women. Her combined academic career and interest in education and women’s empowerment has led to her active role and support of education and empowerment.

Kirdar is a Life Fellow of St Antony’s College, Oxford University, and is also Chairman of the Board of the Middle East Centre at the college and editor of the book Education in the Arab World. She serves on the board of the Steering Committee for the Emerging Market Symposium, Green Templeton College, Oxford University and is on the Advisory board of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. She is also an ambassador for Pembroke College, University of Oxford and serves on the Board of Trustees for the Eisenhower Fellowship.

In 2021 Kirdar launched her namesake e-commerce fashion platform. Partnering with craftspeople from across the globe, Serra Kirdar is a female-founded digital fashion and lifestyle platform dedicated to shining a light on independent designers. 

Built on four key values: Artisanal Craft, Community-Led, Female-Founded, and Responsibly Produced, Kirdar is passionate about supporting emerging talent. Built on the notion creativity is the guiding light without discrimination, her motto is our door is always open and there’s room for everyone. Not just another retail platform, by partnering with designers with a story to tell, Kirdar’s curation of ‘products with purpose’ sets Serra Kirdar apart.