Naila Kiani

Naila Kiani is the leading Pakistani female mountaineer and inspirational speaker and is the only female climber in Pakistan and MENA to have summited 11 peaks above 8000 meters.

Naila has now summited Everest, K2, Nanga Parbat, Broad Peak, Lhotse, Annapurna, Gasherbrum-I, Gasherbrum-II, Manaslu, Cho Oyu and Makalu. She is the third Pakistan overall to climb 11 peaks. Naila is also the fastest Pakistani climber to have summited 11 x 8000ers in under three years of starting mountaineering. She is one of the 10 climbers in the world who have climbed multiple (7+) peaks above 8000 meters in less than 6 months in 2023.

As such, she has been honoured with several awards, including the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, one of Pakistan’s highest civil awards, presented by the Government of Pakistan, and the highest civilian award given to any female athlete in Pakistan.

Naila is known for her mountaineering records but that’s not all that encapsulates her dynamic personality. A mother of two young girls aged 3 and 5 years, Co-Founder of The Virtual Company – a Saudi headq, Aerospace Engineer from the QueenMary University of London, and a formidable Boxer who competed at national level in the UK, Naila has learned her lessons from different walks of life and that’s what makes her unique.

Naila Kiani believes in the mantra that anything is possible, and she proved it by starting mountaineering after having children. Within two years, she broke several national and international records whilst juggling work, family, and sports.

Mountaineering Achievements

• The 1st and only Pakistani female climber to summit eleven 8000 meters peaks.
• The 1st and only climber based in MENA to summit eleven 8000 meters peaks.
• One of the 10 mountaineers in the world to have climbed multiple (7+) peaks above 8000 meters in less than 6 months in 2023.
• The Fastest mountaineer (both women and mens category) in history from Pakistan & MENA to have summited 11 peaks of about 8000 metres
• The 1st Pakistani female climber to climb GI, GII, Annapurna, Lhotse, Naga Parbat, Broad Peak, Manaslu, Cho Oyu and Makalu
• 1st Climber to Reach the Top of Everest in 2023

Nalia Kiani is an ambassador to Ascend Athletics, Steam, Gulf for Good, and Bard Foundation and in March 2024, the President of Pakistan conferred Sitara-i-Imtiaz to Nalia. She is the only female athlete to receive Sitara-i-Imtiaz, the highest civilian honour given to any female athlete in Pakistan

Naila is proud to be a national goodwill ambassador for girls Education” appointed by the Ministry of Education.

NAILA KIANI SPEAKING TOPICS

Naila’s mantra is that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. She encourages others to dream big and believe in themselves, irrespective of the life phase they are in. She speaks on the challenge of embarking on such feats and the dual role of navigating the ups and downs of parenthood at the same time.

As a woman, a mother, and someone from a humble background she didn’t stop from pursuing the aim of climbing the three highest peaks, and that, too, within a year.

“You too can do anything you want to if I, a girl from Rawalpindi, can climb the highest peaks of Pakistan, something I once believed to be impossible. You simply need to tap into your inner strength.”

Naila Kiani also speaks on mental health and her own mental health struggles and how taking on these challenges has helped.

Topics covered include –

• Overcoming Adversity & Perseverance
• Anything is possible
• Peak Performance
• Mental Health
• Resilience