Zara Janjua studied Business Management as an undergraduate degree, before undertaking a Masters in Journalism, where she volunteered at The Innocence Project. It was here she started investigating miscarriages of justice and drafting appeals to the Scottish Criminal Case Review Commission. She then launched her career as a human rights journalist with the Scottish Human Rights Commission before becoming a current affairs news presenter.

She has worked as a weekly columnist for The Scottish Sun, presented the Sunday morning show on BBC Radio Scotland, and reported on Cop26 and Cop27 for The New York Times.

Zara Janjua has presented national news programmes, as well as daytime, comedy, and cookery shows. She is one of BBC Radio London’s New Voice Talents, won a place in BBC Comedy Writer’s Room, and hosted BBC’s The Comedy Underground. She has reported for the New York Times, and has performed as a political satirist for BBC’s Noising Up.

ZARA JANJUA | COMEDY

Zara Janjua is one to watch on the comedy circuit, twice gaining a spot at the semi-finals of Scottish Comedian of the Year, and she regularly performs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and other festivals around the UK.

She has appeared in adverts, including a global campaign for Liz Earle Skincare, and a UK-wide campaign for Sainsbury’s. She also hosts global fashion shows, sporting events, awards ceremonies, and corporate dinners, as well as hosting a series of podcasts for RBS about entrepreneurial women.

She is an advocate for women’s rights, equality, and mental health, and has spoken at some of the biggest International Women’s Day events across the country. She is an ambassador for several charities, working closely with Bloodwise, Craig Gowan’s Memorial Fund, and Jak’s Den.

ZARA JANJUA | CHARITABLE WORK

She is the founder of Scottistani Productions, a humanitarian film project which tells stories of impact, from Nepal to Tanzania, to Guatemala, Canada, and the Cayman Islands.

She also launched the Gender Pay Gap Action Plan for Scotland with Nicola Sturgeon, worked on the Domestic Abuse Campaign with Solace during lockdown, filmed with Richard Branson on the first ever ‘Pride Flight’ for Stonewell 50 in New York, and presented the European Bank of Reconstruction and Redevelopment conference in Uzbekistan 2023.

ZARA JANJUA | AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Her career has seen her receive a number of awards and accolades, including:

– United Nationals Women Awards Finalist (2023)

– YunoJuno Freelancer of Impact Award (2023)

– Female Filmmaker Award, Global Tourism Film Festival (2023)

– Paul Harris Fellowship Award, Rotary International (2022)

– Top 40 Digital Women Winner (2022)

– Women of the Future Awards Finalist (2021)

– Funny Women Awards Finalist (2020-2023)

– BBC Comedy Writer’s Room Winner (2019)

– BAFTA for This Morning (2018)

ZARA JANJUA | PRESENTING CREDITS

– Presenter on BBC Radio Scotland every Sunday
– Presenter’s friend on BBC Radio 5 Live with Gordon Smart
– Presenter for Karren Brady’s Women in Business Event, London
– New Voice Talent, BBC Radio London
– Reporter, New York Times at COP26 & COP27
– Presenting videos on Norwegian Prima and other travel films for Not Just Travel
– Presenter for NatWest Women in Business Podcast
– Presenter for NatWest Learning & Development Podcast
– Presenter for Scottish Government – Gender Pay Gap Action Plan
– Presenting the Financial Alliance For Women Annual Summit 2022

– Presenting The European Bank of Reconstruction and Redevelopment Conference in Uzbekistan 2023
– Presenter & Compere for BBC Comedy Underground
– Presenter and Actor for BBC Radio Noising Up
– Former STV News presenter
– Former STV Daytime presenter
– Regular contributor on BBC, ITV Daytime shows