Dr Hany El Banna, is the Co-founder and President of Islamic Relief, the largest Western-based international Muslim NGO, established in 1984 in Birmingham, UK. The organization is dedicated to alleviating the suffering of the world's poorest people by promoting sustainable development. A pathologist by profession, Dr. Hany attended a medical conference in Sudan in 1983 during a time of famine in the region. The poverty and desperation he witnessed compelled him to return and set up Islamic Relief as an organisation to help the people in need.

Islamic Relief now works in over 30 countries and over the years has provided aid to millions of people in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. The organisation also implements development projects such as education, water and sanitation, healthcare, income generation, orphan welfare and Waqf (Islamic endowment trust). Islamic Relief often works in partnership with other respected aid agencies including Oxfam, Red Cross, Christian Aid, CAFOD and OCHO to accomplish its humanitarian goals.

In November 2003, after 20 years of humanitarian work, Dr Hany was honoured by Queen Elizabeth II with an OBE for services rendered to the community. He is also the recipient of the prestigious Ibn Khaldun Award, presented by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Muslim News for promoting understanding between global cultures and faiths.