Farah Nasser is a Canadian broadcast journalist, news anchor, and keynote speaker. She is best known as the former weekend anchor of Global National, one of Canada’s leading national newscasts.
Nasser was born on September 24, 1980 (45 years old) in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. She spent over 25 years in front of the camera and became one of Toronto’s most recognized faces in the news.
She co-anchored Global News at 5:30 and 6 in Toronto from 2015 to 2022, before moving on to Global National. Earlier, she anchored CityNews weekend editions on Citytv and reported for CP24.
Nasser has won the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for her special, Living in Colour: Being Black in Canada. She also won the RTDNA Sam Ross Award for her viral on-air commentaries.
Beyond the newsroom, she delivered a TEDx talk titled The Power of Intellectual Humility and hosted the History Channel series #CanadaUncovered. Today, she works as a keynote speaker focused on leadership and trust.
Quick Facts of Farah Nasser
| Full Name | Farah Nasser |
| Profession | Broadcast journalist, news anchor, keynote speaker |
| Age | (45 years old) |
| Date of Birth | September 24, 1980 |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Libra |
| Birthplace | Mississauga, Ontario, Canada |
| Current Address | Toronto, Canada |
| Gender | Female |
Farah Nasser Early Life and Education
Farah Nasser was born and raised in Mississauga, Ontario. She comes from an Indian Tanzanian Muslim family of Ismaili background.
Farah has shared that she experienced racism for the first time when she was just six years old. That early experience later shaped her reporting on race and identity in Canada.
Education
Farah began studying journalism at Ryerson Polytechnic University, now known as Toronto Metropolitan University, in the Radio and Television Arts program.
During her second year, at the age of 20, she landed a summer job with CNN’s bureau in New Delhi, India. This gave her early international newsroom experience.
She also studied European Media Studies at the University of Westminster in London, England. This added a global media perspective to her training.
| School | Yet to be updated |
| Alma Mater | University of Westminster in London, England |
| Highest Qualification | Radio and Television Arts, with further studies in European Media Studies |
Farah Nasser Personal Life
Farah Nasser is happily married and is a mother of two. She lives with her family in the Toronto area.
Husband
Farah Nasser is married to Razid Samdjy. The couple met through a mutual friend in 2007 and exchanged wedding vows on August 2, 2009.
Razid earned his Master of Business Administration degree at INSEAD in 2004. He has a background in technical and strategic marketing.
He has worked with global technology firms in senior roles, including Director of Strategy and Planning at Intel Corporation. Razid largely stays out of the spotlight despite his wife’s public career.
Children
Farah and Razid are parents to two children. They welcomed their first child, a son named Kian, in March 2013.
Their daughter, Arya, was born in October 2015. Farah often speaks about balancing motherhood with her demanding career in journalism.
Family
Farah’s parents immigrated to Canada from East Africa. Further details about her parents are yet to be updated.
Siblings
Farah has one younger brother named Latif Nasser. Latif was born on July 20, 1985, in Mississauga, Ontario.
Latif is a Canadian American researcher, writer, and presenter. He serves as the Director of Research and co-host at the popular WNYC Studios show Radiolab.
He also hosts the Netflix docuseries Connected. Latif holds an undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and a PhD from Harvard University’s History of Science department.
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Husband | Razid Samdjy |
| Children | Son: Kian Daughter: Arya |
| Parents | Yet to be updated |
| Siblings | Brother: Latif Nasser |
Farah Nasser Career
Farah Nasser has built a career spanning more than 25 years in Canadian broadcast journalism. She worked her way up from local radio newsrooms in Toronto to anchoring the country’s national newscast at Global News.
1999 to 2003: Starts at Newstalk 1010
Farah began her professional career in journalism at the age of 17. She first worked with Rogers TV before joining Newstalk 1010 in Toronto as a reporter in 1999.
2001: Summer at CNN in New Delhi
In 2001, at the age of 20, Farah landed a summer job at CNN’s bureau in New Delhi, India. She was a second-year radio and television student at Ryerson Polytechnic University at the time.
This international newsroom experience helped shape her storytelling approach early in her career.
2003 to 2005: Toronto 1
In 2003, Farah moved to Toronto 1 (later known as Sun TV) as a reporter and contributor. She continued building her on-air experience in a competitive local news market.
2005 to 2007: /A\ Channel News in Barrie
From 2005 to 2007, Farah worked as a reporter and anchor at /A\ Channel News in Barrie. This role gave her a stronger anchoring profile in southern Ontario.
2007 to January 2010: Citytv Toronto with Roger Petersen
In 2007, Farah joined Citytv Toronto, where she anchored the CityNews weekend editions at 6 pm and 11 pm. Her co-anchor during this period was Roger Petersen.
She held this role until January 19, 2010, when she was let go in a company-wide layoff that affected six percent of CITY’s staff. The weekend newscast was cancelled as part of the restructuring.
2010: Reporter and anchor at CP24
Later in 2010, Farah joined CablePulse24, known as CP24, as a reporter and anchor. She continued covering the Greater Toronto Area and built a strong reputation for live, breaking news.
May 2015 to June 2022: Global News Toronto with Alan Carter
In May 2015, Shaw Media named Farah as co-anchor of Global News at 5:30 and 6 in Toronto. She anchored alongside Alan Carter for seven years.
During this run, she covered major stories including the Toronto van attack, the London, Ontario terror attack that killed a Muslim family, and the 2020 United States presidential election from Washington, D.C.
She was also the first journalist to secure a one-on-one interview with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when Canada reopened after the long COVID-19 lockdowns in 2021.
2018: Moderated key political debates
In 2018, Farah moderated the main Ontario provincial election debate. The same year, she also moderated the only broadcast debate for the Toronto mayoral race.
June 2022 to June 2024: Global National weekend anchor with Dawna Friesen
In June 2022, Global News announced Farah as the new weekend anchor of Global National, the network’s flagship newscast. She anchored the Friday to Sunday editions while Dawna Friesen continued anchoring Monday to Thursday.
She also continued reporting for The New Reality, Global’s national current affairs program. Neetu Garcha worked as a substitute weekend anchor and BC correspondent during this period.
In June 2024, Farah announced on Global National that she was leaving the network after nine years. She closed a 25-year run in daily broadcast news.
2024 onwards: Keynote speaker and content creator
After leaving Global News, Farah moved into keynote speaking, focusing on leadership, trust, and what she calls Authentic Intelligence. She also delivered a TEDx talk titled The Power of Intellectual Humility.
She hosted the History Channel investigative series #CanadaUncovered, exploring stories left out of Canadian textbooks. She is also a board member of the Canadian Journalism Foundation and a Celebrated Ambassador for Plan International Canada.
Farah Nasser Awards and Achievements
Farah Nasser has earned national recognition for her reporting on race, diversity, and gun violence. Her work has been honoured by some of the most respected names in broadcast journalism.
Her Major Wins
- Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for her special, Living in Colour: Being Black in Canada.
- RTDNA Sam Ross Award for her viral on-air commentary, 93 Killed a Day at the Barrel of a Gun (2018).
- RTDNA Sam Ross Award for her commentary, What If the Fighting in Aleppo Was Happening in Toronto?
- Recognized as a pioneer for her reporting on racial divides in Canadian media, helping change how systemic inequality is covered.
- Delivered a TEDx talk titled The Power of Intellectual Humility, which has influenced emerging leaders worldwide.
- Serves on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Journalism Foundation and is a Celebrated Ambassador for Plan International Canada.
Farah Nasser Net Worth
Farah Nasser’s net worth has not been officially disclosed. Based on some estimates, her net worth is reported to be between $1 million and $5 million, with an estimated annual salary ranging between $73,262 and $128,870.
| Net Worth in Dollars (Approx.) | $1 million to $5 million |
| Salary (Approx.) | $73,262 to $128,870 |
Farah Nasser Height, Weight and Physical Stats
| Height | In centimetres: 170 cm In meters: 1.70 m In feet & inches: 5 feet 7 inches |
| Weight | Yet to be updated |
| Body Measurements | Yet to be updated |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
Farah Nasser Social media
 @farahnasserglobal | |
| X |  @FarahNasser |
 @farahnasserjournalist | |
 @farah nasser | |
| Own Site |  @farahnasser.com |
Interesting Facts about Farah Nasser
- Farah was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune condition called Polyarteritis Nodosa at the age of 22, and she has since worked closely with the Arthritis Research Foundation and the Power of Movement event to support others.
- She is a member of the International Women’s Forum, an invitation-only network of accomplished women leaders across 33 nations.
- After leaving Global News in 2024, she stepped fully into the world of keynote speaking, championing what she calls Authentic Intelligence, the human ability to build genuine connection in a synthetic AI world.
- Farah serves as a mentor for both CivicAction and the Canadian Association of Journalists, where she guides emerging journalists and young leaders.
- She once swallowed a bug on live television, an unscripted moment she still openly laughs about in her keynote talks.
- Farah has been featured in major media outlets, including The Social, Toronto Life, The Morning Show, CTV, Global News, CP24, Daily Hive, and History Channel.
- She took an extended leave of absence near the end of her time at Global Toronto, during which she focused on therapy and her mental health journey after personal loss.
More News Anchor Bios
FAQs
Who is Farah Nasser?
Farah Nasser is a Canadian broadcast journalist, former anchor of Global National, and a keynote speaker known for her work on diversity and leadership.
How old is Farah Nasser?
Farah Nasser is 45 years old. She was born on September 24, 1980, in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
Is Farah Nasser married?
Yes, Farah Nasser is married to Razid Samdjy. The couple tied the knot on August 2, 2009.
How many kids does Farah Nasser have?
Farah Nasser has two children, a son named Kian and a daughter named Arya.
Where did Farah Nasser study?
Farah Nasser studied Radio and Television Arts at Ryerson Polytechnic University, now Toronto Metropolitan University. She also studied European Media Studies at the University of Westminster in London.
Why did Farah Nasser leave Global News?
Farah Nasser studied Radio and Television Arts at Ryerson Polytechnic University, now Toronto Metropolitan University. She also studied European Media Studies at the University of Westminster in London.
Why did Farah Nasser leave Global News?
In June 2024, Farah announced she was leaving Global News after nine years to focus on keynote speaking, leadership work, and personal projects.
Who is Farah Nasser’s brother?
Farah Nasser’s younger brother is Latif Nasser, a Canadian American researcher and co-host of the WNYC Studios show Radiolab and Netflix’s Connected.
What awards has Farah Nasser won?
Farah Nasser has won the Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and two RTDNA Sam Ross Awards for her on-air commentaries.
