MED Young Leaders

Business Coordinator, Petrogas Libya

Mr. Abdulgader was appointed CEO of PetroGas in 2016. He is a business owner with experience in the Oil & Gas, Energy, and Infrastructure sectors, and as CEO of PetroGas Oil Services, he works to provide world class solutions through the support of a locally talented team in Libya to international Organisations. Prior to his work in Libya, he held a number of commercial positions across varied sectors in UK based businesses. He is an International Business graduate with an ICT background. As a shareholder and board member of PetroGas, a number of private programs have been set-up to support various Libyan NGOs and charity organizations assisting local Libyan communities.

Founder, Young Voices, Libya

Founder, Moroccan Center for Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship, Morocco

Former Security File Coordinator, Office of the Prime Minister, Libya and Associate Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House, United Kingdom

Abdul Rahman Alageli is an associate fellow at the Middle East and North Africa Programme, based in Tripoli, Libya. Mr. Rahman began working with the stabilization team of the Libyan Prime Minister’s Office, the Military Council and the Supreme Security Committee in 2011. He went on to be the national security file coordinator in the Office of the Libyan Prime Minister, and was also rapporteur then deputy head of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Border Security, and a member of the Libyan government's National Security Coordination Team until 2015. He was also a non-resident fellow at the Rafik Hariri Centre for the Middle East at the Atlantic Council from 2015 to 2017. He is a founder of the Libyan Youth Forum, as well as being a founding member of the Libyan Experts Forum and the World Economic Forums Global Shapers Hub in Tripoli.

Co-founder, 3BL Associates, Bahrain

Tariq Al-Olaimy is co-founder of 3BL Associates, which is a people + planet strategy consultancy and Think-do-Tank that was established to re-imagine a more regenerative Middle East, and to accelerate global sustainable development through collaboration. He is also a Biomimicry specialist and co-founder of the “Public-Planet Partnerships” initiative, which facilitates collaborations between humans and the rest of the natural world, in order to find shared solutions to some of our greatest inter-species sustainability challenges. He is currently a member of the Global Muslim Climate Network, Climate Action Network – Arab World, and serves as co-chair of UNESCO’s Global Action Program on Education for Sustainable Development Partner Network.

Visiting Fellow, Brookings Institution, Qatar

Ranj Alaaldin is Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution in Doha, Associate Fellow at Oxford Research Group and Associate Fellow at the International Center for the Study of Radicalization and Political Violence, King’s College London. He was previously Visiting Scholar at Columbia University and Senior Consultant at the Next Century Foundation, a track-two conflict resolution think-tank. He led election monitoring teams in Iraq between 2009 and 2014 and has led fact-finding missions to Libya (during the 2011 uprising), Turkey, Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon. He has advised government and non-government organizations and has published in peer-reviewed academic journals as well as the “New York Times”, “The Guardian” and “Foreign Affairs”. He is a contributing author to two edited volumes and author of a forthcoming book on armed groups in Iraq.

CEO, Moomken Organization for Media and Awareness, Libya

Ahmed Albibas s a Civil activist who has an interest in the way Peace building, Youth, Media, and social and economic researches In Libya.

Activist, Researcher and Project Coordinator, Peaceful Change Initiative, Libya

Mr. Emad Badi has worked extensively in the development field in Libya, most notably at the North Africa branch of Peaceful Change initiative where he led the conflict-sensitive implementation of UNDP’s Stabilization Facility. Emad is a One Young World Peace Ambassador and a fellow with the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, with expertise in the areas of migration, counter-terrorism and conflict resolution. He holds a Licentiate in French from the University of Tripoli, a BA in Economics and Business Management from Essex University, and is currently studying towards an MSc in Violence, Conflict and Development at SOAS.

Activist, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Jusoor Center for Studies and Development, Libya

Researcher and business law expert, Hala co-founded Jusoor Centre for Studies and Development in 2015 –the first Libyan think tank that focuses on economic development with special focus on women’s issues. Hala has also worked as a mentor and champion for UN Women’s Empower Women Global Program, recently founding LEAP, the first women business incubator . Hala is a frequent speaker in local and international conferences on issues related to economic development, gender and youth empowerment. She also serves as an advisor for many local and international organisations, managing all activities from Tripoli, Libya.

International Relations, Intesa Sanpaolo, Italy

Head of Section, Financing Unit, Central Bank of Lebanon

Mario El-Khoury is Head of Section - Financing Unit at the Central Bank of Lebanon. Since 2007, Mario has helped engineer numerous incentives and subsidized products for small and medium enterprises, amounting to billions of dollars to date. Moreover, Mario helps managing funds and grants advanced by international organizations (EIB, AFD, World Bank) and donors (EU) to SMEs. He is currently a D.B.A. candidate at the University of Plymouth (U.K.) and holds MA’s in Diplomacy & Strategic Negotiations from the University of Paris-Sud XI and in Banking & Finance from the Lebanese American University.

President and CEO, Tanmia 360, Libya

Abdulrahman Elgheriani is founder Tanmia 360, Alumnus of U.S. Department of State Leaders for Democracy Fellowship and MPA - Chevening scholarship"

Founder and Analyst, Libya Outlook Research and Consultancy, Libya

Advisor to the Minister of Education, Egypt

Habiba Ezz, the youngest woman in Egypt acting as an advisor to the Minister for Technical Education and Technical Secretariat, advises on technical education and strategies, as well as liases all projects and files related to the current Education Reform in Egypt. Habiba holds an MA in Economic and Social Science, from Paris West Nanterre University. She has worked at several development's organizations such as: the International Labor Organization, GIZ, UNDP and other UN agencies.

Research Fellow, Middle East Directions Programme, Robert Schuman Center for Advanced Studies, EUI - European University Institute

Georges Fahmi is a research fellow at the Middle East Directions Programme of the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, at the European University Institute in Fiesole, Italy.

Editor in Chief – Sada, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Intissar Fakir is a fellow in Carnegie’s Middle East Program, where her research focuses on political, security, and economic change in Morocco and other North African countries. Her research examines political Islam trends, local governance, social mobilization, and foreign policy. She is also the editor in chief of Sada, Carnegie’s Middle East online journal. Previously, she was the managing editor of the Arab Reform Bulletin, the precursor to Sada, at Carnegie. She has also served as special assistant to the vice president for strategy and policy at the National Endowment for Democracy. She has worked on implementing democracy and education assistance programs in the North Africa and the Middle East., has consulted for a number of organizations and companies and has written for numerous publications and news outlets in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.

Secretary General, Green Tea, Algeria

Mr. Hadjoudj is a medical doctor, a journalism master’s student and a Youth Development and Active Citizenship Specialist. In 2011, Tarek was elected as the Algerian Scouts International Commissioner and was responsible for youth engagement programs, cultural exchange activities and international relations in Geneva, Switzerland from 2009-2015. Tarek also founded the National Network for Children Rights and has been an active member in youth development programs in Algeria that partner with international entities. He was a trainer for the British Council’s Active Citizenship project between 2009 and 2011 and was a coordinator for the Youth Leadership Program in partnership with the Northern Nevada International Center. In early 2014, Tarek co-founded “Abcd”, an NGO working to improve youth development and active citizenship, of which he was later elected president. He and a team of young activists subsequently created the NGO "Green Tea”, which focuses on the promotion of humanitarianism and health.

Committee Vice-Chairman, Oxford Gulf & Arabian Peninsula Studies Forum, University of Oxford, United Kingdom

Adel Hamaizia is Committee Vice-Chairman of the Oxford Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies Forum (OxGAPS) where he is the Co-Editor of OxGAPS' thematic-quarterly, "Gulf Affairs". Adel is a researcher at the University of Oxford, where he focuses on the Political Economy of the Middle East, and where he teaches Middle East Politics. He is also a Senior Teaching Fellow at the Department of Financial and Management Studies at SOAS, University of London. Adel is an independent consultant advising governments and the private sector on and across the Middle East and North Africa with a focus on political risk, economic, and public diplomacy issues. He is an associate fellow at Chatham House and an associate at Global Partners Governance.

Activist and President, H2O, Libya

Mr. Mohamed Hamuda is a Libyan civil society activist who founded the H2O organization in 2011, designing and implementing capacity building, civic engagement programs and advocacy campaigns that push for better policies and laws to create a democratic and youth-friendly Libya. His experience has given him in depth knowledge of the community and voluntary sectors in Libya and the region . Through H2O he has accumulated a record of credible work engaging the Libyan youth in taking responsibility for their social needs and providing the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to address them. Mohamed also served as the general manager of the Libyan Public Policy Forum (LPPF), an independent non-profit think-tank that works as a national dialogue forum providing a specialized environment to discuss development issues. He engages regularly with international organizations as an independent consultant to support and create reform and promote good governance within Libyan institutions.

Co-founder and Managing Director, Zaitoun Ventures, Israel

Forsan Hussein is the managing partner of Zaitoun Ventures – a values-driven, hybrid investment company and start-up factory. He previously served as the CEO of Jerusalem International Y and Three Arches Company. Mr Hussein created several international organizations promoting Middle East peace and regional economic cooperation. He is a Kauffman Fellow, a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, a member of the Aspen Institute Global Leadership Network.

Member & Secretary of the Board of Trustees, The American University of Kurdistan, Iraq

Honar Issa is one of the founding members of the American University of Kurdistan (AUK). He is currently the Secretary to the Board of Trustees at AUK, playing a pivotal role in shaping the strategic policies of the University.

Director and Vice President, Homo Ex Machina Foundation, Italy

Mr. Kessler serves as Vice President of Homo Ex Machina Foundation, where he focuses on the formation projects for U25 . He graduated in International Relations and Diplomatic Affairs in 2018 at the University of Bologna and is currently pursuing an MA in International Relations focused on peace, security and conflicts at the Université Libre de Bruxelles.

Musician and Orchestra Conductor, Lebanon

Mr. Maatouk holds a PhD in Musicology, is a musician and orchestra conductor, as well as general secretary and assistant professor at Antonine University in Lebanon. He is also a researcher at the center of musical tradition, a conductor of The Antonine University Choir and guest conductor of the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as several other orchestras in Europe. He has published several books, articles and CD's.

CEO, Yeoubi and Co-Founder, Singa, France

After living his entire life abroad in countries such as Mali, Thailand, Sri Lanka, or Morocco, Nathanael quickly realized that all migrants were not as welcome as he was in those countries. This was the case for many refugees he met. Despite fleeing persecution or war in their homelands, these man and women were rarely offered opportunities to start a new life in their host countries and were largely discriminated against. In 2012, he co-founded SINGA, a social business working to connect refugees with their host societies, which today is one of France’s leading initiatives on refugee inclusion. He’s currently developing Yeobi, a social business using AI, to solve general difficulties faced by newcomers as they attempt to access the right information and services in their new countries.

Project Manager, Center for European Perspective CEP, Slovenia

Ms. Muherina is project manager at the Centre for European Perspective, where she focuses on the role of youth and the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans. She graduated in international relations from the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana. She is also the vice president of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Association for the United Nations.

Executive Director, Al-Jumhuriya Collective, Syria

Karam S. Nachar is the executive director of AlJumhuriya Collective, a Syrian civil society organisation that works at the intersection of media, research, and human development. AlJumhuriya's mission is to promote Syrian "self-knowledge" and the world's knowledge of Syria, either through the production of in-depth coverage of Syrian politics, society, history, and culture, or by providing Syrian writers, researchers, and long-form journalists, with the support and/or capacity building necessary for them to carry out their vital work. In either capacity, AlJumhuriya is guided by a core of liberal values, and by its vision for a democratic and pluralist Syria based on a sincere recognition of universal human rights. Besides his role in AlJumhuriya, Nachar is a lecturer in Modern Middle Eastern Studies at Işık University in Istanbul. Nachar holds a PhD in Modern History from Princeton University, an MA in Middle Eastern Studies from Oxford, and a BA in Political Studies from the American University of Beirut.

Founder and President, EMMA Euro-Mediterranean Music Academy for Peace, Italy

Paolo Petrocelli is a passionate, innovative and dynamic cultural entrepreneur, musicologist and violinist. In order to serve as an active citizen and support non-profit activity, he has become a leading member of some of the most prestigious international and cultural organizations, such as UNESCO, United Nations, Junior Chamber International, World Economic Forum, Aspen Institute, European Cultural Parliament, International Music Council. He is the Co-Founder and President of the Youth Committee of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO and the Founder and President of EMMA for Peace (Euro-Mediterranean Music Academy for Peace).

Associate Director, Shift'IN Agency, Algeria

Majda is the co-founder and associate director of Shift’IN, a tech and digital agency based in Algiers. On top of offering digital services, Shift’IN also organizes the Algeria Web Awards, a national competition that honors the best innovators and content creators online. A technology enthusiast since a young age, Majda launched and managed a successful e-learning platform, eduDz, when she was still in high school. She then became the Mozilla representative for Algeria for three years, building their community outreach and delivering training and workshops throughout the country. Majda is a Fulbright scholar, earning an MA in information systems management and data analytics at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has had multiple international experiences, including giving talks at Stanford University, and multiple TEDx events.

Commercial Operations Manager, Sankar Group, Syria

Majid is a Syrian entrepreneur who is now based in Istanbul. He is a graduate of NYiT and Essex University and currently a PhD candidate in International Relations at METU, focusing on Syria.

Innovation Specialist, Enel, Italy

Partner and Managing Director, Center for Engineering and Planning (CEP), Palestine

SVP Unmanned Systems, Leonardo, Italy

After graduating in Aerospace Engineering, Laurent spent two years in the UK working on Airbus programs before joingin Finmeccanica (now Leonardo) for a Corporate MBA scheme. He then spent four years working for the trains manufacturer AnsaldoBreda, managing complex programs in France, Greece and Morocco. He then joined Alenia Aermacchi, Finmeccanica’s aircraft manufacturer and managed the F35 program. He then completed an MA in Development and Labour economy path in UN-ILO and Sciences Po universities, prior to reengaging in a series of managerial roles in the Aircraft Division of Leonardo.

Senior researcher and scientific coordinator of the MENARA Project, CIDOB - Barcelona Centre for International Affairs, Spain

Eduard Soler i Lecha is senior researcher at CIDOB (Barcelona Centre for International Affairs) and scientific coordinator of MENARA, a EU funded research project on geopolitical shifts in the Middle East and North Africa. Since 2013 he has also led the El Hiwar project on Euro-Arab diplomacy at the College of Europe (Bruges). He is a political scientist and holds a PhD in International Relations from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. He is a part-time lecturer in International Relations at the Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals and at Ramon Llull-Blanquerna University. He is a member of the Observatory of European Foreign Policy, FIMAM (the Spanish network of researchers working on Arab and Muslim studies), EuroMeSCo and the advisory boards of Mediterranean Politics and IEMed’s Mediterranean Yearbook.

Project Coordinator of Peace Building Program, Momken Organization, Libya

The Coordinator of the Peacebuilding Program\Moomken organization. Researcher in the Libyan affairs, Blogger & activist

Founder, The Station, Iraq

Mr. Waisi is the founder of the Station for Entrepreneurship, the first incubator in Iraq. He is a business development enthusiast, founding his own company, ALAWJ MEDIA, which he developed to be one of the best in the country. He also co-founded many successful startups in Iraq

Creative Problem Solver, Conceptual Designer, Art Director & Illustrator, Egypt

As TED Global Speaker 2017, Ghada Wali is the youngest female speaker to represent the MENA region. The multiple-award-winning designer developed an Arabic typeface that was chosen as one of the best 100 graphic design pieces in the world by the Society of Typographic Arts in Chicago. She won a silver in the International A DESIGN AWARDS in Italy. Her work has been featured in art exhibits around the world and showcased in various articles internationally. Most importantly, Wali made it to Forbes Europe's List 2017 (Arts & Immigrants category) which makes her the first Egyptian woman to appear in this category. She has been featured on UN Women Egypt and has represented the Egyptian Women Council empowerment campaign. Wali holds a BA in design from the German University in Cairo and an MA in design from IED Istituto Europeo di Design, Florence, Italy. Her design experience includes MI7 Cairo, Fortune Promoseven and J. Walter Thompson, as well as teaching Graphic Design in both the German & American Universities in Cairo. Most recently, she was the only woman selected to represent the youth of Egypt at the opening of the world youth forum sharm el sheikh. She was also selected within the top 50 most influential women in Egypt, 2018.

Non-Resident Fellow, Middle East Institute, United States of America

Guney Yildiz is a researcher and journalist. He is currently a journalist with the BBC News in London and a Non-Resident Fellow with the Middle East Institute in Washington DC. He has recently finished a fellowship with the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), a pan-European think-tank, where he worked as a specialist researcher on Turkey, Kurds and Syria. He had advised members of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee of the House of Commons, as a Specialist Adviser on Turkey. He is pursuing a PhD at Cambridge on political mobilisation by armed non-state actors in the Middle East. He regularly provides analysis on Turkey, Kurds and Syria for British and international TV, Radio and online outlets.