Participants Youth Forum

President, Moroccan Center for Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship (MCISE), Morocco

Adnane Addioui is an Ashoka Fellow, social commentator, social entrepreneur and disruptive thinker, who has committed his life to work in the MENA region, particularly Morocco, enabling creative thinking, entrepreneurship and innovation for the common good. He has co-founded the Moroccan Center for Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship where he currently serves as Chief Visionary. He is the former Country Director for Enactus Morocco, a World Bank-IMF Fellow, and an active member of the Junior Chamber International. World Traveller, loves training and Facilitation with a touch of simplicity and critical thinking.

Co-founder, 3BL Associates, Bahrain

Tariq Al-Olaimy is co-founder of 3BL Associates, a people + planet strategy consultancy and Think-do-Tank, that was established to accelerate global sustainable and regenerative development through collaboration. Through 3BL Associates, Tariq has co-founded various initiatives, including 'Diversity on Board', which is a platform that brings greater parity of gender and youth to advisory board positions in the MENA region; 'Recipes for Wellbeing, which is an organization that works towards shifting the culture of changemakers to include a focus on holistic wellbeing, and 'Public-Planet Partnerships', which is a framework that facilitates mutually beneficial collaborations between humans and the rest of the natural world. Tariq is among the first 100 people in the world to complete a specialization in the field of Biomimicry.

Co-founder and Operation Manager, Shiffer, Turkey

Shiffer co-founder and operation manager. Azhar is a Syrian entrepreneur, civil engineer and supply chain management expert, Azhar is inspired by the solutions and inventions of technology, and employed it in solving our local and global issues. Since 2018, Azhar is managing Shiffer, which is online logistic platform for express shipping, reducing transit time, shipping cost and environmental impact, by making connection between sender and reliable passenger, his achievements have appeared in high growth of his startup and winning top prizes in Middle East and Europe such as 3rd edition of MIT innovate for refugees and Startup roadshow.

Co-Founder, Shift’IN Agency, Algeria

Chouaib Attoui is the co-founder and associate director of Shift'IN, a digital agency that specializes in building custom web and mobile solutions for Algerian corporations and multinational companies. Organizer of Algeria Web Awards, the biggest web and digital competition in Algeria, he is also the Community Leader and Facilitator of Startup Weekend Algeria since 2012. Chouaib first majored in Computer Science at the Higher National School of Computer Science (ESI) in Algiers. He then studied Entrepreneurship and International Business at the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, USA.

Head of Recruitment and Translation Services, NaTakallam, Lebanon

Lydia Bassaly is Egyptian-American. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from Georgia State University and spent a semester at the American University in Cairo in 2011, where she participated in the Egyptian Revolution of 2011. In 2017, Bassaly attained her master’s in International Affairs at Columbia University and interned at Human Rights Watch’s MENA division. Lydia joined NaTakallam late 2017 and has since given a TEDx talk in Istanbul titled “Identity Transcends Borders.” Her work at NaTakallam has included expanding the translation client base from 3 to over 60 clients and hiring 100+ freelance refugee translators who gain an income through translation work provided by NaTakallam.

Project Manager, European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), Spain

Aleksandra Chmielewska is Project Manager at the European Institute of the Mediterranean, where she manages a number of projects, funded by European institutions. Prior to that, she worked at the Perm Rep of Poland to the Council of Europe and at the Polish Ministry of Regional Development. Aleksandra participates regularly in conferences on youth, regional development & EU Med policies. She is an Atlantic Dialogues Emerging Leader from the 2018 cohort. She has been a lecturer on EU project management at IBEI – Barcelona Institute of International Studies and Blanquerna Faculty (Ramon Llull University). Aleksandra holds MA in Political Science from Sciences Po Strasbourg and Jagiellonian University, Cracow.

Founder and General Manager, AGOG Marketing, Albania

Keti Gjipali was raised in an entrepreneurial family. After graduating in Bachelor for Business Administration, she started the Master of Science in Marketing, at the University of Tirana and she graduated with a Gold Medal. In 2016, she founded AGOG Marketing, an international agency, specialized in online marketing. Recently she is giving her contribution as an Ass. Professor at the University of Tirana, Faculty of Economy and European University of Tirana.

Committee Vice-Chairman, Oxford Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies Forum and Associate Fellow, Chatham House, UK

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 an independent consultant advising governments and private sector on and across the GCC and North Africa with a focus on political risk, economic development, and public diplomacy issues. He 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. Adel is also a research fellow at Chatham House, and an associate at Global Partners Governance.

Founder, DoctorX, Jordan

Ahmad Bassam Hilmi Ibrahim from Jordan studied electrical engineering at the University of Jordan. through his studies, he has done multiple internships with MIT Media Lab, Techworks (Digital Fabrication Lab), JREEEF (Jordan renewable energy efficiency fund). Been a scholarship apprentice in programs like google cloud architecture scholarship program and young changemaker scholarship program in the Università Della Svizzera Italiana. At MIT Media Lab research group and they were interested in helping refugees and holding the social responsibility to improve education and healthcare and from that he started a project which turned into a startup called DoctorX. Its main goal is to help refugees to keep their medical records for them and their loved ones in multiple languages which he noticed as a big challenge to medical team whenever they where trying to help refugees or to be in a position to treat them if something was wrong with them. He has worked for sereval years in voluntary communities like IEEE Jordan section and Showman foundation. In early 2017 he co-founded the Power and Energy Chapter in the University of Jordan which has pioneered different projects in Jordan that were reaching out for rural areas to educate them about Energy as well as installing renewable energy systems for such schools.

Founder and CEO, Zaitoun Ventures, USA

Forsan is an investor, entrepreneur, and turnaround manager, currently serves as founder and CEO of Zaitoun Ventures, a values-driven hybrid investment company and start-up factory with offices in USA, China and the Middle East. Forsan co-founded LeapLearner, education technology company that teaches students worldwide coding. Forsan created several international organizations promoting Middle East peace and regional economic cooperation. He is a Kauffman Fellow for innovation investing, Aspen Institute Leadership Fellow, and a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum. Forsan holds a B.A. from Brandeis University, M.A. from Johns Hopkins, and MBA from Harvard Business School.

CEO, WeCode LAND, Tunisia

Wala KASMI, serial impact entrepreneur, founder of Youth Decides GROUP, an economic and political coalition of millennials innovating for a more peaceful, just and sustainable world. Through system changing impact startups, Wala and her team are establishing initiatives to counter unemployment, violent extremism and youth exclusion in the MEA region. Wala KASMI won the French President award for social innovation, Tunisian Parliament Honor, Ashoka fellowship... among other awards. Speaker for Tunisian women in Tokyo and Tunisian Youth in Ottawa and Tunisian Social Entrepreneurs in San Francisco.

Operation Manager and Founder, Olomangy, Egypt

Founder and Operations manager of a social enterprise called Olomangy which is working on improving STEAM education in Africa, Shimmaa Khaled is working as education young expert for African Union-European Union youth cooperation Hub. She has 6 years' experience in education field working for different entities in different countries like Future University in Egypt, CEMASTEA Kenya, International organizations like African Union, enterprise, NGOs and Multinational Company like Nagwa which is specialized in digital education. Recently she has been awarded a scholarship form Alghurair foundation to start her master at Arizona State University in Education Technology.

Young Leader, Women Deliver, Algeria

Ikram Laimeche is an undergraduate English and literature student also she loves sharing literature reviews on social media, she has represented her countries in different opportunities and has been always an inspiration for young females, Ikram is the founder of Stronger Together project and a young leader at Women Deliver organization and also a member of the youth committee for the Dove self-esteem project.

Project Coordinator, Youthmakers Hub, Greece

Marilena Maragkou is the Co-founder and Project Coordinator of the organization Youthmakers Hub being a professional Project Manager. She holds a Bachelor in MBA and an MSc in International Marketing. She is a Young Expert in Education in the AU-EU Youth Cooperation Hub, being responsible to create, evaluate and monitor projects between Africa and Europe. She has been working as a Project Manager in European educational projects since 2013, having managed successfully 18 projects until now, most of them focusing on educational and sustainable development.

Vice President, Sine Qua Non, France

Antoine Michon is the Vice-President and a co-founder of Sine Qua Non, and also a master’s student in International Security in Sciences Po. Following his bachelor in Sciences Po’s Middle Eastern Campus , he worked in the West Bank, before completing an internship in the Political and Security Committee of the EU. He is currently a research assistant in the Turkey and Middle East Program at the French Institute on Foreign Relations (Ifri). Specialized on the Levantine region, he has been specifically working on the Israeli-Palestinian question and the role of security forces.

Co-founder and President, Yeobi, France

After living abroad all his life in countries such as Mali, Thailand, Sri Lanka, or Morocco Nathanael quickly realizes that all migrants were not as welcomed as he was in those countries. In 2012, he co-founded SINGA a Non-profit innovating to integrate refugees by connecting them with local communities sharing common passions or professions that is today active in over 8 countries. After living SINGA, he co-founded a new venture called Yeobi in 2018 with the goal to improve the way newcomers access the information and services they need to live in their new host countries.

Founder and Country Director, Nerdz Factory Company, Nigeria

Ademulegun Olowojoba is a human capital development specialist who works closely with government and private sector institutions in developing quality human capital development systems for young Africans. He is the Founder of codetutor.com.ng, a startup that is committed to making Computer Science Education and technology skills accessible to young Nigerians while also creating access to decent job opportunities.

Founder and CEO, Mmaakunim Foundation, Ghana

Akosua Peprah is the Founder of the Mmaakunim Foundation, a social venture with a mission of ensuring that every girl regardless of their socio-economic background and geographical location, has equal access to quality and equitable education needed to enhance their knowledge and skills to ensure their success and to increase the overall positive impact on their lives. Through this foundation, Akosua engages with peers and experts in underprivileged communities and works with government officials to influence policy in ways to make education accessible and available to kids in rural Ghana. Akosua has launched the Happy Flow Project, providing access to sanitary well-being to 135 girls between the ages of 13 and 18 in Damongo in Savannah Region, Ghana. The initiative provides free monthly sanitary materials, WASH Facilities, train girls in TVET and organizes workshops on violence prevention, education, health, and wealth creation. Akosua holds a B.A. in English and Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies from Ohio State University.

CEO, alsoug.com, Sudan

Tarneem Saeed is the CEO of alsoug.com, Sudan’s largest online classifieds, and one of the most visited local internet platforms in the country. By promoting transparency, trust and efficiency of transaction between buyers and sellers, www.alsoug.com is actively helping to drive the Sudanese economy online. Tarneem is also head of strategy at Saeed Group, a longstanding and reputable Sudan-based industrial conglomerate. Tarneem sits on the advisory board of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. Her previous professional experience was as a lawyer with Allen & Overy LLP, London.

Project Manager and Coordinator, Moomken, Libya

IT and E-learning advisor in Moomken organization, Ali Shaatani is an Activist and researcher in modern methodology of learning, coming from technical and IT background and recently joined Moomken to provide support and help the community in his specialities.

Director of Public Relations, Sine Qua Non, France

Shanti Walde is Director of Public Relations at Sine Qua Non, a young, European think-tank aimed at producing independent research on the European foreign policy in the MENA region. She is currently doing a dual Master’s degree (Science Po Paris / Freie Universität Berlin) in international security with a focus on Euro-Mediterranean relations. 


Founder, Wali’s, Egypt

TED Global Speaker 2017, Ghada Wali makes the youngest female speaker representing MENA region. She is the first Arab designer to speak at the UNESCO headquarters, Paris, France on the celebration of the World Arabic Language Day. 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, Italy. Wali's work most recently won the Granshan competition in Munich, as well as two Adobe Design Achievement awards in San Diego. She has been awarded the AWDA, AIAP the women in Design Award in Milan, recognising the influential women in the field. Most importantly, Wali made it to Forbes Europe's List 2017 (Arts & Immigrants category). As well as OKAYAFRICA-100WOMEN list 2018. She has been featured on UN Women Egypt and has been representing the Egyptian Women Council empowerment campaign. Most recently she was selected to represent the youth of Egypt at the opening of the world youth forum sharm el sheikh, and has been awarded by the president. She was also selected within the top 50 most influential women in Egypt, 2018.