Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh leverages an extensive communication and development background. Currently he is the chairman of EFE-Jordan, and the CEO and Managing Partner of Abu-Ghazaleh Intellectual Property, and the Vice President of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization. Alongside serving as a member of several associations worldwide, he is a Board Member of the Queen Rania Award for Excellence. He was appointed as Chair of the Young Presidents’ Organization in Jordan between 2006 and 2007; MENA Regional Chair between 2007 and 2009; and YPO International Board Member between 2008 and 2011. He also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Yarmouk University.

Mr. Aclimandos serves as the chairman of the Egyptian-American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham Egypt) and the President of TransCentury Associates. He first joined the AmCham Egypt board in 1987 and has served as chair of AmCham Egypt's Customs, Investment & Trade and International Donor Programs committees, and as vice president of membership from 2001 to 2005. A certified accountant, Mr. Aclimandos earned a Bachelor's of Arts in accounting from Cairo University and holds Egyptian and U.S. certification in financial management and analysis.

Ms. Bellamy served as Chair of the Global Partnership for Education where she oversaw a significant transformation of the Partnership Prior to this, Ms. Bellamy served as President and CEO of World Learning, a private, non-profit organization promoting international understanding through education and development. Bellamy also served 10 years as Executive Director of UNICEF, the children's agency of the United Nations and she was the first former volunteer to become Director of Peace Corps. Ms. Bellamy was named one of Forbes magazine's 100 Most Powerful Women in the World in 2004. In 2009, Bellamy was awarded the Légion d'Honneur by the Government of France.

Andrea Brentan is non-executive Chairman of FTI Consulting Spain (part of FTI Consulting, the global business advisory firm quoted on the NYSE), and Senior Advisor to Bain Capital Private Equity and to Bain Capital Credit. Between 2009 and 2014, he served as CEO of Endesa, the leading electrical utility in Spain and Latin America, part of the Enel group. Mr. Brentan had previously led Enel’s international expansion in Eastern Europe, Russia, Spain and Latin America as well as in other countries. He is a renowned expert in the management of large international companies in several fields, including energy and utilities, and engineering and contracting. He has a BA (with honors) in Mechanical Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Milan and an MSc in Applied Science from New York University. He served in numerous boards of directors including the Supervisory Board of Slovenske Electrarne (Chairman), Viesgo (Chairman), Enel North America (Chairman), Enel Latin America (Chairman), Enersis (Deputy Chairman), Enel Green Power and EUFER. He was appointed “Grand’Ufficiale dell’ordine della Stella della Solidarietà” by then Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. He served as Chairman of ANIDA, the Italian association of environment protection companies, and as Deputy Chairman of the Club Español de la Energia.

Ron Bruder is the Founder and Chair of Education For Employment (EFE), the leading nonprofit job placement Network in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). A social franchise of independent, locally-run Affiliates, EFE identifies critical skill gaps in the local economy, then develops and delivers targeted training programs for youth with limited opportunity. Graduates are linked to jobs through, with employers, civic and educational organizations. After graduating its first class in 2006, EFE expanded rapidly, and operates in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia with support hubs in the USA, Europe and UAE. Honored by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People for his non-profit work with EFE, Bruder began as a serial entrepreneur. In 1977, Mr. Bruder founded The Brookhill Group, which owns and manages properties throughout the US with a focus on creating investment partnerships to develop or redevelop shopping centres, office buildings and multi-family homes. A globally recognized philanthropist, Bruder has addressed youth employment issues at the World Economic Forum in Davos and the United Nations, as well as in the media including the Financial Times, Forbes, Bloomberg and Al Jazeera. At the World Economic Forum in Tianjin in 2012, he was named a Schwab Foundation Global Social Entrepreneur for his work in founding EFE. Mr. Bruder earned a Bachelor’s degree from Adelphi University, an MBA from New York University, and a Post Master's degree in Accounting & Taxation from Iona College.

A journalist and professor, Mary Dedinsky helped establish Northwestern University’s international campus located in Qatar. For more than ten years she led a mission established by the Qatar Foundation and Northwestern to teach journalism to students of Qatar, the MENA region and other parts of the world and introduce them to employment experience at distinguished news and public relations firms. She served as Director of the Journalism and Strategic Communication Program and Director of the Journalism and Strategic Communication Residency at Northwestern University in Qatar. Before entering academia, Ms. Dedinsky was a Chicago newspaper journalist -- a beat reporter, investigative journalist, editorial writer and metropolitan editor before she became the first woman managing editor of a major U.S. metropolitan newspaper at the Chicago Sun-Times. Later she became associate dean and associate professor of journalism at Medill on Northwestern’s main campus in Evanston, IL, and served as internet web editor for the Chicago Tribune, coordinating the work of its newspaper, television, radio and internet news staffs. Awards include induction into the Medill Hall of Achievement, the Illinois Press Association Lincoln League and the Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame.

Abed El-Jaouni is the founder of several successful real estate and aviation companies located in Germany, France and Lebanon. He began his career as a pilot with Team Lufthansa, where he attained the rank of Captain before transitioning to the private sector to launch a number of ventures. In 2004, he established Cirrus Middle East in Lebanon as a regional hub for his aviation group. Later renamed ImperialJet, the company operates aircrafts under Mr. El-Jaouni’s chairmanship. In 2010, he established Phoenix Real Estate, a luxury real estate company in France, where he currently serves as President. For more than a decade, Mr. El-Jaouni has actively supported charities and scholarships in Lebanon. He graduated from the FFL Flying Academy in Germany and earned his MBA from Atlantic International University.

Dr. Frye is the Presidential Senior Fellow Emeritus and a former president of the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington D.C. A widely-published author who provides frequent testimony before the U.S. Congress, Dr. Frye has taught as a visiting faculty member at Yale University, the University of California (Los Angeles) and Harvard University.

Mr. Hassan began his career with D’Arcy, progressing through domestic and international assignments with Leo Burnett and FCB Worldwide until joining Element79 Partners as a founding partner and Chief Strategic Officer of the Omnicom start up. He went on to lead HP global marketing for the Imaging and Printing division and later Corporate Marketing. In 2012, Tariq returned to the Middle East as Omnicom’s first President of the Middle East & Africa managing holdings for the region with a focus on integrating capabilities across a broad range of marketing services. Prior to joining Petco, he served as Senior Vice President, Global Brand Strategy and Marketing at Bank of America.

Mr. Samer Khoury is the Chairman of Consolidated Contractors Group, one of the largest Arab international construction companies operating throughout the Middle East, Africa, CIS, Europe, and the U.S. For more than 20 years, Mr. Khoury has been highly involved in business, social and educational activities in the Middle East and Europe. He is co-chair of the Aspen Institute's Middle East Strategy Group.

Cynthia is a partner at Haven Green Capital Partners in London, which is dedicated to allocating capital to best-of-breed sustainable and impact investment managers. Previously, from 2014 to 2021, Cynthia was a partner at Cheyne Capital, a leading European hedge fund platform. Cynthia has dedicated the major portion of her career to Wealth Management, at Morgan Stanley from 1997 to 2013 as a Managing Director and at JP Morgan from 1983 to 1996. Cynthia holds a BA from Cornell University and an MBA from the American Graduate School of International Management.

Ms. Rizk currently consults with start-ups in Silicon Valley and New York City. She has been active with, and led, a number of non-profit organizations. Ms. Rizk is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and an advisory board member of the Harvard Business School California Research Centre. Formerly, she was a trustee of the World Affairs Council of Northern California; board member of the Harvard Business School Alumni Association, board chair of the Harvard Business School Club of Northern California (over 20 years on the board), member of the President’s Council of Cornell Women, and board member of TechWadi.

Isam Salah retired as a Senior Partner and the Head of the Middle East Practice at King & Spalding in December 2017, after a 25-year career at that law firm. During his tenure at the firm, he led in the establishment of the firm’s offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh. His practice covered a broad range of finance and investment matters, in particular those financings and investments structured on a Shari’ah-compliant basis. He is best known for his expertise in representing Gulf financial institutions, investment companies and family offices in their real estate, private equity and leased equipment investments in the United States. He is a former President of the Arab Bankers Association of North America. A graduate of Case Western Reserve University, Mr. Salah received his law degree from Cleveland State University, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Cleveland State Law Review. He received his LL.M from Georgetown University Law Center, where he held a fellowship at the university’s International Law Institute. He currently serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations, including the Global Board of Education For Employment.

Mr. van Slingelandt has over 19 years of investment banking experience in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. He specializes in cross-border M&A and capital markets transactions across a broad range of industries. Prior to joining Moelis & Company, Mr. van Slingelandt worked at J.P. Morgan for 15 years in a variety of senior roles in Dubai, London and Hong Kong.

Noor Sweid is the founder and General Partner of Global Ventures (“GV”), a leading emerging market-focused venture capital firm. With a headcount of over 30 people, AUM of almost $300 million, backing from well-known investors such as General Atlantic, Tiger Global, Capria Ventures, Bupa Arabia, Mubadala, ADQ and SVC – Global Ventures has made 46 investments across ten markets since 2018 - and invested in several EdTech companies. Previously, Noor was the first woman to operate, scale and IPO a company in the MENA region, listing Depa on NASDAQ Dubai and the London Stock Exchange, for US$1.1 billion, in April 2008. Noor scaled Depa tenfold, expanding from six countries to 22, including four cross-border acquisitions. Identified by Forbes as one of the “World’s Top 50 Women in Tech”, Noor's previous roles include CIO at The Dubai Future Foundation, and a Founding Partner at Leap Ventures, a tech-focused, entrepreneur-led venture capital firm. Noor also founded the largest yoga studios chain in the Middle East, ZenYoga - acquired by Cedarbridge in 2014. Noor holds several board roles on Global Ventures’ portfolio companies. She is also Chairwoman of the Middle East Venture Capital Association, and Director of the Global Private Capital Association. She is a Director at TechWadi and the Karman Fellowship, a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, and a member of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders. Noor holds a Bachelors’ degree from Boston College, and an MBA from MIT Sloan.

Karthik Venkataraman is a partner in Bain & Company's Washington DC office. He is an expert in Bain's Results Delivery® practice. He has more than 10 years of industry and consulting experience and previously worked in Bain's London and Singapore offices. Karthik works across industries and has extensive experience in retail, airlines and healthcare, with a focus on organizational effectiveness. He also advises on M&A across industries with deep expertise in post-merger integration. Karthik is passionate about economic development and education and is a leader in the firm's social impact efforts. Prior to joining Bain in 2007, he worked in the technology space at SAP. Karthik earned an MBA from the Wharton School where he graduated as a Palmer Scholar. He also earned an MA in International Studies with Distinction from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a Bachelor's degree in History with High Honors from Princeton University.

In 2018, Mr. Shishtawi joined the EFE-Global Board of Directors as the first EFE Alumnus Board Member, reflecting Mr. Shishtawi’s significant achievements and EFE’s belief in the distinctive value that youth contribute to organizations. He currently serves as a Quality Assurance Officer for Pharmacy One, the largest pharmacy chain in Jordan. Mr. Shishtawi assumed the role in 2016 after graduating from EFE-Jordan. Since graduating and becoming employed, he has engaged in his community and with the media as an advocate and champion of youth employment. Mr. Shishtawi volunteers as an inspirational speaker at EFE-Jordan events, and at Injaz he has delivered trainings to equip seventh grade students with skills to contribute positively to society. Mr. Shishtawi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from The Hashemite University.

Mr. Olcese is member of the Royal Academy of Economics and Chairman of Fincorp Mediacion (Merchant Bankers). He is also board member of AC Hotels; independent director of Attijariwafa Bank Maroc; and senior advisor of N+1 Investment Bankers, McGraw Hill, world leader financial and industrial restructuring firm Alvarez & Marsal, and leading Spanish satellite and Wi-Fi communications company Eurona. He is also Chairman of Fundación Independiente, the oldest institution in Spain advocating for an open, participative and solidary Spanish civil society. He was awarded the Civil Merit Highest Cross by HRM the King of Spain for his contribution to good corporate governance and corporate social responsibility, having published over ten books on these subjects. He has received the Grande Ufficiale dell’Ordine del Mèrito by the Republic of Italy, the Commander of the Order of Wissam Al-Alaoui by the Royal Throne of Morocco, and the Commander of the Order of Civil Merit by the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg. He received his doctorate, with honours, in Economics and Business from the Autonomous University of Madrid. Mr. Olcese sits on the EFE-Global Board of Directors.

Dr. Shibley Telhami is the Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development and a non-resident senior fellow at the Saban Center at the Brookings Institution. In the past, Telhami served as a senior advisor to the U.S. Department of State, advisor to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, advisor to Congressman Lee Hamilton, and as a member of the Iraq Study Group. Shibley is an expert on U.S. policy in the Middle East, on Arab politics, and on shifting political identities in the Arab world. He regularly conducts public opinion polls in the Arab world, Israel, and the United States. Among his many publications are “The World Through Arab Eyes: Arab Public Opinion and the Reshaping of the Middle East” (Basic Books, 2013), “The Peace Puzzle: America’s Quest for Arab-Israeli Peace 1989-2011” (Cornell University Press, 2013), and the best-selling “The Stakes: America in the Middle East” (Basic Books, 2003), selected by Foreign Affairs as one of the top five books for that year. He received is Ph.D. in Political Science from University of California, Berkeley; his M.A. in Philosophy and Religion from Graduate Theological Union; and, his B.A. in Mathematics from Queens College of CUNY.

Hassan Damluji is Head of Middle East Relations at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where he is responsible for strategy and engagement across the 22 countries of the Arab League, as well as Turkey. He is also lead Middle East adviser to Bill and Melinda Gates. Previously, Hassan worked for the consultancy firm McKinsey & Company, where he led large-scale transformations for governments and philanthropy in the Middle East. He co-founded and sits on the Board of the Lives & Livelihoods Fund (LLF), a $2.5 billion fund based in the Islamic Development Bank. He is a lead expert on education, and is actively involved in many educational initiatives in the UK such as the New Schools Network, Free Schools in England, Achievement for All, and One Degree Academy. Hassan holds a double-first class BA from Oxford University and an MA from Harvard University, where he was awarded the Von Clemm Fellowship. He has been named by Arabian Business as one of the 100 Most Powerful Arabs Under 40.

Mr. Elfverson has devoted most of his career to the United Nations system, serving in a number of senior positions including that of Director in the Iraq Programme. In cooperation with the World Health Organization he established and managed the MENTOR Foundation, a private initiative working in the field of substance abuse prevention among young people in many countries of the world. He has also served in the Swedish Foreign Service and has held executive positions with the Axel Johnson Group in Sweden, Mexico and Australia, and the Nordic American Banking Corporation in New York. He has been Senior Diplomatic Advisor to the Club of Madrid, DARA, FRIDE and EFE.

Zineb Guessous is the Managing Partner of Almena Partners, an advisory firm focused on impact investing in emerging markets. Prior to founding Almena, Zineb spent 14 years in the private equity industry during which she executed investments in small and medium-sized businesses in Europe and Latin America. She understands first-hand the importance of good leadership and management teams in successfully growing and managing businesses, and how increased female representation in the business world leads to higher returns for the shareholders. She is a firm believer in the power of education to create thriving societies and is working actively to expand access to high quality online education in the MENA region. Zineb holds an M.B.A from Harvard Business School and B.S. in Economics and Management from the University of Lausanne.

Andrew Baird is the President & CEO of the global hub of the Education For Employment Network (EFE-Global). Previously, Andrew was the Program Area Director, Workforce and Economic Development Group for RTI International, where he led a team of 130 employees and a $150 million portfolio. There, he provided leadership, strategic direction and technical support in workforce development, livelihoods, entrepreneurship, youth, and other areas closely related to EFE's work. Andrew brings to EFE more than twenty-five years of experience in advancing private sector-led strategies to create inclusive employment and livelihoods around the world - including in several countries where EFE operates. He co-founded the Global Center for Youth Employment, a membership-based organization devoted to developing collective solutions to the challenges of youth employment. Andrew is a skillful business development expert and has managed a number of long-term donor-funded projects. He has held leadership positions in a range of organizations in the field and home offices of RTI International, Making Cents International, Chemonics International, and the Peace Corps. Andrew holds a BA from The College of Wooster and an MA from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

Hassan Damluji is Head of Middle East Relations at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where he is responsible for strategy and engagement across the 22 countries of the Arab League, as well as Turkey. He is also lead Middle East adviser to Bill and Melinda Gates. Previously, Hassan worked for the consultancy firm McKinsey & Company, where he led large-scale transformations for governments and philanthropy in the Middle East. He co-founded and sits on the Board of the Lives & Livelihoods Fund (LLF), a $2.5 billion fund based in the Islamic Development Bank. He is a lead expert on education, and is actively involved in many educational initiatives in the UK such as the New Schools Network, Free Schools in England, Achievement for All, and One Degree Academy. Hassan holds a double-first class BA from Oxford University and an MA from Harvard University, where he was awarded the Von Clemm Fellowship. He has been named by Arabian Business as one of the 100 Most Powerful Arabs Under 40.

Cristina Manzano is editor-in-chief of “esglobal”, the former Spanish edition of Foreign Policy magazine, the leading digital publication on global affairs in Spanish. She is also a regular contributor to other Spanish and international media, such as El Periódico de Cataluña, or Open Democracy. Ms. Manzano writes a blog for The Huffington Post and participates as speaker or lecturer in events and seminars on different topics related to international affairs, with a special focus on Spanish and EU foreign policy, communications, and philanthropy.

Cynthia is a partner at Haven Green Capital Partners in London, which is dedicated to allocating capital to best-of-breed sustainable and impact investment managers. Previously, from 2014 to 2021, Cynthia was a partner at Cheyne Capital, a leading European hedge fund platform. Cynthia has dedicated the major portion of her career to Wealth Management, at Morgan Stanley from 1997 to 2013 as a Managing Director and at JP Morgan from 1983 to 1996. Cynthia holds a BA from Cornell University and an MBA from the American Graduate School of International Management.

Mrs. Shawwa inherited a security firm in Jordan and assumed executive responsibility in 1996. In 2004, she was key in the merger of the firm with the multinational G4S. Today, G4S Jordan has over 1,500 employees. Mrs. Shawwa is now a partner and director on the board of G4S Jordan. She is also a board member of the International Women’s Forum in Spain and of the Arab Ladies Diplomatic Association in Madrid. She has been active in several fundraisers for charity and has also volunteered as a teacher at a UNRWA school in Amman Jordan. In 2012, Mrs. Shawwa earned an executive degree from the Owners and Entrepreneurs Management Program from Instituto Empresa business school in Madrid, Spain.

Mr. Olcese is member of the Royal Academy of Economics and Chairman of Fincorp Mediacion (Merchant Bankers). He is also board member of AC Hotels; independent director of Attijariwafa Bank Maroc; and senior advisor of N+1 Investment Bankers, McGraw Hill, world leader financial and industrial restructuring firm Alvarez & Marsal, and leading Spanish satellite and Wi-Fi communications company Eurona. He is also Chairman of Fundación Independiente, the oldest institution in Spain advocating for an open, participative and solidary Spanish civil society. He was awarded the Civil Merit Highest Cross by HRM the King of Spain for his contribution to good corporate governance and corporate social responsibility, having published over ten books on these subjects. He has received the Grande Ufficiale dell’Ordine del Mèrito by the Republic of Italy, the Commander of the Order of Wissam Al-Alaoui by the Royal Throne of Morocco, and the Commander of the Order of Civil Merit by the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg. He received his doctorate, with honours, in Economics and Business from the Autonomous University of Madrid. Mr. Olcese sits on the EFE-Global Board of Directors.

Giuseppe Tringali is Vice-President of the International Advisory Board at IE Business School; President of the IE/EY Global Corporation Center; President of the Advisory Board of the IE/ FT “Top Board Program” Headspring; President of the CurArte Foundation; Senior Advisor at Pedersen & Partners, a leading international executive recruiting firm; and Board member of Vodafone Foundation Spain. He is also former advisor of the Board of Alkemy Iberia. Giuseppe Tringali has a long trajectory in the business and media industries, having been CEO (2004-2014) and later Vice-President (2014-2018) of Mediaset in Spain. He began his career at the Italian television company RAI and, over the years, has held several positions in the sector, including Managing Director and later member of the Board of Directors of PubliItalia; CEO of Publiespaña and Publimedia; and Director of Publieurope, among many others. He is author of the book "15 Casos de éxito probado" (Aguilar, 2013) on how companies’ attitudes help overcome moments of crisis, as well as several articles in renowned media outlets. He is a regular contributor of the Spanish daily ABC. In 2008, he was awarded the order of "Stella d’Italia” from the Italian Government.

Mr. Hidalgo is co-founder of the leading Spanish daily newspaper El País and for 30 years he served as a member of the Board. He is President of FRIDE and of DARA Evaluation. He is also President and founder of the Foundation Los Santos de Maimona, and founder of the Club of Madrid and of the Toledo International Center for Peace. He is advisor of the United Nations Commission on “Legal Empowerment of the Poor”, founding member and senior fellow of the Gorbachev Foundation of North America (GFNA), and fellow of the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University. He recently founded the European Council for Foreign Relations with George Soros. Mr. Hidalgo has an LLB from the University Complutense of Madrid and an MBA from Harvard University. In 2008 he received the Raymond Goris Prize for Best European Philanthropist and in 2011 the Commitment to Development Award from the Center for Global Development.

André Azoulay is advisor to King Mohammed VI of Morocco. He previously advised Mohammed’s father, King Hassan II. Mr. Azoulay is also President of the Foundation for the Three Cultures and the Three Religions (Seville) and of the Pierre Mendes France Institute (Paris). He is member of the Committee of Wise Men for the Alliance of Civilizations at the United Nations, member of the Royal Academy of Morocco and of the Spanish Royal Academy of Economy and Finance. Mr. Azoulay is a distinguished figure of the Islam-Judaism dialogue and the Israeli-Palestinian Dialogue in Europe, as well as in the Maghreb and the Middle East.

Mrs. Jiménez García-Herrera served as Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (2010-2011), Minister of Health and Social Policy and Equality (2009-2010) and State Secretary for Latin America (2006-2009). From 1996 to 2000, she was in charge of political relations with America at the International Relations Secretariat of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) and in 2000 she joined the party’s Federal Executive Committee as International Relations secretary, position to which she was re-elected in 2004.

Mr. Diez-Hochleitner is Honorary President of the Club of Rome and Executive Committee member, as well as Honorary President of its Spanish Chapter. He also serves as advisor to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance and is member of the boards of the Foundation for a Culture of Peace, the Bertelsmann Foundation Spain and the Foundation for the Future, as well as member of the Advisory Committee of FRIDE. He has been a university professor in Salamanca and Bogota, inspector general for Industrial Professional Education in Spain, general coordinator of the Ministry of Education in Colombia and principal education advisor for the OAS. He also served as director of the Department of Investments in Education at the World Bank and director of the Department of Educational Policies and Reforms at UNESCO. Mr. Diez-Hochleitner has been technical secretary-general, and later under-secretary of state for Education and Science in Spain, Vice-President of the Fundación Santillana and of the holding Timón, as well as board member of PRISA.

A German diplomat, and former Ambassador to Spain (1995-1999), Ambassador Wegener is Honorary President of Cremades & Calvo–Sotelo Abogados Advisory Board. He has been director general of the Spanish Association for Investor Protection (AEMEC) (2008-2016), long-time member of the Board of Directors of Euroshareholders (now Better Finance), and founding Chairman of the Permanent Observatory for Cybersecurity of the World Federation of Scientists (2001-2016). He is currently member of the Executive Committee of the World Federation of Investors and member of the Club of Rome. Since 2015, he is Chairman of the Board of the Stichting Volkswagen Investors Claim. A lawyer by profession and Doctor of Law, Ambassador Wegener holds distinctions from various countries, among others the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic. He is author of numerous publications in the field of foreign and security policy, currently with an emphasis on cybersecurity.

1) Mr. Elfverson has devoted most of his career to the United Nations system, serving in a number of senior positions including that of Director in the Iraq Programme. In cooperation with the World Health Organization he established and managed the MENTOR Foundation, a private initiative working in the field of substance abuse prevention among young people in many countries of the world. He has also served in the Swedish Foreign Service and has held executive positions with the Axel Johnson Group in Sweden, Mexico and Australia, and the Nordic American Banking Corporation in New York. He has been Senior Diplomatic Advisor to the Club of Madrid, DARA, FRIDE and EFE.

Andrea Brentan is non-executive Chairman of FTI Consulting Spain (part of FTI Consulting, the global business advisory firm quoted on the NYSE), and Senior Advisor to Bain Capital Private Equity and to Bain Capital Credit. Between 2009 and 2014, he served as CEO of Endesa, the leading electrical utility in Spain and Latin America, part of the Enel group. Mr. Brentan had previously led Enel’s international expansion in Eastern Europe, Russia, Spain and Latin America as well as in other countries. He is a renowned expert in the management of large international companies in several fields, including energy and utilities, and engineering and contracting. He has a BA (with honors) in Mechanical Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Milan and an MSc in Applied Science from New York University. He served in numerous boards of directors including the Supervisory Board of Slovenske Electrarne (Chairman), Viesgo (Chairman), Enel North America (Chairman), Enel Latin America (Chairman), Enersis (Deputy Chairman), Enel Green Power and EUFER. He was appointed “Grand’Ufficiale dell’ordine della Stella della Solidarietà” by then Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. He served as Chairman of ANIDA, the Italian association of environment protection companies, and as Deputy Chairman of the Club Español de la Energia.

Ron Bruder is the Founder and Chair of Education For Employment (EFE), the leading nonprofit job placement Network in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). A social franchise of independent, locally-run Affiliates, EFE identifies critical skill gaps in the local economy, then develops and delivers targeted training programs for youth with limited opportunity. Graduates are linked to jobs through, with employers, civic and educational organizations. After graduating its first class in 2006, EFE expanded rapidly, and operates in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia with support hubs in the USA, Europe and UAE. Honored by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People for his non-profit work with EFE, Bruder began as a serial entrepreneur. In 1977, Mr. Bruder founded The Brookhill Group, which owns and manages properties throughout the US with a focus on creating investment partnerships to develop or redevelop shopping centres, office buildings and multi-family homes. A globally recognized philanthropist, Bruder has addressed youth employment issues at the World Economic Forum in Davos and the United Nations, as well as in the media including the Financial Times, Forbes, Bloomberg and Al Jazeera. At the World Economic Forum in Tianjin in 2012, he was named a Schwab Foundation Global Social Entrepreneur for his work in founding EFE. Mr. Bruder earned a Bachelor’s degree from Adelphi University, an MBA from New York University, and a Post Master's degree in Accounting & Taxation from Iona College.

Zahira is Head of Middle East Relations at the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation. A Middle East and Africa enthusiast, Zahira has over a dozen years of experience in the field of development, advocating for policy change, cementing partnerships and leading investment projects. She started her career as a policy officer at the Quai d’Orsay (France’s Foreign Ministry) before working as a management and strategy consultant between France and Morocco. She later joined the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London, spearheading the Bank’s engagement efforts in the Gulf region. Zahira joined the Gates foundation a first time in 2015 before re-joining in 2021. She has co-launched the foundation’s largest partnership in the region, the Lives and Livelihoods Fund, and championed the foundation’s gender equality priorities in the Gulf. Zahira has spent time living in Kuwait where she authored Philanthropy in evolution: private foundations in Kuwait (Harvard Kennedy School) and advised her family business on strategic ventures with blue-chip companies and global philanthropic partners.

Zahid Afzal is a functional, transformational and strategic business executive with broad business (including Profit & Loss), operational, technical and strategic experience in a variety of senior management positions from a global Fortune 500 setting to startups. Demonstrated ability to define and lead strategy and goals, select appropriate tactics, and provide business and technology leadership in execution and operations to internal and external customers over assisted and self service channels. An organization builder and people manager with excellent leadership skills, especially in developing effective leaders and motivating others. More than 26 years of experience as a senior Information Technology and business Executive for some of the top global and regional financial services and progressive technology companies including Capital Bank, Huntington National Bank, Bank of America, Broadslate Networks, Citibank, and MCI Telecommunications. Mr. Afzal has had the privileged to serve on many for-profit and non-profit boards. He is also very active in the business and civic communities.

Dr. Amira Annabi is an Associate Professor of Finance at Manhattan College in New York. She earned a Ph.D. in Finance from HEC Montreal, an MSc in Financial Engineering from HEC Montreal, and a BSc from Institut Superieur de Gestion in Tunis. She serves as the Faculty Advisor of the Manhattan College Investment Club, mentoring students in investment, portfolio selection, and stock pitches. Her academic research interests include the interplay between bankruptcy laws and capital structure decisions, the impact of financial regulation on banks’ performance, and the drivers of financial literacy among young adults. Dr. Annabi has presented her research at numerous conferences and published her work in the International Review of Law and Economics, the Journal of Financial Education, the Journal of European Operational Research, and the Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, among others. She is the recipient of the Collaboration, Growth, and Innovation (CGI) grant awarded by the New American Colleges & Universities (NAC&U). Dr. Annabi launched a Financial Literacy Initiative at Manhattan College, which serves the Bronx community in New York. She is also regularly invited to talk at the annual Bloomberg for Education symposium, an event focused on integrating the use of the Bloomberg Terminal in undergraduate finance classes.

Katharine (Kitty) B. Cushing is Managing Principal of 7Sisters, an international advisory business formed in 2011 with the primary purpose to help US businesses to broaden relationships globally. Katharine is Founder of Newport Global Summit, a global leadership retreat held annually in Newport, Rhode Island since 2009. The Summit engages CEO’s successful entrepreneurs, family offices from around the globe as well as institutional investors to actively collaborate in a program designed to broaden perspectives and business relationships.

Katharine has a long history working as trusted advisor to family offices, and family business owners. She has served as independent consultant to numerous companies across a wide range of industry sectors on global business development strategy. Prior to forming 7Sisters, LLC, Katharine served as independent consultant to numerous companies and closely held businesses. From 2004-2009, she was Vice President of Neuberger Berman, and prior to that a Founding Partner of Wainwright Investment Counsel and Managing Director of H.C. Wainwright & Company. Currently, Katharine serves on the Board of Directors for AMIDEAST and PFM (Providence Facilities Management) Board of Directors (affiliate to the Providence Performing Arts Center). She is a member of the International Advisory Board for the Anthony Quinn Foundation and formerly served as member of the Arab Bankers Association of North America (ABANA) Board of Directors from 2007-2016 and served on the Board of Directors for the George Washington Institute for Religious Freedom founded by Former Ambassador John L. Loeb.

Robert Dinerstein has had an extensive and varied legal and investment career in commercial and investment banking, venture capital, strategic consulting and service on two public company boards. He has served as general counsel of the investment banking divisions of Citicorp, Shearson Lehman Bros. and UBS; as chairman of the venture capital firm, Crossbow Ventures and as a member of the board of a bio pharmaceutical company and a commercial bank. He is currently chairman of Veracity Worldwide, a strategic risk advisory firm which counsels multi national companies and other organizations doing business in emerging markets. He also has broad experience in the not for profit and educational fields having served on the boards of Phipps Houses, a leading New York low and moderate housing developer, the American Red Cross in Greater New York and Sheltering Arms, a 150 year old diversified social services organization. In the education field, Bob has served as chairman of Everybody Wins, a literacy and mentoring organization, as a member of the Dean’s Leadership Council of the Harvard Graduate School of Education and as a member of the Advisory Board of the School of International and Public Affairs of Florida International University. He is also currently a member of the Advisory Committee of the U.S. Export-Import Bank. Bob is a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Michigan Law School.

Andrew Macken thrives on collaborating with the families he works with, finding new and interesting ways to bring their passions too investing and philanthropy. His natural and insatiable curiosity encourages innovation, and was instrumental in the development of AddeparTM, a family office repointing software application designed to make investing more data-driven, transparent and impactful. He also advises several startups and entrepreneurs that are building disruptive new innovative technologies. Andrew spent over eighteen years at Goldman Sachs and Fidelity Investments advising both families and institutions on investment strategy, portfolio management and economic policy. Andrew also sits on several non-profit boards and carries that passion and experience for global business to the EFE community.

John Mannix, CEO of Baldwin Brothers Inc., is a big picture thinker who sets strategies for long-term success while staying mindful of the present moment. In addition to his work with some of the leading families in the U.S., John is also a Board member at New Summit Investments. He is a graduate of Syracuse University, a member of Pershing’s Advisor Council and is active on several non-profit boards, including Nativity Preparatory School, the Marion Institute, and Buttonwood Park Zoological Society.

Mr. Massand is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix Advisors, Ltd., an Abu Dhabi based firm focused on legal finance, knowledge transfer, and innovation in the legal industry across the globe. Phoenix also offers dispute resolution and advisory services to clients seeking to navigate multijurisdictional issues and distressed credit opportunities.

Mr. Massand has over 20 years of international experience working with Institutional Investors, Multinational Corporations, Banks, and Family Offices in the United States, the Middle East, and India. He holds a Juris Doctor in Comparative Constitutional Law from New York Law School and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Boston University. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association, ABANA (formerly the Arab Bankers Association of North America), a Charter Member of TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) Dubai, and serves as an Advisory Board Member of New York Law School’s Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Kevin Matossian is a film producer and founder/CEO of SilverCrest Entertainment LLC, a Los Angeles based film and television production company. Mr. Matossian’s extensive background in production includes “The Promise”, “September Dawn”, “LOST”, “Purgatory Flats” and “In Living Color”. As an entrepreneur, Mr. Matossian has founded and successfully exited several ventures including Film Solutions LLC, which provides film productivity and workflow solutions with offices in Los Angeles, Raleigh and London. In addition, Mr. Matossian has served on the boards of several start-up ventures including, Ventura Marketing, Inc., Netlinks Co. and SearchFast Inc. Most recently, Mr. Matossian served as a board member and advisor of Critique It, Inc., where he helped oversee its successful exit to 2U Inc., a publicly traded technology provider in the education sector. Mr. Matossian’s passion for business establishes the tempo in all his ventures. While putting family first, he takes pride in his work ethic, leadership-by-example and a fiscally responsible approach to any venture that he is a part of.

Isha Mehmood is Global Compliance Counsel of News Corp, a global, diversified media and information services company. Her expertise includes cross-border litigation, government investigations, corporate compliance and ethics, and ESG. Prior to joining News Corp, Isha was an associate at DLA Piper and Herbert Smith Freehills LLP in New York, where she represented multinational corporations and foreign governments in litigation, regulatory, and enforcement matters, including alleged violations of anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws. She has also served as a legal liaison for the UN International Law Commission, a fellow for the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice, and a program officer for the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ROLI). She also co-founded Inaayah, a nonprofit organization that, while active, supported migrant, refugee, and displaced communities through an arts-based fundraiser. Isha received her law degree from NYU School of Law, and holds a bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech and master's degree from American University. She has lived in five countries and has experience in more than 60 countries.

Katherine Parr is an American designer and entrepreneur with a background in both the public and private sectors. Currently working as the founder and owner of a namesake jewelry brand, and co-founder of a chocolate brand, Parré Chocolat; volunteer advisor for charities. She began her career as a fashion model following graduation from Villanova University's School of Business, discovered by Patrick Demarchelier. Enjoyed honing expertise in international fashion industry as well as in the non-profit sector as a US government-certified teacher and social entrepreneur. Co-founder of Parré Chocolat and founder of Katherine Parr Jewelry, both with an ethical luxury philosophy and transparent supply chain. Advocate and speaker: completed a TEDx Talk on Conscious Consumerism Is the Road to Economic Empowerment, and has been featured on CNN, and at various venues including Villanova University and others. Member of the Accessories Council.

Zainab Salbi is a leading humanitarian, speaker, and author known for her decades of dedication to serving female survivors of conflict. Ms. Salbi founded Women for Women International and served as its CEO for almost 20 years, serving thousands of women in conflict areas, and has spoken and written extensively on women’s lives during conflict. She has received recognition as part of People’s “25 Women Changing the World,” Foreign Policy Magazine’s “100 Leading Global Thinkers,” and Fast Company’s “Most Creative People in Business” in addition to being honored by President Clinton for her humanitarian work in Bosnia.

Alex Velaj is a dedicated philanthropist and chairman of the Velaj Foundation. The Foundation supports a number of important areas: a public/private partnership to develop urban open space, helping families and individuals as they move toward financial independence, year-round mentoring and activities for grades K-12 and other community-based organizations. The foundation has been awarding grants in the MENA region since 2008, starting with after-school and summer music programs for young people and is now focused on the work of EFE.

Ambassador Frank G. Wisner currently serves as an International Affairs Advisor at Squire Patton Boggs, LLP. During his diplomatic career spanning nearly four decades, he served as US Ambassador to Egypt, India, the Philippines, and India. He also served as Undersecretary of Defense for Policy and as Undersecretary of State for International Security Affairs. He serves as the Chairman of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington and International House.

Omar Wohabe is a partner at Wohabe Law Offices in New York representing Arab Gulf State governmental, institutional, and private clients on investments/commercial transactions abroad. He has served as an advisory board member of the George Washington Institute for Religious Freedom, the president of Arab Bankers Associate of North America, and Director of Badwa Capital Limited.

Born in Beirut, Amira spent her formative years in Dubai and Geneva, where she attended a French school until she graduated from high school. She then attended Stanford University in California, graduating with a B.A in English Literature with a focus in Creative Writing in 1999. She moved to the East Coast immediately after graduation to attend The Georgetown Law Center, and in 2002 moved to New York City where she worked a short time in corporate law in securities, before realizing that the corporate environment was not fulfilling for her. She has been a New Yorker ever since, where she continues to live with her husband and now two teenage sons who attend the Lycée Francais de New York, a school she is passionate about, for which she serves as vice-chair of development, and where her husband currently is Chairman of the board since 2022.

An entrepreneur at heart and a fitness enthusiast, Amira opened Flywheel Sports in Dubai in 2010, which was the first American boutique fitness studio in the Middle East. She is a dedicated and creative fundraiser and volunteer who has helped raise important sums over the years, for the Lycée Francais de New York and Every Mother Counts, where she continues to be involved.

She is passionate about human rights, the status of refugees, immigration rights, and access to health care and education. Amira sits on the board of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation since 2019. Amira has also recently joined the Stanford LEAD New York City Council.

• Anis Aclimandos (Chair): Chairman, American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt (AmCham Egypt)
• Dr. Abla Abdel-Latif, Chairwoman, Presidential Advisory Council for Economic Development
• Ahmed Abou Ali: Partner, Hassouna & Abou Ali
• Hossam Allam: Managing Director, Head of MENA and New Markets, Hassan Allam Services
• Amr Badr: Managing Director, AmCham Inc.
• Andrew Baird: CEO, EFE-Global
• Ronald Bruder: Founder, Education For Employment
• Adel Danish: Chairman & CEO, The Smart Village
• Hisham Fahmy: CEO, American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt (AmCham Egypt)
• Alaa Hashem: Co-Founder and Executive Partner, Transcendium
• SherifH. Kamel: Professor & Dean, American University in Cairo (AUC)
• Elizabeth Khalifa: Chief People Officer, Zooba
• Omar A. Mohanna: Chairman, Suez Cement Group
• Gamal Moharam: Non-Executive Chairman, Newscape Egypt
• Tarek Tawfik: Chairman, Cairo Poultry Group
• Shahira Zeid: Vice Chairman & CEO, MZ Investments
• Dalia Ibrahim: CEO at Nahdet Misr Publishing House & Founder of EdVentures

• Luay Abugazaleh (Chair): Managing Partner, Abu-Ghazaleh Intellectual Property
• H.E. Samir Murad: Business and Social Entrepreneur
• Andrew Baird: President & CEO, EFE-Global
• Mohammed Bataineh: Chairman & CEO, Agri Jordan, and BADR Developments
• Ronald Bruder: Founder, Education for Employment
• Taima Khoury Kawar: Social and Civic Leader
• Isam Salfiti: Chairman, Al Etihad Bank for Savings and Investment
• Ms. Haifa Al-Khraisha: Former policy analyst, International Affairs Department at the Royal Hashemite Court
• Prof. Rowaida Al Maaitah: Professor at Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST), Former Minister of  Higher Education and Scientific Research

• Amine Berrada Sounni (Chair): CEO, Compagnie Chérifienne de Chocolaterie (Aiguebelle)
• Laila Slassi-Sennou (Vice President): Co-founder, Afrique Advisors
• Anas Guennoun: Managing Partner, West Capital Partners
• Naziha Belkeziz-Laraqui, Co-Founder, Cabinet Associés en Gouvernance Maroc
• Abdelkader Boukhriss: CPA, Societe Feduciare du Maroc
• Ronald Bruder: Founder, Education For Employment
• Omar Chaabi: Executive Vice President, Ynna Holding
• Mohamed Ali Kadiri: Founder, Dictys
• Soraya Sebti: Head of Sustainability & CSR, BMCE Bank of Africa
• Mohamed Ibrahim Slaoui: CEO, MAFODER Group

• Mazen Sinokrot (Chair): Chair & CEO, Chairman, Sinokrot Global Group (SGG)
• Samih Al Abid: Advisor, Former Minister of Public Works and Housing, Palestine Investment Fund
• Asmaa' Alkhoudary: Financial Officer, Saqqa & Khoudary (Gaza)
• Andrew Baird, CEO, EFE-Global
• Ronald Bruder: Founder, Education For Employment
• Rushdi Ghalayini: Deputy General Manager, Bank of Palestine
• Hiba Husseini: Senior Attorney & Managing Partner, Former Vice Chair, Palestine Securities Exchange
• Nafez Husseini: VP, ICT & Digital Business; Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC)
• Mazen Ja’bari: Director, Youth Development Department (YDD)
• Jamal Jawabrah: Secretary General, Palestine Chamber of Commerce
• Umayyah Khammash: Head of Department of Health, UNRWA (Jerusalem)
• Samer Khoury: President Engineering & Construction, Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC)
• Safa Nassereldin: Former Minister- VP for Jerusalem, Alquds University, Al-Quds Open University
• Maha Abu Shusheh: General Manager, Abu Shousheh Trading Company

• Saeed Alharbi, Chairperson - Vice President Human Resources, Olayan Holding Company
• Lynne M. Fleifel, Vice President Corporate Affairs, Olayan Financing Company
• Hamad Al-Kaltham: Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, AlTurki Holding
• Sultan K. Olayan, Senior Associate Private Equity and Corporate Development, Olayan Financing Company

• Maitre Donia Hedda Ellouze (Chair): Lawyer, Supreme Court of Tunisia, Hedda-Ellouze, Ellouze & Belajouza-Felli
• Souheil Ben Abdallah: Senior International Development Specialist, Deloitte
• Hedi Sellami: CEO, Tunisie Cables; Vice President, One Tech Group
• Slim Zeghal: CEO, Altea Packaging
• Adel Torjmen: CEO, Sungard - FI
• Naceur Hidoussi: President, AmCham Tunisia
• Mouna Hamden: Specialist IFC, World Bank
• Monia Maare: Member of the Board of Directors
• Leila Kefi: CEO of Hôpital Avicenne, Private Equity Health Advisor and independent member of the group board
• Ronald Bruder: Founder, Education For Employment
• Andrew Baird: CEO, EFE-Global

• Abdul Aziz Al-Yaqout: Founder & Partner, Meysan Partners
• HE Reem Abdel Rahim BinKaram: Director, NAMA Women Advancement Association
• Andrew Baird: CEO, EFE-Global
• Ronald Bruder: Founder, Education For Employment
• Mariam Farag: Head of CSR, MBC Group
• Raza Jafar: Founder GSN, ENSHAA
• Yogesh Mehta: CEO, Petrochem Middle East
• Hamdi Osman: Founding Member, Middle East and North African Franchise Association (MENAFA)
• Karim Seifeddine: Corporate Communications Head, Middle East & Africa, CITI
• Arda Atalay: Regional Director, LinkedIn Middle East

• Alwan Shaibani (Chair): Chairman of the Board, Universal Group of Companies
• Amat Alsoswa: Assistant Administrator and Regional Director Regional Bureau for Arab States, UNDP
• Andrew Baird: CEO, EFE-Global
• Ronald Bruder: Founder, Education For Employment
• Yusuf Al-Kuraimi: Managing Director, AlKurami Express Islamic Microfinance Bank
• Jamal Al-Mutarreb: Owner and Founder, Al-Mutarreb Group
• Maha Salah: Training & Performance Director, CAC Bank
• Mohammed Abdo Saeed: Regional Director, Hayel Saeed Anam Group
• Huda Al-Sharafi: VP, Almaz Group
• Hani Shehadeh: Area GM (construction) and GM (oil and gas), Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC)