Testing Agenda

H.E. Dr.Maitha bint Salem Al Shamsi

Minister of State, United Arab Emirates; Advisor to Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak and Chairperson of the Supreme Committee of the Sheikha Fatima Fund for Women Refugee | United Arab Emirates

H.E. Dr. Maitha bint Salem Al Shamsi currently serves as Minister of State in the United Arab Emirates and Advisor to Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the “Mother of the Nation.” She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology and conducts research across several social fields, with a particular interest in scientific research. She has authored numerous books and research studies on women, demography, and development. She currently chairs the Supreme Committee of the Sheikha Fatima Fund for Women Refugee and the Board of Directors of the UAE-Japan Friendship Committee for Women Career Development (FCW). As an expert, H.E. Dr. Maitha bint Salem Al Shamsi has participated in numerous scientific conferences and worked with several United Nations organizations, including the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). She has also represented the United Arab Emirates at numerous international conferences.

H.E.Ahmed Darwish Al Muhairi

Director-General, Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD), Dubai | United Arab Emirates

H.E. Ahmed Darwish Saif Al Qamah Al Muhairi, the Director General of the Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department in Dubai, holds the Mohammed Bin Rashid Program for Leaders Preparation (Dubai Leaders – Batch 2021), a diploma in Future Leaders Program (2) from the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government in 2018, and a bachelor's degree in law from the Dubai Police Academy in 2003. Throughout his career, he has held several administrative positions, most notably as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children since 2018, a member of the Board of Directors of Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation since 2018, Chairman of the Charity Work Committee for Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation since 2018, a member of the Endowment Attraction and Development Committee since 2018, a member of the Endowment Investment Committee since 2018, a member of the Social Responsibility Committee affiliated with the General Secretariat of the Executive Council of Dubai since 2017, a member of the Executive Committee of the Emirates Food Bank since 2017, a lawyer at the Court of First Instance and Appeal from 2010 to 2016, a member of the Board of Directors of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments from 2019 to 2022, then appointed as Executive Director of the Charity Sector, according to Executive Council Resolution No. (74) of 2016 until 2023. At the end of the year 2023, Royal Decree No. (50) of 2023 was issued appointing Mr. Ahmed Darwish Saif Al Qamah Al Muhairi as the Director General of the Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department in Dubai.

Mr.Amin Awad

President of the Foundation Council, DCAF Genève Center for Security Governance; Former United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine | United Arab Emirates

Across his 35-year career, Mr Awad has served at the intersection of international peace and security, spanning the post–Cold War era across the Middle East, Central and Southeast Asia, Africa, the former Soviet Union, and the former Yugoslavia. Appointed by the UN Secretary-General as Assistant Secretary-General and UN Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine at the onset of the Russia–Ukraine war in February 2022, Mr Awad drew on his extensive experience in early warning and humanitarian crisis coordination, leading complex politico-humanitarian engagement and securing vital assistance. Mr Awad currently serves as President of the Foundation Council at the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance and 2020 Senior Fellow of Harvard University’s Advanced Leadership Initiative and member of the Board of DIHAD.

Ms.Rania Dagash-Kamara

Assistant Executive Director for Partnerships and Innovation, World Food Programme | United Arab Emirates

Rania Dagash-Kamara is WFP’s Assistant Executive Director for Partnerships and Innovation. In this role, she leads the organization’s engagement and resource mobilization activities with global partners, international financial institutions and programme countries. She also oversees WFP’s expanding work in innovation. Prior to her appointment in February 2024, Ms. Dagash-Kamara served in senior roles within UNICEF, OCHA, IOM and the Department of Peace Operations (former Peacekeeping) including in the UN Office to the African Union and the UN Somalia Assistance Mission in Somalia. Ms. Dagash-Kamara brings close to 25 years of experience in the coordination of humanitarian emergencies and peace operations spanning Africa, Asia, the Middle East and UN Headquarters. Ms. Dagash-Kamara holds a Masters’ degree in Vernacular Architecture from Oxford Brookes University and a Bachelors’ degree in Architecture from the University of Khartoum, Sudan. She is married and has a son.

H.E.Mr. Omair Al Muhairi

Deputy Secretary General of the Local Affairs Sector, Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) | United Arab Emirates

Deputy Secretary General of the Local Affairs Sector, Emirates Red Crescent (ERC)

H.E.Ali Mohammed Al Mutawa

Secretary General, AWQAF Dubai | United Arab Emirates

Ali Mohammed Al Mutawa is the Secretary-General – Endowment and Minors’ Trust Foundation in Dubai (Awqaf Dubai) Board Member – Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment Board Member – Dubai Sports Council Board Member – International Institute Of Islamic WAQF (Global and Islamic Worlds) Member – Higher Committee for Development and Citizens Affairs Member – Arbitration Committee for the Dubai Appreciation Award for Community Service Member of the Board of Trustees – 1 Billion Meals Endowment Vice Chairman – Citizens’ Applications Review Team (2023–present) Board Member – Dubai Foundation for Community Contributions (Jood)

Mr.Martin Jaggi

Head of the Middle East Section, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation | United Arab Emirates

He has 25 years of work experience in international humanitarian and development cooperation. He has served in different positions for international NGOs, UNHCR and since 2007 for the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC. For SDC, he has among others worked as Deputy Head of the Humanitarian Africa Division, Head of Cooperation for Colombia and Head of Cooperation of the Regional Hub in the Andes. In his past position he was Chief of Staff and Deputy Head of SDC’s Humanitarian Aid Division.

Mr.Guy Cave

President, Legatum Foundation | United Arab Emirates

Guy Cave is President of the Legatum Foundation and is also currently serving as Interim CEO of the END Fund. Guy has over 30 years of experience in social work, international development, humanitarian response, and philanthropy. Guy has lived and worked in multiple countries across five continents – including: Colombia, Myanmar (Burma), Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, USA, Türkiye etc., and has led many humanitarian responses. Legatum Foundation runs pilot programs through local and national partners and then spins them out as collaborative philanthropic Funds. This has led to the founding of the END Fund, the Freedom Fund, Luminos Fund, and - most recently - the Resilio Fund, which was launched in Dubai in November 2025, and which supports community-led humanitarian response. By centering local communities - the true first and best responders in times of disaster - Resilio Fund aims to transform how the world responds to crises. Guy holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Durham; a Masters in Social Work from the University of York; and a Masters in Children’s Rights from the University of Fribourg (Switzerland).

Ms.Yasmine Praz Dessimoz

Director of Operations, International Committee of the Red Cross - ICRC | United Arab Emirates

Yasmine Praz Dessimoz is the Director of Operations for the ICRC as of 1 September 2024. She joined the ICRC in 1997 and has since held multiple roles in challenging and conflict-affected regions. Yasmine’s career with the ICRC has seen assignments in Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, the former Yugoslavia, Iraq, and Sudan. From 2008, Yasmine served as the Deputy Head of Operations for the West and Central Africa region and was later appointed as the Political Adviser to the Director of Operations. Between 2012 and 2016, Yasmine was the Regional Director for North and West Africa. Her responsibilities in these roles included context analysis, strategy shaping and action definition, priority setting, security and human resources management, and ICRC representation towards various stakeholders. Following this, she became the Director of Social Welfare at the Hospice Général in Geneva, overseeing a staff of 800 and supporting over 25,000 welfare recipients. Yasmine holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economic Science and an Executive Master’s in International Negotiation and Policy Making from the Graduate Institute in Geneva, Switzerland.

Dr.Sandra Pertek

UKRI Future Leaders and Associate Professor, University of Birmingham; Senior Research Fellow, Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies (CHS, Doha) - Moderator | United Arab Emirates

Dr Sandra Pertek is UKRI Future Leaders Fellow at the School of Government and School of Social Policy, and Associate Professor at the International Development Department (IDD) and the Institute for Research into International Migration and Superdiversity (IRiS) at the University of Birmingham. She is also a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies (CHS), Doha Institute. She was previously Lecturer at the Institute for Global Health and Development, Queen Margaret University, and Teaching Fellow (POLSIS) and ESRC Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Birmingham. Sandra specialises in the intersection of gender, violence, religion, forced migration and humanitarianism. Her research integrates the intersectional and ecological approaches to improve outcomes for displaced populations. She has led a number of studies across the Middle East, Africa and Europe, including the “Ukrainian Refugees at Risk” and “Protecting Forcibly Displaced Women and Girls in the Muslim World” projects. She currently leads an interdisciplinary and policy-oriented, UKRI-funded research initiative, “Making Aid Work for Displaced Women”, which focuses on integrating Islamic philanthropy into the international humanitarian system and developing innovative solutions to global forced displacement. She is an interdisciplinary researcher and social development specialist with over a decade of experience in humanitarian, development, and migration settings. Bridging research, policy, and practice, she has consulted for international and governmental organisations, including the European Commission, GIZ, the Home Office, and Islamic Development Bank. She has also collaborated with various organisations, such as the UNHCR, OIC and IFRC. Before joining the University of Birmingham, Sandra was a Senior Policy Adviser on Gender at a leading humanitarian agency. She has published numerous articles on gender, religion and forced migration in leading journals and co-authored the monograph, ‘On the Significance of Religion in Violence Against Women and Girls’ (Routledge). Her new monograph, ‘Violence against women, Forced Displacement and Religion: Rethinking Humanitarianism’, is underway.

H.E.Marwan Binhashim

The CEO of Dubai Community Contributions Establishment (JOOD) | United Arab Emirates

H.E. Marwan Rashid Bin Hashim serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Community Contributions Establishment - JOOD, a strategic platform launched under Dubai’s Social Agenda 33 to enable secure, transparent, and impactful community contributions across the emirate. In his role, H.E. Marwan leads JOOD’s efforts to strengthen community impact by bringing together individuals, businesses, government entities, and strategic partners within an integrated ecosystem for sustainable giving. His leadership focuses on fostering cross-sector collaboration, enhancing transparency and governance, and developing innovative solutions that enable organisations and individuals to contribute effectively to Dubai’s social and community priorities. With over 15 years of cross-sector experience spanning financial services, government affairs, strategic partnerships, and digital transformation, H.E. Marwan brings a strong governance-driven and collaborative approach to leadership. Prior to joining JOOD, he served as General Manager of Wio Securities LLC, where he led the UAE’s pioneering digital investment platform, overseeing more than USD 2 billion in processed volumes within a fully regulated environment. Earlier in his career, he held roles at Wio Bank P.J.S.C. and Etihad Aviation Group, working closely with government entities and international stakeholders to advance strategic partnerships and collaborative initiatives. At JOOD, H.E. Marwan is committed to advancing corporate and community responsibility, sustainable social impact, and public-private collaboration. His work reflects the growing importance of aligning institutional and corporate contributions with community priorities, while promoting transparency, accountability, and measurable impact. Through his leadership, H.E. Marwan continues to champion partnerships that bring together the public, private, and community sectors to create meaningful and sustainable outcomes, making his perspective particularly relevant to discussions around corporate social responsibility, sustainability, responsible leadership, and long-term community impact.

Mr.Mark Nowak

Chief Technical Officer, OmniAid | United Arab Emirates

Mark Nowak has served as Chief Technology Officer at OmniAid since August 2025, leading the company's technology strategy and product innovation. He oversees the architecture and development of OmniAid's humanitarian fintech platform, creating secure, scalable, and interoperable solutions that help governments, NGOs, financial institutions, and humanitarian organizations deliver transparent and efficient digital assistance programs worldwide. With more than 22 years of experience in enterprise architecture, distributed systems, and digital transformation, Mark has designed and modernized mission-critical platforms across the financial services, healthcare, telecommunications, retail, and e-commerce sectors. Throughout his career, he has led large-scale modernization initiatives for multinational enterprises and major financial institutions, helping organizations build resilient cloud-native platforms, modernize legacy infrastructure, and accelerate digital transformation. His expertise spans enterprise architecture, cloud computing, cybersecurity, microservices, high-load distributed systems, and large-scale systems integration. Mark is recognized for combining strategic technology leadership with deep engineering expertise, enabling organizations to align business objectives with sustainable, secure, and scalable technology solutions. He has established enterprise architecture governance frameworks, introduced modern engineering practices, and mentored architects and engineering leaders throughout his career. Mark holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Informatics (2013) and a Master's degree in Digital Transformation from IU International University of Applied Sciences (Germany). He has completed more than 100 professional certifications and executive education programs covering enterprise architecture, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, blockchain, digital governance, and software engineering. At OmniAid, Mark is focused on building technology that improves the transparency, accountability, and accessibility of humanitarian assistance. By combining digital identity, secure financial infrastructure, AI-powered automation, and modern cloud technologies, he is helping create next-generation platforms that enable humanitarian and social impact programs to operate more efficiently, securely, and at global scale.

H.E.Mishal Karim Julfar

Executive Director, Dubai Corporation Ambulance Services | United Arab Emirates

His Excellency Mishal Abdulkarim Julfar is the Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services (DCAS). He has more than 22 years of experience in ambulance services, emergency medical services, ambulance operations, and leading emergency response systems. His Excellency is among the first Emirati professionals specializing in emergency medical services in the UAE. He graduated as part of the first cohort of the Higher Diploma in Emergency Medical Services in 2007 and was also among the first cohort to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Medical Services in 2014. In 2021, he graduated as part of the first cohort of the Dubai Leaders Program under the Mohammed Bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development. He is currently pursuing postgraduate studies in Executive Business Administration at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., United States. Throughout his career, His Excellency has progressed through a number of operational and leadership positions within the Corporation. He began as an Emergency Medical Technician and Technical Trainer, before going on to head the Professional Training, Emergency Ambulance Operations, and Medical Dispatch sections. He subsequently served as Director of Ambulance Operations before assuming his current position as Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services. His Excellency has undertaken significant leadership and representative roles at numerous national and strategic milestones. These include representing the Corporation at the Command and Control Centre during the COVID-19 pandemic, contributing to the emergency medical management of major incidents, leading the Immediate Response Team under the Dubai 10X initiative, and representing ambulance services at the Special Olympics World Games 2019. He has also served as a member of several high-level committees related to major events and emergencies, including COP28, the Dubai Airshow, and the committee tasked with accelerating recovery following the Al Hadheer weather system. His professional journey reflects a steadfast commitment to advancing ambulance services, strengthening the preparedness of the emergency response system, enhancing response efficiency, and serving the community through operational and strategic leadership grounded in field experience and institutional knowledge.

Dr.Jamie Munn

Executive Director / CEO, International Council of Voluntary Agencies | United Arab Emirates

Dr. Jamie Munn is Executive Director of the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA), one of the world’s largest global networks of humanitarian NGOs, representing hundreds of organisations working in crisis settings around the world. Based in Geneva, he works to strengthen principled humanitarian action and ensure that civil society organisations, particularly local and national actors, have a stronger voice in global humanitarian policy and decision-making. With more than two decades of experience across humanitarian operations, policy, and research, Jamie has worked in numerous complex crisis contexts including Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Haiti, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. His career has focused on strengthening the role of civil society in humanitarian response, advancing accountability to affected communities, and promoting approaches that shift power and resources closer to local actors. At ICVA, Jamie regularly participates in high-level humanitarian coordination and policy forums, including the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), advocating for stronger NGO participation, more equitable humanitarian financing, and the protection of civic space for civil society organisations operating in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. Prior to returning to the humantiarian sector, Jamie held academic positions in the United Kingdom, including senior lecturerships at the University of Bristol, the University of the West of England, and City, University of London, where he taught international politics and humanitarian studies. He holds a PhD from the University of Exeter and a Master’s degree from Acadia University. Jamie is Canadian and currently lives in Geneva, where he continues to advocate for a humanitarian system that is more inclusive, accountable, and responsive to the people it serves.

Dr.Khaled Khalifa

Senior Advisor and Representative to the GCC Countries, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) - Panel Chair | United Arab Emirates

Khaled Khalifa is a seasoned humanitarian professional with over 30 years of experience in relief and development. He currently serves as the Senior Advisor on global Islamic Philanthropy initiatives and Representative to the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Throughout his career, Khaled has held senior managerial positions with major international organizations, including the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Danish International Development Assistance (DANIDA), and Islamic Relief Worldwide. Khaled holds a Ph.D. in Management Leadership and Organizational Strategy, an M.Sc. in Sustainable Development, an M.A. in English Literature & Humanities, and a Project Management Diploma. He is a renowned international trainer in disaster management and an expert speaker on humanitarian affairs and the Middle East. At UNHCR, Khaled’s expertise in forging innovative partnerships has been key to the success of the Refugee Zakat Fund, which has supported over 8 million people in 28 countries since its initiation in 2017. His efforts also led to the establishment of the Global Islamic Fund for Refugees, an endowment with the Islamic Development Bank’s Solidarity Fund aiming to raise USD $500 million to support UNHCR’s humanitarian response efforts sustainably.

Mr.Mahmoud Bah

Chief Operating Officer, Corus International | United Arab Emirates

Mahmoud joined Corus International in May 2023 as the organization’s first Chief Operating Officer (COO). In this role, Mahmoud oversees the organization’s broad portfolio of businesses and non-for-profits, focusing on program operations, business development, impact and partnerships as well as legal and compliance. Mahmoud spearheads the holistic integration of various processes while seeking efficiencies across the organization. Prior to joining Corus, Mahmoud worked for nearly 13 years at the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), where he occupied various positions. In his most recent, he served as Deputy Chief Executive Officer, a presidential appointed position in an U.S. foreign assistance agency. Prior to that, he also served as one as President Biden’s designated Acting Chief Executive Officer overseeing the agency’s operations and administration during the transition period leading up to the confirmation of the Chief Executive Officer by the U.S. Senate. MCC provides large grants to support eligible and selected countries to reduce poverty through inclusive and sustainable economic growth. To date, MCC has invested more than $15 billion in compact and threshold programs worldwide, with $8 billion of active programs that support data driven and country-led infrastructure and policy reform projects in health, agriculture, education, energy, finance and enterprise development and more. Mahmoud also spent three years in Côte d’Ivoire as MCC’s Resident Country Director overseeing the implementation of MCC-Côte d’Ivoire’s $525 million transport and education program. Mahmoud has over 25 years of experience in international development, project finance and financial management, public and forensic accounting including mergers and acquisitions, and advisory and consulting services in both the public and private sectors. He is a non-practicing Certified Public Accountant and has an MBA from the University of Maryland – Robert H. Smith School of Business. Mahmoud is a native of Guinea but grew up in Togo as one of nine children, giving him exposure to French, Mina, and Fulani which he speaks fluently.

Ms.Reem Mougheith

Regional Humanitarian Representative for the Middle East and North Africa, MSF International Office | United Arab Emirates

Regional Humanitarian Representative for the Middle East and North Africa, MSF International Office Reem Mougheith is the Regional Humanitarian Representative for the Middle East and North Africa at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) International Office since December 2023. She brings over 15 years of experience in the humanitarian sector, with a strong focus on humanitarian diplomacy, access negotiations, protection under international humanitarian law (IHL), and operations management. Reem also specializes in training and facilitation, with a particular focus on security training for humanitarian teams operating in complex and volatile environments. Prior to joining MSF, Reem worked for more than nine years with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), following earlier roles with several United Nations agencies, including UNHCR and WHO. She has served in complex and diverse operational settings across Cambodia, Lebanon, Syria (Homs, Hama, Hasakah), Nigeria, Iraq, Jordan, Somalia, and Kenya — with a particular emphasis on the Middle East, a region she proudly calls home. Reem holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Economics from the British University in Egypt, and a Master’s degree in International Law and Human Rights from the University for Peace in Costa Rica.

Ms.Yolande Wright

Vice President of Partnerships, GiveDirectly | United Arab Emirates

Yolande Wright serves as Vice President of Partnerships at GiveDirectly, where she leads strategic partnerships to advance evidence-based approaches to poverty reduction. She previously served as Global Director for Child Poverty, Climate, and Urban at Save the Children International. Prior to that, she spent more than two decades with the UK Department for International Development (DFID), including as Head of the Livelihoods Profession and in senior humanitarian leadership roles. Yolande lived and worked in Bangladesh for six years, leading UK efforts to address extreme poverty and climate vulnerability. She has also worked extensively across Africa and Asia on livelihoods and natural resource management. Her writing has appeared in international publications, including TIME and Devex, and she co-authored a chapter on cash in the Handbook on Child Poverty and Inequality. Yolande is a passionate advocate for evidence-based strategies to address poverty, hunger, inequality, and climate justice, including the use of cash transfers and broader social protection systems. She studied Natural Sciences at Durham University and Environmental Change and Management at the University of Oxford, and is based in London.

H.E.Søren Jacobsen

Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to the UAE | United Arab Emirates

Ambassador of Denmark to the United Arab Emirates and the state of Qatar. Ambassador Jacobsen is a Danish diplomate and senior foreign policy professional. Since 2024, he has served as Ambassador of Denmark to the Islamic Republic of Iran. Prior this appointment, he was Director for Security and Real Estate at the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2021-2021) and Ambassador to the Republic of Bulgaria (2017-2021). Earlier in his diplomatic career, he served as Deputy Head of the European Policy Department and Head of the Migration Taskforce at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. In 2013, he was the Danish Senior Civilian Representative with the Provincial Restructuring Team in Lashkar Gah, Helmand, Afghanistan, wile also serving as Head of Political Affairs at the Royal Danish Embassy in Kabul. His previous assignment includes Deputy Head of Mission in the Royal Danish Embassy in Beijing and Ankara, as well as senior oppositions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of covering European policy, EU institutions, Africa, and export promotion. He joined the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1997. He holds a Master of Economics with a specialization in European Union studies from Odense University. He is married and has three children. He has also been honoured as a Knight of the Order of Dannebrog.

H.E.Jagan Chapagain

Chief Executive Officer and Secretary General, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - IFRC | United Arab Emirates

Mr Jagan Chapagain is the Chief Executive Officer and Secretary General of the IFRC. He was appointed by the IFRC Governing Board in February 2020 and is based in Geneva, Switzerland. Mr Chapagain has extensive experience in leading effective and principled humanitarian response around the world and has dedicated his life to helping empower local communities. He brings decades of experience in building and leading inclusive teams and forging trustful partnerships to address global challenges, ranging from climate to health, and from migration to protection, gender, and inclusion. He has also championed policies and programmes that promote youth engagement and volunteering, and that strengthen localization and accountability in humanitarian action. He began his humanitarian journey as a youth volunteer with the Nepal Red Cross and has extensive experience in, and broad knowledge of, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Prior to being appointed Secretary General, he served as Under Secretary General for Programmes and Operations at the IFRC. He was also previously Chief of Staff and Regional Director for Asia Pacific, where he provided leadership during large-scale humanitarian crises and built resilient communities alongside National Societies and other partners. An engineer by training, Mr Chapagain holds certificates in Leadership and Turnaround Management, Emerging Social Sector Leadership, and High Performance Boards. A national of Nepal, he is fluent in Nepalese, English and Hindi and has basic knowledge of Urdu and Russian.

Ms.Arwa Damon

Five-time Emmy Award-winning Journalist and Founder of INARA | United Arab Emirates

Arwa Damon is a five-time Emmy winning former CNN Senior International Correspondent. While her career has taken her across the globe, she is best known for her coverage of the Middle East, especially out of Iraq and Syria, and for the human stories she brings into her reporting. She is also the recipient of numerous Peabody Awards, the Investigative Reporters and Editors award for her coverage of the 2012 attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi, and the prestigious “Courage in Journalism” award by the International Women’s Media Foundations. In 2015 Arwa founded her charity, the International Network for Aid, Relief, and Assistance, INARA, that provides comprehensive holistic medical and mental health care for children impacted by war and natural disasters who otherwise would not be receiving treatment. In 2022 Arwa parted ways with CNN to direct and produce the award-winning documentary “Seize the Summit” and focus on growing and expanding INARA. She is also a non-resident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council.

H.E.Denys Bashlyk

Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine | United Arab Emirates

Ukrainian government official with experience in land governance, state cadastres and rural development, as well as digital transformation and international cooperation in the agrifood sector. Appointed Deputy Minister of Economy and Environment of Ukraine coordinates rural development and land-relations policy (including development of state cadastres and geoinformation systems) and supports international assistance for restoring Ukraine’s agricultural sector.

Mr.Mohammed Liswi

Technical Advisor, Global Health CRDF Global (USA) | United Arab Emirates

Dr. Mohammed Liswi is a physician and epidemiologist serving as a Technical Advisor for Global Health at CRDF Global in Jordan. He leads regional initiatives focused on health security, border health, and infectious disease surveillance in collaboration with ministries of health, the U.S. CDC, and other international partners. With over a decade of experience across humanitarian and public health settings, Dr. Liswi has contributed to health system strengthening, healthcare analytics, and capacity building across the Middle East. He holds a Doctor of Medicine (MD) and a Master of Science in Public Health. He has co-authored several peer-reviewed publications and regularly presents at regional and international scientific conferences on global health and health security.

Ms.Gulnaz Ukassova

Security Director for Information & Analysis, International SOS (Kazakhstan) | United Arab Emirates

Gulnaz Ukassova is Security Director, Information & Analysis at International SOS, based in the UAE, where she leads the intelligence function across the Mashreq & Iran, East and Southern Africa, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. In this role, she oversees the delivery of real‑time intelligence, crisis reporting, and forward‑looking geopolitical analysis, supporting organisations during both business‑as‑usual operations and high‑impact security crises. Gulnaz has extensive experience advising multinational organisations on geopolitical risk, crisis management, evacuation planning, and operational security, and regularly supports clients during periods of heightened regional instability, including most recent escalation in the Middle East. She is a frequent media contributor and industry speaker, providing expert insight on evolving security threats, mis and disinformation risks, and organisational preparedness across complex operating environments. Her professional focus includes intelligence analysis, security risk management, crisis response, and strategic forecasting across emerging and high‑risk markets.

Mr.Claus Sorensen

Senior Adviser on Resilience, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Norwegian Refugee Council | United Arab Emirates

Until 2016 Mr. Sørensen was the Director General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection in the European Commission (ECHO). Before that he held the post as Director General of Communication. He is a career diplomat in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. His first posting from 1981 was at the Danish Delegation to the OECD (Paris). In 1988-89 he was trade and finance councilor at the Danish Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels. In 1990 he moved to the Executive arm in the Commission under the lead of Jacques DELORS and joined the Cabinet of Vice-president Christophersen working on the EURO, relations with Eastern Europe, the Enlargement with Sweden, Austria and Finland as well as Social and Environmental issues. As Sweden became member of the EU in 1995 he joined their first Cabinet and worked on the fight against organized crime, social and labor market issues and the further enlargement of the EU to the East. Between 1999 and 2011, Mr. Sørensen held top management positions within the European Commission, most notably Director for International Environmental issues, Head of Cabinet for the Commissioner for Agriculture and later Head of Cabinet for the Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian assistance. He is a Board member of the Norwegian Refugee Council, Oslo, Institut Bioforce, Lyon, Center for Global Development, Washington, the Global Executive Leadership Initiative, Geneva, Committed to Good, Dubai and Thinktank Europa, Copenhagen. Mr Sørensen has a Master of Economic Science from Aarhus University and is regularly lecturing at the University of Lund, Kings College and Copenhagen.

Ms.Clare Dalton

Advisor, Policy Planning Department, United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs | United Arab Emirates

Clare Dalton brings extensive experience in policy, diplomacy, and negotiation, built across complex political and humanitarian environments. She previously served as Head of Humanitarian Diplomacy for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva, and held frontline leadership roles in conflict-affected settings including Iraq and Sudan, as well as in Kenya, Angola, and Nepal — leading multidisciplinary teams through high-stakes operational and political challenges. She currently serves as Senior Advisor at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She has an undergraduate degree from UCL in Anthropology, a masters in Conflict and Development Studies from SOAS, and a CAS in Humanitarian Leadership from the University of Lucerne, Switzerland.

Dr.Mukesh Kapila

Professor Emeritus, Global Health & Humanitarian Affairs, University of Manchester | United Arab Emirates

Mukesh Kapila has extensive experience in humanitarian affairs, conflict and security, global health and international development, human rights and diplomacy, He has qualifications in medicine and public health from the Universities of Oxford and London. He is Professor Emeritus of Global Health and Humanitarian Affairs, University of Manchester, and Senior Adviser to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean. His previous leadership functions have included senior directorships at the World Health Organization and United Nations, and as Undersecretary-General at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Previously he was Head of Conflict & Humanitarian Affairs at what is now the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office. He has served on several Boards, including chairing Minority Rights Group International, and Nonviolent Peaceforce which was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2016. Also advised many multilateral institutions including the World Bank. UN agencies, and international NGOs. His many awards include a CBE from King Charles III, a Global Citizenship Award, the “I Witness!” award for human rights, and a special resolution of the California State Legislature for “lifetime achievements and meritorious service”. His first memoir “Against a Tide of Evil” was shortlisted for the 2013 Best Non-Fiction Book award. His further book (2019) is entitled “Not a Stranger to Kindness”. He is a public and media speaker, and his writings can be sampled on https://www.mukeshkapila.org

Ms.Sajeda Shawa

Head of United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) Office in the UAE | United Arab Emirates

Sajeda Shawa is a seasoned humanitarian leader with 20 years of experience in international humanitarian affairs, known for her unwavering commitment to crisis response, donor engagement, strategic partnerships and humanitarian diplomacy. A passionate Arab female advocate for communities affected by conflict, she brings deep regional expertise and a results-driven approach to mobilizing resources and amplifying impact across the humanitarian-development nexus. In February 2023, Ms. Shawa was appointed Head of the OCHA Office in the United Arab Emirates. In this capacity, she is responsible for strengthening humanitarian coordination, advancing humanitarian diplomacy, and integrating climate action and gender-responsive approaches—particularly the empowerment of women in humanitarian settings—into emergency response efforts. She also focuses on supporting national policies that elevate the role of innovation, technology, and artificial intelligence to better serve communities in need during humanitarian crises. Additionally, Ms. Shawa serves as a Board Member of the Dubai International Scientific Advisory Board (DISAB), which supports the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference (DIHAD) as well as an Advisory board member in the public policy school at the university of Sharjah, reinforcing her leadership in highlevel humanitarian policy dialogue and strategic partnerships within the region and beyond. Prior to her current role, Ms. Shawa played a pivotal role in the Syria Crisis response at OCHA’s Regional Office, where she led donor relations and resource mobilization efforts. She served concurrently as Special Advisor to the UN Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, providing strategic counsel on donor engagement, advocacy, and regional humanitarian outreach. Before joining the United Nations, Ms. Shawa worked with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), where she managed field operations and humanitarian programs in Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Jordan, and Syria. She later spearheaded ECHO’s humanitarian outreach strategy to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, strengthening engagement with key actors in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar. Earlier in her career, she contributed to USAID programs focused on humanitarian and development coordination with a specific focus on private sector engagement. Beyond her official roles, Ms. Shawa is an active voice for women’s empowerment and social impact. She is a certified Board Director (IFC, 2022) and was featured among 45 Arab women role models in Empowering Through Healthy Living – Jordan 2020. She serves on the board of the International Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW) and is a member of its Human Rights Committee. Additionally, she contributes as a mentor to several leadership and youth development initiatives, including the Global Thinkers Forum’s Athena Mentorship Program and BPW Jordan’s HIKMA Power Meetups. Ms. Shawa is a graduate of Harvard Kennedy School’s Executive Education Program, with specializations in Public Leadership, Leadership and Character in Uncertain Times, and Leadership through Storytelling and Action. She holds a Master’s degree in International Studies, with a focus on humanitarian landscape in the Gulf region post-Arab Spring, and a Bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature. A proud mother of teenagers, she is deeply committed to empowering youth and advancing global citizenship.

Mr.Amin Awad

President of the Foundation Council, DCAF Genève Center for Security Governance; Former United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine | United Arab Emirates

Across his 35-year career, Mr Awad has served at the intersection of international peace and security, spanning the post–Cold War era across the Middle East, Central and Southeast Asia, Africa, the former Soviet Union, and the former Yugoslavia. Appointed by the UN Secretary-General as Assistant Secretary-General and UN Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine at the onset of the Russia–Ukraine war in February 2022, Mr Awad drew on his extensive experience in early warning and humanitarian crisis coordination, leading complex politico-humanitarian engagement and securing vital assistance. Mr Awad currently serves as President of the Foundation Council at the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance and 2020 Senior Fellow of Harvard University’s Advanced Leadership Initiative and member of the Board of DIHAD.

ColonelSaeed Hamdan bin Dalmook Alfalasi

Director of Resilience Department, Dubai Police | United Arab Emirates

Director of Resilience Department, Dubai Police

ColonelDr. Sheikh Majid Abdulla Al-Mualla

Head of the Training and Exercises Section within the Resilience Department at Dubai Police General Headquarters | United Kingdom

Head of the Training and Exercises Section within the Resilience Department at Dubai Police General Headquarters

Lt. ColonelAli Mohammed Al-Flasi

Director of Centers Services Department, Dubai Civil Defense Headquarters | United Arab Emirates

Director of Centers Services Department, Dubai Civil Defense Headquarters

Ms.Shamma Saif Al Rayhi

Head of the Crisis and Disaster Management Section at Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services (DCAS) | United Arab Emirates

Head of the Crisis and Disaster Management Section at Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services (DCAS)

Eng.Mohamed Rashed Al Dhanhani

Director Corporate Risks and Business Continuity Department, Dubai Municipality | United Arab Emirates

Director Corporate Risks and Business Continuity Department, Dubai Municipality

Ms.Maryam Omar Bin Haider

Epidemiologist in the Public Health Protection Department, Dubai Health Authority (DHA) | United Arab Emirates

Epidemiologist in the Public Health Protection Department, Dubai Health Authority (DHA)

Dr.Sultan Salem Al-Shamsi

Deputy Director, Safety, Risk, Regulation and Planning Department, Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) | United Kingdom

Deputy Director, Safety, Risk, Regulation and Planning Department, Roads & Transport Authority (RTA)

Mr.Fahad Abdullah Haikal

Media Personality | United Arab Emirates

Media Personality

H.E. Amb.Umid R. Shadiev

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the UAE | United Arab Emirates

2026 - since April, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the UAE. 2023 - 2025, Chairman, Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan; 2018 - 2023, Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Uzbekistan to UNESCO (Paris); 2017 - 2018, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the United Nations (New York); 2015 - 2017, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Uzbekistan to the United Nations (New York); 2013 - 2015, Executive Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Head of the Secretariat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Tashkent); 2010 - 2013, Attache, Political Affairs, Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the United States (Washington, DC); 2005 - 2010, Department for the USA and Americas, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Referent, Attache, Third Secretary (Tashkent); 2004, Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Belgium, Mission to the European Union, Mission to NATO (Brussels)

Ms.Latifa AlQemzi

Director General, DP World Foundation | United Arab Emirates

Director General, DP World Foundation

Dr.Gwendolyn T. Pang

Philippines Red Cross Secretary General | United Arab Emirates

Dr Gwendolyn T. Pang, the current Secretary General of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), has spent more than 28 years serving the vulnerable and exercising leadership in the Humanitarian Field. Her dedication to service began at the Philippine Red Cross where she started as a volunteer and later held various positions culminating in her appointment as Secretary General in April 2009. During her years with the PRC, she contributed to strengthening the organization’s operational capacity, emergency response systems, blood services, and nationwide humanitarian programs. After seven years as the Chief Operating Officer of PRC, in June 2016, she joined theInternational Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) as Head of the East Asia Cluster responsible for China, Japan, South Korea and Mongolia. From October 2017 to March 2018, she concurrently served as Head of Country in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Her IFRC role further expanded in October 2020 when she became Deputy Regional Director for Asia Pacific of IFRC, supporting 38 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies across the region. From 2019 onward, she also served as Adviser and Guest Professor at the International Academy of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies based in Suzhou, China. Throughout her career, Dr. Pang has been involved in major humanitarian operations and recovery efforts in the Philippines and across the region, including large-scale disaster response, public health emergencies, and community resilience initiatives. She helped advance people-centered and community-based approaches in humanitarian action, including volunteer engagement, anticipatory action, mental health and psychosocial support, protection and inclusion, and disaster preparedness at the local level.During the COVID-19 pandemic, while serving with IFRC in China and Asia Pacific, Dr. Pang supported regional coordination efforts and facilitated assistance that helped strengthen the Philippine Red Cross’ testing and emergency health response operations. She also worked closely with humanitarian partners, governments, and local communities across different countries in addressing evolving humanitarian challenges. After six years of coordinating humanitarian interventions in the region, Dr. Pang came home to the Philippines and PRC where she served as a member of the Board of Governors from January 2022 to September 2022 and as Secretary General from October 2022 to the present. Dr. Pang’s outstanding accomplishments have not gone unnoticed. She was conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humanities by the Lyceum of Northwestern University of the Philippines on April 14, 2013. She was also the recipient of the Florence Nightingale Award, the highest international distinction for a professional nurse for the display of exceptional courage and dedication to victims of armed conflict or natural disasters, which was granted her on May 12, 2015. Closer to home, PRC honored her contributions to the organization and her dedicated and exemplary services to humanity, particularly during the COVID19 pandemic, with the Doña Aurora Aragon Medal Award on December 15, 2021

Prof.Michael Kohler

Grand Bargain Ambassador; Professor at the College of Europe, Bruges, and LUISS Guio Carli, Rome; Acting Director-General, European Commission (ret.) - Panel Chair | United Arab Emirates

Michael A. KÖHLER, Deputy Director-General, Grand Bargain Ambassador Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) European Commission Since August 2019 Dr Köhler has been Deputy Acting Director-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations in the European Commission’s DG ECHO, in charge of coordinating the world-wide EU humanitarian aid activities. From April 2022 to March 2023 he was Acting Director- General of DG ECHO. In June 2023 Dr Köhler has been appointed Ambassador and co-lead of the Grand Bargain agreement between some of the largest donors and humanitarian organisations who have committed to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the humanitarian action. Previously, from 2015 to 2019, he was Director for EU-Neighbourhood Policy at the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) in the European Commission, where he was responsible for cooperation with Mediterranean Arab countries and Israel. From 2013 to 2014, he had been Director for the Eastern and Southern Neighbourhood in the Directorate-General for development and International Cooperation (DG DEVCO), Head of Cabinet to Commissioner for Energy, Günther H. Oettinger between 2010 and 2013 and Head of Cabinet to Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Dr Joe Borg, between 2008 and 2009. Since he joined the European Commission in 1994, Dr Köhler held several positions, including desk officer for Yemen and Iraq; Assistant to the Director for South Mediterranean, Middle and Near East; Deputy European Correspondent; Deputy Head of Unit in charge of the co-ordination of Common Foreign and Security Policy; Deputy Head of Cabinet to Commissioner Borg, Head of Unit for International Affairs and Law of the Sea at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and acting Head of Unit for Maritime Policy for the Mediterranean and Black Sea. Before joining the European Commission, he worked as a representative of Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation in Morocco and Tunisia and later worked in the Policy Planning Department of the Federal Ministry of Economic Co-operation and Development in Germany. Michael Köhler holds a Dr. phil. in History and Middle Eastern Studies from Hamburg University (1987). He authored about thirty books, articles in international Islamic studies and foreign policy reviews on aspects of the political, economic and cultural development of the Muslim World, on the Arab League and on regional integration in the Maghreb, co-operation in the Mediterranean and development cooperation. Since 1997 he is a professor for “Europe and the Mediterranean” the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, teaches peacebuilding at PSIA/Sciences Po, Paris, and in addition between 2006 and 2016 he served as a senior Fellow of the Center for European Integration Studies at the University of Bonn, Germany.

Dr.Manal Taryam

Chief Executive Officer, Noor Dubai Foundation | United Arab Emirates

Chief Executive Officer, Noor Dubai Foundation

Mr.Mohammed AlShareef

Spokesperson for Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 | United Arab Emirates

Mohammed Saleh Al-Sharif is a distinguished national figure and specialist in managing and coordinating international humanitarian and relief work. He holds a Master's degree in International Relations from Abu Dhabi University (2020) and is currently a PhD candidate in Risk and Crisis Management at Cairo University. His name has become closely associated with media and field oversight of urgent humanitarian, medical, and food aid delivery to countries affected by disasters and crises around the world. As the official spokesperson for Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, his leadership role reflects an unwavering commitment to noble humanitarian values and stands as a living embodiment of the message of giving and international solidarity in times of emergency to relieve stricken communities.

Eng.Salama Moahmmaed Alfalasi

Chairwomen of Dubai Police Young Leaders Council; Head Section of Digital Customer Experience for Dubai Police Channels | United Arab Emirates

Eng. Salama Alfalasi is a visionary leader at the intersection of technology and public service, transforming citizen experiences through digital innovation as Head Section Digital Customer Experience for Dubai Police Channels. She blends strategic insight, analytics, and technological expertise to drive AI enabled initiatives that elevate public safety, streamline services, and deepen citizen engagement. Alfalasi led the Smart Police Station Project delivering automated, 24/7 services with Dubai’s SPS recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records. Her priorities include empowering youth leadership,advancing digital transformation within the Department of Artificial Intelligence, and shaping long‑range strategic visions.Hand‑selected for the Dubai Youth Council, she was appointed Chairwoman of the Dubai Police Young Leaders Council in 2017 and launched Interpol’s Young Global Police Leaders Program in 2019 to 2024. She also supervised the Strategic Plan Update Project to define the future direction of Dubai Police. Alfalasi earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a master’s degree in Information Technology Management and Governance.

Mr.Obaid Ahmed Aldhanhani

Head of Early Recovery & Stabilization Support Section, UAE Aid Agency | United Arab Emirates

Since March 2026, Obaid Ahmed Al Dhanhani has served as Head of the Early Recovery and Stabilization Support Section at the UAE Aid Agency, where he oversees the design and implementation of international humanitarian programmes aimed at advancing early recovery and promoting stability. In 2025, Al Dhanhani served as Head of the Strategy at the Abrahamic Family House. Prior to that, he pursued a diplomatic career at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which he joined in 2017, holding several positions in strategic planning, policy analysis, and diplomacy. From February 2024 to February 2025, he headed the Middle East and North Africa Policies Section within the Policy Planning Department. In 2023, he was part of the team responsible for preparing the UAE’s hosting of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), serving as Senior Specialist for African Affairs in the Diplomatic Engagement Department. Between March 2021 and November 2022, he served in the Office of His Excellency Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, as a Senior Political Analyst specialising in sub-Saharan African affairs. He began his professional career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a Policy Analyst covering the Middle East and Africa in the Policy Planning Department, a position he held from 2017 to 2021. Al Dhanhani holds a master’s degree in Leadership and Institutional Development from Abu Dhabi School of Management, a Postgraduate Diploma in UAE Diplomacy and International Relations from the Emirates Diplomatic Academy, and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from United Arab Emirates University. In 2023, he received the Minister of Foreign Affairs Award for Excellence in its fifth edition, under the Distinguished Young Employee category. He has also published several articles in UAE newspapers in social and cultural affairs and is the author of a short-story collection

Ms.Bérangère Böell

United Nations Resident Coordinator for the UAE | United Arab Emirates

Ms. Bérangère Böell, United Nations Resident Coordinator for UAE, of France brings 23 years of experience in international development and humanitarian cooperation. She held management and leadership positions within the UN for 19 years, developing strong skills in strategic planning, coordination, policy dialogue, emergency preparedness, risk management, advocacy and resource mobilization in the Middle East and Africa. She is a strong advocate of the 2030 Agenda and LNOB. Prior to her assignment as the UN RC for UAE, Ms. Böell served at UNFPA as Representative in Mozambique. She formerly led UNFPA Country Offices in DPRK, Libya and Morocco, promoting interagency collaboration and cooperation in several areas. She also served as UNFPA Regional Advisor in East and Southern Africa, developing strategic and innovative partnerships and mobilizing substantial resources for 21 countries of the region. Ms. Böell previously worked for eight years at UNRWA where she held senior positions in external relations and programme coordination in Lebanon, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. She started her career in a Spanish NGO as head of office and programme manager for North Africa. Fluent in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese and with fair knowledge of Arabic, Ms. Bérangère Böell holds a master’s degree in International Cooperation from the Complutense University of Madrid, a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Sciences from the University of Paris VIII and an under-graduate degree in Foreign Languages applied to Economics and Law from la Sorbonne University.

Dr.Yannick du Pont

Member of the Development Cooperation Committee at the Dutch Advisory Council on International Affairs; Founder of Spark, Amsterdam | United Arab Emirates

Yannick du Pont has worked for 30 years in higher (vocational) education and economic development, most of it as a founder of the SPARK Foundation. During his tenure, he has built economic and educational development programmes in over 25 fragile and conflict-affected states, including Afghanistan, Europe, East and West Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, Ukraine, and Somalia. He is a member of the Netherlands State Development Cooperation Committee at the Advisory Council on International Affairs. He serves on the Boards of a few prominent foundations in the Netherlands and is a member of the DIHAD International Scientific Advisory Board (DISAB) at DIHAD (Dubai). He is also a lecturer in the DIHAD Master program “Sustainable Humanitarian Action.”

Mr.Mario Stephan

Director of Philanthropic Partnerships, Center for Civilians in Conflict | United Arab Emirates

Mario Stephan is currently the Director of Philanthropic Partnerships for the Centre for Civilians in Conflict, based out of Geneva. He brings today over 21 years’ experience in the Aid&Relief sector, with more than half of it dedicated to philanthropy and building partnerships, during which he carved an expertise in Islamic and Blockchain philanthropy. Mario’s experience encompasses a wide variety of roles, from field work to leadership and executive roles, with several international organisations. In the course of his career, Mario has lived and worked in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Afghanistan, Somalia, Egypt, the UAE, and now Switzerland. Mario also held regional positions covering eastern and southern Africa, the MENA region, and the Gulf region. In the years leading to his present appointment, Mario was the founding director of Arabian Perspectives, a consultancy firm providing expertise and knowledge on the Arab World to the relief and development sectors, and the Executive Director for Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)’s UAE regional office from 2018 to 2022. Since 2013, Mario has been involved in different governance roles, from board member and trustee to secretary to chairman. He has also joined advisory boards of Gulf universities and foundations, bridging the gap with the Aid & Relief sector. Mario speaks Arabic, English, French and Spanish, and holds a Master’s degree in Management and Business Administration from the KEDGE business school (Bordeaux, France), and throughout his career has been accredited as a professional trainer by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (London, United Kingdom), and a mentor at Senior Practitioner Level by the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC).

Mrs.Iva Hamel

World Bank's Resident Representative for the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain | United Arab Emirates

World Bank's Resident Representative for the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain

Mr.Ahmad Mukhtar

FAO Representative to the United Arab Emirates and Subregional Coordinator for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States and Yemen | United Arab Emirates

Ahmad Mukhtar is Representative of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to United Arab Emirates, and Subregional Coordinator of the FAO office for GCC and Yemen. Previously he worked as Regional Programme Leader(oic) and Senior Economist leading the Strategy and Policy Team at the Regional Office of the FAO for Near East and North Africa. In addition to managing the regional programme, he is leading the economic analysis and reporting on FAO’s priority areas in the Near East and North Africa to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, including the socioeconomic aspects of food security, rural transformation, food and agricultural policy, institutional reform, sustainable and healthy food systems, natural resource conservation and climate change impacts. He has designed and launched flagship initiatives such as the FAO Regional Observatory on Food Security and Nutrition and Regional Leadership Development Academy, in addition to leading the flagship publications such as the State of Food Security and Nutrition, and the Food Policy Bulletin. He has over 25 years of experience in public, private and international development sectors, working on national and international/multilateral assignments in the areas of international economic and trade policy, agriculture economics and trade, public health, commercial diplomacy, bilateral and regional trade issues, and the implementation of trade and investment policies. Prior to joining the FAO regional office, he worked at the FAO office in Geneva, UNCTAD, UNDP, and Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the WTO. He led the multilateral negotiations on Domestic Regulations for Trade in Services as Chairman of the WTO Working Party on Domestic Regulations (2010-2011). He has educational and professional qualifications in Economics, Law, Public Policy, Finance, and Biotechnology.

Ms.Bertha Chiudza

Founder & Team Lead, Tsinde Eco Empower; DIHAD Humanitarian College Student | United Arab Emirates

Bertha Chiudza is a sustainability and humanitarian development practitioner with over 17 years of international experience across Africa, Europe, and Asia. Through the DIHAD Glasshouse Incubator program and as a DIHAD Humanitarian College scholarship recipient of 2022, she founded Tsinde Eco Empower, a Malawi-based social and green enterprise. Her work demonstrates how locally driven environmental innovation can serve as a climate-responsive and humanitarian intervention while strengthening resilience in vulnerable urban and peri-urban communities. She has worked with the GCF, GGGI, UN organizations like UNOPS, UNFPA, WFP; and INGOs like Oxfam, Plan International among others. She has received multiple global awards for leadership and impact on sustainability.

Ms.Melissa Saoudy

Managing Director, The Why / Master of Studies Holder in Social Innovation, University of Cambridge | United Arab Emirates

Melissa Saoudy is the Founder and Managing Director of The Why Impact Consulting, where she advises governments and organisations across the UAE and wider region on social impact, innovation and future-focused strategy. A sociologist by training, she brings more than 15 years of experience designing programmes and policies that translate complex challenges into practical, people-centred solutions. She holds a Master’s in Social Innovation from the University of Cambridge.

Ms.Farah Kabir

Country Director, ActionAid Bangladesh | United Arab Emirates

Farah Kabir is the Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh and a renowned human rights activist with a longstanding commitment to social justice, gender equality, and climate justice. She is widely recognized for her uncompromising advocacy against human rights violations and her leadership in advancing women’s rights and political empowerment in Bangladesh. As a gender justice advocate, her contributions to research and advocacy are recognized nationally and internationally. As a media activist, Farah Kabir regularly writes op-eds and advocacy pieces in Bangla and English newspapers to advance social justice. A prominent voice on climate justice in Bangladesh, she actively engages in national and global advocacy platforms, including the UN climate negotiations (COP process).

Prof.João Bosco Monte

President of Brazil Africa Institute | United Arab Emirates

João Bosco Monte is a leading authority on Brazil–Africa relations and a prominent figure in international cooperation. As the Founder and President of the Brazil Africa Institute (IBRAF), he has dedicated his career to fostering dialogue and advancing strategic partnerships between Brazil and the African continent. He is also the Founder and General Coordinator of the Brazil Africa Forum, the leading multisectoral platform connecting leaders from government, business, and academia to promote impactful collaboration between Brazil, Africa, and other global regions. He holds a Ph.D. in Education from the Federal University of Ceará (UFC) and completed postdoctoral studies in International, Bilateral, and Multilateral Relations at the University of Brasília (UnB). His academic work focuses on African continental integration, South-South cooperation, and international development. He also serves as an Academic Reviewer at the Rio Branco Institute (IRBr), Brazil’s diplomatic academy under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A respected scholar and educator, João Bosco Monte has been a visiting professor at universities in Brazil and across the African continent, contributing to academic discourse on international partnerships. He is a Senior International Associate at the Center for African, Latin American, and Caribbean Studies (CALACS) at O.P. Jindal Global University (India), and a member of the Academic and Scientific Board at TRENDS Research & Advisory (Abu Dhabi), where he contributes to high-level policy discussions. His expertise extends beyond academia, as he acts as an international consultant for governments, organizations, and private-sector entities seeking opportunities across Brazil, Africa, and the Gulf region. He is also the General Coordinator of the “Mandela: Icon of Reconciliation” Exhibition in Brazil, in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation (South Africa). João Bosco Monte is a prolific author, contributing to books and publications on international trade, sustainable development, and global governance, with a particular focus on South-South and Triangular Cooperation. His commitment to food security as a pillar of sustainable development led to his participation as a Champion at the UN Food Systems Summit (2020), where he advocated for inclusive and sustainable policies. He was awarded the Order of Rio Branco in 2018 and 2023, the highest distinction granted by Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in recognition of his distinguished service to international relations. He also served as a Brazilian delegate at the BRICS Academic Forum (2013) and is a frequent commentator in leading Brazilian and international media outlets. He previously served as Secretary for International and Institutional Relations for the City of Fortaleza, where he led strategic initiatives to strengthen global partnerships and enhance the city’s international presence. His work has positioned him as a key bridge-builder between Brazil, Africa, and emerging global regions.

H.E.Rashed Alhemeiri

Executive Director of Strategic Planning and Communication, UAE Aid Agency | United Arab Emirates

HE. Rashed Mohamed Al Hemeiri has over 22 years of professional experience in the public and private sectors, with extensive leadership experience in international cooperation, foreign aid, humanitarian assistance, strategic planning, and sustainable development. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Strategic Planning and Communication at the UAE Aid Agency, where he leads the Agency’s strategic planning, institutional performance, policy development, strategic communications, and international engagement, supporting the UAE’s vision to strengthen the effectiveness, impact, and global leadership of its foreign aid and humanitarian efforts. Prior to his current role, HE. Al Hemeiri served as the Executive Director of Operations at the UAE Aid Agency, overseeing the planning, coordination, and implementation of humanitarian and development operations and programmes across multiple regions . Before joining the UAE Aid Agency, he served for more than ten years at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Director of the Department of International Cooperation and Development, where he led the development and implementation of the UAE’s international development cooperation and humanitarian assistance programmes, working closely with governments, United Nations agencies, international financial institutions, and global development partners. Throughout his career, H.E. Al Hemeiri has represented the United Arab Emirates at numerous high-level international forums, including United Nations meetings, multilateral conferences, and global humanitarian and development platforms, contributing to policy dialogue and international partnerships on humanitarian action, sustainable development, and international cooperation. HE. Al Hemeiri holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance and a Master's degree in Humanitarian and Development Studies, combining strong expertise in strategic leadership, finance, international development, and humanitarian affairs.

H.E.Xavier Castellanos Mosquera

Under Secretary General for National Society Development and Coordination, The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) - Panel Chair | United Arab Emirates

Since August 2020, Xavier Castellanos Mosquera is the Under Secretary General, National Society Development and Operations Coordination of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the world’s largest humanitarian network. Xavier has four decades experience in National Society development, resilience building and emergency humanitarian operations at the national, regional and global levels. He has served the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in various capacities since 1981, when he started as a volunteer with the National Society of Ecuador. He joined the IFRC in 1998 after Hurricane Mitch in Central America. In his previous role as Regional Director for Asia Pacific, Xavier provided strategic and operational leadership on disaster preparedness and responses to COVID-19, tsunamis and earthquakes and other health and disaster-related emergencies. Xavier also served as Regional Director of the Americas and in various leadership positions dealing with humanitarian response operations, disaster preparedness, and communications within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, in national NGOs and with the Ecuadorian Red Cross. Xavier is from Ecuador and has three children. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Health from the Andina Simón Bolívar University in Ecuador. He also holds several professional diplomas in humanitarian affairs and corporate social responsibility and is fluent in Spanish and English.

Ms.Tjada D'Oyen McKenna

Chief Executive Officer of Mercy Corps | United Arab Emirates

Tjada D’Oyen McKenna has grounded her career in the simple belief that, no matter where someone is born, no matter where they live, they should be able to lead a thriving and successful life. As Chief Executive Officer of Mercy Corps, Tjada leads a global team of over 3,400 humanitarians, who provide immediate relief to help save lives and livelihoods and work to support transformational change in more than 30+ countries. Previously, she served as Chief Operating Officer of CARE, where she oversaw the organization’s programming and global operations. Tjada spent more than a decade working to end world hunger in roles with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the U.S. government. During the Obama administration, Tjada served as the Deputy Coordinator of Development for Feed the Future, the U.S. government’s global hunger and food security initiative, and the Assistant to the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Food Security in Washington, D.C. Tjada also brings a passion for innovation to her work, developed early in her career, through various roles at McKinsey & Company, American Express, and General Electric. In addition to leading Mercy Corps, Tjada sits on the Climate Migration Council and is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Tjada earned a B.A. from Harvard College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. When she’s not working, Tjada enjoys reading, exercising, and spending time with her family

Ms.Arwa Damon

Five-time Emmy Award-winning Journalist and Founder of INARA | United Arab Emirates

Arwa Damon is a five-time Emmy winning former CNN Senior International Correspondent. While her career has taken her across the globe, she is best known for her coverage of the Middle East, especially out of Iraq and Syria, and for the human stories she brings into her reporting. She is also the recipient of numerous Peabody Awards, the Investigative Reporters and Editors award for her coverage of the 2012 attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi, and the prestigious “Courage in Journalism” award by the International Women’s Media Foundations. In 2015 Arwa founded her charity, the International Network for Aid, Relief, and Assistance, INARA, that provides comprehensive holistic medical and mental health care for children impacted by war and natural disasters who otherwise would not be receiving treatment. In 2022 Arwa parted ways with CNN to direct and produce the award-winning documentary “Seize the Summit” and focus on growing and expanding INARA. She is also a non-resident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council.

Ms.Lana Al Wreikat

UNICEF's Director for the Gulf Area, GCC Countries - Panel Chair | United Arab Emirates

Ms. Lana Al Wreikat serves as UNICEF’s Director for the Gulf Area, covering Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain, and acts as UNICEF’s principal liaison with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). In this role, she provides leadership and strategic vision to UNICEF’s programmes in the region, advancing children’s rights and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, while leveraging partnerships and financing to improve the lives of the most vulnerable children worldwide. Previously, Ms. Al Wreikat served as Acting Director and Deputy Director of UNICEF’s Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS) in New York, where she led global responses to major humanitarian crises in Gaza, Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ukraine. She played a pivotal role in embedding climate resilience and innovation into UNICEF’s humanitarian strategies and spearheaded new approaches to Public Financing for Children (PF4C) in fragile contexts. She also championed efforts to strengthen foresight, enhance risk analysis and preparedness, accelerate response, and deliver more sustainable, tech-driven solutions for children. She has also served as UNICEF Representative to the Sultanate of Oman and to Libya, and led large-scale emergency operations in Eastern and Southern Africa, as well as in Syria, where she was Head of the Syria Cross-border Humanitarian Operations. Prior to joining UNICEF, Ms. Al Wreikat worked with the United Nations University and held senior leadership roles in major ICT companies in the Middle East, where she managed pioneering regional programmes in educational technology and digital learning innovation. With over two decades of leadership across the United Nations, the multilateral system, and the private sector, Ms. Al Wreikat has worked in conflict, fragile, and stable contexts across Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Gulf. She brings a unique combination of operational leadership, policy expertise, and innovation bridging climate action, technology, and child rights to drive a more sustainable future for every child.

Mr.Mohammed Alshamsi

Chief Climate Change & Sustainability Officer at DEWA (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority), Acting Executive Director of the UAE Water Aid Foundation | United Arab Emirates

Mohammed Abdulkareem AlShamsi is the Acting Executive Director of the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia UAE), under the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives. In this capacity, he oversees Suqia’s global efforts to address water scarcity by deploying innovative and sustainable solutions powered by renewable energy. To date, Suqia’s initiatives have benefited around 15 million people across 37 countries, supporting vulnerable communities with access to safe and sustainable drinking water. He also oversees the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award, a global platform that encourages the development of innovative technologies and solutions to tackle water scarcity worldwide. In parallel, Mohammed serves as the Chief Officer of Climate Change & Sustainability at Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA), where he leads the Authority’s strategic direction on climate action and sustainability. He oversees the development and implementation of DEWA’s climate change strategies, integrating mitigation and adaptation measures while embedding climate risks within DEWA’s Enterprise Risk Management framework. Under his leadership, sustainability has been embedded within DEWA’s corporate strategy, including the development of pioneering initiatives such as DEWA’s Climate Change Resilience Plan and DEWA’s Circular Economy Strategy, reinforcing DEWA’s position as a regional leader in climate change and sustainability.

Mr.Sean Carroll

President and CEO, American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA) | United Arab Emirates

Sean is a recognized international humanitarian and human development leader. He is a recipient of the Julia Vadala Taft Outstanding Leadership Award and the America's Community Council 2024 Global Humanitarian Leadership Award. As president and CEO of Anera and CEO of Anera Ventures, LLC, Sean leads a staff of over 200 in Lebanon, Palestine (West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem), Jordan and Washington, DC, overseeing the delivery of over $200 million in annual humanitarian and development aid to vulnerable communities in the Middle East. Since October 2023, Anera has delivered more than 150 million meals, over 20 million gallons of water, and over 500,000 patient consultations in Gaza. Anera's work spans emergency and humanitarian relief, infrastructure and development projects in water, sanitation, education, and health, as well as economic growth programs, including agriculture and vocational upskilling. Prior to Anera, Sean held key roles at Creative Associates International, the US Agency for International Development, the Club of Madrid, the US Congress, and the National Democratic Institute. He’s worked also for the World Food Programme, the European Commission and the Center for Immigration Policy and Refugee Assistance. He served in the Obama Administration as chief of staff and COO at USAID; for six years as director of programs for the Club of Madrid, a leadership alliance that includes 106 former presidents and prime ministers; and for 13 years at NDI in various roles, including as chief of mission for the West Bank and Gaza, living two years in East Jerusalem, where his twin children were born. Sean earned a bachelor’s in foreign service from Georgetown University and a master’s in international public policy from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Sean serves on several boards, including at InterAction, as treasurer of the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations, and as chairman of both Creative Frontiers and Grant Assistant.ai; and is an advisor to the Club of Madrid and Takreem.

Mr.Samer AbdelJaber

United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Regional Director for the Middle East and Northern Africa and Eastern Europe | United Arab Emirates

Samer AbdelJaber is the World Food Programme’s (WFP) Regional Director for the Middle East, Northern Africa and Eastern Europe, a role he has held since June 2025. Mr. AbdelJaber facilitates coordination and dissemination of strategic guidance to Coun-try Offices across the region, strengthening operational effectiveness and performance. Mr. AbdelJaber represents the WFP in engagement with key stakeholders across the re-gion to enhance strategic partnerships, resource mobilization efforts and inter-agency coordination to advance WFP’s mission in the region. A Jordanian national, Samer brings over two decades of humanitarian and development leadership across the region and beyond. Prior to his current appointment, he served as Director of the Office of the Deputy Execu-tive Director and as WFP’s Director of Emergencies in the Office of the Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer at WFP Headquarters. In this role, he played a cen-tral part in shaping the organization's global emergency preparedness and response ar-chitecture. Previously, Mr. AbdelJaber was WFP’s Representative and Country Director in Palestine, where he also led WFP’s emergency operations during the outbreak of the Gaza crisis in October 2023. He previously also served as Country Director in Libya, where he spear-headed initiatives that strengthened national capacities. Under his leadership, WFP also established key common services such as the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) and the Logistics Cluster, improving humanitarian access and coordination across the country. Throughout his career, Mr. AbdelJaber has held a range of strategic and technical roles across WFP operations in Jordan, Iraq, Sudan, and Egypt, as well as at Headquarters. He served as Chief of Digital Solutions Delivery, leading major corporate technology initia-tives, and as Deputy Country Director in Egypt, where he strengthened partnerships with UN agencies and donors and oversaw WFP’s Syria emergency response in Egypt. He has also played a key role in inter-agency coordination, most recently representing WFP in the Inter-Agency Standing Committee’s Emergency Directors Group, contributing to the humanitarian reset agenda, support to Resident Coordinators, and the review of corporate scale-ups. Mr. AbdelJaber holds a degree in Computer Science from Princess Sumaya University for Technology in Amman, Jordan. He is married and has two children.

Ms.Valentina Bernasconi

Former Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross Delegation in the UAE | United Arab Emirates

Ms. Valentina Bernasconi holds a Master’s degree in Diplomatic and Geopolitical Studies from the University of Trieste, where she graduated with honours. Her thesis focused on the intersection of human rights and geopolitics, examining Turkey’s rejection of EU accession. She further strengthened her academic and professional background through the Harvard Summer Programme on “The Future of War in the 21st Century” and a Diploma in Negotiation from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She joined the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 2002 as a Detention Delegate in Myanmar and subsequently held a range of operational and managerial positions across Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean, including assignments in Nepal, Colombia, Ethiopia, the Central African Republic, Haiti, Thailand and Malaysia. From 2011 to 2013, she served at ICRC headquarters in Geneva as Deputy Head for the Asia region, contributing to the drafting of regional strategies and policies. From 2019 to 2023, she was Head of the ICRC Regional Delegation in Senegal, overseeing the organisation’s engagement and operations across the region. From 2024 to 15 August 2026, she served as Head of the ICRC Delegation in the United Arab Emirates, leading the ICRC’s institutional, diplomatic and humanitarian engagement with the UAE and supporting its dialogue with key national and international partners

H.E.Ahmad Al Suwaidi

CEO, Dubai Charity Association | United Arab Emirates

His Excellency Ahmed Al Suwaidi is recognized as one of the distinguished and esteemed figures in the fields of philanthropy, humanitarian work, and community service in the United Arab Emirates. His journey in charitable endeavors began in 1995 with one of the country's charitable organizations. Over a career spanning more than 30 years, His Excellency has accumulated a wealth of expertise and achievements, having held numerous positions in Dubai's government sectors. Through these roles, he has significantly contributed to enhancing governmental operations and elevating the quality of services provided to both citizens and residents. During this period, he earned an excellent reputation and achieved numerous successes that left a positive impact in every field he worked in. He currently serves as the Executive Director of "Dubai Charity Association," where he leads its operations through a wide range of responsibilities. These include managing its affairs, implementing its vision and mission, formulating strategic plans and programs, and strengthening its role in supporting humanitarian and charitable causes both locally and globally. Under his wise leadership, the association has achieved remarkable milestones by implementing numerous projects and initiatives that have successfully improved the lives of millions of beneficiaries both within the UAE and abroad. He has focused on developing innovative programs, building robust strategic partnerships, and ensuring the sustainable growth of Dubai Charity Association.

H.E. Amb.Sergio Piazzi

Secretary-General, Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) | United Arab Emirates

Alumnus of the Nunziatella Military School of Naples, he holds an Honors Doctorate Degree in International Political Sciences (University Federico II of Naples), a Master’s degree in Economics and Foreign Trade (ICE, Rome), and a Crisis Management Certificate (University of Wisconsin, USA). He attended the Italian Diplomatic Academy. In 2008, he assumed the function of Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) in Geneva to manage the Secretariat and the planning for the Assembly. He has undertaken, among others, frequent peace-support initiatives in, among others, Sahel, Syria, Libya, the Balkans, Israel, Palestine, Iran, Russian Federation, Ukraine and Romania. After serving with the US Department of State, in 1985, he joined the United Nations and coordinated UN operations in Northern Ethiopia until 1988. From 1992 to 1995, he conceived and managed the UN Programme on the use of international Military and Civil Defense Assets in humanitarian operations. In 1996, he was appointed Head of the UN/DHA Regional Desk for Europe and former USSR. From 2001 to 2006, he was in charge of UN/OCHA’s External Affairs. In January 2007, he was appointed UN Senior Adviser on European Affairs. He was, inter-alia, responsible for policy cooperation with the Council of the EU, the European Commission, NATO, the Arab League, G77, G8, OIC, CoE and OSCE, and their Parliamentary Assemblies. During his career, he served also, among others, as UN Representative in Romania (1989-90), UNDRO Delegate in the Persian Gulf Region and Political Assistant to USG Martti Ahtisaari (1990); Policy Adviser to the Special Representative of the UNSG in Iraq (1991-92) and UN Representative to Operation Turquoise in Rwanda (1994). In his PAM’s capacity, in addition to the statutory functions, he has conducted, at the request of the EU and the UN, delicate peace-support and confidence-building missions to, among others, the Middle East, the Balkans, North Africa, and the Sahel. In parallel, the UN Security Council Counter Terrorism Committee / CTED, requested his assistance to launch a legislative support programme to adapt and evaluate national legislations of the Euro- Mediterranean and CIS regions, together with the USA and the Russian Federation, to implement relevant UNSC’s resolutions dealing with ISIS and Foreign Terrorist Fighters. He oversees the UN Coordination Mechanism and Policy Dialogue on Parliamentary Counter-terrorism action. Amb. Piazzi is a former staff member of the US State Department and the UN, where he served until 2007. Amb. Piazzi is an Italian national. In 2016, the President of the Republic awarded him with the high-honour national distinction - Commendatore to the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. In 2023, the Sovereign Order of Malta awarded him with the Cross of Commander pro Merito Melitensi.

Eng.Khaled Al Attar

Director-General, DIHAD Sustainable Organisation | United Arab Emirates

Eng. Khaled Al Attar is the Director General of the DIHAD Sustainable Humanitarian Organisation, where he leads strategic initiatives across humanitarian action, education, and sustainable development. His portfolio includes the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition (DIHAD), a global platform bringing together governments, United Nations agencies, international organisations, NGOs, academia, and the private sector to advance humanitarian dialogue, partnerships, and action. He played a pivotal role in the development of the DIHAD Humanitarian College and the establishment of its first international Master’s in Sustainable Humanitarian Action, contributing to the advancement of humanitarian education and the development of future leaders in the sector. As Director General of the Abdulsalam AlMadani Global Education Centre (AGEC), Eng. Al Attar also leads initiatives focused on education, innovation, entrepreneurship, and future-focused learning, creating platforms that strengthen individual and institutional capabilities and translate knowledge into meaningful impact. With more than two decades of experience spanning humanitarian action, education, leadership, and international development, Eng. Al Attar has contributed to initiatives that strengthen global cooperation, build institutional capacity, and foster sustainable solutions. His work is driven by a commitment to connecting knowledge, leadership, and partnerships with action to create lasting impact for communities and future generations.