H.E. Dr. Azmi Mahmoud Mahafzah is a distinguished Jordanian academic leader, microbiologist, and immunologist who has significantly shaped higher education and scientific research in Jordan. Born in Irbid in 1953, he holds an M.D. from the University of Damascus, a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the American University of Beirut, and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in virology at Yale University. Dr. Mahafzah has served in several senior academic roles at the University of Jordan, including Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Vice President for Scientific Faculties, and President of the University of Jordan, where he led reforms in education quality, research, and institutional development. He currently serves as Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Jordan, driving national strategies to strengthen education, innovation, and research capacity. Dr. Mahafzah is widely respected for his leadership, scholarly contributions, and commitment to advancing Jordan’s scientific and educational landscape.

Professor Elizabeth completed PhD studies at Durham University (UK) and a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley. Her research group develops small molecule fluorescent sensors and sensor arrays for biological, clinical and environmental applications, three of which have been commercialised. She is chief science and technology officer for Fluorescentia, a start-up commercialising her assay for measuring chemotherapeutic agents in the blood. She has graduated 20 PhD students and has won major national and international awards for research, teaching and leadership.

Prof. Rana Dajani is a Yidan Global Fellow at Harvard and a professor of molecular biology at the Hashemite University in Jordan, specializing in epigenetics and trauma biomarkers among refugees. She is the founder of We Love Reading, a grassroots initiative that empowers women and fosters changemakers, now present in over 70 countries with 8,000+ locally run libraries. Prof. Dajani is also the creator of a global mentoring program supporting women scholars in STEM, recognized by the National Academy of Sciences. Her 2018 book, “Five Scarves: Doing the Impossible—If We Can Reverse Cell Fate, Why Can’t We Redefine Success?”, challenges global policymakers to rethink equity and redefine measures of success. She has held visiting positions at Harvard, Yale, MIT, and Cambridge and has been honored with numerous awards, including the UNESCO International Literacy Prize, the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award, and the Schwab Social Entrepreneur Award, cementing her reputation as a social entrepreneur and global thought leader.

Fatima Botmeh is a gender and organizational development specialist with over 20 years of experience in Palestine, the MENA region, and internationally. She focuses on women’s economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, and inclusive leadership, working with public institutions, civil society, and the private sector to foster gender-responsive and inclusive change. A certified Participatory Gender Audit (PGA) Facilitator with the ILO in Geneva, Fatima has trained and accredited gender audit facilitators globally and developed empowerment and mentoring programs, including GIZ’s Duos for Empowerment toolkit. As a leadership coach and trainer, she provides advisory support and capacity-building initiatives that promote women’s leadership, youth engagement, and economic participation across the region.

Across her career spanning 28 years in the fields of Telecommunications and IT, Rima Manna has always been drawn to companies that pushed boundaries. This drive for growth brought her to invaluable opportunities across multiple organizations covering the MEA region Alcatel-Lucent, TechData, 3Com, that continuously challenged her capabilities in new fields and environments. In Rima’s current role as Vice President for Nokia’s NI Middle East Market Unit & UAE Country Director, she shaped successful region-wide growth strategies that included business model transformation and sales organizations revitalization. She achieved this by combining strong business acumen, fluency in the latest technologies and passion for delivering value. Early on Rima saw technology as a means to transform our lives and now, as a crucial means to preserving our planet. She is proud to be part of the collective effort to bring about these changes.

She earned her PhD in Drug Delivery from King’s College London and specializes in innovative topical drug delivery systems. A recipient of the Study UK Alumni Award for Business and Innovation (2025), she also holds a patent for a novel antifungal therapy. Dr. Nasereddin was awarded the British Council’s Going Global Grant for women empowerment in academic leadership and is a graduate of the Leaders in Innovation Fellowship (Royal Academy of Engineering, UK) and the Austrian Leadership Program.

Wissal Benaicha Matti is a Master’s 2 student in Artificial Intelligence and Big Data at Khemis Miliana University, Algeria. She is passionate about using AI to solve real world challenges and she has contributed to several projects, including 3Decor, a 3D interior design recommendation system, and Exodus, a NASA Space Apps Challenge project focused on accelerating the discovery of exoplanets through machine learning. She has also explored wildfire spread prediction using AI, which demonstrates her strong interest in data science, intelligent systems, and Artificial Intelligence.

Meryem Halim is a PhD candidate in Environmental Chemistry at the Laboratory of Spectroscopy, Molecular Modeling, Materials, Nanomaterials, Water, and Environment. Her research focuses on the optimization of wastewater treatment processes through the integration of Artificial Intelligence and IoT-based monitoring systems. She holds a Master’s degree in Analytical Sciences and Instrumentation and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. Her scientific interests include smart water management, environmental sustainability, and the application of advanced technologies for improving water treatment efficiency.

Marwa Hachem received her BE in Chemical Engineering with High Distinction from the American University of Beirut (AUB) in 2024. She is currently pursuing her ME in Chemical Engineering at AUB, where her primary research centers on AI-driven computational reaction engineering (molecular dynamics). She also conducts research in sustainable energy systems and process modeling and optimization.

Youcef Benrached is an AI Engineer and Data Scientist, currently serving as a Lecturer at Khemis Miliana University, Ain Defla, Algeria, where he teaches courses in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. His expertise spans computer vision, data analytics, and deep learning, with a strong focus on practical and impactful applications. His research includes medical label detection and text extraction using OCR systems such as Tesseract, EasyOCR, and TrOCR. Beyond academia, he is passionate about applying AI to solve real-world problems, with ongoing interests in healthcare innovations, environmental monitoring, and intelligent automation.  

Lara Nasereddin is a master’s student in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan. Her research focuses on natural product drug discovery, with a particular interest in identifying bioactive compounds for potential therapeutic use. In addition to her academic work, she has professional experience as a Regulatory Affairs Officer, which has strengthened her understanding of drug development processes and regulatory compliance within the pharmaceutical industry.

Hajar is a dedicated microbiologist currently serving as an Assistant Lecturer of Botany and Genetics at Pharos University in Alexandria and as a Research Assistant at the Smart Engineering Laboratory at Nile University. In addition to her academic and research roles, she leads the Technical Skills Unit at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Her academic path began with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Environmental Sciences, graduating with Excellence with Honor, followed by a Master of Science specializing in Microbiology. Her research interests encompass a wide range of microbiological fields, including microbial ecology, mycology, plastics biodegradation, and the preservation of cultural heritage. Hajar’s research is deeply anchored in the preservation of cultural heritage, which stands at the core of her scientific pursuits. At the Great Library of Alexandria, she has dedicated herself to protecting rare and valuable historical collections from microbial biodeterioration, with a particular focus on fungi. Her master’s research in the Rare Books and Special Collections Section of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina emphasized understanding and mitigating the microbial threats that endanger centuries-old manuscripts and artifacts. By combining microbiological expertise with conservation science, Hajar strives to safeguard humanity’s cultural legacy, ensuring that priceless documents and artifacts remain intact for future generations. In addition to her work in cultural preservation, she pursues solutions for global environmental challenges through her role at the Smart Engineering Systems Research Centre in Giza, Egypt, which she joined in 2024. There, her research investigates the potential of fungi in degrading PET plastics, aiming to develop sustainable and environmentally friendly biodegradation strategies.

Eya Ben Saad is a PhD student and member of the Laboratory of Useful Materials (LMU) at the National Institute for Physico-Chemical Research and Analysis (INRAP) in Tunisia. She is currently in her third year of doctoral studies at the Faculty of Sciences in Tunis. Her research focuses on the impacts of climate change and anthropogenic pressures on the Grombalia aquifer system, with a particular focus on issues such as drought, overexploitation, nitrate contamination, and increasing salinity.

Kaouthar Karroum is a PhD researcher in Law, focusing on the legal implications of illegal urban development and its impact on urban governance and land use frameworks. She complements her research with practical experience, having taught law tutorials to advance understanding of these critical legal structures.

Marwa Taha Kamel Abo Gabal is a biochemist and master's degree student in the Biochemistry Department at Cairo University. As a research assistant at Chem-Diag Lab, Ain Shams University, she focuses on the development of advanced biosensors for cancer diagnosis. She brings over two years of experience in research and laboratory techniques from her roles as a lab chemist and regulatory affairs specialist, demonstrating strong analytical and project leadership skills.

Mohamed Habbaba is a Master of Engineering student in Chemical Engineering at the American University of Beirut (AUB), where he also earned his B.E. with High Distinction (2024). A Mastercard Foundation Scholar, his research focuses on hydrogen production, catalysis, and the techno-economic analysis of sustainable energy systems.

Ms. Nelly Abdel-Latif coordinates Arab cooperation in higher education, scientific research, and technical and vocational education. She joined LAS in 2003. She supports the implementation of the Arab Strategy for Scientific Research, Technology, and Innovation and works closely with Arab countries and regional organizations to advance joint initiatives. She has represented the League of Arab States in various regional and international meetings, contributing to policy dialogue and intergovernmental cooperation.

Mohammed Naji is a PhD student in Cellular and Molecular Biology at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU). His research specializes in pathogen surveillance using genomic and metagenomic approaches, with a focus on wastewater-based epidemiology to develop early-warning systems for infectious diseases. He has contributed to two scientific book chapters, published multiple research papers, and holds a patent for developing Rapidly Mutating Y-STR markers. Through his work, Mohammed aims to advance genomic surveillance by integrating next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics to strengthen global public health responses.

Sally Najib is an independent development expert from Iraq with a background in Translation and Languages and ongoing studies in Political Science. She brings extensive experience in women’s empowerment, advocacy, and heritage projects. Her work on inclusive community engagement and local governance offers a valuable social science perspective on sustainable development and resource management challenges.

Eng. Waleid Mohamed Elmobarak Ahmed is a senior specialist in Digital Transformation and ICT with over 25 years of professional experience in public-sector digitalization, higher-education information systems, data governance, and research-network infrastructure. He currently serves as a Digital Transformation Consultant with the Federation of Arab Scientific Research Councils (FASRC), League of Arab States, and as Director of R&D and Quality Assurance at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Sudan. He has made significant contributions to national digital systems, most notably co-developing Sudan’s Online Admission System and co-founding the Sudanese Research and Education Network (SudREN). His work is recognized for advancing AI-enabled digital transformation, ICT policy, and institutional modernization across Sudan and the Arab region.

Professor Dr. Saleh Al-Shraye'ah is a distinguished academic and industry expert in Computer Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, and Information Security. He holds a B.Sc. in Computer Engineering from the Jordan University of Science and Technology, an M.Sc. in Neural Networks and Information Transfer from the University of Tennessee, and a Ph.D. from the University of Alabama, where he specialized in processing massive data for space applications. Dr. Al-Shraye'ah began his career in the industrial sector at Bell Labs – Lucent Technologies, contributing to innovations in wired and wireless smart systems. He played a key role in establishing Lucent Technologies in China and earned the prestigious Bell Labs Silver Award for developing advanced communication systems for the Chinese market. He has also served as a consultant for major companies in the United States and the Middle East. In academia, Dr. Al-Shraye'ah has held several prominent leadership roles. He served as the Founding Dean of both the IT and Business faculties at the University of Jordan – Aqaba Branch and later as Director of the IT Center and Dean of the King Abdullah II School of Information Technology at the University of Jordan. With over 80 published research papers, his scholarly work spans computer networks, artificial intelligence, and information security. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Jordan Universities Network (JUNet) and is a Professor at the University of Jordan.

Noha Abdul-Aziz Bawazir has held several key positions within UNESCO and currently serves as UNESCO Representative to Jordan and Head of Office. She previously served as UNESCO Representative to Palestine and Head of Office. Prior to that, she was worked at the Orgnaization’s Headqaurters in Paris. She holds a Master's Degree in Political History from Paris Sorbonne Nouvelle and an MPhil in International Relations and Political Sciences from the Ecole des Hautes Etudes Internationales (EHEI, Paris).

Hanina Ben Bernou is an EU diplomat currently posted in Jordan, focusing on Green Business, Innovation, as well as Digital & Transport Connectivity. Previously, she served as EU Regional Adviser for International Cooperation with the GCC at the EU Delegation to the United Arab Emirates, Governance Adviser at the EU Delegations to Kenya, Stabilisation Adviser at the EU Delegation to Somalia, and Programme Manager for trans-regional threats at the European Commission in Brussels. Hanina has more than fifteen years of diplomatic, programmatic and analytical experience supporting EU green, digital, foreign and security policies and partnerships. Her previous private-sector experience further strengthened her understanding of energy and water issues. She holds degrees in Law and Political Science and studied in Potsdam, Paris, and Aix-en-Provence.

H.E. Prof. Amr Ezzat Salama Biography Secretary General of the Association of Arab Universities Former Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technology of Egypt. Secretary General of the Association of Arab Universities Dr. Amr Ezzat Salama is a Professor of Structural Engineering in Helwan University, Egypt Dr. Amr Salama was the Counselor of The American University in Cairo. He was the focal point between the Egyptian Authorities and AUC Administration. Dr. Salama maintained excellent contacts with ministries, Egyptian universities and the Supreme Council of Universities to develop good relations with AUC and help implement the accreditation process for all AUC academic degrees. Dr. Amr is the Former Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technology of Egypt. He was also the Former member of the Shura Council (upper house of the parliament of Egypt) and head of its housing committee. Dr. Salama is the Chairman of the Management Engineering Society and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and the President of the Executive Bureau of 57357 Foundation (Children Cancer Hospital). In addition, Dr. Salama is the Chairman of the Council of Housing and Building of Academy of Scientific Research and Technology. Formerly, Dr. Salama served as Chairman of the Housing and Building National Research Centre and President of Helwan University. Dr. Salama has worked as Professor of Civil Engineering and Chair of the University’s Centre for Technology Development. He received the Excellency Award in 2006 and the State Award for Science in Engineering Science in 1012. He is a holder of PhD in Structural Engineering from Heriot-Watt, Edinburgh, United Kingdom and his Master in Maritime Civil Engineering, from Manchester United kingdom as well. and he earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree from Cairo University. Received the Honorary Professorship title of the Lomonosov Moscow State University in 2020 Received the Honorary Doctorate title of the Belgorod Moscow State University in 2021. Received the Honorary Professor title of the Fudan University in 2023

Dr. Ala’aldeen Al-Halhouli is the President of the German Jordanian University (GJU) and a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Mechatronics Engineering Department. He earned his B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering in Jordan, followed by a habilitation in microfluidics from TU Braunschweig, Germany. His career includes research at TU Braunschweig’s Institute of Microtechnology, visiting positions at MIT and Tufts University, and leadership roles as president of GJU and former President of Middle East University. Dr. Al-Halhouli founded the Nanolab @ GJU, advancing projects in microfluidics for biomedical applications, inkjet-printed electronics, nanomaterials, and renewable energy. He coordinates and contributes to several Erasmus+ projects and has published over 70 scientific papers. His research and leadership have been recognized with awards including the GJU Distinguished Researcher Award and the Cray Award in Microtechnology.

Seteney Shami is founding Director-General of the Arab Council for the Social Sciences (ACSS) since 2012. She is an anthropologist from Jordan and obtained her BA from the American University of Beirut and her MA and PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. She has conducted fieldwork in Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, and the North Caucasus. After teaching at Yarmouk University, Jordan, she moved in 1996 to the Population Council in Cairo. In 1999, she joined the SSRC in New York as director of the Middle East and North Africa program and the Eurasia program. She also developed the InterAsia Partnership program hosted by the SSRC until 2021 and currently hosted by the ACSS. Her publications include Seeing the World: How US Universities make knowledge in a Global Era (co-authored with M. Stevens and C. Miller-Idriss) Princeton University Press 2018; and “South and North, East and West: Knowledge Circulations and Connections in a Disordered World” In Thinking the Re-Thinking of the World (eds. K. Kresse and A. Sounaye) De Gruyter 2022.

As an independent consultant, Nabil advises and represents ORCID in the MENA region, is the Africa PID Alliance’s Project Lead, and consults on the AfricArXiv initiative. Having worked at ORCID for many years growing international adoption and creating communities of practice, Nabil brings his expertise to foster meaningful connections and drive participation in global initiatives. His focus lies in spearheading engagement strategies, driving growth in membership, and establishing strategic partnerships to enhance ORCID's impact worldwide.

Damien Bertrand has over 20 years of experience in the Telecommunications field in the Europe Middle East Africa (EMEA) region. Since 2020, Damien Bertrand serves as Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Medusa Submarine Cable System, where he oversees the operational execution and deployment of the Medusa submarine cable across the Mediterranean Sea. He is responsible for coordinating the project’s technical and operational strategy, ensuring timely delivery, and managing relationships with partners/customers, regulators, and landing parties across Europe, North Africa and Middle East. With extensive experience in telecom infrastructure, Damien plays a key role in transforming Medusa into a major connectivity corridor linking Europe and Africa, enhancing digital resilience and fostering economic growth throughout the region.

H.E. Pierre-Christophe Chatzisavas is the Ambassador - Head of Delegation of the European Union to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, since September 2023. Prior to his tenure as Ambassador, Mr. Chatzisavas served as a Political Assistant to the Deputy Secretary-General of the European External Action Service (EEAS) in charge of Peace, Security and Defence (2020-2023). Before that, he served as Senior Advisor on Peace and Security to the President of the UN General Assembly, then as Counsellor in charge of North Africa and the Middle East in the EU Delegation to the United Nations (2015-2019). Other previous assignments include working for the EU Delegation to the African Union in Addis Ababa (2010-2012) and for the EU Delegation to Chad (2007-2010). Between postings, he was based in Brussels in the EEAS Headquarters, covering at different times Mali and the Sahel region (2012-2014), Syria (2014), and the Western Balkans (2019). Mr. Chatzisavas holds an M.A. in Public Administration from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (2002). Mr. Chatzisavas is a dual national from Cyprus and France. He is married with five children.

Born in Venezuela, Luis Eliécer Cadenas became the Execu ve Director of RedCLARA on August 1, 2017. A computer engineer with postgraduate studies in economics, networking, and computer science, he has nearly 30 years of experience in informa on and telecommunica ons technologies, both in the public and private sectors. He co-founded and served as President of the Na onal Academic Network of Venezuela (REACCIUN), where he led the crea on of the first na onal physical network connec ng 17 public universi es. He also held leadership roles in Enredo and Cecalcula. In the private sector, he led Cisco's Academic Networking Program and later served as Account Manager for Claro Central America.

Mehedi Hasan Limon 李梦 is a dynamic youth icon, author, and trailblazer in the tech world, renowned for his leadership and innovation across Asia, Europe, Africa, Middle East, and Central Asia. As Vice President of Public Sector special focus on Education and Healthcare at Huawei ME&CA, Mehedi is at the forefront of digital transformation, driving initiatives that reshape industries and propel strategic success. A prominent voice at global tech summits, he has authored “The Rising Dragon” also numerous articles on leadership, technology, and entrepreneurship, inspiring a new generation of leaders. Passionate about EdTech, Mehedi has been a key advocate for government digitization efforts, championing technology to ensure equal access to high-quality education and empower youth to thrive in the digital era

Raed K. Al-Zoubi is the Library Director at Jordan University of Science & Technology (JUST). With over 30 years of management and technical experience in ICT, information systems, and libraries, he has dedicated the past 15 years to advancing academic library services. In recent years, Raed has also been actively engaged as an Open Science expert, supporting ASREN’s regional initiatives in Open Science, scholarly communication, and library-driven research support.

In 1989, Yousef Torman began their career as an Engineer at the Computer Center of Jordan University of Science and Technology. In 1999, they successfully established and managed the New Computer and Information Center at the university, serving approximately 16,000 students and 3,500 faculty and staff members. At the national level, [Your Name] played a pivotal role in founding the Jordanian National Research and Education Network, which now connects 11 universities and serves over 250,000 students and 25,000 faculty and staff members. At the international level, they have been actively involved for more than five years in initiatives aimed at developing a Pan-Arab e-Infrastructure for scientific research. These efforts culminated in the establishment of the Arab States Research and Education Network (ASREN), which aspires to serve more than 400 universities across the Arab region.

Saoussen Krichen is a Professor of Quantitative Methods and a Computer Scientist at the Higher Institute of Management of Tunis, University of Tunis. She is a member of the Laboratory of Operational Research, Decision and Process Control (LARODEC). Saoussen Krichen is a specialist in game theory, optimization, supply chain management and artificial intelligence. She served as Director of the Doctoral School in Management Sciences at the University of Tunis (2016-2018). She was also Vice President for Scientific Research and International Cooperation at the University of Tunis (2017-2020). She has served as an expert in supply chain management, artificial intelligence and digitalization at the national and international levels.

Ahmed is an IP Networks Consulting Systems Engineer at Nokia in the Middle East. He provides technical consulting on the architecture and design of Wide Area Networks (WAN) and data center networks for carriers and large enterprises. In his consultancy role, he delivers best-practice designs for mission-critical IP/MPLS/Ethernet networks, optimizing the delivery of Multi-Play, Internet, VPN, security, and cloud services. With over 17 years of international experience in the telecommunications industry, Ahmed has held various roles across technical presales, project management, and consulting. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Manchester, UK, and a Master’s degree in Wireless Communications from the University of Greenwich, UK.

Dr Emily Choynowski is the Chief Academic Officer at Knowledge E. She is also the Co-Founder and Director of the Forum for Open Research in MENA, working with key regional stakeholders to promote the development and implementation of open science policies and practices across the Arab region. Emily also serves on the Advisory Board of the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) and various working groups and committees including the European Network of Academic Integrity, and the International Open Access Week Committee. Meanwhile, as an independent scholar working in the field of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century British literature and culture, Emily serves as Director of The Byron Society (a UK-based literary charity), sits on the Executive Committee of the British Association of Romantic Studies (BARS) as the representative for independent scholars and non-academic members, and serves on various editorial boards for journals and book series.

Nicole Mulaku is an Open Science advocate and Programs Officer for Library and Consortia at the Training Centre in Communication (TCC Africa), a capacity-building organization based at the University of Nairobi. She holds a degree in International Relations and Diplomacy and is dedicated to advancing the visibility of African research through Open Access and Open Science initiatives.

Joy Owango Is an experienced award-winning Founding Director of the Training Centre in Communication (TCC Africa) an award winning Trust registered in Kenya set up in 2006 and is the first African-based training centre to teach effective communication skills to scientists. TCC Africa is in partnership and housed at the University of Nairobi, Kenya and provides capacity support in improving African researchers output and visibility through in scholarly and science communication.

Is currently the President of KACST. His 22+ years of experience spans the spheres of R&D, Innovation, and Digital Transformation, where he played influential roles at different levels as seasoned researcher, inventor and leader setting national strategies, policies, and regulations, as well as investing research, development, and innovation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ICT ecosystem. His Excellency Dr. Munir bin Mahmoud Eldesouki has held many leadership and ministerial positions in the Kingdom, including Assistant Minister of Communications and Information Technology. He is also the Chairman of the BoT of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Award to honour inventors and talented individuals, Chairman of the BoT of Almarai Award for Scientific Innovation, Chairman of the BoD for the Saudi-WEF Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and member of a number of boards including the BoT of Hevolution, the Governing Board for Global Research Council (GRC) as Vice-Chair, Ilmi Science Discovery & Innovation Centre as Vice-Chair, the Saudi Space Agency, the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, the Premium Residency Centre, the General Organization for Military Industries, the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information, the Riyadh Charitable Science Foundation, and the King Salman Science Oasis. In recognition of his scientific excellence, he received several awards such as the King Abdul-Aziz Order of Merit Excellence Medal of the First Class and the King’s Prize for Inventors, and was elected as a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors in the USA.

Dr. Barakat graduated at the top of his class in Mechanical Engineering from Ain Shams University, where he also earned his Master’s degree in Acoustics and Vibrations. For his distinguished research, he received both the University Award and the American Acoustical Society Award. He later obtained a DAAD scholarship to pursue his Ph.D. at the Technical University of Darmstadt, where he investigated a class of nonlinear dynamical systems and developed an advanced control method for microelectromechanical gyroscopes. This work earned him the Ali Nayfeh Best Paper Award from the International Society of Nonlinear Dynamics (NODYS). During that period, he also worked as a Control Systems Engineer, contributing to the development of autonomous vehicle technologies. Following his doctoral studies, Dr. Barakat joined the Technical University of Munich as a Postdoctoral Researcher, where he developed a theoretical framework elucidating the correspondence between classical and quantum dynamics using resonant nanostructures. He also contributed to the introduction of an interdisciplinary course in Quantum Engineering and serves as a Postdoctoral Representative on the Executive Committee of the Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology. Beyond his technical research, Dr. Barakat maintains a deep interest in the philosophy and history of science. He co-authored a book translation and is currently preparing a critical edition of an Ibn Sīnā (Avicenna) manuscript on modal logic. In parallel, he actively promoted science communication as Vice President of the German–Egyptian GESR association and as a students’ mentor with the Egypt Scholars association. Since last year, he has been serving as Section Editor for Physical Sciences at the Scientific Arab Forum (SAF), where he is also organizing its inaugural conference of physical sciences, themed “100 Years of Quantum.

Dr. Douaa is a systems biologist by training and currently a faculty member at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health which she joined after the COVID19 pandemic revealed the importance of better digital infrastructure, more interdisciplinary research, and public-private partnerships for local and global pandemic preparedness. In her current role, she is the Data Officer for a large NIH-funded consortium of international researchers leveraging multi-OMICs to identify principled vaccine and diagnostic strategies for adults at risk of TB – the world’s deadliest infectious disease by number of lives claimed. She also manages a partnership with Siemens Healthineers focused on using digitally-connected diagnostics for public health monitoring. Outside of academia, she is a part-time Senior Consultant at the Brussels-based consulting firm myEUconsulting, where she helps high-risk but promising early-stage Life & Health Science startups obtain EU funding. She is also the COO and acting Chief editor at the Scientific Arab Forum (SAF). In this role, she focuses on community building and science communication as means for promoting broader interest in science and collaborative research and innovation, which she believes are major pillars for radical advancement in the MENA region.

Dr. Ahmad Aloqaily is a leading expert in data science, artificial intelligence, and national digital transformation. He currently serves as the Director of the National Information Center for Science and Technology (NICST) at the Higher Council for Science and Technology, where he oversees strategic initiatives in data governance, AI readiness, and scientific information infrastructure. He holds a Ph.D. in AI and Machine Learning from the University of Technology Sydney and has held senior academic positions at the Hashemite University, including Vice Dean and Head of the Information Technology Department. Dr. Aloqaily is recognized for advancing data-driven innovation, national research capabilities, and modern digital ecosystems across Jordan.

A strategic planner with extended international experience in providing policy advice; planning; and programming in the socioeconomic fields of: science-policy-society interface; building knowledge societies; socioeconomic-environmental dynamics; water and environmental resources’ governance; combating poverty and unemployment; and cultural development. Coordinated, directed and substantially contributed to several landmark publications (Advising Member: “The Arab Vision 2045”. 2025; Team Leader: “Charter of Ethics of Science and Technology in the Arab Region” 2019; “Building Knowledge Societies in the Arab Region: Arabic Language as a Gateway to Knowledge” 2019". Director/Coordinator: “Arab Knowledge Report: 2014 -Youth and Localization of Knowledge”; “Arab Knowledge Report 2010/2011-Preparing Future Generation for the Knowledge Society”; “Arab Knowledge Repot 2009-Towards Productive Intercommunication for Knowledge”; “Water Governance in the Arab Region- Manging Scarcity and Securing the Futur”2013. Coordinator of the “Arab Human Development Report 2005- Towards the Rise of Women in the Arab World”; and the “Arab Human Development Report 2004- Towards Freedom in the Arab World”; substantially contributed to: AHDRs of 2002 and 2003; and several other reports/papers. He has a Ph. D. in Planning from the University of Michigan, USA, specialized in socioeconomic-environment dynamics.

Joel Omiat is an Officer in Events & Public Relations in the Communications Department at the Research and Education Network for Uganda (RENU). He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Kampala International University and a Media Professional Award Certificate from Olstar PR & Media LTD. With expertise spanning event management, social media influencing, photography, videography, content creation, and customer engagement, Joel has successfully led numerous high-profile initiatives, including RENU eduroam awareness campaigns, Annual General Meetings, Federated Identity Management workshops, and Schools workshops.

Dr. Lazhar Medkour is an Algerian researcher and advisor specialized in Education Sciences, with a focus on school and vocational guidance, counseling, and educational supervision. He holds a PhD in Education Sciences from Tizi Ouzou University (2024), a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Sétif 2 (2016), and a Bachelor’s in Education Sciences from the University of Algiers (1995). With over 20 years of experience in guidance, evaluation, and professional integration, Dr. Medkour has served as a main advisor and coordinator in various educational and vocational institutions in Algeria. He has published 13 research articles, contributed to 8 collective books, and participated in more than 70 national and international conferences. He is a member of several scientific and professional associations, including the International Union of the Arabic Language, and is part of national research projects (PNR and PRFU). His work focuses on improving educational practices, student counseling, and entrepreneurship education.

Dr. Houda Chihi is a Senior Researcher at the InnovCOM Lab at Sup'COM Tunisia, with a PhD in Telecommunications. She is a TechWomen Fellow (2019), hosted at Qualcomm in California, and an Eugen Ionescu Postdoctoral Fellow (2021), hosted at Politehnica University of Bucharest. Her research focuses on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and internet governance. In addition to her academic and research work, Dr. [Last Name] is an international speaker and trainer, and an active member in several associations promoting women in technology. She is passionate about empowering women in STEM and advocating for inclusive digital development across the MENA region and beyond.

Eng. Ibrahim Alshadokhi is the Chief Executive Officer of the Internet Services Unit (ISU) at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from King Saud University and possesses over 25 years of extensive technical and leadership experience in networking, cybersecurity, business administration, and strategic planning. Throughout his career, Eng. Alshadokhi has been recognized as one of the key national figures who contributed to establishing, developing, and operating the Internet sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As part of KACST/ISU, he played a central role during the Internet’s early introduction, helping shape its framework as the primary national gateway and regulatory enabler. He currently leads and contributes to several strategic national initiatives in the information and communication technology domain, including the Saudi Research and Innovation Network (Maeen Network), the Saudi Arabian Internet Exchange (SAIX), and the Gulf Information Database (GESR). His influence extends beyond the national level through active engagement with regional and global organizations, advancing digital transformation and knowledge exchange.

Dr. Ines Sbai is currently an Assistant Professor at the Higher Institute of Computer Science of Kef, university of Jendouba. She Earned a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the higher institute of management of Tunis, ISG University of Tunis, Tunisia in 2021. Currently she is a Member of the LARODEC laboratory ISG Tunis. Current research interests include Artificial Intelligence, combinatorial optimization problems, optimization algorithms (metaheuristics), especially genetic algorithms, and their application to real-parameter benchmarking and real-world problems in the domain of road-traffic optimization. She published several papers in referred to international journals, international and national conferences and book chapters.

Dr. Ahmed A. Kabeel is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electronics and Communication at Delta University for Science and Technology, Egypt. He is a specialist in antenna and microwave engineering and serves as the Secretary of the IEEE AP-S & MTTS Chapter, Egypt Section. His research interests include RF energy harvesting, artificial intelligence and neural networks, and transparent and flexible electronics for renewable and sustainable applications. His recent work focuses on hybrid Solar–RF energy harvesting systems, AI-driven spectrum sensing for cognitive radio, and metasurface-based antennas for next-generation 6G communications.

Eng. Muneeb Tashman Managing Director of the Queen Rania Al Abdullah Center for Education and Information Technology, Ministry of Education. Tashman oversees the implementation of strategic projects that employ technology in education, lead digital transformation in the education sector, and enhance digital infrastructure. He contributed to the development and implementation of the Blended Learning Strategy and the National Digital Transformation Strategy, as well as aligning the Ministry of Education’s Digital Transformation Plan with the key pillars of the National Council for Future Technology and the priorities of the Economic Modernization Vision. Eng. Muneeb holds a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering and has obtained several certifications in Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and IT Service Management. He has also participated in numerous local, regional, and international conferences as an expert in cybersecurity, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence.

Dr Andrea Lausi is the Scientific Director of SESAME since March 1st, 2020, on leave from the Italian synchrotron light source Elettra. Hegraduated in physics at the University of Trieste with a thesis on the diffraction of Helium atoms applied to the study of phase transitions in two-dimensional systems. His scientific activity then developed in the field of synchrotron light and X-ray structural determination methods. After joining Elettra in 1996 to construct the first diffraction beamline, he worked mainly on holographic methods for three-dimensional imaging of atoms and on diffraction of materials under extreme pressure. He has been the project leader in constructing the powder diffraction beamline MCX at Elettra, open to users in September 2008 and was involved in many national and international cooperation projects, in particular with the Indian Department of Science and Technology. He has been responsible for the Indo-Italian high-pressure diffraction beamline XPRESS and, at the same time, the coordinator of the communication of Elettra. In 2019 he was elected chair of the Public Awareness and Engagement with Research Infrastructures (PAERI) Working Group, established to collect requirements and best practices in the field of communication of the Association of European-Level Research Infrastructures Facilities (ERF-AISBL).

Agustín works as a Software Engineer in the RIPEstat team. He also has experience with data pipelines and data visualisations with RIPE Atlas data. He promotes RIPE NCC's tools and services in different conferences, both in English and Spanish. Before joining RIPE NCC in 2018 Agustín worked for LACNIC, the Regional Internet Registry for the Latin American and Caribbean regions.

Khalid Saidi is the Head of the Learning Center at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), where for more than 12 years he has been driving innovative initiatives to elevate learning experiences and expand access to knowledge. Before joining UM6P, he contributed to major academic and national projects at Al Akhawayn University and the National Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST), playing a key role in establishing the Moroccan Consortium for Access to Electronic Resources. Passionate about smart library solutions and open science, Khalid is committed to advancing collaboration and shaping the future of Morocco’s higher education and research ecosystems.