This Year's Speakers

An Architecture, and Founder of Lina Ghotmeh - Architecture, Paris

Winner of the Great Arab Minds Award in the Architecture and Design Category

A pioneering architect, Lina Ghotmeh leads her architectural practice in Paris, France. She graduated from the American University of Beirut (AUB) and holds a Master's in Landscape Architecture from the School of Environmental Design at the University of Georgia in the USA.

Ghotmeh has served in significant roles, including as an Associate Professor at the École Spéciale d’Architecture, and has given inspiring lectures at prestigious institutions such as the Royal College of Art, the Royal Academy of Arts, the Bartlett School of Architecture, and the Museum of Architecture and Heritage in France.

Architect Lina Ghotmeh employs a unique approach known as 'Archaeology of the Future,' ensuring that all her projects are evolved and practical outcomes of her research on coexisting with nature and the surrounding environment, revealing the essence of the raw materials used in their construction. Among her notable works is a building near the industrial port in Beirut, her birthplace, designed using local materials that resonate with the surrounding environment, and incorporating the results of her innovative research and techniques in architecture based on studies of the region's architectural history. Furthermore, she has conducted several studies and research projects focused on the relationship between architecture and the environment, the use of natural and local materials suitable for projects in various settings, and the study of historical architecture in these areas, forming the basis for designing modern and sustainable projects.

Committed to environmental stewardship, her various projects reflect a dedication to building sustainable and healthier communities, seamlessly integrating her academic knowledge with practical application to make a profound impact on the field.

Recognized as a humanist architect and renowned for her bold and contemporary designs, Lina Ghotmeh has expertly managed over 65 global architectural projects, including worldwide museums, exhibitions, and cultural designs.

Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub is a world-renowned cardiac surgeon known for his innovative surgical techniques completely transformed the field of heart transplantation. He was knighted for his services to medicine and surgery by the British government, awarded the Grand Order of the Nile, and received the Order of Merit from Queen Elizabeth II, among other honours.

Being a founder of the Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation in Egypt and the Chain of Hope charity in the UK, Professor Yacoub has saved the lives of thousands of people, particularly children. He has also established heart centres in Mozambique and Ethiopia, and is currently building one in Kigali, Rwanda.

This year, he has been bestowed with the prestigious 2024 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity for his unwavering commitment to healing hearts and fostering unity on a global scale.

Born in Tunis in 1972, Dhafer L'Abidine studied computers while working as a fashion model at the Metropolitan in Paris. He then travelled to London to attend the Birmingham College of Acting, where he graduated in 2002.

He first appeared on television in the series "Dream Team", then in a number of American films, and finally in Arab dramas in 2002.

In 2021, Dhafer L’Abidine moved behind the camera to direct his first feature film “Ghodwa”, which he co-wrote, starred in, and produced in Tunisia. “Ghodwa” won the international Film Critics Award at the Cairo International Film Festival in 2021. After a successful cinema release “Ghodwa” is now showing worldwide on Netflix.

In November 2022, Dhafer just finished directing his second feature film “To My Son”, which he also co-wrote and produced through his company “Double A Productions” in co-productions with “O3 Medya”. 

Dhafer L’Abidine also enjoys a successful career as an actor, appearing in numerous international film productions, such as “Children of Men”, “Sex and the City 2”, and “Centurion”.

In 2019, L'Abidine took part in the American TV series “The Looming Tower”, which received 4 Emmy nominations.

In 2020, Dhafer had a key role in Netflix’s French-speaking series “The Eddy”, produced and directed by Oscar-winning director Damien Chazelle (La La Land, Whiplash) and written by Jack Throne.

Dhafer recently played the lead role in the Egyptian film “A Nose and Three Eyes”, which is in cinemas across the Middle East. He is also playing the lead role in season 2 of “Finding Ola” that will be soon on Netflix.

Abla Fahita is an Egyptian satirical puppet character, a widow who has a 5-year-old daughter, Caro “Carcoura” and a son, “Boudi”.

She was first introduced on YouTube in 2010, and in 2012, she presented the “Fawazir El Webbah” (Web Fawazir) with her daughter “Caro” and her late husband in 4 episodes weekly.

In 2014, Abla Fahita started the show “Live from the Duplex” on CBC channel, which continued for 7 seasons until 2020.

During the hiatus of the program as it transitioned from one station to another, she embarked on successful live tours, holding concerts in the United States, Canada, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

Abla Fahita also debuted a series titled "Abla Fahita: Drama Queen" on Netflix. The series quickly rose to the top spot in viewership in Egypt from its first day.

Dr Roy Casagranda is a political scientist and professor of government at Austin Community College in Austin, Texas. 

His areas of expertise include US and Texas politics, Middle East history, the US Civil War, WWII, and political philosophy, especially German continental. 

Dr Roy’s multi-disciplinary research approach relies heavily on history, psychology, and philosophy. Because Dr Roy has always put public scholarship at the forefront of what he does, he started a YouTube channel in 2014. That YouTube channel has over 10 million views and over 100,000 subscribers.

Great Arab Minds Award in Literature and Arts - 2023

Sheikh Zayed Book Award for Literature - 2007

A distinguished professor of Arabic literature at both the University of Algiers and Sorbonne University in Paris, and an acclaimed novelist and academic. He completed his undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Literature, Arts, and Foreign Languages at the University of Oran Algeria and earned his master's degree in Arabic Novel Trends and a PhD in Hero Theory in the Arabic Novel from Damascus University, as well as an additional PhD from Sorbonne University specializing in the Language of the Arabic Novel.

Professor Laredj leads the Arabic Track within the Department of Applied Languages at Sorbonne University's Faculty of Languages, Arts and Civilizations of Foreign Societies. He has served as a Chair Professor at the University of Algiers since 1985 and was previously a Chair Professor at Université de Sétif.

Having authored more than 30 novels, Professor Laredj's works profoundly engage with the cultural and social aspects of Arab communities, establishing connections with universal human values and the diversity of global cultures. His literary work translated into over 20 languages has been adopted by universities worldwide and adapted into various theatrical and film productions. Notably, his innovative approach to novel writing has introduced new linguistic expressions significantly expanding the horizons of Arab narrative and imaginative storytelling.

With his extensive academic background, Professor Laredj has been instrumental in guiding research teams in studies related to the Arabic novel narrative styles and literary practices. He played a key role in founding and managing the Terminology Laboratory at the University of Algiers and Sorbonne University overseeing numerous narrative and translation research projects.

Professor Laredj's literary portfolio aligns with a modern school of thought characterized by its relentless pursuit of evolving expressive methods leaving a lasting mark on both Algerian and Arabic literature. His unique writing style masterfully blends myth with reality transforming mythological symbols into tangible narratives. Furthermore, he has innovated in novel writing by integrating artistic elements like music and painting into his distinctive storytelling approach.

An Egyptian diplomat who formerly served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Egypt, and also served as Egypt's Ambassador to the United States. In August 2009, he was appointed as the Dean of the School of Public Affairs at the American University in Cairo.

In 2000, Mrs Esaad Younis began her career as a film producer and executive, creating some of the best Egyptian films in history over the past 20+ years. 

Alongside her role as a CEO of Al Arabia Cinema in the film and production industry, Mrs Esaad is also a beloved actor, author having published several books, a scriptwriter, and radio show host. She also hosts the well-known “Sahebat Al Saada” TV show viewed by millions of Egyptians and Arabs weekly.

Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, Secretary-General of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, Member of Al-Azhar Center for Interreligious Dialogue, graduate of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif University, and Co-president, Religions for Peace organization.

He served as Secretary-General of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity for a period of 4 years, and participated in drafting the Document on Human Fraternity, signed by His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Professor Ahmed Al-Tayeb, in Abu Dhabi on 4 February 2019.

Awarded papal knighthood “Knight Commander with Star” by His Holiness Pope Francis, Pontiff of the Catholic Church, for his services towards spreading tolerance and interfaith dialogue. He is the first Arab and Muslim to be awarded this accolade from the head of the Catholic Church.

President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev presented him with the “Astana Medal” in recognition of his efforts in advancing human fraternity, and interreligious and intercultural dialogue.

In November 2022, the University of Humanities and Law in Kazakhstan (KAZGUU) awarded him an honorary professorship in recognition of his efforts to promote the values of coexistence, dialogue, and human fraternity.

In June 2023, he was awarded an honorary professorship by the Eurasian National University in Kazakhstan, in recognition of his efforts in promoting the values of interreligious dialogue, tolerance, fraternity and co-existence.

Presented the “Community Service Medal” by the Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates for his commitment and positive impact towards strengthening security in communities.

Participated in the Constituent Assembly charged with writing the new Constitution of the Arab Republic of Egypt in 2012 and 2013. He also took part in drafting a number of documents for Al-Azhar between 2011 and 2018.

Awarded the “Medal of the Constitutional Court” by the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt in recognition of his distinguished representation of the Egyptian judiciary during his time at Al-Azhar and the Constituent Assembly.

Awarded the “Medal of Religious Tolerance” by the Republic of Uzbekistan in recognition of his efforts in promoting interreligious dialogue and fostering relationships among followers of various religions. This marks the first instance where such an accolade has been bestowed upon a recipient from outside Uzbekistan.

Michael Knights, a Jill and Jay Bernstein Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute, specialises in the Gulf states, Iraq, and Iran's military and security affairs. His platform, Militia Spotlight, provides comprehensive analysis of developments pertaining to Iran-backed militias in Syria and Iraq, of which he is a cofounder.

Frequent briefers on regional security affairs for the US government policymakers, congressional committees, and the US military officers, Dr Knights has extensive travel experience in Iraq, Yemen, and the Gulf states, and extensive experience collaborating with local security and military organisations in Yemen, the Gulf states, and Iraq.

Extensive research has been conducted by Dr Knights regarding the lessons learned from the US military operations in the Gulf since 1990.

After earning his doctorate from the Department of War Studies at King's College London, he oversaw information-collection teams in Iraq, Libya, and Yemen as the head of analysis for a variety of oil and security companies.

In the past, he was employed by the Gulf States Newsletter and Jane's Intelligence Review as a defence journalist.

Karine Pansa, a talented professional with nearly 30 years of experience in the publishing industry, has made a significant contribution to the field.

She has been elected President-elect of the International Publishers Association (IPA), the world's largest federation of national, regional, and specialist publisher associations, effective January 2023.

She is also the owner and Publishing Director of Girassol Brasil, a children's book publisher based in São Paulo, Brazil. 

Karine's publishing experience includes serving as President of the Brazilian Book Chamber (CBL) for 2 terms, during which she played an important role in propelling the Brazilian publishing industry forward, and her visionary leadership was critical to the organization's success. Currently, she is a valued member of CBL's Board of Directors for International Projects, where she is working to establish a strong international presence for the Brazilian book industry. She hopes that this role will help to promote Brazilian authors and literature on a global scale, as well as foster cultural exchange and understanding.

José Borghino has been the Secretary General at the International Publishers Association (IPA) since 2015, after serving as a Policy Director in 2013.

Previously, he served as an Industry Representation Manager at the Australian Publishers Association. He was also a lecturer of Creative Industries and Literary journalism at the University of Sydney and editor at NewMatilda.com, in addition to serving as Executive Director at the Australian Society of Authors, and Acting Director & Senior Programme Manager of the Literature Board at the Australia Council for the Arts.

José Borghino holds a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Sydney, and a bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Melbourne.

HE Dr Abdul Rahman Al Maeeni is the Assistant Undersecretary for the Intellectual Property Sector at the Ministry of Economy in the UAE, the Secretary General of the Emirates Intellectual Property Association, an intellectual property expert accredited by the UAE Ministry of Justice and the Dubai Courts, and a member of the negotiating team for intellectual property-related free trade agreements.

Dr Al Maeeni has previously held several positions, including Director of the Innovation Centre at the Dubai Police General Headquarters and Secretary-General of the Emirates Copyright Management Association. He also delivered a number of lectures and seminars on intellectual property rights protection and contributed to the development of intellectual property legislation and laws in the UAE. He also wrote several articles about combating intellectual property crimes.

HE Dr Abdul Rahman Al Maeeni earned a doctorate in copyright law enforcement from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

Chief News Centre Officer at the Abu Dhabi Media Network - UAE

The CEO of the News Centre at Abu Dhabi Media Network, and the Editor-in-Chief of Aletihad newspaper.

He holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and a master's degree in business administration from the United Arab Emirates University.

He joined the editorial team of Aletihad newspaper in 2002, working as a field correspondent in the local news department for 10 years. He also served as Deputy Editor-in-Chief for local news, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Aletihad, and then Acting Executive Director of the Editorial and Publishing Sector.

Dr Al Kaabi writes a weekly column in Aletihad newspaper, specializing in local and political affairs, and newsroom management.

He is an Emirati activist, author, collector, businessman, Founder and CEO of Barjeel Art Foundation.

He is also a journalist who writes about regional politics, social issues, and economics. He contributes opinion pieces to “Emarat Al Youm”, “New York Times”, “Financial Times”, “Foreign Policy”, “Open Democracy”, “The Independent”, “The Guardian”, and “Gulf News”.

Al Qassemi earned a bachelor's degree in international business administration from the American University of Paris in 1998, as well as a master's degree in global finance and banking from the European Business School in London, where he graduated with distinction in 2004.

He is active in youth empowerment and entrepreneurship, having previously served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Young Arab Leaders Foundation's UAE branch for 3 years.

Forbes Middle East magazine named him first on its list of the "100 Most Prominent Arabic Personalities on Twitter”. He also received the Sheikh Rashid Award for Academic Excellence in 2006 and the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority Award in 2012, and "Arabian Business" named him one of the "500 Most Powerful Arabs" in the same year.

In 2008, Al Qasimi began teaching at a number of local and international universities, such as the Technical College in Dubai, the MIT Media Lab, Brandeis University in the United States, the American University in Paris, Boston College, Georgetown University, Yale University, and Bard in Berlin. Furthermore, he recently began teaching a course on the politics of contemporary Middle Eastern art in the Department of International Studies of the American University of Sharjah's College of Arts and Sciences in the spring semester of 2024

Ibrahim Abdel Meguid is an Egyptian writer and novelist. He wrote the novel "Thresholds of Joy," which was published in 2005 and was adapted into a dramatic work with the same title as part of the Ramadan 2024 series, starring Yehia El Fakharany and directed by Magdy Abu Emeira.

He wrote the "Alexandria Trilogy" ("No One Sleeps in Alexandria", "Birds of Amber", and "Clouds Over Alexandria"). He also published several novels, some of which were translated several foreign languages, such as "The Night of Love and Blood", "The House of Jasmine", and "The Other Place", as well as "Every Week There Is a Friday", "Adagio", and others. He also writes for a variety of Egyptian and Arab newspapers, including Al-Ahram, Al-Akhbar, Youm7, Al-Hilal, Alquds Alarabi, and other Arab magazines and newspapers.

He was born in Alexandria in 1964, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the Faculty of Arts at Alexandria University in 1973, and currently serves as the Folk Atlas Project's General Manager. After graduation, he relocated to Cairo and worked at the Ministry of Culture as a cultural specialist in popular culture, a consultant in the Theatre Department in popular culture, an advisor in the Writers Authority, general director of the General Culture Department in popular culture, and editor-in-chief of a new series of writings for the Egyptian General Book Authority.

Ibrahim Abdel Meguid has received numerous awards, including the Nile Prize in 2022, the Sheikh Zayed Book Award in the Literature category (for his book "Beyond Writing: My Experience with Creativity") in 2016, and the Katara Prize for Arabic Novel in the Published Novels category (for his novel "Adagio" in 2015), as well as the State Award for Excellence in Literature from the Supreme Council of Culture in 2007 and the Naguib Mahfouz Medal (for his novel “The Other Place”) in 1996.

Dr. Medhat El Adl is an Egyptian writer, poet, producer, and doctor. He recently produced the Ramadan 2024 series "Thresholds of Joy", which was based on the novel by the great writer Ibrahim Abdel Meguid, starred Yehia El Fakharany and directed by Magdy Abu Emeira. He founded the Egyptian production company "El Adl Group" in 1997 with his 2 brothers, Mohamed El Adl and the late artist Sami El Adl.

Dr. Medhat El Adl began writing poems at a young age. He graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in 1981 and worked in paediatrics for a few years before dedicating himself entirely to the arts field. He began composing songs and wrote several for some of the most well-known singers, including Mohamed El Helw, Amr Diab, Mohamed Mounir, Samira Said, Mohamed Fouad, Medhat Saleh, and others. "Platform No. 5", "Shubra Misr", and "Chaos of Feelings" are 3 collections of his poetry and song lyrics.

Dr. El Adl wrote the screenplay and dialogue for a number of successful Egyptian cinematic films, beginning with "Ice Cream in Gleem," which El Adl describes as "the documented testimony" of the 1990s in Cairo and Alexandria, and continuing with "Sa'eedi in the American University", "Hammam in Amsterdam", "Short w Fanelah w Cap", "Mafia", "The Dealer", "3 El Zero", and others.

This is in addition to a number of television series, the most important of which are "Mahmoud El Masry", "Al Andaleeb: Hikayt Sha’ab", "The Jewish Quarter", "Foq Mostawa El Shobohat", "Le Aa'la Se'r", and "Al Hisab Yejma", "Omla Nadra", and others, the most recent of which was the series "Thresholds of Joy".

Dr. El Adl praised the musical "Coco Chanel", which was performed by Sherihan, as well as the musical "Charlie", which tells the life story of the famous English comedian "Charlie Chaplin".

He received several honours, including recognition from the Egyptian Opera House at the Arab Music Festival's 30th edition.

In 2016, Ross Welford’s first book for children, “Time Travelling with a Hamster” became an instant bestseller, won several awards and was shortlisted for countless others. It propelled him to the forefront of the highly competitive world of children’s publishing. He has published a book every year since, and his work features prominently in school libraries and reading programmes both in the UK and abroad.

Ross’s books are enjoyed equally by boys and girls of nine and older - and many adults too! They have been translated into sixteen languages, including Hebrew, Chinese and Korean.

Ross talks enthusiastically and engagingly on the challenges and rewards of becoming a new author in middle age, on discovering “the muse”, and how pretty much anybody can increase their chances of writing a successful book by following some simple advice.

Ross has a lifelong interest in magic - the conjuring type, not the mystical type - and enjoys devising and performing tricks which illustrate the magical ideas in his stories. He was a street magician in his teens, performing his act (with the aid of A-level French) in Paris and Nice. In 2019 he was admitted to the prestigious Magic Circle.

An early career in magazine journalism led to work in television in the 1990s and 2000’s. He produced popular shows such as Channel 4’s The Big Breakfast, and ITV’s This Morning with Richard Madeley and Judy Finnegan. His magical knowledge garnered him work on Channel 4’s Magick and Sky TV’s long-running Max Magic.

Ross’s books have been described as “awesome” (the Observer), “gripping” (The Guardian) and “intelligent, well-crafted and impressive” (The Sunday Times). They are, however, hard to classify. Part science-fiction, part fantasy, his stories typically take a “magical” idea (invisibility say, or immortality) and allow it to play out in a contemporary setting.

When not writing, Ross tours schools and literary festivals in the UK and abroad, inspiring a love of reading and writing. He lives in London with his wife, teenage children and border collie.

As CEO and Board Member of Pyramedia Group, Dr Nashwa Al Ruwaini oversees a diverse group of companies that provide a wide range of services in media production and consulting, marketing, public relations, financial investments, medical, and manufacturing.

Dr Al Ruwaini has over 20 years of experience in the media industry and has worked on a number of award-winning and innovative projects, including Million's Poet, Prince of Poets, the Middle East Film Festival, and the Middle East EMMY Awards. She has also consulted and cast for several Hollywood productions, as well as helped MBC establish itself as a regional media powerhouse.

She has an MSc and MPhil in Political Science and Islamic Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London, as well as a certificate in Real Estate Economics and Finance from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

Dr Nashwa is dedicated to assisting women, children, and the disabled throughout the MENA region through her Nashwa Charity Foundation, and she also founded Nashwa Jewellery, a luxury brand reflecting her Egyptian heritage and artistic vision.

Forbes Magazine named her one of the Top 100 Powerful Arab Businesswomen in 2017, and she remains committed to excellence and innovation in her field.

A Bahraini poet, writer, and academic researcher residing in the United Arab Emirates. She is also a media expert at Dubai Media Incorporated, and a member of the committee for updating Arabic language teaching methods in Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Arabic Language Initiative.

She has received several awards, including the Dynamic Woman of the Year 2011 award from George Washington University in the United States.

Dr Parween Habib holds a master's degree in Literary Criticism from Ain Shams University in Cairo and a PhD in Literary Criticism from the Arab League University in Egypt.

He was born in Beirut, Lebanon, on August 24, 1968. He got a PhD in civil and canon law. 

He joined the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 2000, and in the following years, he was appointed as a papal ambassador to Papua in 2018. 

He worked in papal embassies in Indonesia, Sudan, and Turkey, and in the department of state relations at the Vatican. 

In November 2018, Pope Francis appointed him as a papal ambassador to Pakistan, and since January 2023, he has been serving as the first papal ambassador in the United Arab Emirates.

Dr Karim Ali is an Egyptian doctor who received his master's and doctorate degrees from Al-Azhar University in Cairo, where he specialised in forensic medicine and clinical toxicology. He also holds a master's degree in family medicine from Oradea University in Romania and has practiced medicine in his home country for several years. Then he travelled to Europe to begin a new story, one about his success as one of the most well-known and followed Arab doctors on YouTube. He is the author of the Functional Medicine Encyclopaedia, which is divided into five parts, as well as the book "Life Taught Me".

Dr Karim founded "Fekr Tani" (Think Again), a health awareness company with 6 million followers that aims to educate young people and future generations on the importance of maintaining a healthy mind and body, as well as gaining the necessary experiences and skills to change the future for the better. It also promotes a holistic approach to health, which includes physical, mental, emotional, and social health.

In "Fekr Tani," Dr Karim recognises that positive change requires collective efforts and works to foster a supportive community in which individuals can share their experiences, challenges, and success stories, thereby creating a network of like-minded people on a journey to better health.

Beneath a sky where stars whispered tales of old, a voyager sailed the endless sea, seeking the Mythical Muse. This majestic guardian of lore, a sentinel of the deep, challenged all who sought its wisdom: "What can quench thirst, shape shores, mirror the sky, yet carry tales across the world?"

With a spark of insight, the traveller called out, "A story". For just as water, it sustains, transforms, reflects, and connects across vast distances.

The Mythical Muse, its gaze deep as the ocean's heart, spoke with a voice that stirred the very currents of the sea. "Well met, storyteller. Let me be your muse, your beacon through the boundless oceans of imagination."

In the heart of an enchanted oasis, the Twin Storytellers talked, their feathers ruffled in the gentle breeze. "Clearly, the past holds the best tales," squawked the elder, leaves rustling indignantly.

"Nonsense! The future is where true stories blossom," chirped the younger, tales of tomorrow fluttering like fresh Ghaf leaves.

And on and on they spoke, trying to find the best answer. It is said that to this day they ask passers by what they think holds the best stories.

In the whispering sands, a boy found an oasis, watched over by the grand Wingweaver. "What is a treasure that grows with sharing?" it asked. The boy, eyes alight, answered, "A book."

With a gentle rustle of feathers, the Wingweaver stepped aside, inviting him into a realm where stories blossomed, endless, and alive.