Ismaeel Elnasri
Sudan
Sudan
Ismaeel Elnasri is a seasoned legal professional and board secretary, holding associate membership in the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb-UK). He is also a certified mediator and a Certified Sharia Advisor and Auditor (CSAA), possessing over 20 years of experience in investment banking, Islamic banking, retail banking, finance, corporate law, labor law, real estate, and construction. His career includes extensive legal experience throughout the GCC and MENA regions. Since 2004, he has served in senior executive positions with prominent banking and financial institutions in Bahrain and Qatar. Mr. Elnasri holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Sudan and is a registered lawyer with the Sudanese Ministry of Justice.
Micky Rozin Aharonson
Israel
Israel
Micky Rozin-Aharonson is a director at an international foundation and a research fellow at the Dayan Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Tel Aviv University.
She served as the Chief of Staff and foreign policy adviser to the Minister of Transport. Previously, she was a senior research fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS), specializing in national security, international relations, and diplomacy.
Her recent writings focused on international involvement, mainly Russia and FSU countries, in the Middle East and the impact on Israel’s national security and regional developments, such as Russia’s role in the Middle East.
Before joining JISS, she concluded nearly a decade of service at the National Security Council in the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office as Senior Director of the Diplomatic Secretariat.
In this role, she was responsible for managing the international relationships of the Prime Minister’s National Security Advisor, including with foreign NSCs and diplomats.
She regularly prepared policy recommendations for the Prime Minister and the National Security Advisor on regional and international affairs.
Micky frequently appears in the media as a commentator on international relations and the Middle East.
Dr. Nigel Meir
UK
Senior Adviser, Representative in London
UK
Senior Adviser, Representative in London
Nigel studied Medicine at Oxford University (St John’s College) and worked as a hospital physician and then army battalion doctor. He was then recruited into the foreign service before, more than 30 years ago, embarking on a career in investment management having also completed an M.Phil in Middle East Studies at Oxford University (St Antony’s College). He is a member of the Development Board and the Finance & Estates Committee of St John’s College, Oxford and was for a decade a member of the Investment Committee of the Endowment of St Antony’s College, Oxford where he also funded a post-doctoral research fellowship for Palestinian Israelis. He was a Director of a healthcare charity operating in Africa. He was CEO / Founder of a private equity fund manager in the sustainability, cleantech and renewable energy sectors and is personally a direct private-equity and venture investor: healthcare & life sciences; artificial intelligence; cyber security / intelligence; financial services / fintech; cleantech; digital assets / blockchain. He is a Venture Partner and Limited Partner, Awz Ventures, Canadian cyber-security / intelligence fund manager and a direct investor in several AI-based cyber-security companies. He was Head of UK Pioneer Global Asset Management and Vice Chairman of its alternatives company. He was an investor and previously Director of STX Group, a Dutch brokerage firm of “green” financial instruments and commodities eg carbon credits and biofuels. He is committed to a belief that the MENA region, across all of its diverse countries, can become a bloc and even a union characterized by peace, cooperation and shared objectives.
Sara Bazoobandi
Iran
Iran
Sara Bazoobandi is a non-resident research fellow at the Institute for Security Policy of Kiel University in Germany. She was previously a Marie Curie fellow at the German Institute of Global and Area Studies working on Iran’s economic diversification and economic resilience strategies. Additionally, she is a non-resident fellow at Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, and ISPI in Milan. Over the past decade, she has worked as a consultant for various global clients in both public and private sector. Between 2013 and 2018, she was a senior lecturer in international political economy at Regent’s University London. Prior to that, she was a scholar at the Middle East Institute of the National University of Singapore.
She was an associate fellow at the MENA program of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, from 2013-16, and was appointed a member of the Global Agenda Council of the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa for 2014-2016. Sara has been a fellow at Higher Education Academy in the United Kingdom since 2015.
She holds a PhD in Arab and Islamic studies from Exeter University, an MSc in economic development in emerging markets from the University of Reading, and speaks Persian, English, German, and Arabic. Her current research interests are political economy, security and foreign policy of MENA, Iran, Information Wars, critical discourse analysis, and China-MENA relations.
Yassine Achahrar
Morocco
Morocco
Yassine ACHAHRAR is an entrepreneur and sustainability advocate dedicated to creating impactful business ventures. He is the Founder of GreenTreks, a sustainable travel initiative that promotes eco-tourism, cultural exchange, and community-driven experiences across Morocco. Through GreenTreks, he designs innovative travel solutions that benefit both travelers and local communities.
With a strong background in sales, marketing, and business development, Yassine currently serves as a Sales Manager at Pyxeli Agency, where he helps startups and businesses optimize their digital presence and growth strategies. His expertise spans CRM systems, client acquisition, and strategic partnerships.
As a UM6P Explorer Program Participant, Yassine collaborates with MIT Sandbox Innovation Fund to foster entrepreneurship and innovation. He is also a Founder Institute participant, further developing his leadership and startup-building skills.
Yassine is multilingual, speaking English, French, Arabic, Amazigh, and basic Chinese, which enhances his ability to navigate global markets and cross-cultural collaborations. He is also pursuing Salesforce Administrator certification to strengthen his CRM and data management expertise.
His long-term vision includes expanding GreenTreks internationally, scaling his entrepreneurial ventures, and pursuing a master’s degree in Business Administration or International Relations. A results-driven leader, Yassine thrives on innovation, sustainability, and strategic collaboration to drive meaningful change in business and society.
Hazem Alghabra
Syria, USA
Syria, USA
Hazem Alghabra, born in Damascus Syria, is the founder and president of Frontiers Consultants, a Washington DC-based consultancy firm that provides public relations and crisis management solutions with a focus on the Middle East and the United States. Prior to starting his firm, Alghabra held multiple positions with the U.S. Department of State including senior advisor for public affairs at the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. Alghabra provides daily insight and analysis as a commentator on a vast array of television stations including i24, Keshet, Alarabyia, Sky News, BBC, and Alsharq-Bloomberg. Alghabra is also the North America partner for the Israel-based Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs.
Beth Debeer
Israel, USA
Israel, USA
Beth Debeer is a strategist and relationship builder dedicated to mobilizing capital for transformative impact. She has partnered with foundations, family offices, investment advisors, asset managers, and venture capital funds to design and implement strategies that maximize returns across asset classes.
Driven by a passion for building bridges and connecting people with ideas, Beth brings a collaborative approach to fostering innovative solutions and sustainable change. Originally from the US, Beth is fluent in Hebrew and English, Beth holds a BA from the University of Michigan and a Master’s degree from Columbia University.
Walid Nassef
Morocco, Canada
Morocco, Canada
Walid is a dedicated public servant, blogger at the Times of Israel, and a full-time PhD candidate in Contemporary Religious Studies at the University of Sherbrooke. Specializing in cultural and religious diplomacy, his research focuses on Arab-Israeli normalization, the Abraham Accords, and the role of music and arts in fostering peace between Jewish and Muslim communities.
Born in Morocco, Walid resides in Québec, where he is actively engaged in political activity. With a professional background in immigration, project management, and media, he holds a Master’s in Applied Political Studies and a Bi-disciplinary Bachelor’s in Marketing and Management, earning several scholarships for excellence and perseverance. Passionate about political analysis, academic writing, and conference organization, his scholarly interests include the intersection of culture, religion, and diplomacy in promoting peace and understanding.
Marwan Albloushi
UAE
UAE
Marwan Alblooshi is an Emirati PhD researcher at Lancaster University in the United Kingdom. His thesis examines the relationship between changes in Emirati foreign policy and the regional order, as well as national identity.
Alblooshi previously worked in policymakers’ circles in the UAE, assisting the government in the development and implementation of several national agendas.
Rajae Sahouri
Jordan
Jordan
Rajae Sahouri is an investment professional and host of The Straight Up Start Up podcast. With expertise in entrepreneurship and portfolio management, he has led initiatives such as the entrepreneurship fund and program at King’s Academy, as well as the Youth Executive Committee with Jordan’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship. Rajae is also known for fostering strategic collaborations to empower entrepreneurs across the Middle East.