Khaldoon Bakahail
Yemen
Yemen
Before co-founding RSAI, Red Sea Analytics International, Khaldoon Bakahail was with the Yemeni government where he held senior positions across four ministries. He is a senior advisor on security sector reform for the Geneva-based Center for Security Sector Governance (DCAF)and country coordinator for Yemen . In his position at DCAF, Khaldoon has designed and facilitated high-level dialogues between multiple regional and local actors in Yemen’s ongoing conflict. He routinely advises ranking government officials, the UN, and leading NGOs on security and political issues in Yemen and the broader region. Khaldoon is a participant in the T-20/ G-20 Global Solutions Initiative. He is also an alumni of the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies and an active member of the Nobel Prize winning Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs.)
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.
Karima Rhanem
Morocco
Morocco
Karima Rhanem is the president of the International Center for Diplomacy and CEO of Africa My Home.
She is also senior managing editor at the New Africa Magazine.
She is a gender and youth policy expert.
She previously worked as a communication expert for international development programs at the USAID/US embassy in Rabat, and Policy Advocacy Specialist at Counterpart International.
She was also managing editor at Morocco Times newspaper.
Karima is a multi-award winner with over 36 awards at the African level.
She has been nominated since 2017 among Trop 30, 50, and 100 most influential young leaders, exceptional woman, and CEO in Africa.
She has also been named humanitarian Ambassador in Africa.
Tom Vizel
Israel
Israel
Tom Vizel is the founder and CEO of 4MENA Network, a pioneering transnational organization fostering cross-cultural partnerships in the Middle East and North Africa. Inspired by the European Erasmus program, 4MENA unites like-minded institutions to build a more inclusive and interconnected future. Additionally, Tom leads the Educational Department of NOAL, one of the largest youth movements in Israel, which engages over 90,000 members across 350 locations in Israel, including 55 Arab towns. NOAL’s diverse programs promote unity among the various communities within Israeli society. Tom’s leadership is dedicated to peace and cross-cultural understanding.
Aissa Christophe Agostini
Morocco
Morocco
Founder & CEO of Prosper Atlas, a strategy consulting firm specializing in investment, business development, and international partnerships. President of the Regional Commission for Investment & International Partnerships at CGEM Marrakech-Safi, fostering economic growth and cross-border collaborations. Former CEO of multiple companies in finance, consulting, and industry. Advisor to top executives in strategic decision-making. Also a contemporary artist, with works in painting, photography, and sculpture. Holds a background in economics and has a deep interest in AI, innovation, and sustainable development.
Wisam Ziadeh
Palestine
Palestine
Wisam Ziadeh was born and raised in Shu’fat, a Palestinian Arab neighborhood in East Jerusalem. She studied English Literature and Journalism at Bethlehem University. A mother of two, she holds an Israeli ID, while her husband and children have Israeli passports, navigating the complexities of identity and mobility in the region.
For over a decade, Wisam has been dedicated to peace-building and cross-border initiatives. In 2010, she worked at the Peace Works Foundation as the Project Manager of the International Education Program in the West Bank. She is a leader and advocate for social justice, peace, and gender equity, with expertise in program development, management, peace-building, and gender programs.
Wisam is an alumna of the U.S. Consulate’s exchange program, having participated in Women’s Role in Peace and Security program in the United States in 2019. She has developed several programs focused on women’s empowerment and community development and has represented Palestine in numerous international conferences on women’s rights and empowerment. In 2015, she led Women’s Empowerment Projects, contributing to joint efforts to promote peace and end the conflict both locally and internationally.
In 2022, she founded Takadom for Peace, where she serves as CEO. Through Takadom, Wisam focuses on youth and women’s empowerment, advocating for a just and comprehensive peace. The organization equips young leaders with practical and scientific skills, fosters dialogue and critical thinking, and enables them to represent themselves and their communities effectively. Takadom prioritizes societal change, particularly for marginalized groups, by expanding awareness and promoting the role of women in social transformation.
Being a Palestinian woman and mother comes with significant societal restrictions, limiting mobility and access to opportunities. Despite these challenges, Wisam continues to push for change, ensuring that Palestinian voices—especially those of women and youth—are heard. Her passion for peace-building has also influenced her daughter, who has participated in international peace programs alongside Palestinian and Israeli students. Facing similar societal pressures, her daughter remains committed to advocating for a peaceful and just future.
Through her work, Wisam remains dedicated to fostering hope, constructive dialogue, and a better future for the next generation.
Sara Alshorman
Jordan
Jordan
Sara Alshorman is an MA student in English Studies at the University of Southern Denmark, specializing in cultural diplomacy and literary studies. A language and culture student who believes that communication and understanding are key to solving complicated issues and making a difference, she is passionate about fostering cross-cultural dialogue. Her research explores Cold War-era propaganda, focusing on the aesthetic and political dimensions of magazines. With a deep interest in Middle Eastern studies, she is currently developing a literary platform to promote mutual awareness between Arabs and Israelis. This initiative seeks to bridge cultural gaps through literature, music, language, and personal storytelling in a neutral, inclusive space. Sara is also involved in organizing academic conferences and cultural initiatives that promote global feminist perspectives.
Eman Safady
Israel
Israel
Eman holds a BA in Communications and Journalism and a master’s degree in National Security Maritime Strategy from the University of Haifa. She works as a Press Liaison at the Jerusalem Press Club, a private club that offers journalists everything they need: access to Israeli decision-makers and experts, briefings, and networking. With over 17 years of extensive journalistic experience, she has worked in various fields, including political communications, investigative reporting, and the production of television and radio programs. In 2019, Eman was selected to participate in the U.S. Department of State’s prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). An expert in the Lebanon-Israel maritime agreement, Israel’s gas agreements with Arab countries, and the Palestine-Gaza marine gas field, she possesses deep knowledge of Middle Eastern politics, economics, and culture, with a focus on Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
A lecturer in political communication, Israeli politics, and the Arab world, she is fluent in Arabic, Hebrew, and English, with a profound understanding of Israeli society. She is a member of the Devorah Forum, a non-partisan, non-profit NGO with an active network of professional women in an array of fields relating to Israel’s national security and foreign policy. She enjoys creating connections and collaborations and empowering and supporting young women.
Thaer Abed
Palestine, USA
Palestine, USA
Thaer Abed is an American – Palestinian Born in Richmond, Virgina and grew up during both intifada in the West Bank. Mr. Abed currently holds a position of a field engineer based in southern Iraq (Um Qassir) in which he overlooks the training program for the iraqi navy. For the past 13 years Mr.Abed has worked directly with the Iraqi navy on several programs such as training crew members on 35m and 60m USA made boats, renewing the legacy of the Arabian gulf academy for Maritime studies, C41S that links the Iraqi oil platforms with command center to insure the safely and sovereignty of Iraq’s most oil reserve Mr. Abed is also the owner of health investment warehouse drug store in the West Bank.