Evangelia Akritidou
Greece
Greece
Evangelia (Eva) Akritidou is a Greek citizen. She is a Middle East specialist and counter-terrorism expert, with a focus on Israel and its relations with Greece, Cyprus, and the Eastern Mediterranean. She holds a master’s degree in Security & Diplomacy from Tel Aviv University and serves as a Senior Analyst at the Research Institute for European and American Studies (RIEAS). As part of her research work, she has co-authored papers at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) in Israel during her internship.
Munya Yusuf
Bahrain
Bahrain
Munya is a Bahraini citizen who graduated from the American University in Washington, d.c. She obtained a Bachelor’s in International Studies focusing on Conflict Resolution and Global Governance in the Middle East.
Youssef Lahbiel
Morocco
Morocco
Youssef Lahbiel is an International Cooperation & Development Bachelor Student at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco. His journey is marked by a profound commitment to fostering interfaith dialogue, cultural exchange, and peaceful coexistence.Youssef’s academic pursuits at Al Akhawayn University have been complemented by his active involvement in various initiatives. As a representative of Al Akhawayn University within the Critical Edge Alliance Universities, he collaborates with peers from diverse backgrounds, emphasizing student-centered learning, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary approaches.
Youssef has also been an active participant in various events and conferences where his passion lies in bridging gaps and building connections. Notably, he was a speaker at the Jewish Christian Muslim Conference held at the University of Haifa in collaboration with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he explored the nexus between religion and diplomacy.
Youssef’s commitment extends to event organization. He has played an instrumental role in coordinating several events that celebrate cultural diversity, religious tolerance, and coexistence. As the President of the Mimouna Club, he actively promotes and preserves Moroccan-Jewish traditions and heritage. Additionally, his tenure as the Director of Protocol & Cooperation for the MPC Youth Forum demonstrates his dedication to engaging Moroccan youth in meaningful discussions about politics and shared values. In addition to his academic pursuits, Youssef co-founded and served as the President of the AUI Orchestra, a vibrant club that celebrates art, music, and culture within the university community. Through music and creativity, he fosters connections that transcend borders and promote mutual understanding.
Ben Grisheff
UK
UK
Ben Grischeff is a recent graduate in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Cambridge. His studies retained a close focus on political economy, security studies and development in the MENA region. He has published research papers with other think tank organisations recommending socio-economic policy to combat climate-induced risk, and works with a collaborative and analytical mindset.
Arnon Bersson
Israel
Israel
Arnon Bersson is a researcher in the fields of Middle East energy security and geopolitics with a focus on the Arab Gulf States.
He has worked as a researcher and analyst for several Israeli companies in the Hi-tech and energy industries.
Arnon is a frequent contributor to the “Israel and the Arab Gulf Program” at the Abba Eban Institute for Diplomacy and Foreign Relations. He earned his BA in political science and Middle Eastern Studies and his MA in Middle Eastern Studies from Bar Ilan University, Israel.
Layal Alghoozi
Bahrain
Bahrain
Layal Alghoozi is a Bahraini legal humanitarian professional with experience working in international organizations in policy, research, legal, and advocacy roles. She has experience working at the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Institute for Strategic Studies, and other organizations like Amnesty International and Oxfam. She is the MENA Regional Coordinator for the Journal on the Use of Force in International Law. She has a Masters in International Law and Security from the University of Glasgow, specializing in the laws of armed conflict, the laws and processes of the UN, and law enforcement (human rights).
Noor Elgallal
Libya, UK
Libya, UK
Noor Elgallal is a dual Libyan/UK citizen
residing in the UK.
She is a student at the University of Leeds,
and is expecting to graduate with
an LLB in 2024.
Noora Alozaibi
UAE
UAE
Noora Alozaibi is an Emirati residing in the UAE. She is currently a student at New York University Abu Dhabi, and is expected to graduate with a BA in political science and social research and public policy in 2024.
Dr. Jason Olson
USA
USA
Dr. Jason Olson is a scholar specializing in the Middle East and the Indian Ocean region. He has received research grants to study the Abraham Accords, focusing particularly on how they align with U.S. interests. He collaborates with various ambassadors to expand the successful peacebuilding model of the Abraham Accords to other Muslim-majority countries.
Jason earned his Ph.D. in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University in 2016. His first book, America’s Road to Jerusalem: The Impact of the Six-Day War on Protestant Politics, was published by Lexington Books in 2018. In this work, he examined the rise of Christian Zionism and its impact on U.S. foreign policy and strategic interests in the Middle East and North Africa. His second book, The Burning Book, won a national award in creative nonfiction. His most recent article, From Arab-Israeli Conflict to Arab-Israeli Integration: A New Curriculum to Understand the Contemporary Middle East, was co-published in the Journal of the Middle East and Africa.
During his doctoral studies, Jason held fellowships with prestigious research centers, including the Crown Center for Middle East Studies, the Hertog Global Strategy Initiative at Columbia University (focused on religious violence/terrorism), and the American Jewish Archives, among others. In 2013, he served as a teaching fellow at the Summer Institute for Middle East Studies at Brandeis, where he taught an international group of scholars in both Israel and the Palestinian territories.
Through his academic and fieldwork, Jason aims to foster dialogue and peacebuilding in the region by studying political and diplomatic models that promote better relations between countries and contribute to regional stability in the Middle East
Dr. Omar Al-Ubaydli
Bahrain
Bahrain
Omar Al-Ubaydli is the President of the Bahrain Economist Society. He is also an affiliated associate professor of economics at George Mason University; an affiliated senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center; a non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington; and a non-resident fellow at Trends, UAE. His research interests include political economy, experimental economics, and the economics of the GCC countries. Al-Ubaydli previously served as a member of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Joint Advisory Board of Economists and a Visiting Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago. He regularly publishes his research in international peer- reviewed academic journals, and his mainstream media articles appear in Arabic and English- language newspapers and blogs such as AlHayat, The National, Forbes Opinion, and US News. Al-Ubaydli earned his BA in economics from the University of Cambridge, and his MA and PhD in economics from the University of Chicago.