Ammar Aker

Ammar Aker is the Palestine Telecom Group CEO and a member of its Board of Directors. Notably, Paltel Group is the largest employer in the Palestinian private sector.

Prior to assuming his current position as Group CEO, he was the CEO of the Palestine Cellular Communications Co. Ltd., Jawwal, the first leading cellular operator in Palestine.

Mr. Aker is currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors of VTEL Middle East and Africa (MEA). He is a member of the Board of the Palestine Development and Investment Company (PADICO Holding), the largest investment holding company in the country, in addition to his representation on the Board of Directors of some of its subsidiaries. He is also currently a member of the Board of Trustees for An-Najah National University.  

Mr. Aker is an active Board member in a number of international, regional and local initiatives such as; Palestine for a New Beginning (PNB); The Palestine International Award for Excellence and Creativity; in addition to the Amideast Advisory Board in Palestine. He is also an active member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) Palestine Branch and the Palestinian Businessmen Association (PBA).

Mr. Aker holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and an MSc degree in Accounting from Kent State University, Ohio. 

Bassem El-Wazir

An IT professional and thought leader with passion for innovation and entrepreneurship. Bassem is the Director of Digital Transformation at Tawoon – Welfare Association and is on a mission to disrupt and ensure adoption of new value creating digital technologies for the organization. He is a promoter of the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution principals and new value adding and game changing technologies.

Bassem’s career is drawn from years of working in both Telecom and FMCG sectors as a customer on one side and as a services provider on the other.  He worked as a CIO for Fine Hygienic Holding, VTEL, Jawwal amongst others.

He holds a master’s degree in Software Engineering and a bachelor’s degree in MIS from the USA.

Bassem always tries to go where no one else has gone before in his quest to learn, create value, inspire and be inspired.

Fakhira Halloun

Fakhira Halloun is a Palestinian citizen of Israel. She completed her doctorate in 2019 in Conflict Analysis and Resolution at the School of Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University, Virginia, USA. Fakhira currently works at the office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace (UNSCO), in Jerusalem, as a Civil Society and Peacebuilding Consultant. 

She is also a Board Member and part of the core team that established the first Museum of the Palestinian People in Washington, D.C., which opened its doors in June 2019.

Her doctoral studies are focused on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict with specific interest on the Palestinian citizens of Israel and their struggle to achieve their collective rights. Fakhira is committed in promoting a shared society for Palestinian and Jewish citizens of Israel as well as to contributing to a just and long-term resolution for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. She believes that embedded within Palestinian citizens of Israel is a potential role to contribute to end the Israeli occupation and promote a solution for the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict.  During her PhD studies Fakhira specialized in ethnic identity, power, and political discourse examining how they all play a role in intractable conflict. 

Fakhira has acquired considerable professional experience in conflict transformation and has also taught conflict resolution at the school for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University. She was also involved in fieldwork projects of the USIP (United State Institute for peace) and of the USAID to evaluate conflict resolution and peacebuilding programs between Palestinians and Israelis. 

She served in the past as a Board Member of the Mossawa Center, the Advocacy Center for Palestinian Arab Citizens in Israel, and she is currently active and engaged in different academic and civil society platforms discussing the political and social economical forces that impact the status of the Palestinian citizens of Israel and how all this plays a role in the dynamics of the Palestinian Israeli conflict as a whole.

During her PhD studies in the USA, she worked from 2012-2015 as the program coordinator for leadership program “Leaders for Democracy Fellowship” (LDF) -USA, sponsored by the US State Department and was implemented by Syracuse University (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs). The program brought civil and political leaders each year from the Middle East to the United States for three months to provide them with academic and practical experience in civic society, leadership, and conflict resolution.

Loay Elbasyouni

Loay was Part of the NASA team that made history in April 2021 for flying the Ingenuity helicopter from the surface of Mars, where he was an electrical and power electronics lead on the NASA ingenuity Mars Helicopter team. He has been awarded a number of achievement awards for his exceptional contribution to the Mars helicopter team in demonstrating the feasibility of helicopter flight in the extremely thin atmosphere at Mars. Loay has over 20 years of work experience focused on power electronics in several industries, including automotive, renewable energy, and aerospace.
Most recently, Loay worked on the advanced power conversion and propulsion technologies used for the development of several industries (Space, Aerospace, Automotive & Semiconductors equipment. Loay has comprehensive experience in Electrical / Power Electronics / Electric Motors / Hardware / Control Systems / RF / EMC / Project management products qualifications and procedures and testing of complex electronics designs. Consistently dedicated and committed to the achievement of organizational goals and objectives, with a proven ability to meet and exceed expectations in quality and maximum results. Dependable: solid professional standards pooled with absolute integrity.

Manal Zraiq

Mrs. Zraiq is a Palestinian business woman, Chairwoman of al Mustaqbal School, Chairwoman of Zoom Advertising Company and a board member of Sahem Trading & Investments Company.  She is also a board member representing her major shares in publicly trading companies such as the National Bank (TNB), and the Palestine Investment & Development Company (PID).

She is a pioneering woman supporting and lobbying for businesswomen’s development and their advancement in Palestine. Her dedication and persistence in promoting business development, particularly for women, has positioned her as one of the most prominent businesswoman executives in Palestine. Ms. Zraiq’ wide range of specialized skills include: finance, business operations, logistical planning, human resource recruitment and management, accounting and operational management and the establishment and implementation of management systems and administrative policy. She is also a skilled communicator with demonstrated capabilities in team building and staff development and plays an active role in human resource recruitment and management.

During the past 23 years Ms. Zraiq has taken the lead as Partner & CEO of Massar International Group investment projects, she played a key supporting role in the establishment of Rawabi, the first planned Palestinian City and the largest private sector project in Palestine from foundation idea to implementation, She also served as a member of Rawabi Municipal Council for two terms. She is the Founder of Rawabi English Academy in 2016. She has provided oversight of new business initiatives in journalism, information technology, financial services, real estate, media and fund management. She has managed multi-million dollar projects financed by international donors such as USAID, the EU and the World Bank, supervising every aspect of the projects from bidding, awarding, mobilization, implementing and closing.

As one of the most dynamic and pioneering businesswomen and female executives in the Middle East, she was a founder and the first chairwoman of the Palestinian Business Women Forum, an organization that supports Palestinian female entrepreneurs. She currently serves on the board of the organization. Ms. Zraiq is also the chairperson of the Global Young Presidents’ Organization – YPO Palestine chapter, a Board member of Partners for Sustainable Economy – PSD, and a member of the Advisory Board for YMCA Ramallah. She is also a member of the executive board of the Arab International Investor Forum.

In 2013, Ms. Zraiq earned the Vital Voices Global Leadership Economic Empowerment Award. She is a fellow of the ASPEN Global Leadership Network (AGLN), and member of the Middle East Leadership Initiative (MELI). She participated in many Local and International Conferences.

Naser Aloul

With 35 years of diversified experience; in Saudi Arabia, Jordan & Palestine.

Working with Foundations supporting programs in Palestine for the past 25 years.

With Taawon since Jan. 2012; fundraising per the strategic plans of multi million US$ from individuals, businesses, foundations, NGOs, semi-government organizations and governments; locally, regionally and internationally.

Successfully secured partners, stakeholders and beneficiaries, created and strengthened required linkages, established networks and sustainable useful partnerships. Managed donors’ relations, and managed multi locations. Utilized effective marketing and promotional campaigns. Lead responsiveness to changes and unforeseen requirements of hostile situations and adapted with difficult circumstances.

Worked for 17 years as Executive Director for the Scientific Foundation of Hisham Hijjawi, and as Secretary General for Hisham Hijjawi College of Technology in Nablus, Palestine.
Implemented many human resource development sustainable projects and programs, secured their required relevant partners, established linkages & networks and fundraised their financial requirements.

Holds a BSc. in Accounting from the University of Jordan in 1984, and an MBA from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran-Saudi Arabia, 1991.

Received state of the art executive training programs in Philanthropy, CSR and many other important fields; training from outstanding institutions like Stanford University.

Tahani Abu Daqqa

Board member and volunteer with Damour for community development working in environmental projects.

Board of Trustees member of Gaza University.

CEO and founder of Gaza Life Power for Renewable Energy company.

Board of Directors and founder of Culture and Thought association

Former Minister of Youth and Sport and former Minister of Culture.

Political leader, fighting for freedom and ending the occupation for 40 years, community and political leader in the first intifada. More than 30 years of experience in Development Programs at all levels, acquired experience and educational background to enable her to conduct Capacity Building programs at all levels of implementation. A mix between Public Sector and Non-Governmental sector experience that enlightened her ability become an expert in Development and Capacity building programs in Developing countries. More than 10 years of experience in renewable Energy and green economy.

Since she is a feminist, she has contributed in founding and implementation of many of the organization and projects that contribute to the women empowerment socially, economically, and politically. She has worked since 1983 in the women’s work committee and she had a lot of struggles for the women rights and women leaders in society. She has also been involved in many local, regional and international committees in order to activate the international laws on women rights, peace conflict resolution, as well as renewable energy, green economy and environmental issues.

Zahi Khouri

Zahi W. Khouri, a Palestinian- American born in Jaffa, Palestine is the Founder, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The National Beverage Company (the Coca-Cola exclusive licensee for Palestine). Mr. Khouri is an active Middle East businessman and holds a number of executive positions and Board Memberships including the Chairman of Intram Investments Inc. in Orlando, Florida. Mr. Khouri serves as Board Member of Palestine Telecommunication Company (Paltel).

Mr. Khouri holds the position of Chairman in NGO Development Center in Jerusalem (NDC) and the Chairman of Dar Al Kalima University in Bethlehem.
He was an Executive Board Member of the Olayan Group and CEO of the Olayan Saudi Holding Co. in Saudi-Arabia and USA for over 20 years. Moreover, Mr.  Khouri was Paltel Excom Chairman from 1/2001 till 5/2004 and Jawwal Chairman from 25/3/2001 till 9/3/2005. Mr. Khouri is a recipient of the Business for Peace Award 2015 in Oslo, Norway and the merit of the “Cavaliere” from the Republic of Italy. He is also a finalist in the Global Thinkers Forum for 2017 and is a key founder and general partner of the first innovation fund in Palestine, the Ibtikar Fund.
Mr. Khouri received an MBA from the European Institute of Business Administration (INSEAD), Fontainebleau, France and an MSc in Engineering from the Technische Hochschule in Stuttgart, Germany. He ended his high school studies at the IC/AUB in Beirut, Lebanon.
Mr. Khouri is a General Partner and Investment Committee member in Ibtikar Fund, LP (Ibtikar Fund I).

Rashad Massoud

Rashad Massoud, MD, MPH, FACP is Senior Vice President and Chief Program Officer at Americares, a health-focused relief and development organization that saves lives and improves health for people affected by poverty or disaster so they can reach their full potential. He oversees Americares Global and US Programs, including Medicine Security, Emergency Response, Medical Outreach, and the Americares Free Clinics in Connecticut. He is a recognized global leader in improving healthcare and strengthening health systems. He is adept at developing organizational capability focused on exceeding customer needs and expectations, producing results, innovation, and growth. He is a master at orchestrating complex, multinational activities, and virtual operations through creative use of technologies. Dr. Massoud earned his medical degree from the First Moscow State Medical University in Moscow, and his master’s in public health from Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Massoud is past president and executive committee member of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Alumni Association and served as an advisory board member for the World Health Organization global report on quality and safety.