Trainers

Abdelsamee Abouelhamd is a seasoned Theater Artist, Art Manager, and Trainer with a profound passion for the world of performing arts. With a strong educational background in theater and a remarkable career spanning over 15 years, Abdelsamee has made significant contributions to the cultural landscape of the MENA region.

As a co-founder of multiple art institutions in the Middle East and North Africa, Abdelsamee has played a pivotal role in shaping the artistic scene. Notable among these institutions are "Sailors for Arts" in Egypt and "Atabet Fann" in Palestine, which have served as platforms for nurturing and promoting local talent.

Abdelsamee's expertise goes beyond the stage, as he has taken the lead on numerous art projects and assumed positions of artistic organizational leadership. His visionary approach has left an indelible mark on the creative community, fostering growth and innovation.

With a commitment to capacity-building, Abdelsamee has initiated various interventions targeting artists, art institutions, and creative startups. These initiatives have empowered individuals and organizations with the skills and knowledge required to devise creative strategies and programs that elevate the cultural and artistic landscape.

Abdelsamee's impact extends to the realm of Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI), where he has supported numerous organizations in achieving growth and success. His contributions encompass developing internal systems, digital transformation, and mobilizing resources, driving the CCI sector forward.

Abdelsamee Abdallah Abouelhamd stands as a dedicated advocate for the arts, with a profound commitment to nurturing talent, fostering creativity, and enriching the cultural tapestry of the MENA region. His journey as a Theater Artist, Art Manager, and Trainer continues to inspire and transform the artistic landscape.

Ouafa is an expert in cultural projects fundraising and project management and a researcher interested in topics related with arts and culture funding and cultural policies in the Arab Region.

Ouafa Belgacem is a holds Masters degrees in History, Archaeology, Business Administration and Heritage Management ,she has been building capacities towards funding and financing development projects in various assignments with intergovernmental organisations as well as INGOs. She has work experience in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Prior to founding Culture Funding Watch she worked with as Oxfam GB as Programme Funding Coordinator in Myanmar and as Regional Programme Funding Coordinator for West Africa. Previously she worked with SNV in Laos as Senior Business Development Advisor and as Assistant to the Head of Finance and Contract Section for the European Commission Delegation in Cairo. Ouafa was also assigned as head of fundraising unit within the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt. Earlier, she served as consultant and trainer on cultural heritage sites management.

Ouafa is one of the six international experts to assist in the evaluation of proposals submitted for funding to the UNESCO’s International Fund for Cultural Diversity.

Works as a curator for the unique and first of its type museum ie the Museum of Baalbeck International Festival since 2006. ; holds an M.A. in Cultural Projects for Development from the University of Turin, Italy and an M.A. in English Language from the American University of Beirut ;pioneered the Arab Forums on festivals in the Arab Countries in Beirut -2009 and Manama-2012; designed the project plan of the Museum of Baalbeck International Festival; worked on identifying and categorizing museum material including documents, photos, clothes, accessories, audio visual materials; attended two workshops at the office of the designer of this museum Arch. Zaha Haddid in London working on the concept design, schematic design and material display in the museum; an active member on Baalbeck International Festival since 1998.As an Executive Director for conference management working for ARADO at the League of Arab States; organized the first seminar on Museums as a Means of Intercultural Communication in 2010 in coordination with the University of Balamand in Lebanon.; serves on the International Festival of Baalbeck and on the Founding Board of the Museum of the Festival; designed the project on Creating a Showroom for the Local Artisans in Baalbeck ; participated and presented in a big number of international conferences and workshops in different parts in the world; partnering with EU associations to execute projects on Cultural Heritage and Cultural diversity.

Maya Karkour is an Environmental and Circular Economy Specialist, an Eco-Entrepreneur, and the Managing Director of EcoConsulting, a specialized sustainability consultancy which she founded in 2003 in the UK and in 2007 in Lebanon. Maya has directly worked on numerous projects aiming at reducing their environmental footprint. She has been a keynote speaker or moderator at various sustainability/environmental conferences in Lebanon and other countries; and has organized and conducted numerous sustainability, green building, circular economy and environmental seminars & workshops. She has been coaching environmental start-ups with innovative entrepreneurial solutions and is mentoring eco or social entrepreneurs to help them establish themselves and scale up. Maya has been actively promoting the Circular Economy and sustainable practices in Lebanon, more recently by launching the Circular Hub. Maya holds an MSc in Environment & Sustainable Policies from LSE, she is a Circular Economy Specialist with the Circular Economy Club, and holds the Permaculture Design Certificate, first level.

Neda holds a master’s degree of Business Entrepreneurship (2020) and a B.Sc. degree in Actuarial Science (2007). She is the co-founder of TTi; She has +13 years of experience working in youth capacity-building programs. Neda’ also held the roles of youth on-boarding and training manager in many NGOs and private sector bodies in Jordan. She is a social activist, entrepreneurship blogger and trainer who is specialized in delivering entrepreneurship topics (mainly business model design, feasibility analysis and financial forecasting for entrepreneurs).

Neda' is also an expert and researcher in social entrepreneurship. Neda is a certified entrepreneurship trainer by the global learning partners (GLP). Neda’ is leading the trained design and curriculum design in TTi since 2012 and is also leading on the ToT programs implementation, she has delivered 5+ ToT programs in the past 3 years.

Dr. Nadia Mansour is a trainer at CREACT4MED, trainer of trainers with USAID Job,  an assistant at The University of Sousse-Tunisia, a visiting researcher and a post-doctor at the University of Salamanca- Spain. Her research interests focus on Finance, banking, macroeconomic, DSGE, and Innovation. She is an academic member and ambassador of the Communication Institute of Greece, a committee member of indexed conferences, an Editorial Board Member of Taylor & Francis, IGI GLOBAL, and Springer, a reviewer in IGI Global, Emerald, and Wiley. She has presented various scientific papers in international (France, Morocco, USA, Turkey) and national conferences. She is also a keynote speaker and session chair in several conferences in (Turkey, India UAE). She has several published articles in ranked journals and chapters (IGI Global & Palgrave Macmillan) as well as edited books (Taylor & Francis, Springer).

Lamiaa Melegui is a highly accomplished professional with extensive experience in various fields. Lamiaa's expertise extends to international marketing, trade, and industries, with a focus on SME development, business planning, and economic relations. Lamiaa is a certified business mentor and a member of several business networks such as Women Enterprise network WEN that target supporting women in businesses notably in Agri, food and creative sectors where she considers herself committed to achieve positive impact on enterprises to compete in international markets and trade fairs.

Furthermore, Lamia is dedicated to promote for regional African trade for the SME’s as she a certified trainer on the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) by the International Trade Center (ITC).

In addition to her expertise in economic affairs, Lamiaa has worked with renowned institutions such as UNIDO, SECO, DFID, USAID, and the EU, Lamiaa has gained a wealth of knowledge and practical experience in partner and stakeholder management, negotiations, and policymaking. These experiences have equipped her with a solid understanding of the complexities and nuances associated with rural development and food systems with a focus on sustainable natural resource management and the agriculture and agribusiness development.

She has served as the EU Economic Affairs Advisor to the former Minister for Planning and International Cooperation, where she excelled in partnership management and policy-level work. She is also a skilled Component Lead in Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Lamiaa's commitment to community and social services is evident through her active engagement. She holds a master’s degree in international relations and Economic Affairs from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and European College of Parma in European Union’s Affairs.

With a strong focus on uplifting rural communities, Lora Thebian is a skilled project manager within Lebanese NGOs. Her work primarily revolves around empowering youth and women, emphasizing mentorship and business skills development.

As a dedicated trainer in design thinking, business development, and coaching, Lora excels in equipping individuals with the tools needed for entrepreneurial success. Her hands-on experience extends to co-founding a startup geared towards sustainable solutions and innovation.

Lora's expertise extends beyond traditional project management. She actively leads and manages entrepreneurial events, including ideathons, pitching events, and demo days. Her passion for event management contributes significantly to fostering entrepreneurship and promoting new business ideas within the community.

Her commitment remains strong, centered around fostering positive change and empowering underserved communities through strategic project management and entrepreneurial skill development.