Bios Booklet
MENA-OECD Women’s Economic Empowerment Forum (WEEF) 2024
13-14 November
St Regis Hotel, Cairo
Bios Booklet
Panellists & moderators
Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen
OECD Deputy Secretary-General and OECD Gender & Diversity Champion
Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen took up his duties as OECD Deputy Secretary-General in January 2019. His portfolio includes the strategic direction of OECD policy on the digital and technological transformation; global and UN relations; trade and agriculture. In June 2021, he was appointed OECD Gender & Diversity Champion, leading the organisation’s work on gender equality and diversity.
Until the end of 2018, Mr. Knudsen was Permanent Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Denmark. Prior to this, he served as Sherpa and Chief Diplomatic Advisor to two Danish Prime Ministers on Security Policy and on EU and Foreign Affairs in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Ms. Ruta Zarnauskaite Head of Unit Regional Cooperation Neighbourhood South, European Commission, Directorate General Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations
Ruta Zarnauskaite joined Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations as Head of Unit in August 2024, leading regional cooperation with the Southern Neighbourhood. Previously, she was an EU negotiator vis-à-vis countries outside the EU for Horizon Europe Association in Directorate General for Research and Innovation and served as EU’s trade negotiator in Directorate General for Trade.
H.E. Stephen Borg
Ambassador and Deputy Secretary-General, Union for the Mediterranean
Ambassador Stephen Borg has been responsible for International Security Policy at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta based in Valletta since August 2020. Previously he served as Malta’s High Commissioner to India from January 2016 to August 2020. Before that, Stephen served among others as Malta’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh and as Malta’s Representative to the Political and Security Committee of the European Union in Brussels. He has also worked on migration-related issues as Malta’s senior official in the run up to the Valletta Conference on migration. Stephen joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1994. He holds a Master of Arts degree in comparative literature.
Ambassador of France to Egypt (France as co-chair of the WEEF)
Ambassador Éric Chevallier is a French diplomat and physician with a career in international relations and humanitarian work. He served as France's ambassador to Syria from 2009 to 2012. Prior to this, he held various leadership roles in crisis management and health diplomacy, including positions at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Chevallier also worked with international organisations like Médecins du Monde, where he contributed to global health and humanitarian efforts. He is currently the director of the Crisis and Support Centre of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat
Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation of Egypt and co-Chair of the WEEF
Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat is an Egyptian economist and diplomat with extensive experience in central banking, international cooperation, and sustainable development. She earned her PhD in Economics from the University of Maryland and completed executive education programs at Harvard and Oxford universities. Dr. Al-Mashat has previously held key ministerial roles, including as Egypt’s first female Minister of Tourism. She has contributed significantly to monetary policy reform at the Central Bank of Egypt and led efforts to strengthen Egypt’s international partnerships. She has also been recognised for her work in climate finance and advancing sustainable development strategies.
Vice President of the Gender Balance Council, UAE
H.E. Mona Al Marri is the Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The Council, established in 2015, advances gender equality in alignment with the UAE government's vision, influencing local, regional, and international platforms. Recognized as one of the Arab world's top advocates for gender balance, Al Marri has led transformative initiatives, including over 20 legal reforms to advance women's rights. Under her leadership, the UAE ranks 11th globally in gender equality by the UNDP and leads regionally according to the World Bank and World Economic Forum. In addition to her advocacy work, Al Marri holds key leadership positions in the media sector and was named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader in 2014.
President, National Commission for Lebanese Women
Ms. Claudine Aoun is a senior communications expert with over 20 years of engagement in political advocacy, media, entrepreneurship, as well as environmental and women rights activism.
She is a Special Assistant to the President of the Lebanese Republic H.E. General Michel Aoun and was recently appointed as President of the National Commission for Lebanese Women.
She is also a Member of the Party Constitution Board of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), acting from 2005 till 2009 as a Senior Political Consultant and Cabinet Director for President General Michel Aoun.
United Nations Resident Coordinator, Egypt
Ms. Elena Panova became the UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt in January 2021, bringing over 22 years of experience in development and management. She has held leadership roles at the UNDP, including as Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan and Senior Programme Coordinator at the UNDP Regional Hub in Istanbul. Ms. Panova has worked extensively in private sector engagement and resource mobilisation, including earlier roles in Bulgaria and Ukraine. She holds master's degrees in international law and foreign trade, as well as in microelectronics from Bulgarian universities.
Secretary General, Jordanian National Commission for Women
H.E. Maha Ali served as Jordan’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply twice in 2020/2021 and in 2015/2016. Before that, Ms. Ali served as the Secretary General for the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply for five years. She served at the Economic Section at Jordan’s Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva in 2002. Ms. Ali also lectured as a professor of practice at Al-Hussein Technical University (HTU) and the German Jordanian University. Ms. Ali ranked as the 8th most powerful Arab woman in government by Forbes Middle East/2015. She has an extensive experience in trade negotiations industrial and investment policies.
Deputy
H.E. Masauda Elaswed has extensive experience in Libya’s Ministry of Education. Serving as Deputy Minister since August 2021, she plays a pivotal role in advancing educational policies and reforms in Libya. She has been the General Manager of the General Center for Training and Education Development since 2017 and has served as a Consultant in the Department of Women Support and Empowerment within the Ministry of Education. With a rich academic background, Dr. Elaswed spent over 17 years at the University of Tripoli’s Faculty of Education, progressing from Lecturer to Senior Lecturer. She holds a PhD in Education from the University of Sheffield, where her research focused on Islamic education and single-sex schooling, and an MA in Arabic Language and Islamic Studies from Seventh of April University. She is also a co-founder of the British Libyan Community Association.
H.E. Dr. Mansour Alrumayyan
General Supervisor of Labor Market and Human Capital Development Deputyship, Ministry of Economy and Planning, Saudi Arabia
Dr. Alrumayyan leads the human capital development file in the ministry of economy and planning.
Currently spearheading efforts as the Supervisor General of the Deputyship for Labor Market Affairs and Human Capital Development at the Ministry of Economy and Planning.
With a background in medicine, Mansour began his career as a Young Professional then a Health Specialist at the World Bank Group in Washington, D.C. He later spent two years between Mali and Burkina Faso, West Africa, implementing and advising on health system reforms. Mansour holds postgraduate degrees in health policy and public health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the United States.
H.E. Noor bint Ali Al-Khulaif
Minister of Sustainable Development, Member of the Supreme Council for Women, and Chief Executive of Bahrain’s Economic Development Board
H.E. Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif is the Minister of Sustainable Development of the Kingdom of Bahrain. She previously served as the Assistant Undersecretary for Economic Affairs and prior to that as the Director of the Information and Economic Indicators Directorate at the Ministry of Finance and National Economy. H.E. started her career in the private sector as a statutory auditor and later assurance advisor with Deloitte LLP in the United Kingdom, where she worked for over 7 years. Minister Alkhulaif is a Chartered Accountant (ACA) certified by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) since 2011. She is also a recipient of the Bahrain Crown Prince International Scholarship Program.
Ms. Susanne Mikhail Eldhagen
Director Women Employment in the Green, STEM and Care Economy, UN Women
Ms. Susanne Mikhail is the Regional Director for UN Women in the Arab States, where she leads gender equality and women’s empowerment efforts across the MENA region. With over 20 years of experience in development and humanitarian sectors, she previously served as Head of Humanitarian Aid at Sida, managing aid in over 25 countries, including Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. Her extensive UN experience includes roles with UNICEF in South Sudan and South Asia, where she led protection programs and initiatives for women and children. She has also advised for ECPAT International and supported World Bank projects on community development in fragile settings. Susanne holds a Master’s in Political Science from Uppsala University.
H.E. Håkan Emsgård Ambassador of Sweden to Egypt
Prior to becoming Ambassador of Sweden to Cairo, H.E. Håkan Emsgård was the head of the Foreign Ministry’s European department back in Stockholm. He served as Sweden’s ambassador to the Netherlands, and has worked at the Finance Ministry and at an international financial institution
Innovation Lead for Arab States, UNFPA
Prior to joining UNFPA, Ms. Zeruneith has worked 5 years for UNICEF in New York HQ and in the Europe and Central Asia Region supporting a global portfolio of programmes for adolescent girls’ skills and leadership including in STEM and innovation. Before, Luzia has advanced maternal and newborn health programmes through pilots and implementation of clinical mHealth tools in Guinea, Benin and Ethiopia, and she also has a background in the private sector and communications. She is passionate about leveraging evidence and technology for transformative results in gender equality and women’s and girls’ health and wellbeing everywhere. Luzia has a M.Sc. in Social Anthropology and Gender Studies from the University of Copenhagen and Université Paris 8 Vincennes, Saint-Denis.
Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Egypt
Anne Schouw is a seasoned diplomat with a broad background from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) affairs as well as multilateral diplomacy. Prior to her current appointment as the Deputy Head of the EU Delegation in Cairo, she served at the EU Delegation in New York, coordinating the EU group on political issues and leading negotiations on a diverse array of security policy matters. Working in her capacity as Danish diplomat, she headed the establishment of a new Danish Embassy in Rabat, Morocco, laying the foundation for robust diplomatic ties and an expansive cooperation programme. Subsequently she led the analytical work within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, focusing on developments in the Middle East and North Africa from 2010 onwards. Ms. Schouw’s career also includes work for the UN in Namibia well as a posting in Mozambique.
Regional Program Manager, Small Business Support, EBRD
Prior to joining EBRD Ms. El Saady worked as an advisor to the Minister of Investment and had during her work at the ministry established both "Bedaya Centre for Entrepreneurship and SMEs Development" as well as "Bedaya Fund for SMEs Development". During the period from 2010 - 2012 she was a board member and the Managing Director of Bedaya Private Equity Fund for SMEs financing. During the period from 1996 - 2009 she was the Lead Program Coordinator of the Egyptian Swiss Development Fund - a special fund dedicated to support the socio- economic development of underserved communities and the empowerment of women. She holds a BA and MA in economics from the American University in Cairo.
Focal point, Inter-ministerial Committee for Women Support, Jordan
Samia Al-Samadi, a gender and social development specialist at the Ministerial Committee for Women's Empowerment, has extensive experience in integrating women's issues over the past 12 years. She has expertise in incorporating women's issues into strategic planning and political and economic modernization visions. She is also the coordinator of the Coalition of Arab Women Parliamentarians to Combat Violence Against Women, which includes 13 Arab countries. Samia has prepared numerous research papers on women's political and economic empowerment. Additionally, she conducted a gender audit in the Jordanian Parliament, the first of its kind in the Arab world.
Mr. Zakaria Nachid
Head of Economic Recovery Support Division, Ministry of Economy and Finance, Morocco
Mr. Nachid Zakaria is a senior finance professional, having contributed to major financial sector reforms, especially initiatives supporting increased financing for small businesses, youth, women, and rural areas as part of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy. Additionally, he supported the preparation and adoption of the Climate Finance Strategy 2025-2030, the Innov Invest program for Morocco's startup ecosystem, and the launch of the "Gender Lens" initiative with UN Women's support. Mr. Zakaria holds a DESS in Finance and Banking from Agdal University in Rabat, an International Diploma in Public Administration from the National School of Administration (ENA) in France, and a Master’s in Public Administration from the Institute of Political Studies at the University of Strasbourg.
Noheir Khairy is a seasoned financial systems development lead with GIZ GmbH, where she has driven initiatives in green finance, SME financial inclusion, and private sector development. With a career spanning over a decade, Noheir has extensive experience providing technical assistance to financial institutions, guiding regulatory policies, and fostering capacity development within Egypt’s financial sector. Her work includes developing access to finance strategies for SMEs, promoting sustainable finance, and leading partnerships with the private sector
Noheir holds a Master of Public Administration from The American University in Cairo. She is a recipient of the DAAD-Gerhard Schroeder Award and has co-authored papers on global value chains and women’s financial inclusion in Egypt.
Senior Operations Officer, Financial Inclusion Group, IFC
Manar has over 20 years of professional banking experience in emerging markets with a focus on the Africa and Middle East regions. In her role as a Women Banking Specialist, she led the design and implementation of landmark IFC Bank Advisory Services engagements in Egypt, Tunisia, Oman, Lebanon, Yemen, Jordan, Palestine, and Pakistan. She also led the production of several research and thought leadership reports to help define opportunity for banks in serving women markets. Through her work, Manar helps leading banks recognize how financial institutions can create value by serving the women markets. Manar served IFC’s developmental agenda in other regions like Africa region, East & Central Europe region and the Global Women Banking program out of IFC headquarters in Washington, D.C.
CEO, Business and Professional Women Association, Jordan
Thana’a Al Khasawneh is an entrepreneurial leader and key advisor in the private and non-profit sectors in Jordan. She who is known for her expertise in building and restructuring companies, has successfully grown organizations and helped them achieve outstanding financial and/or social returns. Al Khasawneh worked at the Mowgli Mentoring MENA as a fundraiser and development director for seven years, during which she helped the foundation to grow significantly throughout the region. She is currently the executive director of the Business & Professional Women Association, which advocates for gender equality and enhance women inclusion in the workforce.
Secretary-General, Union of Arab Banks
Dr. Fatthouh became the Secretary General of the Union of Arab Banks in November 2010. As such, he leads the largest banking consortium in the region and the sole representative of the Arab banking community, which aims to consolidate of inter-bank relations and the strengthening of cooperation among them as well as emphasizing their Arab character in the service of their common interests.
Dr. Fattouh has excellent knowledge and expertise in Arab and International banking and financial sectors, acquired from over 30 years of experience in this domain, and through extensive and close relations with MENA Region, Europe and United States of America, in addition to regional/ International financial and regulatory bodies.
Director General, Microfinance Control Authority (ACM),Tunisia
Mahmoud Montassar Mansour founded Tunisia’s Microfinance Control Authority (ACM), establishing it as the first independent supervisory body for microfinance in the country. Since 2012, he has driven ACM’s efforts, including regulatory frameworks for microfinance and donation-based crowdfunding in collaboration with Tunisia’s Ministry of Finance and Central Bank. His background includes significant roles in financial crisis management and public banking oversight. Additionally, he is certified in digital finance, SME financing, and risk management. Alongside his work, Mansour has lectured at the University of Tunis III and contributed to seminars at the Institute of Development Finance (IFID).
Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh Chairman, Financial Regulatory Authority, Egypt
Dr. Mohamed Farid has been a a Board Member at the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). Since September 2022, Dr. Farid he elected as the Chair of the IOSCO’s Growth and Emerging Markets Committee (GEMC) and the Vice Chair of IOSCO Board. Dr. Farid is currently the Vice Chair of the Advisory Board for GFANZ Africa Network. Throughout his career, Dr. Farid held a number of leading and international positions, such as Executive Chairman of the Egyptian Exchange (EGX), Chairman of the Federation of Euro-Asian Stock Exchanges (FEAS), and Chairman of the Arab Federation of Capital Markets (AFCM). Dr. Farid was also the Chairman and the CEO of Dcode EFC - a leading economic forecasting firm in Egypt.
Head of Financial literacy – financial inclusion sector, Central Bank of Egypt
Mrs. Abdel Kader has over 28 years of professional experience. In her current position within the CBE, she manages activities related to proposing policy interventions for financial inclusion within the banking sector, and liaison with the financial sector and government in setting the foundation for financial literacy strategies. Mrs. Abdel Kader is part of the team setting Egypt’s Financial Inclusion Framework, also heading financial literacy efforts within the CBE. Her previous experiences include being the Business Development Manager of the Egyptian Banking Institute, the training arm of the CBE, where Mrs. Abdel Kader managed The Egyptian Banking Institute’s Financial Literacy Initiative “Shaping the Future”, now a national initiative including all influential stakeholders.
Ms. Chahrazed Saadi
President, Association of Algerian Women Business Leaders, Algeria
Chahrazed has a background in computer science with a specialty in the design of information systems and in business management and organization. Convinced of the importance of the contribution of women in economic development through their managerial skills, and their ability to add value to investment and the knowledge economy, she joined the Association of Algerian women entrepreneurs SEVE in 2012, where she developed her professional relationship and became an elected member of the board. She worked on the modernization of the image of SEVE, especially the digital aspect. She is also President of a permanent commission at the National Economic, Social and Environmental Council CNESE, an advisory body to the President of the Republic.
Lama Samhouri
Executive Manager, Financial Consumer Protection Department, Central Bank of Jordan
Mrs. Lama Samhouri is an expert in financial consumer protection and financial inclusion, with a distinguished career at the Central Bank of Jordan. She plays a pivotal role in safeguarding consumer rights within the financial sector and promoting inclusive financial services.
In addition to her core responsibilities, Lama leads the Women Empowerment and Equal Opportunities Committee, advocating for gender equality and enhancing opportunities for women in the financial ecosystem. She has been a keynote speaker and panelist for many institutions and conferences on topics related to financial consumer protection and women empowerment sharing her insights and expertise with diverse audience.
Ms. Nejia Gharbi
Director General, Deposits and Consignments Fund, Tunisia
Nejia Gharbi has been CEO of CDC Tunisia since November 2021. She began her career in April 1991 at the General Control of Public Services of the Prime Minister's Office, where she was in charge of Administrative and Financial Management of the World Bankfinanced Cultural Heritage Management and Development Project, then State Controller in charge of the Phosphate, Fertilizers and Hydrocarbon Transport sector. Ms. Gharbi is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of BNA (“Banque Nationale Agricole”). From 2015 to 2020, she was Chairman of the Board of Directors of STB (“Société Tunisienne des Banques”), then Managing Director, in charge of management from January to March 2021.
Regional Project Coordinator, CAWTAR, Tunisia
Hedi Bchir is a seasoned expert in financial inclusion and women’s economic empowerment, serving as the Technical Advisor on Women's Economic Participation and Financial Inclusion and the Director of the Arab & African Financial Literacy Center at CAWTAR.
With over a decade of experience, he has managed impactful projects across the MENA region, promoting financial literacy and digital financial inclusion through initiatives like the “Digital Financial Literacy for Women in Middle East and Africa” and “Women on the Green Path.” His work spans the development of e-learning platforms, creation of innovative training models, and coordination of multi-country projects, funded by entities like GIZ, AGFUND, EU and the World Bank to foster economic resilience and inclusion for women with a focus on underserved communities.
Ms. Hakima El Alami
Director, Monitoring of Payment Systems and Financial Inclusion, Bank Al- Maghrib, Morocco
Ms. El Alami is the current Director of Payment Systems and Instruments Oversight and Financial Inclusion Department responsible for conducting national strategies related to payment systems and financial inclusion. The Department is also in charge of implementing of regulation and oversight framework of FMIs and means of payment. She joined Bank Al-Maghrib as an executive in charge of financial analyses and corporates ratings, as well as assessment of the quality of the private debt instruments within the context of central bank advances. Since 2003, she was appointed as a Manager in the Monetary and Exchange Operations Department where she spent 13 years in charge of cashless means of payment and payment systems oversight.
Aziz
Executive Director Moroccan Foundation for Financial Education, Bank Al-Maghrib, Morocco
Fatima-Zahra is the Executive Director of the FMEF since October 2017, responsible for defining and implementing the strategic plan for financial education in Morocco and coordinating FE actions and initiatives of stakeholders. Lead of the "Financial Education“ working group within the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion and member of the other pillars of this strategy. Prior to her appointment to the Foundation, Fatima-Zahra accumulated several years' experience in training and human resources management at Bank Al-Maghrib (Central Bank of Morocco). She was General Secretary of the Training Directors Group of Francophone Central Banks (2009-2017) and a founding member of the Arab Network for Banking Training and a member of its Board of Directors.
Ms. Anne-France Wittman
Programme Officer, DG Near, European Commission
Anne-France Wittmann works in the unit in charge of Regional Cooperation in the Southern Neighbourhood, at the DirectorateGeneral for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) of the European Commission. She focuses on socio-economic development aspects, including women economic empowerment. Her previous experience includes over ten years of programme management in non-governmental and decentralized cooperation organisations and with the United Nations, specialising in support to local actors of development notably in North Africa.
Head of the Middle East and Africa Division, Global Relations and Cooperation Directorate, OECD
Dr. Conde leads the implementation of MENA-OECD Competitiveness Programme which promotes policy dialogue on investment and private sector development between MENA and OECD countries. During this period, in line with the OECD Global Relations Strategy, Mr Conde has brought women’s economic empowerment to the forefront of the MENAOECD Initiative, ensuring all work streams have a specific gender angle as well as initiating specific gender programmes. Before joining the OECD in 2007, Dr. Conde was associate professor of political science and public policy at the University of Granada in Spain. Dr. Conde had visiting positions at Harvard University (1995-96) and Al Akhawayn University of Morocco, where he lectured between 2001 and 2003.
Dr. Jonathan Potter
Head of the Entrepreneurship Policy and Analysis unit, OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities
Dr Potter leads OECD work on entrepreneurial ecosystems and start-up policies and work streams on policy evaluation and OECD country reviews of SME and entrepreneurship policies. He also directs OECD work on inclusive entrepreneurship policies. His work in this area covers assessments of issues and policies to support under-represented groups in successful entrepreneurship, including women. With his team, he produced the OECD publication on Entrepreneurship Policies through a Gender Lens, the OECD Missing Entrepreneurs publication series, and a OECD/EU self assessment and guidance tool for policy makers on inclusive entrepreneurship policy: www.betterentrepreneurship.eu.
Senior Policy Analyst, Financial Education and Consumer Protection Unit, OECD
Ms. Monticone coordinates the work of the OECD International Network on Financial Education. In recent years, her work focused on assessing levels of financial literacy among adults, young people and small business owners, the role of financial education in strengthening financial resilience, and supporting the needs of women, seniors and other vulnerable groups. Previously, Ms Monticone was a researcher at the Center for Research on Pensions and Welfare Policies (CeRP) at Collegio Carlo Alberto in Turin. She holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Turin.
Policy Analyst, Middle East and Africa Division, Global Relations and Cooperation Directorate
Sara Mouhoud is a Policy Analyst at the OECD in the Middle East and Africa Division of the Global Relations and Cooperations Directorate. She has been working at the OECD for four years and previously worked as a Migration Policy Analyst in the International Migration Division of the Employment, Labour and Social Affairs Directorate of the OECD. Sara graduated from Paris Dauphine PSL University and the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, where she specialised in development economics and development studies.
Programme coordinator and policy analyst, Middle East and Africa Division, Global Relations and Cooperation Directorate, OECD
Charlotte Goemans brings over 15 years of experience as a development co-operation professional and advisor at UN Agencies and the OECD, specialising in gender equality and women’s empowerment. Trusted as a strategic advisor to governments in Africa and the Middle East, as well as to the leadership of international organizations, she provides valuable insights on complex social, economic and political issues. With proven expertise in resource mobilization and establishing partnerships across diverse stakeholders and sectors, Charlotte is recognized as a respected policy analyst and author of influential publications for the UN and OECD. She has extensive international exposure, having worked in over 23 countries across 5 continents.
