Experience

Caabu (Council for Arab-British Understanding)

• United Kingdom
• Political Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Parliamentary & Events Officer

  • Mar 2012 - Present

  London, United Kingdom

• Parliamentary & Events Officer

  • Mar 2013 - Present

  London, United Kingdom Advocacy and campaigning •Organising, arranging, budgeting for and leading groups of UK Parliamentarians to Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan. Since December 2014, I have led 7 delegations, and been involved in organising several others. •Political advocacy work, including engaging British Parliamentarians and other opinion formers on issues related to Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Yemen and Egypt. This includes facilitating meetings between key individuals and groups in the… Show more Advocacy and campaigning •Organising, arranging, budgeting for and leading groups of UK Parliamentarians to Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan. Since December 2014, I have led 7 delegations, and been involved in organising several others. •Political advocacy work, including engaging British Parliamentarians and other opinion formers on issues related to Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Yemen and Egypt. This includes facilitating meetings between key individuals and groups in the Middle East, and politicians, journalists and opinion formers in the UK. •Involvement in high profile campaigns about Syria and Palestine. Events and partnerships •Enabling events and obtaining speakers (journalists, academics, politicians, activists and other opinion formers) for large public events and small private briefings, including in UK Parliament. •Developing collaborations and key relationships with other organisations – for our Parliamentary delegations, for events, and for advocacy work. Media relations •Media appearances, writing opinion pieces and press releases, and being quoted on several issues in the media. •Developing social media content to raise profile of and encourage engagement with Caabu and share its work. •Website administration, inc editing and creating site content. Education and development •Management of Caabu’s extensive intern and volunteer programme. We accept 10-15 people on to this programme annually. I interview the candidates, and provide support and guidance once they have been accepted onto the programme. •Leading educational talks in schools, talking to a range of young people on issues such as Islamophobia, the rise of ISIS, Israel-Palestine, multiculturalism and the crisis in Syria. Fundraising •Meeting with donors and potential donors to encourage and continue support for Caabu. Maintaining core relationships with Caabu’s membership and encouraging new support. •Organisation of and assistance with fundraising initiatives and events.



Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding (CAABU)

• Syrian Development Network researcher / intern

  • May 2012 - Present

  London, United Kingdom My responsibilities at Caabu have included writing and compiling a daily digest of Arab/Middle Eastern news stories, to send in an email to members. I have also researched and written briefings on the current affairs issues of the Middle East (mostly Syria), for parliamentarians, ambassadors, and members of the public. The bulk of my responsibility has included updating and maintaining the Syrian Development Network (http://syriandevelopment.net) website. On the site we add various stories… Show more My responsibilities at Caabu have included writing and compiling a daily digest of Arab/Middle Eastern news stories, to send in an email to members. I have also researched and written briefings on the current affairs issues of the Middle East (mostly Syria), for parliamentarians, ambassadors, and members of the public. The bulk of my responsibility has included updating and maintaining the Syrian Development Network (http://syriandevelopment.net) website. On the site we add various stories about humanitarian aid, refugee, and economic issues affecting Syria at this time. Show less



Freelance

• Egypt
• Human Resources
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Journalist

  • 2011 - Present

  I wrote the Guardian's Comment Is Free about my time as a teacher in Homs, Syria: the cult of Bashar al-Assad - "As a teacher in Syria I saw the effect of Assad's culture of fear, but his regime is pandering to social sensibilities" I'm available for any other freelance opportunities. Please feel free to get in touch.



Conservative Home

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care

• Deputy Editor

  • Aug 2011 - Apr 2012

  London, United Kingdom In recent years ConservativeHome has become a significant and well-respected voice of happenings and developments within the Conservative party. The site attracts roughly 20,000 unique users each day. My tasks for the site are wide and varied. The job requires early hours and discipline, to a produce a comprehensive range of news links for 8.30am each morning. I repeat the same process for a news links service at 5pm. During the course of the day, I write 2-3 blog posts, of interest to the… Show more In recent years ConservativeHome has become a significant and well-respected voice of happenings and developments within the Conservative party. The site attracts roughly 20,000 unique users each day. My tasks for the site are wide and varied. The job requires early hours and discipline, to a produce a comprehensive range of news links for 8.30am each morning. I repeat the same process for a news links service at 5pm. During the course of the day, I write 2-3 blog posts, of interest to the readership. These are often of my own choosing, corresponding with important stories for the Conservative party. In particular, I have focused on foreign affairs, Europe, and social issues such as gay marriage. I am now very competent in using Typepad, to edit the blog throughout the day, adding articles, updating the front page of the site, and moderating user comments. Show less



Gorkana

• United Kingdom
• Public Relations and Communications Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Media Executive

  • Nov 2010 - Aug 2011

  London, United Kingdom I predominantly worked with the Forward Features department, researching and updating the site with relevant information regarding upcoming features part of various publications, mostly from the legal, technological and financial sectors. Gorkana also provided Media Requests, which allowed journalists to ask for assistance with their work. A Media Request would give a journalist the opportunity to seek interviews, products, and editorial guidance. I was responsible for liaising with the… Show more I predominantly worked with the Forward Features department, researching and updating the site with relevant information regarding upcoming features part of various publications, mostly from the legal, technological and financial sectors. Gorkana also provided Media Requests, which allowed journalists to ask for assistance with their work. A Media Request would give a journalist the opportunity to seek interviews, products, and editorial guidance. I was responsible for liaising with the journalists, and editing their requests. Show less



Media Standards Trust

• Think Tanks
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Intern

  • Jul 2010 - Nov 2010

  London, United Kingdom My internship at the Media Standards Trust was an excellent opportunity to become immersed in various exciting projects. As a media think tank/charity, the Media Standards Trust presses for greater press accountability, and runs the increasingly popular site, www.journalisted.com. My main tasks were updating and maintaining the site, corresponding with journalists to foster good relations, effectively using social media, and carrying out research for their recently published report, ‘Shrinking… Show more My internship at the Media Standards Trust was an excellent opportunity to become immersed in various exciting projects. As a media think tank/charity, the Media Standards Trust presses for greater press accountability, and runs the increasingly popular site, www.journalisted.com. My main tasks were updating and maintaining the site, corresponding with journalists to foster good relations, effectively using social media, and carrying out research for their recently published report, ‘Shrinking World’, on the decline in foreign news reporting. Show less



International School of Choueifat

• 1 - 100 Employee

• English Teacher

  • Mar 2010 - Jul 2010

  Homs, Syria For the remainder of the academic school year, I was teaching grades 6, 8, 10 and 11 at the International School of Choueifat, in Homs, Syria. The curriculum consisted of teaching the students writing, grammar, comprehension and literature. My short time in Syria came to define much of what I did in future. With events in the country, and in Homs particularly taking a very bloody turn, I believed I had to play some role in documenting events in Syria. My Twitter account is indicative of the… Show more For the remainder of the academic school year, I was teaching grades 6, 8, 10 and 11 at the International School of Choueifat, in Homs, Syria. The curriculum consisted of teaching the students writing, grammar, comprehension and literature. My short time in Syria came to define much of what I did in future. With events in the country, and in Homs particularly taking a very bloody turn, I believed I had to play some role in documenting events in Syria. My Twitter account is indicative of the passion I have for Syria, and for the region more generally. In July 2011, I wrote an article of the Guardian’s Comment is Free, about my time as a teacher in Homs: ‘The cult of Bashar al-Assad’. Show less



Wolverhampton Refugee & Migrant Centre

• Volunteer

  • Sep 2009 - Mar 2010

  Wolverhampton, United Kingdom At the Refugee and Migrant Centre, I have been involved primarily with the RIES project, co-ordinated by the UK Borders Agency. This involved providing refugees with employment and educational advice, assisting with applications and CVs to ease integration into the UK.



Office of Nick Herbert MP

• Intern

  • Jun 2008 - Aug 2008

  London, United Kingdom Tasks included research projects, assisting with general office management, and responding to constituency matters. My internship with Mr Herbert allowed for my first, and very involved and valuable immersion into the parliamentary environment.



ConservativeHome.com

• Intern

  • Jun 2007 - Aug 2007

  London, United Kingdom Whilst working with Conservative Home, an imperative insight into the technological dimension and progression of politics was obtained. I was fortunate enough to be able to write articles for the website, update the general setup of the site, and research the appropriate issues and campaigns at that time.



Diocese of Kuching, East Malaysia

• Youth Worker

  • Jan 2006 - Aug 2006

  Malaysia Between finishing sixth form and beginning university at King's in September 2006, I spent eight months in Malaysian Borneo as part of a youth exchange scheme. My activities included teaching English twice a week to primary school pupils, and conducting violin lessons to young students. I became part of the Parish church team in Miri, Borneo, and in Brunei, in both a logistical and social capacity.