Experience

ISD (Institute for Strategic Dialogue)

• United Kingdom
• Think Tanks
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Executive Director for Africa, Middle East and Asia

  • Oct 2017 - Present

  Makes things happen Makes things happen



Lapis Communications

• United Arab Emirates
• Public Relations and Communications Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Program Director

  • Jul 2014 - Oct 2017

  Managed a diverse network of creative talent while designing, developing, and directing implementation of strategic communication initiatives across the Levant. Contributed to substantial growth across Lapis offices, while developing innovative modes of engaging audiences around topics such as youth and women's empowerment, good governance, elections, and transparency. Fluent in creative. Managed a diverse network of creative talent while designing, developing, and directing implementation of strategic communication initiatives across the Levant. Contributed to substantial growth across Lapis offices, while developing innovative modes of engaging audiences around topics such as youth and women's empowerment, good governance, elections, and transparency. Fluent in creative.



UNDP

• United States
• International Affairs
• 700 & Above Employee

• Communications Specialist for Support to the National Dialogue Programme and Elections

  • Aug 2012 - Aug 2014

  Outreach, media planning, media research, as well as media production and placement for the launch of the Comprehensive National Dialogue Conference, which included the development of "crowdsourced" brand and branding, key messages, several video and audio productions, and the design of "infotainment" based outreach productions, and citizen toolkits disguised as branded giveaways. Planning, support and implementation of the voter education and outreach strategy for the six-month Biometric Voter Registry project, aiming to reform the currently outdated, and controversial, voter register. Show less



Independent Consultant

• Baghdad, Iraq

• Journalist and Social Media Trainer

  • Dec 2009 - Dec 2012

  Leading multiple training sessions on social media applications for Iraqi news organizations (television, radio and print), each with journalists from Erbil, Baghdad Mosul, Najaf, Basra and Kirkuk. Designing and deploying a dual-language (Arabic and English) Wikispaces page for the training sessions. Leading multiple training sessions on social media applications for Iraqi news organizations (television, radio and print), each with journalists from Erbil, Baghdad Mosul, Najaf, Basra and Kirkuk. Designing and deploying a dual-language (Arabic and English) Wikispaces page for the training sessions.



UNDP

• United States
• International Affairs
• 700 & Above Employee

• Media Specialist

  • Jan 2012 - Jun 2012

  Designed outreach and media products for the early presidential elections in Sanaa, Yemen, following the ousting of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh by popular resistance. Coordinated media placement and designed media plans for broadcast, print, and mobile media campaigns in coordination with the Supreme Election Commission in Sanaa for the early presidential elections as outlined in the Gulf Cooperation Council agreement. Designed outreach and media products for the early presidential elections in Sanaa, Yemen, following the ousting of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh by popular resistance. Coordinated media placement and designed media plans for broadcast, print, and mobile media campaigns in coordination with the Supreme Election Commission in Sanaa for the early presidential elections as outlined in the Gulf Cooperation Council agreement.



IREX

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• Social Media and Networking Trainer and Specialist

  • Oct 2010 - Dec 2011

  Consulting and training on Web 2.0 initiatives, working with public, private, education and government sectors in Iraq. Consulting and training on Web 2.0 initiatives, working with public, private, education and government sectors in Iraq.



UNDP

• United States
• International Affairs
• 700 & Above Employee

• Programme Coordinator

  • Dec 2009 - Feb 2011

  Coordinating global seminars online for the Middle East and North Africa Coordinating global seminars online for the Middle East and North Africa



Overseas Strategic Consulting, Ltd

• Social Media Development Consultant

  • Aug 2010 - Dec 2010

  Consultant specializing in social media and development practices in conflict zones, including the writing of journalist manuals for Afghanistan. Consultant specializing in social media and development practices in conflict zones, including the writing of journalist manuals for Afghanistan.



University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

• Research Assistant

  • Aug 2008 - Dec 2009

  Community Journalism Specialist directing content development for trainings, leading trainings with youth in urban and rural communities like Paseo Bourica, Chicago. Community Journalism Specialist directing content development for trainings, leading trainings with youth in urban and rural communities like Paseo Bourica, Chicago.



Global Communication Studies

• Research Associate/Consultant working for Center for Global Communication Studies

  • May 2009 - Nov 2009

  Wrote background papers on engagement in Egypt, as well as backstopping research on communication and media in the Middle East and North Africa. Wrote background papers on engagement in Egypt, as well as backstopping research on communication and media in the Middle East and North Africa.