Board of Directors

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Ms. Erica Pelletreau

Strategic Communications, Ford Foundation, United States

Ms. Erica Pelletreau is a senior member of the communications team at Ford Foundation where she provides strategic advice and communications support to the Global Governance and US and International Civic Engagement and Government teams, and the offices in the Middle East and North Africa and Mexico/Central America. Ms. Pelletreau chairs Amideast’s governance and nominating committee and the board of The Communications Network. Previously she led social justice communications for the Empire State Pride Agenda, PolicyLink, Physicians for Reproductive Health, and the ACLU. Ms.

Dr. Odeh Aburdene

Treasurer

Dr. Odeh Aburdene is President of OAI Advisors, which provides advice and consultancy on Middle East business, energy, and private equity. Before OAI, he was a Managing Partner of CT Capital International, Inc. Dr. Aburdene received his PhD from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, specializing in oil economics. His thesis analyzed the impact of Middle East oil on the U.S. balance of payments.

Mr. Hisham Fahmy

CEO, The American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt (AmCham Egypt), Inc., United States

Mr. Hisham Fahmy is the CEO of AmCham Egypt Inc., a mirror organization for AmCham Egypt based in Washington D.C., and advisor to the AmCham Egypt Board of Governors. Under his leadership, AmCham Egypt’s membership reached over 1,900 members and 90 staff. He also helped create the AmCham MENA Regional Council to promote U.S. business and investment in the MENA region and served as the council’s Regional Coordinating CEO.

Dr. Hanine Salem

Managing Partner, Novus Consulting Group (NCG), United States

Dr. Hanine Salem is a senior strategist and established public sector expert with over 20 years of executive level working experience in the field of education, higher education and human capital development. Throughout her career, she has been advising heads of states, prime ministers, ministers and public sector officials in areas related to her field of expertise.

Professor Safwan M. Masri

Dean, Georgetown University-Qatar, Distinguished Professor of Practice, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, United States

Professor Safwan M. Masri is Dean of Georgetown University in Qatar and Distinguished Professor of the Practice at Georgetown’s Walsh School of Foreign Service. Before joining Georgetown in October 2022, Professor Masri was Executive Vice President for Global Centers and Global Development at Columbia University, and a Senior Research Scholar at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs.

The Honorable Gordon Gray

Kuwait Professor of Gulf & Arabian Peninsula Affairs, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University; former U.S. Ambassador, United States

Ambassador (ret.) Gordon Gray is the Kuwait Professor of Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Affairs at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University. Before he retired from the US government after 35 years of public service, Ambassador Gray was the Deputy Commandant at the National War College. He was the US ambassador to Tunisia from 2009 until 2012, witnessing the start of the Arab Spring and directing the US response in support of Tunisia’s transition.

The Honorable Michael Pelletier

Secretary

Ambassador (ret.) Michael Pelletier was appointed as the founding Executive Director of the Aspire Initiative Endowed Institute for Global Engagement at the University of Houston on August 1, 2021.

Mr. Kutayba Yusuf Alghanim

Chairman, Alghanim Industries, Kuwait

Mr. Kutayba Yusuf Alghanim is currently the Executive Chairman at Alghanim Industries, where he leads one of the largest privately owned companies in the region. Since the early 1970s, when he was appointed to lead the company, Mr. Alghanim introduced contemporary business culture and modernized the organization. He is also the largest shareholder of one of Kuwait’s leading conventional financial institutions, Gulf Bank – which he also chaired in 2008.

Mr. Amjad Ahmad

Treasurer

Mr. Amjad Ahmad is a Managing Partner and Emerging Market Advisor at 500 Global, a venture capital firm that invests in founders building fast-growing technology companies. He is also an instructor for 500 Global’s Venture Education, training the next generation of venture capitalists and angel investors in various markets. Mr. Ahmad serves on the board of directors of Amideast, Homzmart, Koita Foods, and Tapal Tea.