{"id":137093,"date":"2022-06-30T13:04:07","date_gmt":"2022-06-30T12:04:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/\/?page_id=137093"},"modified":"2022-07-19T09:58:43","modified_gmt":"2022-07-19T08:58:43","slug":"biography-of-speakers-wbf-2022","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/ar\/biography-of-speakers-wbf-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"Biography of speakers &#8211; 2022 UfM-UNIDO Women Business Forum"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/4&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;3\/4&#8243;]<style type=\"text\/css\" >#b_1o7hsqaiztmzlxzrz42k a{color:#ffffff; background:#1e73be; border-style:solid; border-color:#ffffff; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px;  margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; font-weight:700; border-radius:50px;}#b_1o7hsqaiztmzlxzrz42k a:hover{color: ; background:#5f92bf ; border-color:#5f92bf;}<\/style><div class=\"ta_right tf_btn_pos\" id=\"b_1o7hsqaiztmzlxzrz42k\" ><a class=\"rd_stroke_bt medium_rd_bt border_1px  \" href=\"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/\/event\/women-business-forum-2022\/\" target=\"\" >Back to the event page<\/a><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Biography of speakers &#8211; 2022 UfM-UNIDO Women Business Forum&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h1|text_align:left&#8221; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Montserrat%3Aregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal&#8221;][vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGlkJTNEJTIyYmlvMSUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1536064858304{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;124128&#8243; img_size=&#8221;150&#215;150&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1534779000626{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Amb. John Paul Grech, Deputy Secretary General, Social and Civil Affairs, Union for the Mediterranean &#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23009de0&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal&#8221; link=&#8221;|||&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">John Paul Grech is the Deputy Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean in charge of Social and Civil Affairs since September 2021.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">His diplomatic career spans over 30 years of service during which he has served as Head of Mission in both bilateral and multilateral missions overseas.\u00a0 In addition, he also held various positions within the Ministry of Foreign &amp; European Affairs of the Republic of Malta, including that of Permanent Secretary.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">He has served as ambassador of Malta to Germany, Poland and Belarus.\u00a0 He also served as Permanent Representative of Malta to the United Nations Specialized Agencies in Geneva and Deputy Permanent Representative of Malta to the OSCE and UN Agencies in Vienna.\u00a0 Besides, he has been assigned duties as Special Envoy on behalf of the Government of Malta on a number of assignments.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGlkJTNEJTIyYmlvMiUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1536064858304{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;137116&#8243; img_size=&#8221;150&#215;150&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1534779000626{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Roger Albinyana Managing Director European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed)&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23009de0&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal&#8221; link=&#8221;|||&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Roger has been working at the IEMed since 2016 and as an associate professor at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Barcelona, where he teaches international economic policy. He has published numerous papers and articles in his fields of expertise. Roger is also a board member at CIDOB and a member of the Advisory Council of EMEA.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Prior to joining the IEMed, Roger served as Secretary for Foreign and EU Affairs of the Government of Catalonia (2013-2016) and was a member of the EU Committee of the Regions. From 2010 to 2013 he served as advisor on private sector development at the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">He holds an MA in Economic History from the University of Barcelona, a BA in Economics from Pompeu Fabra University and a BA in Business Administration and Management from the Open University of Catalonia (UOC).<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGlkJTNEJTIyYmlvMiUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1536064858304{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;137125&#8243; img_size=&#8221;150&#215;150&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1534779000626{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Tamara Abd El Jaber, Amam Ventures Jordan&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23009de0&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal&#8221; link=&#8221;|||&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Tamara Abdel-Jaber is a partner at Amam Ventures, a Gender Lens investment fund that caters to businesses that are committed to equality, those that put women at the front and focus on specifically serving women in Jordan and MENA. Tamara is also the founder and the chief executive officer at Palma Consulting.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>She is an expert in strategy design and execution, business and digital transformation. She currently serves as the Past Chair of the Global Institute of Certified Management Consultants (CMC-GI) as well as board member at the Int\u2019l Council of Management Consulting Institutes (ICMCI).<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGlkJTNEJTIyYmlvMiUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1536064858304{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;120596&#8243; img_size=&#8221;150&#215;150&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1534779000626{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Jihen Boutiba Mrad, Secretary General, BUSINESSMED&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23009de0&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal&#8221; link=&#8221;|||&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Jihen is a woman, a mother and a leader.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Born into a family of entrepreneurs and researchers, she was able to grasp the knowledge and to develop the business skills needed to manage large-scale projects, a talent she further honed through her master&#8217;s degree in finance engineering in the Institute of high Studies in Tunis and through the multitude of leadership and management trainings she underwent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Currently, she is the general director of BUSINESSMED, an organization aimed at supporting and reinforcing the private sector in the Mediterranean and MENA Region and she uses that position to advocate for a strengthened social dialogue, promote gender equality and empower youth by making sure they receive the tools, autonomy and motivation necessary to successfully contribute to the development of the organization.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGlkJTNEJTIyYmlvMiUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1536064858304{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;113913&#8243; img_size=&#8221;150&#215;150&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1534779000626{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Myriam Fournier Kacimi, CEO Sungy Company&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23009de0&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal&#8221; link=&#8221;|||&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Mother of two children. Executive woman in investment banking in otherwise NYC, Japan, Paris, and Munich, I was born in Algiers and has lived in France.I feel concerned by pollution issues and wanted to fully engage myself to reduce CO2 emissions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">I was convinced by solar energy while working in Japan and in Germany as I had the chance to see how far those countries were in developing solar energy. She then decided to found SunGy to make it happen in Africa.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">She is Ambassador of the Cluster Digital Africa and president of the CACI en France Energy Commission.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGlkJTNEJTIyYmlvMiUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1536064858304{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;120612&#8243; img_size=&#8221;150&#215;150&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1534779000626{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Neila Amara, UNIDO Expert&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23009de0&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal&#8221; link=&#8221;|||&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Neila AMARA holds a Ph.D. in economics from Paris Dauphine University (France). She first embraced an academic carrier before devoting herself full-time to her work as a Program Development and Monitoring &amp; Evaluation Specialist with a specific focus on women and youth economic empowerment and private sector development. She is currently working as an International Project Management Expert at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), coordinating inter alia the implementation of phase II of the project \u201cPromoting women\u2019s empowerment for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development in the Middle-East and North-Africa region\u201d labelled by The Union for the Mediterranean and implemented by UNIDO jointly with FAO and UN Women<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGlkJTNEJTIyYmlvMiUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1536064858304{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;137292&#8243; img_size=&#8221;150&#215;150&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1534779000626{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Serena Romano, Senior Gender Expert, UNIDO&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23009de0&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal&#8221; link=&#8221;|||&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Serena Romano has an extensive experience in the area of legal, regulatory and antitrust affairs that she has gained in the corporate world, working for companies such as Olivetti and Telecom Italia. Leveraging on her advocacy skills, she is dedicated to gender-equality providing qualified services to civil society, international institutions and corporations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Serena Romano is co-founder and currently President of Corrente Rosa, a women\u2019s advocacy association that promotes women\u2019s participation in business, institutions and politics to achieve a greater balance of talents in society.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">In 2009, she became a participating member of the OECD-MENA Women\u2019s Business Forum (now the Women\u2019s Economic Empowerment Forum) and has been actively pursuing since the development of an action plan for women in the Middle East and North Africa region. <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Since 2010, Serena Romano manages a consultancy business advising corporations and institutions in the telecommunications and gender parity sectors. She leads EuropeAid-funded projects on gender-related issues, in the Eastern Partnership countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, in the South Mediterranean countries and in the Western Balkans.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">She\u2019s currently leading the project <i>Enhancing EU Communication and Visibility for Supporting Women&#8217;s Participation in Public Life<\/i> with the EU Delegation in Cairo.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">Serena Romano\u2019s education includes studies in <\/span>Paris, London and Brussels. She holds a degree in Law from the Universit\u00e9 Libre de Bruxelles.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGlkJTNEJTIyYmlvMiUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1536064858304{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;109582&#8243; img_size=&#8221;150&#215;150&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1534779000626{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Gae\u0308lle Ferrant, Economist, OECD (Women Economic Empowerment Forum)&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23009de0&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal&#8221; link=&#8221;|||&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Ga\u00eblle Ferrant is Economist at the OECD, in the Middle East and Africa division of the Directorate for Global Relations and Cooperation. As Development and Gender Specialist, Ga\u00eblle manages the MENA-OECD Women&#8217;s Economic Empowerment Forum (WEEF) and leads the Gender Projects of the OCDE Country Programmes in Morocco and Egypt, including policy-oriented analysis, policy dialogue and gender data capacity building.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Ga\u00eblle joined the OECD in 2013 and held several positions in the OECD Development Centre. Prior to join the OECD, Ga\u00eblle worked at the French Development Agency, UNFPA, UNESCO and for African-based NGOs. Ga\u00eblle holds a Ph.D. in development economics from University of Paris 1 Panth\u00e9on-Sorbonne and Paris School of Economics and was post-doctoral researcher at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium and the University of Laval, Canada.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGlkJTNEJTIyYmlvMiUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1536064858304{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;137296&#8243; img_size=&#8221;150&#215;150&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1534779000626{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Melika Karrit, Director General of the Promotion of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, Tunisia &#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23009de0&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal&#8221; link=&#8221;|||&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Melika Karrit\u00a0a \u00e0 son\u00a0 actif\u00a0 une longue<span class=\"s1\">\u00a0 <\/span>exp\u00e9rience dans\u00a0 le\u00a0 domaine\u00a0 de la mise \u00e0 niveau des\u00a0 industries tunisiennes et de la promotion des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises (PME).<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Elle occupe \u00a0actuellement\u00a0 le\u00a0 poste\u00a0 de \u00a0Directrice G\u00e9n\u00e9rale de la Promotion des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises (PME) au sein du\u00a0\u00a0Minist\u00e8re de l\u2019Industrie,<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>des Mines et de l\u2019Energie. Elle est principalement charg\u00e9e\u00a0 du\u00a0 suivi et de la\u00a0 mise en \u0153uvre de la politique de l\u2019Etat dans les domaines de l\u2019encouragement de la cr\u00e9ation des PME ainsi que du\u00a0 d\u00e9veloppement et du suivi de l\u2019ex\u00e9cution des programmes d\u2019appui au renforcement de leur comp\u00e9titivit\u00e9.\u00a0Dans ce cadre, elle s&#8217;est particuli\u00e8rement investie dans la promotion\u00a0des outils de financement et de soutien aux PME et\u00a0a notamment contribu\u00e9 \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9laboration du texte de loi sur le\u00a0 Crowdfunding. Elle est \u00e9galement\u00a0membre de la\u00a0Commission de la surveillance de la Caisse des D\u00e9p\u00f4ts et Consignations depuis juin 2021.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p4\"><span class=\"s2\">Elle est\u00a0membre de\u00a0 nombreux\u00a0 conseils,\u00a0 commissions et\u00a0 comit\u00e9s dont le comit\u00e9\u00a0 de pilotage\u00a0<\/span><b>du\u00a0 projet r\u00e9gional de &#8216;ONUDI\u201c\u00a0Promouvoir l\u2019autonomisation des femmes pour un d\u00e9veloppement industriel inclusif et durable dans la r\u00e9gion Moyen-Orient et Afrique du Nord<\/b><span class=\"s2\">\u201d\u00a0pour sa composante tunisienne.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGlkJTNEJTIyYmlvMiUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1536064858304{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;137300&#8243; img_size=&#8221;150&#215;150&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1534779000626{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Doa Wadi, Executive Director, Business Women Forum-Palestine &#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23009de0&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal&#8221; link=&#8221;|||&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Mrs. Wadi is the Executive Director of Business Women Forum-Palestine since 2008. BWF is a nonprofit organization established in 2006 with a mission to strengthen the role of businesswomen as leaders in the Palestinian economy through advocacy, networking, and the provision of business services.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Mrs. Wadi has more than 2<span class=\"s1\">5<\/span> years\u2019 experience in economic development, especially for women economic empowerment and encouraging entrepreneurship for youth. Mrs. Wadi has participated advanced training courses in regional and international NGOs and further developed her capacity in Management for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) by acquiring a professional Diploma certificate in SME\u2019s development in addition to her BA in Business Administration at the university of Birzeit, Ramallah which enabled her to lead and have a significant contribution developing BWF into a well positioned local NGO for women Economic empowerment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">As well as, she participated as a speaker, role model and facilitator in different local and international conferences. Mrs. Wadi participated as a member of Jury with NGO\u2019s, Banks and universities to evaluate Businesses for young entrepreneurs, such as Injaz, BOP, HULT Prize, Welfare association for youth prizes and she herself acts as a role Model, a mentor and a coach.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span>One of her remarkable experiences is in developing and designing Programs targeting Female Youth and engaging them in the economic sphere and raises their employability by enhancing their soft skills and abilities for labor market.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>As well as, she coaches women entrepreneurs to find their work life balance to create their support system that makes their lives easier.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>She has worked directly with a large number of female graduates, business women and entrepreneurs and school students over the past 15 years. Mrs Wadi, and through different approaches, she believes that working and engaging men and boys is the base of change on the social and economic aspect, engaging them to become proud and an effective<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>support system for their working wives, daughters, mothers and sisters reflects positively on the family and the small communities around them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">Sharing,<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>is her passion, and she promotes thes culture of mentorship by passing experience for the young to make the road much easier in front of them for a better future.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGlkJTNEJTIyYmlvMiUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1536064858304{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;137304&#8243; img_size=&#8221;150&#215;150&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1534779000626{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;M\u00e9lanie Ke\u00efta, CEO, Melanin Kapital&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23009de0&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal&#8221; link=&#8221;|||&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Named by Forbes in the 2021\u2019s 30 under 30 list, Melanie is the CEO and co-founder of Melanin Kapital, the 1st Panafrican neobank helping African entrepreneurs to access and grow capital through online banking, financing and investment services.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">As a French-German-Congolese private equity professional, M\u00e9lanie has always endeavoured to leverage on her inter cultural perspective and her financial expertise to contribute to the efforts of economic development on the African continent.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">She has worked in the impact investment field for the past six years in Africa and in the Middle East, supporting due diligence processes aiming at investing in SMEs, start ups and financial institutions. Over the years working in different impact ventures such as Investisseurs et Partenaire and Finance in Motion, she has particularly developed a deeper knowledge in corporate finance, fundraising and impact assessment. Besides her investment activities, she lectures in business schools and universities. Currently in ESCP Europe she lectures an elective class on impact investing in emerging markets. She offers similar lectures for entrepreneurs in accelerator programs like Bridge for Billions or GIZ-SAIS program.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">M\u00e9lanie holds a Master&#8217; s in Corporate Finance from ESSCA business school, MSc International Sustainability from ESCP Europe and is certified as a Microfinance expert from Frankfurt School of Finance Management.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGlkJTNEJTIyYmlvMiUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1536064858304{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;137411&#8243; img_size=&#8221;150&#215;150&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1534779000626{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Wissam H. Fattouh, Secretary General of Union of Arab Banks (UAB)&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23009de0&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal&#8221; link=&#8221;|||&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">A career development, Mr. Wissam H. FATTOUH 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 at the development and advancement of the banking and financial markets, in addition to the cross-border relations and exchange of expertise with international counterparts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Mr. Fattouh has excellent knowledge and expertise in Arab and International banking and financial sectors, acquired from over 25 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. His remarkable contact portfolio with Heads of States, officials, ministers, politicians, Governors and regulators, and excellent liaison with banks and financial institutions\u2019 chairmen, CEOs and heads through years of direct and careful relations acted as the vote of confidence for his evident rise to this position.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Before his current position, Mr. Fattouh served as the Acting Secretary General, Deputy Secretary General, Director of Conferences Department at UAB and Manager of Databank and Information Technology. He gained a worldwide network of communication and Economic Knowledge through innovatively organizing and supervising international, regional and local Conferences and awareness Seminars on banking and financial matters in cooperation with the likes of the US Department of the Treasury, World Bank, IMF, IFC, FATF, United Nation Security Council, European Banking Federations and various international governmental offices.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">He established the new line of technical Forums that excelled for its scientific importance and established a number of Professional Groups and Associations, Group of Certified Compliance Officers (GCCO) in MENA Region, Group of Certified Risk Managers (GCRM), MENA Financial Crime Compliance Group (MENAFCCG) in addition to 2 main initiatives for Private Sector Dialogue (PSD): US-MENA PSD and EU-MENA PSD, it is a dialogue between Arab Banking community and its counterparts from European Union and United States. The EU-Arab and US-Arab banking dialogue initiatives cover matters of laws and regulations, correspondent banking and investment including AML\/CFT, Basel recommendations, FATCA law, CSR, De-risking, Correspondent banking and others.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Through his suave yet professional persona backed with years of expertise and an eye for the future, Mr. Fattouh has managed to raise funds on continuous basis to get the UAB to the highest standard of professionalism while using advanced technologies and relying on the best human resources. He managed to transform the UAB into an internationally renowned organization with a say on the international banking and financial fronts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Mr. Fattouh was born in Beirut in September 1965. Married with two children and is a graduate from the Lebanese American University in Beirut class of 1989 and MBA, London 2016. He is fluent in Arabic, English and a good commend of the French language.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGlkJTNEJTIyYmlvMiUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1536064858304{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;137451&#8243; img_size=&#8221;150&#215;150&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1534779000626{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Carlos Conde, Head of the Middle East and Africa Division in the Global Relations Secretariat of the OECD&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23009de0&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal&#8221; link=&#8221;|||&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">On this capacity, he leads the implementation of MENA-OECD Initiative on Governance and Investment for Development. The Initiative promotes policy dialogue on governance, investment and private sector development between MENA and OECD countries. During this period the MENA Initiative has introduced the process of OECD peer reviewing in the MENA region, and extensively promoted country programmes of reform in the MENA region with a particular focus on Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, and Jordan. Between 2007 and 2014, he led the MENA-OECD Governance Programme in the Public Governance Directorate of the OECD and supported the OECD work on public governance in Latin America. Before joining the OECD in 2007, Mr. Conde was associate professor of political science and public policy at the University of Granada in Spain. In this position, Mr. Conde led several projects of academic co-operation, research and network building between Arab and European universities. Mr. Conde had visiting positions at Harvard University (1995-96) and Al Akhawayn University of Morocco, where he lectured between 2001 and 2003. Mr. Conde holds a PhD in Political Science and Public Administration from the Complutense University of Madrid.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGlkJTNEJTIyYmlvMiUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1536064858304{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;137513&#8243; img_size=&#8221;150&#215;150&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1534779000626{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Cecilia Ugaz Estrada, Director of Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women Office and Special Advisor, Office of the Managing Director, UNIDO&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23009de0&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal&#8221; link=&#8221;|||&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Cecilia Ugaz Estrada (Peru) is Director of Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women Office and Special Advisor, Office of the Managing Director, Directorate of Corporate Management and Operations. She formerly was Director of the Policy Research and Statistics Department at UNIDO.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Cecilia holds a PhD in economics from Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris (major: Econometrics of Investment) as well as graduate degrees in economic modelling from France and Peru. Prior to joining UNIDO, she served as United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative for Paraguay, as Deputy Resident Representative for UNDP in Argentina and as Deputy Director of the UNDP Human Development Report Office. Cecilia Ugaz Estrada also held various positions with the United Nations and in academia in Switzerland, United Kingdom and Finland as well as with the World Bank in Washington DC.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGlkJTNEJTIyYmlvMiUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1536064858304{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;137550&#8243; img_size=&#8221;150&#215;150&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1534779000626{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Amb. Fabio Cassese, Director General, Directorate General for Development Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Italy&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23009de0&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal&#8221; link=&#8221;|||&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Graduated in Law at the University of Naples, in 1989 he passed the competition for access to the diplomatic career.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">After a period spent at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Directorate General for Human Resources, in 1994 he was transferred to Rio de Janeiro with the role of Vice Consul and then of Consul.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">In 1998 he took up the Permanent Representation of Italy at the United Nations in New York, where for four years he was in charge of the economic, development and humanitarian sectors, in the General Assembly and Ecosoc, as well as of the UN Funds and Programs (UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA , UNIFEM).<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">Returning to the Ministry he was assigned to the Directorate General for Human Resources, where he was first Head of the Competition Office and then Head of the Legal Department.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">In 2005 he was assigned as Counsellor at the Permanent Representation of Italy at the OECD in Paris, where he followed, among others, the development cooperation sector and the MENA programs. At the same time he was Italian delegate at the European Space Agency.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">In 2009 he was transferred to the Permanent Representation of Italy to the European Union in Brussels, where he first coordinated the Justice, Home Affairs and Immigration sector, and then the<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Infringement Procedures and State Aid sector.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">In 2011 he was promoted to Ministry Plenipotentiary, on a proposal from the Council of Ministers, by a Decree of the President of the Republic.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">From 2012 to 2016 he held the functions of Deputy Director General for Development Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In this capacity he contributed to the formulation of cooperation policies and strategies, coordinated the bilateral and multilateral initiatives of Italian cooperation and followed its implementation, particularly in the priority countries in Africa and the Middle East, where he made numerous field visits. In this period he was also appointed as Coordinator for the UN Agenda post 2015 within the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">In 2016 he was appointed as Deputy Head of the Staff of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">In 2017 he was directly reported to the Director General for Economic, Cultural and Scientific Cooperation, and in particular he coordinated several initiatives of integrated promotion including the regional program &#8220;Italy, Cultures, Mediterranean&#8221;.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">In July 2018 he was appointed as Ambassador of Italy to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, on a proposal from the Council of Ministers, by a Decree of the President of the Republic. On October 31, 2018, he assumed in this capacity in Amman.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">In December 2021 he was appointed as Director General for Development Cooperation. On March 1<span class=\"s1\"><sup>st<\/sup><\/span> 2022 he assumed in this capacity at the Ministry for Foreign Affair and International Cooperation in Rome.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGlkJTNEJTIyYmlvMiUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1536064858304{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;137789&#8243; img_size=&#8221;150&#215;150&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1534779000626{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Ashraf Zeitoun, Team Leader, EBRD GEFF &amp; GVC Programmes&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23009de0&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal&#8221; link=&#8221;|||&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Mr. Zeitoun has more than fifteen years of experience in sustainable energy consultancy. For the past five years, he has been managing the technical assistance team for multiple green financing facilities developed by the EBRD and supported by the European Union and the Green Climate Fund. His main role is on providing technical advisory services to both multilateral and commercial financing institutions.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Prior to his work on climate finance, Mr. Zeitoun was the lead technical expert for technical assistance programme focused on energy efficiency improvements in the industrial sector developed by the United Nations Industrial Developed Organization. <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Mr. Zeitoun is an engineering graduate with energy and power specialization. He holds a M.Sc. in Engineering degree from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, UK.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGlkJTNEJTIyYmlvMiUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1536064858304{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;137802&#8243; img_size=&#8221;150&#215;150&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1534779000626{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Ana D\u00edez Fontana, Executive Director of Business and Entrepreneurs | Caixabank&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23009de0&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal&#8221; link=&#8221;|||&#8221;][vc_column_text]Ana D\u00edez Fontana holds a degree in Economics from CEU San Pablo University ni Madrid, and an Executive MBA from IESE.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout her professional career she has held positions of responsibility at Citibank and &#8220;CaixaBank&#8221;. In 2008 she joined CaixaBank as Director of Trade Finance, and then moved to Malaga, where she was Director for Corporates forAndalusia. In 2013 she moved to Sevilla as Managing Director for comercial Banking in aAndalucia, , later and for five years, she was the Regional Director of Caixabank in Navarra.<\/p>\n<p>Currently she is a Executive Director of SME\u2019S and start ups.<\/p>\n<p>She also is Board\u00a0member of Micro Bank S.A.U and Zone2Boost.[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGlkJTNEJTIyYmlvMiUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/4&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;3\/4&#8243;]<style type=\"text\/css\" >#b_1vdayvwa0pbdtye64e2v a{color:#ffffff; background:#1e73be; border-style:solid; border-color:#ffffff; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px;  margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; font-weight:700; border-radius:50px;}#b_1vdayvwa0pbdtye64e2v a:hover{color: ; background:#5f92bf ; border-color:#5f92bf;}<\/style><div class=\"ta_right tf_btn_pos\" id=\"b_1vdayvwa0pbdtye64e2v\" ><a class=\"rd_stroke_bt medium_rd_bt border_1px  \" href=\"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/\/event\/women-business-forum-2022\/\" target=\"\" >Back to event page<\/a><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/4&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;3\/4&#8243;]Back to the event page[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Biography of speakers &#8211; 2022 UfM-UNIDO Women Business Forum&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h1|text_align:left&#8221; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Montserrat%3Aregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal&#8221;][vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGlkJTNEJTIyYmlvMSUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1536064858304{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;124128&#8243; img_size=&#8221;150&#215;150&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1534779000626{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Amb. John Paul Grech, Deputy Secretary General, Social and Civil Affairs, Union for the Mediterranean &#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23009de0&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal&#8221; link=&#8221;|||&#8221;][vc_column_text] John Paul Grech is the Deputy<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/ar\/biography-of-speakers-wbf-2022\/\" class=\"more\">\u0625\u0642\u0631\u0623 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0632\u064a\u062f<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"priority-area":[],"class_list":["post-137093","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/137093","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=137093"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/137093\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":137815,"href":"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/137093\/revisions\/137815"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=137093"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"priority-area","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/priority-area?post=137093"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}