HR & Leadership

Dr. Ahmed Al-Burkani is a leadership practitioner, speaker, and author based in the UAE. His book Khawatir fi Al-Qiyada (Reflections on Leadership) draws on his personal experience navigating leadership across teams, cultures, and contexts. His approach centers on the principle that good leadership equals good values, and that the greatest leaders create other leaders. He is particularly focused on the leadership that happens inside families, and on the traditions of the Gulf, South Asian, and Chinese diaspora that insist leadership begins at home.

Ahmed Abdul Mohsen Al Mahmoud is a seasoned strategic expert with more than 20 years of professional experience in the government and consulting fields in the United Arab Emirates. He currently serves as Strategic Planning Consultant and Government Excellence Evaluator at the Central Finance Department of the Government of Sharjah. His career has focused on shaping government policy, building institutional excellence systems, risk management, and human performance development, and he is also an accredited judge for leading local and international awards. He delivers professional training in institutional governance, government excellence and the Fourth Generation model (EFQM), organizational agility and resilience, strategic planning and the balanced scorecard, risk management and business continuity, leadership and change management, and human resources and performance development. He has worked at several prominent government entities, including the Central Finance Department of the Government of Sharjah, the Tourism Development Department of the Government of Ajman, the Municipality and Planning Department of the Government of Ajman, the Zayed House for Islamic Culture (Government of Abu Dhabi), and the Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation (Government of Dubai). He holds a Bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems and Analysis, and is currently pursuing two PhDs - in Management and Strategic Planning, and in Risk Management - alongside a Master's degree in Strategic Planning Management. He also holds a number of accredited professional certifications, including a Government Excellence Assessor Diploma (GEM 2.0), an Institutional Excellence Assessor certificate (EFQM), a Certified Professional Trainer diploma under Canadian standards, and is an accredited assessor for the Dubai Quality Award and the Sharjah Excellence Award.

د. عارف فضل Strategic Consultant in Government Excellence, Innovation & Leadership Development

Dr. Arif Fadhel is a strategic consultant specializing in government excellence, innovation, and talent and leadership development in the government sector. He holds a PhD in Business Administration, and serves in prominent roles as a certified assessor for the EFQM and GEM 2.0 models, and has chaired the subcommittee of the Emirates Innovation Award. He has experience in designing innovation systems, strategic planning, institutional performance development, and designing government initiatives, and provides consultancy and training to government entities aimed at improving performance efficiency and achieving institutional excellence.

Assistant Professor of Applied Sociology at Al Ain University, and an expert in social and economic development, individual and youth empowerment, quality of life, and institutional happiness. She has more than 20 years of experience in the academic, humanitarian, and banking sectors, and has worked with international organizations in training, guidance, project development, and capacity-building. She is also experienced in designing training programs and curricula and ensuring education quality, and has published numerous peer-reviewed scientific studies in sociology, artificial intelligence, digital media, and sustainable development.

أ. فاطمة أبوهارون Government Leader & Expert in Leadership Development and Institutional Capacity-Building

A government leader with more than 15 years of experience in leadership development and institutional capacity-building across government entities. She leads strategic initiatives focused on raising institutional performance, strengthening leadership readiness, and achieving sustainability in spending and development, with a proven track record of designing and delivering quality leadership programs and executive coaching. She currently serves as Director of Government Leadership and Capability Development at the Executive Council of Umm Al Quwain, a role she has held since 2018, after previously serving as Director of the Sharjah Award for Educational Excellence and at the Ministry of Education. Throughout her career she has led coaching sessions for more than 300 government employees, designed several strategic leadership programs at the emirate level, and achieved sustainable annual savings exceeding AED 300,000 from the training budget. She has collaborated on delivering training programs for a large number of government institutions within the UAE and abroad, including the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi, the Ministry of Justice, the Public Prosecution, the Dubai Health Authority, the Sharjah Human Resources Department, and the Cabinet. She holds a Leadership Diploma from Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, a Master's in Human Resources from Eaton Business School (UK), and a Bachelor of Science from the United Arab Emirates University, alongside numerous professional certifications specializing in coaching, neuro-linguistic programming, strategic planning, and internationally accredited training.

An expert specializing in futures studies, public policy, and innovation, holding a PhD in Futures Studies and Public Policy-Making. She has more than 21 years of experience in the government sector, during which she has led numerous strategic initiatives and institutional development and future-transformation programs. She also provides specialized consultancy to a number of government entities in strategic foresight, policy-making, and government innovation, contributing to future readiness and sustainable development. Alongside her professional career, she works as an academic lecturer at several universities in the UAE, where she contributes to developing national talent and transferring knowledge in the fields of futures studies, public policy, and innovation.

A professor of media and digital journalism, and a training consultant specializing in media and strategic communication, with academic and professional experience spanning more than 25 years in journalism, digital media, and institutional communication. He holds a PhD in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma in the United States, and a Master's degree in Digital Journalism from Arkansas State University. He has held numerous leadership and academic positions, most notably Dean of the Faculty of Media at Yarmouk University, Head of the Jordan Press Association branch, Board Member of the Jordan News Agency (Petra), Board Member of the Jordan Radio and Television Corporation, and Media Advisor to the Jordanian Minister of Education, in addition to his role as Professor of Media and Creative Industries at the United Arab Emirates University. He has extensive experience in designing and delivering specialized training programs in digital journalism, strategic communication, government media, media crisis management, editing and content-creation skills, news verification and countering misinformation, social media analysis, and artificial intelligence in media. He has also overseen the training of journalists, media professionals, and media students, and contributed to developing specialized professional programs and diplomas in strategic communication. Dr. Tahat has a distinguished research record comprising dozens of scientific studies published in peer-reviewed international journals and conferences indexed in major global databases, alongside his participation as a consultant and expert in academic and professional projects related to media, communication, and digital transformation.

Dr. Mahmoud Rawajbeh is an international consultant specializing in innovation, artificial intelligence, and futures studies, and founder of Future X for AI and Innovation. He has more than twenty years of experience with the Government of Dubai and institutions across the Gulf region in developing strategies, institutional systems, professional programs, and applied tools that support governments and organizations in building capacity, improving performance, and designing the future.

Dr. Obaid bin Ahmadi has more than 25 years of professional experience in project management, strategic planning, institutional leadership, operations management, and organizational performance development, gained through work across government, semi-government, and various key sector institutions. He has advanced expertise in leading strategic initiatives, managing change, improving operational efficiency, and supporting data-driven decision-making, alongside strong skills in negotiation, persuasion, partnership-building, team management, and delivering sustainable results. He holds a Master's degree in Project Management and is currently pursuing a PhD in Digital Transformation and Project Management. He is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and holds a number of professional certifications in management and institutional excellence. He works as a certified trainer and consultant, and has delivered numerous training and consulting programs in leadership, project management, strategic planning, artificial intelligence, and data analysis, contributing to institutional capability development and improved performance across various sectors.

An international expert and trainer in human resource development and family relations, holding a PhD in Education (Educational Administration) from Ain Shams University in Egypt, awarded in 2012. He has more than twenty-five years of professional experience in education, training, family consultancy, and community development. He is a board member of the UAE Cancer Association, and served as a family consultant with the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department during 2023-2024. He also holds memberships and advisory roles with a number of Arab and international organizations specializing in human development and family guidance. He has received numerous local and international awards and honors, most notably the Inspiring Leader Award for 2025, Best Personality in Sustainable Development for 2024, and Most Influential Scientific Personality on Social Media, and has been ranked among the most influential experts in human development and family guidance at the Arab and international level. He has delivered hundreds of training programs, working papers, and scientific research at local and international conferences and forums, and has made extensive media and community contributions in the fields of family, education, leadership, and human development. He has also authored several books, most notably: The Art of Life Management, The Trusted Guide to Raising Sons and Daughters, The Secret to Marital Happiness, An Educational Vision for Systematic School Development, and The Ideal Wife.

يوسف محمد Leadership Development & Organizational Development Consultant

A consultant in leadership development and organizational development, with experience in the UAE Federal Government in training and development management, and in designing and implementing strategic initiatives for leadership development, institutional capacity-building, behavioral competency development, institutional learning, and executive training. He helps organizations align their human resource development strategies with their institutional goals, translating them into practical measures that enhance performance, build an effective organizational culture, and prepare talent capable of meeting future demands.