Economist

Johan van Geijn has a unique track record as a specialist in international corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the world of sports, particularly in football and international development cooperation. With more than 25 years of experience – heading the international programs at the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) since 1998 to build local capacity through football in developing countries and low-income countries. More than 20,000 young volunteer coaches have been able to improve themselves in their local environment through programs developed by Johan.
As founder of the WorldCoaches program, Johan has proven many times how sport can serve as a means for social development. Using football as a catalyst for social cohesion, for the position of girls and women in society, for awareness of communicable diseases, drugs and addictions or clean water.
With the international challenges surrounding migration and refugees, using football as an initiator for programs to tackle youth unemployment in these countries. A range of thematic social challenges where Johan has been able to let football contribute to the approach and often to the solution.

Lama Abu Baker is a seasoned communications expert with over 16 years of experience in strategic communications, media relations, and public diplomacy across the MENA region. She has successfully led communication and visibility components for numerous EU-funded and international development projects, collaborating closely with local governments, civil society organizations, and international bodies. 

Since 2018, Lama has been a key expert in multimedia, communications, and visibility for several EU-funded projects in Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq. Her current role involves managing the multimedia and communications component of the EU Regional Trust Fund’s response to the Syrian Crisis. She has successfully implemented innovative social media campaigns and overseen content production. 

Lama has led communication efforts for significant projects such as the EU-GCC Cooperation on Green Transition and Decarbonization, managing communication, including high-level events and climate diplomacy activities in the GCC region. She also led a nationwide awareness campaign on inclusive education for vulnerable groups, including children with disabilities and refugees, as part of the Inclusive Education in Jordan project with GIZ. 

In addition to project management, Lama excels in training and mentoring media and communications teams within government institutions and civil society organizations. Her leadership and capacity-building skills have enabled her to guide teams in developing and implementing effective communication strategies, media relations, and impactful PR campaigns. 

Lama has worked on projects addressing critical issues such as renewable energy, gender equality, social inclusion, women’s and youth economic empowerment, and more. Her deep understanding of EU guidelines, donor branding, and visibility standards—gained through collaborations with organizations like USAID, UN, SIDA, DFID, and GIZ—has made her a recognized leader in strategic communications across the region. 

Lama holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Birzeit University. She is fluent in Arabic and English and has basic French and Italian. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Lama is known for her unwavering commitment to social causes and her ability to inspire those around her through impactful storytelling. 

I am Chief of Cabinet at SESRIC, a subsidiary organ of the OIC.

Dr. Ahmed Shalaby, Ph.D. president & CEO of Tatweer Misr, a founding member of its board of directors since mid 2014.
Dr. Shalaby has over 25 years of experience as an architecture consultant and in developing and managing real estate portfolios in Egypt. Dr. Shalaby held prestigious positions like:

- Technical Advisor to the Minister, at the Egyptian Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities.
- Chairman of the Egyptian Real Estate Council,
- Co-Chair of Real Estate committee at the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt (AmCham),
- Vice- Chairman of the Real Estate Export Council
- Board Member at the Egyptian-Emirati Business Council.
- Advisor to the Chairman for El Mostakbal for Urban Development where he played an integral role in the development of Mostakbal City
- A Member of African Business Leaders Coalition (ABLC)

In addition to his academic titles and degrees:
- Professor of Architecture and Urban Development at Cairo University.
- Former Visiting Assistant Professor at the Department of City and Regional Planning at Cornell University, USA.
- He holds a bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering , which he received in 1993. Afterwards, he pursued his studies receiving his master’s degree in 1998, followed by his PhD in Urban Planning, which he received in 2003.
- Babson Executive Program Certified

Strong background in numerous European policy areas with experience working on EU external relations, specialized on MENA region. Extensive experience working in Mediterranean cooperation focused on political, economic, and social development.

Experienced consultant with a demonstrated history of working in the international affairs industry. Skilled in NGOs, Government, International Relations and Diplomacy. Solid consulting professional on project management, crises and risk analysis, and policy development.