Our Team | The Latakia Economic Forum

Advisory committee

Dr. Jalal Qanas

is an Assistant Professor of Economics at Qatar University. He has taught and conducted research at prestigious universities in the UK, Germany, and the USA. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Leeds and has extensive consultancy experience in business and investment.

Mr.Iyad Hafez

is the Managing Partner and CEO of Staff Arabia Group, A leading HR solutions & Outsourcing group based in Egypt & Dubai covering the MENA Region. He is also the Founder and Managing Partner of Uniserve Middle East a specialised outsourcing & service provider for the Energy, Oil & Gas.

Board of Trustees

Alphabetical order

Member of the Board of Trustees and the Secretary

Ms. Chirine Fattahi

Expert in governance and compliance, BA in Economics (Latakia University) , and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA). Currently, she works at Aon’s Amsterdam .

Formerly with UAE SCA. Provides compliance and AML advisory to financial institutions.

Member of the Board of Trustees

Dr. Dania Zein Alabdeen

Assistant Professor, Dean at Al-Manara University. PhD in Total Quality Management (Latakia University, 2014).

Published on service quality and administrative reform; recipient of the Leadership Merit Certificate (2020).

Member of the Board of Trustees

Eng. Essam Ismail

Engineer and entrepreneur, Founder & Director of AZMEP LLC (Qatar, KSA, UAE, Syria).

Extensive expertise in project management and business development, leading major infrastructure projects.

Member of the Board of Trustees and Treasurer

Dr. Hussein Majed Kousayri

PhD in Business Administration (Banking Risk, Latakia University). Vice Dean, Al-Wataniya Private University.

Licensed accountant and auditor with strong research and professional expertise in risk management.

Member of the Board of Trustees

Dr. Reem Issa

Holds a PhD in Accounting with over 15 years of career guidance experience. Organized 20+ programs to prepare and support youth for the labor market, focusing on applying international accounting standards and developing skills to meet evolving professional demands.

Member of the Board of Trustees

Dr. Samer Hamati

PhD in Economics (University of Minho, Portugal). Social Policy Specialist at an international organization in Syria.

Researcher in conflict economies, poverty dynamics, and decentralization.

Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees

Dr. Majdi Soubhi Arrif

PhD in Management Information Systems (Latakia University).

Assistant professor at HIBA. Published on e-government; author of a specialized SPSS book.

Member of the Board of Trustees

Dr. Mothanna Ali Alkubeily

Dean of the Faculty of Informatics Engineering at the University of Latakia. He holds a PhD from the University of Compiègne in France. He has published more than forty research papers in the fields of networks and information security.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees

Dr. Mustafa Waleed Nourallah

An academic and researcher in financial technology and household finance. He holds a PhD in Business Administration (Sweden) and a PhD in Economics (Latakia). He has received several awards, including the 'Hans Dahlborg Award for Excellence in Research in Financial Economics' in 2025."

Executive Council

Eng. Taymaa Sheiaa

Mechanical engineer with a Master’s in Design and Production (Industrial Robotics, 2025). Published research on humanoid hand-like robots. She has held administrative positions at the General Tobacco Corporation for seven years and founded a startup manufacturing local CNC machines, focusing on innovation and applied engineering to support economic development

Ola Fawal

Economics graduate (Accounting major) from Latakia University.

Certified debate trainer and adjudicator, winner of the Syrian National Debate Championship 2019.Experienced in working with NGOs as a volunteer, with interest in social and economic issues, aiming to create a positive impact in society.

Ola Ismail

With seven years as a Marketing Specialist at Syria TV, she combines practical expertise with a Master's in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management from BAU in Turkey and Bachelor's in Strategic Communication from Qatar University. This blend of academic knowledge and real-world experience enables her to create innovative solutions that enhance and establish new professional standards.

Karam Sakure

He holds a degree in Accounting from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Latakia. Currently manages his own private business and brings prior experience in volunteer work with various civil society organizations.

Particularly interested in youth empowerment and supporting youth-led initiatives.