Abu Amr , Ziad
Palestine

Ziad Abu-Amr has been a Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council since 1996, representing Gaza City. He was re-elected during the January 2006 legislative elections. He is the former Chairman of the Political Committee of the Palestinian Legislative Council and former Minister of Culture in the Palestinian Authority. Abu-Amr is President of the Palestinian Council on Foreign Relations, a professor of Political Science at Birzeit University and often serves as a mediator between President Mahmoud Abbas and the Hamas leadership. The author of numerous books and papers, Abu-Amr is a specialist on Islamic movements in the Palestinian territories and holds a Ph.D. from Georgetown University.

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Aburumman, Mohammad Suleiman
Jordan

Mohammad Aburumman is Director of Studies at the Jordanian daily newspaper Al-Ghad. He has written and researched for a number of additional Arab newspapers and magazines including Al-Jazeera.net, Al-Hayat in London, the International Policy Magazine, and The Carnegie Arab Reform Bulletin. A specialist in Political Islam and reform in the Arab region, he is a participant in a number of international conferences about Islamic movements and reform, including the “Second Global Conference for Middle Eastern Studies,” which took place in Amman in 2006, where he presented a working paper entitled “The Inclusion of Islamists in Jordanian Politics: Challenges and Obstacles.” Aburumman received an M.A. in Political Science from Al-Beyt University in 2000 and a Ph.D in Political Science from Cairo University.

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Mobashar Jawed (M.J.) Akbar
United States

Mobashar Jawed (M.J.) Akbar is founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Asian Age, India’s first global newspaper, as well as the Deccan Chronicle. He has launched and edited several important publications in India including Illustrated Weekly of India and The Telegraph. Akbar has also written books on the Indian political landscape. A renowned political and social commentator, Akbar is also the author of several articles and books, including Blood Brothers and India: The Siege Within, Challenges to a Nation's Unity. In addition, he served as a member of India’s Parliament from 1989-1992, and as an advisor in the Ministry of Human Resources, helping with policy planning in education and literacy programs. He holds a B.A. in English from Presidency College, Calcutta.

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Al Rumaihi, Mohammed Abdullah Mutib
Qatar

H.E. Ambassador
Mohammed Abdullah Mutib Al Rumaihi
Qatar Foreign Ministers'Assistant for Follow Up Affairs
Date of Birth:
- Born in 1956.
Social Status:
- Married and has 4 sons and 3 daughters.
Languages:
- Speaks Arabic, French and English .
Academic Qualifications:
- Completed his secondary school education (scientific segment) in 1976; joined Qatar armed forces as a Cadet officer; was sent to France, where he completed a course in French; joined Saint Cyr Military Academy in 1978 and graduated in 1980 and joined the French Artillery School and graduated in 1981.
- He was sent to the UK to study English, then to Pakistan to attend a gunnery staff course, in 1984.
- Sent back to France and joined the Higher School of Joint Staff in 1986 where he graduated in 1987 and afterwards graduated in the higher course on joint warfare in 1988.
Political History:
- He worked in the Armed Forces as a candidate officer at the French Military College from 1976 to 1980.
- Commander of an artillery Battery from 1981 to 1985.
- Commander of an artillery Regiment from 1986 to 1988.
- Commander of the artillery Army from 1988 to 2001.
- Chief of the Qatari-French defense agreement technical committee from 1996 to 1998.
- Chief of the Qatari side of the joint Qatari-Saudi
border demarcation committee from 1997 to 2000.
- Coordinator of the workings of the supreme joint Qatari-French military committee from 1999 to 2001.
- Coordinator of the workings of the supreme military evaluation committee at the Ministry of Defense from 1996 to 2001.
- Charge of international agreements portfolio at the office of the chief of staff of the Qatari armed forces from 1998 to 2001.
- Director of the joint Qatari-French Sagr al-Khaleej military exercise in 2001.
- Was transferred from the Qatari armed forces on the directive of H.H. the Emir on 1/9/2001 to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Was appointed an ambassador at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the Emiri decision No 34/2001 on 29/9/2001.
- Ambassador plenipotentiary extraordinaire of Qatar to France from 18/1/2002 to 4/8/2003.
- nonresident ambassador to Belgium, the Swiss Federation, Luxemburg Dukedom and the European Union from 1-1-2003 to 1-8-2003.
- Was appointed Assistant Foreign Minister for Follow Up Affairs on 15/2/2003.
- Commenced his duties in Doha on 5/8/2003.
- Head of the Permanent Committee for Organizing Conferences at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Head of the government work team pertaining to the UN Security Council affairs.
- Head of the Government Committee for Delineating Maritime Borders.
- In charge of security affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Head of the Government Committee for Coordinating Conferences.
-Represented the country in several international and local conferences.
-Attended the UN General Assembly in 2005 and 2006.

Nashwa Ali Al Ruwaini
Egypt

Nashwa Al-Ruwaini is CEO and Board Member of Pyramedia Ltd., and the host of a self-titled weekly prime time television program on Dubai Television. She has over 18 years of experience in the media, and has presented and produced tens of entertainment programs, talk shows and current affairs programs. Previously, Al-Ruwaini served as the head of MBC Group for Egypt and North Africa, CEO of Middle East Productions, and Former editor-in-chief of lifestyle magazine Nada. She has received many accolades during her career as a journalist, including Best Female Presenter for five consecutive years by Arab newspapers, and was ranked the 20th most powerful business woman in the Middle East by FORBES magazine, as well as among the top 3 most influential media personalities in the Middle East 2006 by Al Masry Al-Yawm daily newspaper.

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Al-Khailany, Beriwan
Iraq

Beriwan Al-Khailany is a consultant for Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. From April 2004 to August 2007, she served as Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research with the Central Government in Baghdad. Previously, Al-Khailany was a visiting Professor at Oklahoma University/ College of Earth and Energy from August 2007 to January 2008. For the last four years, her work has focused on international relations, consultation meetings and bilateral agreements between world universities and Iraqi universities to achieve goals in revitalization of Iraqi higher education. Al-Khailany has participated in several academic conferences and workshops dedicated to the revitalization of international and Iraqi higher education, and speaks widely on such issues as short term professional training in higher education, pedagogical studies and E-learning. She earned a B.Sc. in Geology from Baghdad University in 1976, and a Ph.D degree in Micropaleontology (Oil Exploration) from University College London/ England in 1985. She is certified by the Women’s Alliance for a Democratic Iraq in Washington D.C.

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Sadig Al-Mahdi
Sudan

Sadig Al-Mahdi is a former Prime Minister of Sudan, current President of the Umma National Party and Imam of the Al-Ansar Mosque in Omdurman. In 1961 Al-Mahdi was chosen president of the Unified National Front opposition party, where he successfully worked to end the Aboud dictatorship in 1964. He was elected president of Umma in November 1964, leading a campaign to promote political activity, develop political Islam, and reform the party by expanding its base and promoting democracy behavior. Following years of government unrest and forced exile, Al-Mahdi was elected Prime Minister of Sudan in 1986, a position he retained until his government was overthrown in 1989. Al-Mahdi again went into exile in 1996, but returned to Sudan in 2000. In 2002 he was elected Imam of Al-Ansar, and in 2003 re-elected President of Umma, where he signed the Cairo Declaration for peace and democratic transformation with the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). He is the author of numerous articles and books on democracy, human rights, development, religious authenticity and Islamic revivalism, including The Southern Question (1964); Speeches in Exile (1976); Questions on Mahadism (1979); Legitimate Penalties and Their Position in the Islamic Social System (1987); Democracy in Sudan: Will Return and Triumph (1990); Challenges of the Nineties (1991).

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Salam Al-Marayati
USA

Salam Al-Marayati is Executive Director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC). For the past 16 years, he has had the opportunity to speak to congregations at community-sponsored events, temples, synagogues, churches, high schools, and college campuses. Al-Marayati has written extensively on Islam, human rights, democracy, Middle East politics, the Balkan Crisis, and the Transcaucus conflict. His articles and interviews have appeared on such prominent newspapers as The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Christian Science Monitor, The LA Daily News, The Chicago Tribune, The San Francisco Chronicle and USA Today. He has appeared on radio and TV talk shows, including “The Dennis Miller Show,” “Tonight with Deborah Norville,” “Politically Incorrect,” and has been featured on C-SPAN and NBC. Al-Marayati has also been deeply involved in interfaith activities. He served as co-chair of the Interfaith Coalition to Heal Los Angeles, which formed as a result of the Los Angeles riots in the summer of 1992. Al-Marayati also works as an advisor to several political, civic and academic institutions seeking to understand the role of Islam and Muslims in America and throughout the world.

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Hafez Al-Mirazi
Egypt

Hafez Al-Mirazi is currently Vice Chairman for an Egyptian private media company, SIGMA. They are starting up two satellite channels: "Life" and later "Egyptian Life" for local news. He is well-known for formerly hosting Al Jazeera Arabic television talk show “From Washington.” The weekly show highlights different issues related to US-Arab and Muslim relations. Al-Mirazi was a representative of the Arab and Muslim media in the US during a critical period (2000-2006) as Washington Bureau Chief for Al-Jazeera. Prior to that, he was the US correspondent for the BBC Arabic/World Service. Before the launching of Al Jazeera in 1996, Mr. Al-Mirazi hosted one of the first Arabic independent talk shows entitled “Face To Face,” on the Washington-based Arab Network of America (ANA). He also held positions as writer, editor, and broadcaster for Voice of America in Washington. Al-Mirazi started his career as a radio journalist and broadcaster with Voice of the Arabs, Cairo Radio of Egypt, in 1980. He holds an M.A. in World Politics from the Catholic University of America and a B.A. in Political Science from Cairo University.

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Al-Thani, Hamad bin Jassim
Qatar

His Excellency
Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Date of Birth:- 1959.

Political Career:
- 1982-1989, Director of the Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture.
- 18-7-1989, appointed Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture.
- 14-5-1990, appointed Deputy Minister of Electricity and Water for two years alongside with his post as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture.
- Supervised several successful projects and developed the agricultural sector.
- Held the following posts in addition to his position as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture and Deputy Minister of Electricity and Water:
- Chairman of Qatar Electricity and Water Company
- President of the Central Municipal Council
- Director of the Special Emiri Projects Office
- Member of Qatar Petroleum Board of Directors
- Member of the Supreme Council for Planning
- 1-9-1992, appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs.
- Kept his position as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the subsequent ministerial reshuffles in July 1995, October 1996 and January 1999.
-- On Sept 16, 2003, he was appointed as First Deputy Prime Minister while retaining his position as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
- On April 3, 2007,he was appointed as Prime Minister while retaining his position as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Other Key Positions:
- Member of the Supreme Defence Council, which was established in 1996.
- Head of Qatar's Permanent Committee for the Support of Al Quds, which was formed in 1998.
- Member of the Permanent Constitution Committee formed in 1999.
- Member of the Ruling Family Council established in 2000.
- Member of the Supreme Council for the Investment of the Reserves of the State, which was established in 2000.

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Albright, Madeleine
United States

Madeleine K. Albright is a Principal of The Albright Group LLC, a global strategy firm, and Chair and Principal of Albright Capital Management LLC, an investment advisory firm focused on emerging markets. Albright was the 64th Secretary of State of the United States. In 1997, she was named the first female Secretary of State and became, at that time, the highest ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government. As Secretary of State, Albright reinforced America’s alliances, advocated democracy and human rights, and promoted American trade and business, labor, and environmental standards abroad. From 1993 to 1997, Albright served as the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations and as a member of the President’s Cabinet. She is the first Michael and Virginia Mortara Endowed Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. She chairs both the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, and the Pew Global Attitudes Project and serves as president of the Truman Scholarship Foundation. Albright co-chairs the UNDP’s Commission on Legal Empowerment of the Poor, serves on the Board of Directors of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Board of Trustees for the Aspen Institute and the Board of Directors of the Center for a New American Security. Albright earned a B.A. with Honors from Wellesley College, and Master’s and Doctorate degrees from Columbia University’s Department of Public Law and Government, as well as a Certificate from its Russian Institute.

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Hady Amr
United States

Hady Amr is currently a fellow in Foreign Policy Studies at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings and is the founding director of the Brookings Doha Center. Throughout his two decade career, he has been based in a half-dozen Muslim-majority countries and territories from Sub-Saharan Africa, to the Balkans, to the Middle East and traveled to 20 Muslim-majority countries. Amr has engaged with governments and NGOs both on action programs and research turning around human development—economic, social and political. He was the lead author of major reports on subsets of the Muslim world, including the groundbreaking The State of the Arab Child, and The Regional Statistical Report on the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2, as well as The Situation of Children Youth and Women in Jordan, for UNICEF. Amr was an appointee at the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies at National Defense University and a Senior Advisor to the World Economic Forum. He was born in Beirut, Lebanon and raised in Greece, Saudi Arabia, and the United States and earned his masters in Economics from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.

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Kamel Ayadi
Tunisia

Kamel Ayadi is a member of the Tunisian Chamber of Senate. He served as Secretary of State in the Tunisian government from 2004 to 2006, and as President of the Tunisian National Authority of Regulation of Telecommunications from 2001 to 2004. After having served in leadership positions in numerous engineering societies, he was elected in October 2003 as the President-Elect of the World Federation of Engineering Organisations, and became President in October 2005. He is an expert in information and communication technologies (ICT) and in particular, the regulatory issues of ICT. He is a member of the Strategy Council of the United Nations Global Alliance for ICT Development, the United Nations Task Force for Science and Innovation, honorary member of the World Innovation Forum and corresponding member of the Pan American Academy of Engineering. He has been closely involved in several U.N. global events such as the World Summit on the Information Society. He is also the co-chair of the UNESCO Task Force in charge of publication of the Engineering Report, and member of the Brookings Science and Technology Panel for the Arab Report on Science and Technology. Ayadi was formerly Head of the International Cooperation Department at the Waste Water Department (ONAS) and Director of Technical Cooperation at ONAS. He served as President of the Tunisian Order of Engineers from 1998-2002 and as Secretary-General from 1990-1998. He has authored more than 50 papers on issues such as ICT, science and technology, education, and capacity-building. He holds a B.A. in Civil Engineering from the Tunisian High Institute of Engineers and a law degree from the Tunisian University of Law.

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