Workshop Program

Mr. Hatice Kübra Koçak

IHH International Relations Director | United Arab Emirates

IHH International Relations Director

Ms. نوف الحوسني

ERC Workshop Speaker | United Arab Emirates

ERC Workshop Speaker

Mr. Mohammed Cherchali

Business Development & Account Manager | United Arab Emirates

Business Development & Account Manager

Mr. Hosam Walid Faysal (Moderator)

Regional Head of Health, Disasters, Climate & Crisis Unit, Middle East & North Africa, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) | United Arab Emirates

Regional Head of Health, Disasters, Climate & Crisis Unit, Middle East & North Africa, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

Ms. Raya Ramadan

Secretary General | United Arab Emirates

Secretary General

Mr. Rami Sattouf

Under Secretary General | United Arab Emirates

Under Secretary General

Ms. Nour Aldeen Madina

Under Secretary General | United Arab Emirates

Under Secretary General

Mr. هيثم الرئيسي

ERC Workshop Speaker | United Arab Emirates

ERC Workshop Speaker

Mr. Alain Luck

Diplomatic Advisor / Embassy of Switzerland to the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain | United Arab Emirates

Diplomatic Advisor / Embassy of Switzerland to the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain

Mr. Christian Wolff

Chairman of the Board, Owner (Beaver Protection Systems Ltd) | United Arab Emirates

Chairman of the Board, Owner (Beaver Protection Systems Ltd)

Mr. Ulrich Stucki

Regional Director Middle East and North Africa (Swisscontact) | United Arab Emirates

Regional Director Middle East and North Africa (Swisscontact)

Ms. Selina Haeny

Senior Philanthropy Advisor (UBS Optimus Foundation) | United Arab Emirates

Senior Philanthropy Advisor (UBS Optimus Foundation)

Mr. Maciej Chmielewski

Senior Advisor Income (Caritas Switzerland) | United Arab Emirates

Senior Advisor Income (Caritas Switzerland)

Mr. Michael Hauser

Head of Humanitarian Supply Chain at SDC | United Arab Emirates

Head of Humanitarian Supply Chain at SDC

Mr. Michael Lane

Chairman Swiss Business Council | United Arab Emirates

Chairman Swiss Business Council

Ms. Joelle Germanier

Director (Centre of Competence on Humanitarian Negotiation) | United Arab Emirates

Director (Centre of Competence on Humanitarian Negotiation)

Amb. Tobias Privitelli

GICHD Director (Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining) | United Arab Emirates

GICHD Director (Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining)

Mr. Philipp Von Michaelis

CEO (Global Clearance Solutions) | United Arab Emirates

CEO (Global Clearance Solutions)

Mr. Raphael Londero

CEO (Londero GmbH) | United Arab Emirates

CEO (Londero GmbH)

Ms. Sophie Barbey

Deputy Director of Operations (Terre des Hommes) | United Arab Emirates

Deputy Director of Operations (Terre des Hommes)

Ms. Sajeda Shawa

Head of UNOCHA in UAE | United Arab Emirates

Sajeda Shawa is a seasoned humanitarian leader with over 18 years of experience in international humanitarian affairs, known for her unwavering commitment to crisis response, donor engagement, strategic partnerships and humanitarian diplomacy. A passionate Arab female advocate for communities affected by conflict, she brings deep regional expertise and a results-driven approach to mobilizing resources and amplifying impact across the humanitarian-development nexus. In February 2023, Ms. Shawa was appointed Head of the OCHA Office in the United Arab Emirates, where she leads the UAE Humanitarian Advisory Team. In this capacity, she is responsible for strengthening humanitarian coordination, advancing humanitarian diplomacy, and integrating climate action and gender-responsive approaches—particularly the empowerment of women in humanitarian settings—into emergency response efforts. She also focuses on supporting national policies that elevate the role of innovation, technology, and artificial intelligence to better serve communities in need during humanitarian crises. Additionally, Ms. Shawa serves as a Board Member of the Dubai International Scientific Advisory Board (DISAB), which supports the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference (DIHAD), reinforcing her leadership in high-level humanitarian policy dialogue and strategic partnerships within the region and beyond. Prior to her current role, Ms. Shawa played a pivotal role in the Syria Crisis response at OCHA’s Regional Office, where she led donor relations and resource mobilization efforts. She served concurrently as Special Advisor to the UN Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, providing strategic counsel on donor engagement, advocacy, and regional humanitarian outreach. Before joining the United Nations, Ms. Shawa worked with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), where she managed field operations and humanitarian programs in Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Jordan, and Syria. She later spearheaded ECHO’s humanitarian outreach strategy to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, strengthening engagement with key actors in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar. Earlier in her career, she contributed to USAID programs focused on humanitarian and development coordination. Beyond her official roles, Ms. Shawa is an active voice for women’s empowerment and social impact. She is a certified Board Director (IFC, 2022) and was featured among 45 Arab women role models in Empowering Through Healthy Living – Jordan 2020. She serves on the board of the International Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW) and is a member of its Human Rights Committee. Additionally, she contributes as a mentor to several leadership and youth development initiatives, including the Global Thinkers Forum’s Athena Mentorship Program and BPW Jordan’s HIKMA Power Meetups. Ms. Shawa is a graduate of Harvard Kennedy School’s Executive Education Program, with specializations in Public Leadership, Leadership and Character in Uncertain Times, and Leadership through Storytelling and Action. She holds a Master’s degree in International Studies, with a focus on humanitarian policy in the Gulf region post-Arab Spring, and a Bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature. A proud mother of teenagers, she is deeply committed to empowering youth and advancing global citizenship. She currently serves as the Volunteering President of the Junior Chamber International Senate Foundation in Jordan, fostering youth leadership, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, and building inclusive partnerships for social change.

Ms. Margaret Zimmerman Osborne

Interim Executive Director and Special Advisor to the Private Sector Humanitarian Alliance. | United Arab Emirates

Interim Executive Director and Special Advisor to the Private Sector Humanitarian Alliance.

Mr. محمد العيسى

ERC Workshop Speaker | United Arab Emirates

ERC Workshop Speaker

Dr. Tarek Alkhalil

Team Lead for Emergency Response, and Healthcare Unit | United Arab Emirates

Team Lead for Emergency Response, and Healthcare Unit