Theme: TEDxLAUWomen

A one-day event comprised of 3 sessions, in which a total of around 15 speakers from Lebanon and the Arab region will participate. The event will incentivize the audience to explore motivating ideas and partake in inspirational talks on women leaders’ success stories.

TEDx Women's Event
Lebanese American University, Ras Beirut
Gulbenkian Theatre
Beirut, Beyrouth, 1102 2801, Lebanon
Lebanon

Alia Ibrahim

CEO of Daraj.com

Alia Ibrahim is a co-founder and CEO of Daraj.com, an independent digital media platform that was launched in November 2017. Before that Ibrahim was a Senior Correspondent at Al-Arabiya News Channel. Since 2015, Ibrahim she produced and directed episodes for Special Mission, a prime-time investigative reporting show. Ibrahim joined Al-Arabiya in 2008 as a senior roving correspondent. Ibrahim’s opinion and news stories appear in a number of publications including Al-Hayat newspaper, Al-Arabiya net, and until 2011 The Washington Post where she had been a contributing reporter since 2005. She started her career in 1996 as a general news reporter at The Daily Star in Beirut. She became managing editor of the newspaper in 2004. Since 2016, she has been an instructor of Journalism at the Lebanese American University. She is a mother of two girls Yasma 18, and Mia17.

Aziza Sbaity

Athlete

Aziza Sbaity, of Lebanese-Liberian heritage, experienced a childhood that introduced her to two distinctly different cultures. Aziza is the fastest woman in Lebanese history, a BBC 100 Most Influential Women honoree, and a powerful voice for representation and belonging. Through sport and storytelling, she challenges stereotypes and redefines what it means to be Lebanese. She graduated with a degree in Business Management from the Lebanese American University in 2012. She is in the final stages of completing her M.A. in Olympic Studies at the German Sports University in Cologne, Germany. Aziza holds the title of the Lebanese 100m record holder; she has been recognized as the "fastest woman in Lebanese history. Aziza attained the titles of Arab champion and West Asian champion in the 200m race. Aziza works with LYT an NGO dedicated to identifying and nurturing young talents across Lebanon.

Deema Al Alami

Educator

Deema has been working in the field of education for over 16 years and has an MA in Education from King's College London and a BA in Elementary Education from the American University of Beirut. She started her career as a classroom teacher in Languages, Art, and Science and has also spent significant time in leadership positions working on national and regional education-related capacity-building programs in both the private and public sectors. She has led some of the largest Education Reform projects in the MENA region for renowned agencies including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Ministries of Education across the Arab region. Prior to dedicating her time to spread the love of reading, she was a Vice President at GEMS Education for over seven years.

Ghina Boukamel

Student

Ghina is a second-year psychology student at LAU, passionate about human mental and learning processes. She values the importance of diversity in life and believes in fostering inclusive educational experiences. Ghina finds joy in serving the community, especially children. In all her activities, including research, tutoring, and workshops, she strives to create equitable and accessible learning environments. Ghina aims to bridge the gap between psychology and education to ensure that every child, regardless of background or ability, can thrive.

Jana Boukamel

Student

Jana is a third-year translation student at LAU. She began her academic journey at an inclusive public school until grade 9, where she earned her official grade 9 certificate with excellence. She was then awarded a scholarship to an inclusive private school. Continuing her educational path, she scored 18.2 in the Lebanese Baccalaureate. With a deep passion for linguistics and literature, Jana is also minoring in English. As an advocate for inclusion, she has participated in various workshops focusing on inclusion and independence.

Laury Haytayan

Gas Policy and Geopolitics Expert

Laury Haytayan is an oil and gas policy and geopolitics expert. She is the Middle East and North Africa director at the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI). She is the host of the Energy Espresso podcast- a solution-oriented podcast that answers all your questions on the status and future of energy in Lebanon- you can find it on YouTube, and she is the host of a new series of webinars on energy transition in MENA. She also teaches a course on the geopolitics of oil and gas in the East Mediterranean. Laury is also the national coordinator of Taqaddom- Progress Party- a social democratic progressive party that was established in Lebanon in 2020 and won two seats in the parliament of 2022. Laury ran for parliamentary elections in 2018 in Beirut.

Lina AbiRafeh

Global Women's Rights activist, Author, and Speaker

Feminist activist, author, academic, and aid worker Lina AbiRafeh has lived her life on the frontlines of global humanitarian emergencies. With three decades of experience and lots of stories, Lina’s talk takes us from Afghanistan to the US and around the world, celebrating the power of hope and reminding us that we all have a role to play in making change happen. Her talk ignites us, showing how small, everyday actions create a powerful ripple effect, transforming lives and building a better future for all women. Discover how a single act of courage can spark a movement!

Marwa Fatafta

Digital Rights Advocate

Marwa Fatafta is a Palestinian digital rights advocate and tech policy expert based in Berlin. She leads Access Now’s work on digital rights in the Middle East and North Africa region as the MENA Policy and Advocacy Director. Her work spans a number of issues at the nexus of human rights and technology including content governance and platform accountability, online censorship, surveillance tech, and transnational repression. She has written extensively on the digital occupation in Palestine and particularly interested in the role of new technologies in armed conflicts and humanitarian contexts. Marwa is also Policy Analyst at Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network, and an advisory board member of the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy. Marwa was a Fulbright scholar to the US, and holds an MA in International Relations from Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University.

Myriam El Khoury-Malhameh

Associate Professor

Dr. Myriam El Khoury-Malhame is an Associate Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychology and Education at the Lebanese American University She strongly advocates the bi-directional connections between physical and mental health. She has combined both approaches in her trainings as a licensed clinical psychologist and a cognitive neuroscientist. Her research focuses on the brain basis of resilience and growth amidst ongoing accumulating traumas. She also works on collective and individual protective factors, such as sleep, attitude of gratitude, a sense of community and spirituality. She has recently won the L’Oreal-UNESCO for women in science Award in the Levant region. She is the mother of 3 kids (with 2 adolescent girls) and a dog and a firm advocate of women wellness, starting with mental health.

Nisreen El Saim

Environmental and Climate Activist

Nisreen Elsaim is an environmental and climate activist, started activism in 2012, with a Bachelor's degree in physics from the University of Khartoum, Sudan. General coordinator for Youth and Environment - Sudan (YES) platform to give all environment working youth the networking they need. Also, Ms. Elsaim was the Chair and a Co- founder of Sudan Youth Organization on Climate Change (SYOCC) which youth-led organization till 2021.In 2020 Nisreen was chosen to chair the UN Secretary General youth adviser on climate change along with 6 other young climate activists. And she is one of the first Cohort of Marianne initiative for human rights defenders.

Reem Deeb

Soprano, Educator, and Performer

Dr. Reem Deeb is a distinguished soprano, educator, and performer with over 16 years of experience in teaching and performing across the United States, the Middle East, and Europe. Her extensive repertoire spans recitals, oratorio, opera, and musical theatre, showcasing her versatility and commitment to the performing arts. An active member of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Dr. Deeb serves as an associate organist and soprano soloist at the National Evangelical Church of Beirut. She is deeply engaged in cultural collaborations, using music as a medium to promote awareness, peace, and joy. Dr. Deeb holds the honor of being the first artist-in-residence at the Lebanese American University, Beirut. In this role, she nurtures students’ musical talents, collaborates on performing arts initiatives, and engages with artists, organizations, and the broader community. Through her work, she continues to elevate the performing arts landscape in Lebanon and beyond.

Rouba Mhaissen

Economist

Dr. Rouba Mhaissen is a Syrian-Lebanese economist, community mobiliser, and development practitioner who works on development issues in the MENA region particularly forced migration and the Syrian refugee crisis. She is the Founder and Director of Sawa for Development and Aid (founded in 2011), a Civil Society Organization that supports Syrian refugees in Lebanon, and Sawa Foundation UK (founded in 2016), that supports forced migrants in Europe and the Middle East. She has taught at SOAS, University of London and the American University of Beirut. She is the recipient of numerous awards of which Queen Elizabeth Award (2011), the FCO Marsh Award for Peacemaking and Peacekeeping (2016), The AUB Most Distinguished Alumni Award (2017), and the Forbes 30Under30 list for Policy and Law (2017), the Rafto Prize (2019) and the DVF award for Human Rights (2021). Most recently she was nominated for the NobelPeace Prize (2022) for her work on Syria.

Rym Badran

Activist

Rym Badran is a youth activist from Beirut, Lebanon. She is the founder of Girl Up Lebanon and Girl Up Arab World. She previously served as Girl Up’s teen advisor and regional Leader for the Arab region, as well as one of the adolescent girl leaders for the Arab States at UN Women. Currently, Rym is a member of the Youth Accountability Panel at She Decides and a member of the advisory board for the MENA region at Girl Up, United Nations Foundation. Rym is completing her Bachelors of Arts in Political Science & International Affairs at the Lebanese American University and her Bachelors of Laws (LLB) at the Paris II Panthéon Assas.

Saada Allaw

Head of Journalism Department at the Legal Agenda

Saada Allaw is the head of the Journalism Department at the Legal Agenda since 2018, Lecturer of the Media Production Workshop at the Faculty of Media at the Lebanese University, Master's level 2 (contracted through the lecture system) since 2016. Researcher in issues related to marginalized groups, remote areas, rural regions, environment, water, and people's rights. Specializing in in-depth reports, some of which have been published as books, such as "The Case of the Litani River and the People of its Basin" (with Al-Safir), and "The Bekaa Region of Hermel" (with the Legal Agenda). She is currently working with a team from the Legal Agenda, as well as others outside the organization, on an in-depth report about the Akkar Governorate. She trains with local and international organizations on issues related to people’s rights journalism, rural areas, gender-based violence, refugees, migrant workers, dams, the environment, and natural resources, among others.

Salma El Nims

Gender Equality, inclusive Development, and Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) expert.

Political Activist and Feminist, who served as the Secretary-General of the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW), 2014 –2022, and Senior Social Affairs Officer, UN ESCWA, 2022 – 2024. She is a Gender equality, inclusive development and WPS Expert and a Board member of Ahli Microfinance since 2021. Dr Nims holds a PhD. in Development Planning (2004) and MSc. in Sustainable Development. Since 2004, she has provided policy reform advisory and consultancy services to several governments and international organisations. During her tenure as the SG of the JNCW, she led the development and adoption of Jordan’s National Action Plan on WPS, which is globally recognized by the UN Secretary General WPS report as a best practice. She also led the development of the National Strategy for Women in Jordan 2020-2025, and was fully aligned with the SDG2030. In 2019, Dr. Nims received Said Foundation Outstanding Achievement Prize, for her contribution to the development of the region.

Sheimaa Oubari

Communication Specialist

Sheimaa El Oubari is a communications specialist and cultural entrepreneur with over a decade of experience advancing cultural, educational, and development initiatives in Lebanon. In 2013, she founded Achillea, a Beirut-based cultural events company committed to supporting emerging Lebanese artists and promoting intercultural dialogue. Achillea has brought internationally acclaimed artists—such as Jordi Savall—to Lebanese audiences, while creating platforms for local talent to thrive. Sheimaa holds a Master’s degree in French Literature from the Sorbonne. In 2019, she joined the Phoenicians Before Columbus expedition as a volunteer crew member, contributing to the successful transatlantic crossing aboard a replica of a 600 B.C. Phoenician vessel, an initiative aimed at highlighting Lebanon’s historical legacy on the global stage. As a mother and committed advocate for sustainable development, Sheimaa brings a grounded, human-centered perspective to all her work.

Verena Al Amil

Lawyer

Verena El Amil is a lawyer at the Beirut Bar Association and was a candidate for the Lebanese 2022 parliamentary elections, Matn district. She is currently a lecturer at Saint-Joseph University of Beirut. She regularly works as a legal consultant and researcher for national and international public policy agencies. Prior to that, she was a journalist in the political sections of Annahar and Al Modon, and worked as a policymaker for different institutions. She has actively participated in all political change movements and protests in Lebanon since 2015, particularly the 2019 revolution, and co-founded successful student political movements and networks.

Yal Solan

Singer and Designer

Yal Solan is a Lebanese singer, poet, and multidisciplinary artist who seamlessly blends her poetry with her oriental roots, occidental influences, and mystical inspirations. Initially an animator and graphic designer, Yal discovered in the courage of expression and the sensuality of performance a liberating antidote to a senseless capitalistic system. In a modern world that often distances us from our compassionate nature, she creates music to resensitize, resurrect, and reconnect us to the heart of who we truly are. Beyond music, Yal is also a fashion model, actress, and voice-over artist. Her artistic versatility and deep connection to embodiment through her various practices shape and inspire her distinctive presence.

Zahra Langhi

International Expert in Peacebuilding

Zahra’ Langhi is an international expert in peacebuilding, mediation, and women, peace, and security, known for her role in developing the Arab Network of Women Mediators' Strategy, adopted by the League of Arab States. She co-founded the Libyan Women’s Platform for Peace and has contributed significantly to peace processes in Libya. An academic with a Master’s from the American University in Cairo and a PhD candidate at Friedrich Schiller University, Langhi is also active in various global networks. Her work has earned her international recognition, including being named by The Guardian as one of ‘Seven Women to Watch in Global Politics’ and by The Rockefeller Foundation as a transformative leader.