Nouran Ezzeldin is the Founder and CEO of Granos Oros, a company specializing in global agribusiness solutions and Export with a focus on grains and strategic trade across the MENA and African regions. She plays an active role in facilitating supply chain connections, enhancing food security, and supporting sustainable trade development. Nouran is  dedicated to supporting women’s participation in agriculture and commodity trading industry , contributing to regional and international platforms that promote inclusive growth in the sector.

Dr. Mai El-Darawy is an Egyptian entrepreneur, pharmacist, and advocate for sustainable development and women's economic empowerment. She is the CEO of Lavender Life Group, a business ecosystem spanning exports, leather goods, design training, and community development. Dr. El-Darawy holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Pharmacy (Stem Cells) and multiple master’s degrees in simulation, international trade, and marketing. She has held leadership roles in academia and the health sector in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Through initiatives like LAVA, she empowers women with skills training, financial support, and global market access. Her work blends business innovation with social impact and green entrepreneurship.

Dr. Hend Mahmoud Abdelallah leads the Central Laboratory for Analysis of Pesticide Residues and Heavy Metals in Food, the most prominent and powerful laboratory in Egypt, Africa, and the Middle East in food safety. Under their leadership, the laboratory has renewed its accreditation from the Finnish Accreditation Service (FINAS) according to ISO/IEC 17025, 17043:2017 standards and from the Egyptian Accreditation Council (EGAC). The laboratory has been selected as a reference laboratory for the African Union, submitted for recognition by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and is seeking accreditation from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) as a center of excellence. Dr. Abdelallah serves on numerous scientific and technical committees including the Agricultural Pesticides Committee, Poultry and Feed Committee, Egyptian Codex Committee (EOS), Persistent Organic Pollutants Committee, National Food Safety Authority Advisory Committee (NFSA), Maximum Residue Limits Committee, Customs Clearance Acceleration Committee, EGAC Higher Committee, Veterinary Pesticides Committee, Lakes Standards Committee, and the Permanent Scientific Committee for Plant Protection. She is also a member of the Promotion Committee for Research Staff at the Agricultural Research Center.

Dr. Mona Mourad is the CEO of On Air Group for Investment, one of the leading companies in providing investment solutions and managing strategic projects in the fields of transportation, logistics, infrastructure, media, and education across the Middle East and Africa region. She is also the Founder and CEO of CEO Women Conference, one of the most prominent regional and global platforms dedicated to women's economic empowerment and enhancing their leadership presence. She established the CEO Women Business Club, an international club spanning ten countries that aims to build a strong network of women leaders across various sectors. She holds the position of Executive Director of the Global Sustainability Summit - Middle East, which focuses on green innovation, cooperation for sustainable development, and strengthening partnerships between different sectors. Among her other accomplishments is founding the Red Sea Conference for Maritime Transport and Logistics, which seeks to develop regional and international cooperation in the maritime transport and logistics sector, address key challenges, and explore available opportunities. Additionally, she is a board member of Kayan Financial Consultancy and Egypt Sat for Engineering Solutions and Satellite Communication Services.

Rawya Mansour is an innovative entrepreneur with a remarkable journey from art to sustainable agriculture. After two decades establishing a worldwide reputation for artistic excellence, she founded RAMSCO in 2007, developing patented organic fertilizers and agro-technology machines. Her groundbreaking approach to organic agro-business focuses on environmental sustainability, women empowerment, and poverty alleviation. In 2019, she became the only Egyptian woman nominated for the Women Leadership Awards in South Africa, recognized alongside African presidents. In 2022, she was invited to Prince Albert II of Monaco's Planetary Health Pledge Club. Mansour serves on Egypt's National Council for Women and is a member of the Arab Businesswomen Council, the Clinton Global Initiative, and several other prestigious organizations, continuing her mission of creating sustainable development solutions across Africa.

Zahra Magdy is a graduate of Mansoura University's Faculty of Science, where she majored in Botany and Chemistry, completing her studies in 2008. Hailing from Mansoura, Egypt, Zahra's passion for nature and community led her to establish Mountain Rose in Saint Catherine in 2017.Her mission with Mountain Rose is to protect and add value to the unique mountain fruits cultivated in the region's high-altitude orchards. Through a completely natural, chemical-free process, these fruits are transformed into high-quality, sun-dried superfoods. A core part of the project's vision is empowering local Bedouin women by directly involving them in the production, thereby supporting the community and preserving local heritage. Zahra's work with Mountain Rose is a testament to her commitment to creating a positive impact and leaving a meaningful footprint in Saint Catherine.

Dr. Ehsan M. M. Rashad, Assistant Professor (Senior Researcher) at the Institute of Plant Pathology - Agricultural Research Center, obtained her Master's and Ph.D. degrees in Agricultural Sciences from the Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University. She has been awarded the title of "African Leader" by the African Society and the African Union National Committee, and she actively contributes to the provision of lectures within field schools and agricultural extension programs in Dakahlia Governorate, as well as participating in the training of Egyptian university students. It also participates in a number of local projects aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of pesticides in controlling fungal and bacterial diseases. She has published many scientific manuscripts in specialized journals and periodicals, local and international, in the field of plant pathology. This can contribute to improving agricultural production and facing major challenges such as climate changes, plant diseases and food security, which reflects its vital role in sustainable development. It is also keen to attend and participate in local and international conferences, in addition to scientific seminars, workshops, and various scientific forums.

Mary Shakour is the Head of the Commercial-Agrifood Division at Wadi Food, overseeing the Packed, Frozen, and Fresh Produce categories. With 20 years of experience in Marketing, Sales, and Commercial leadership across Telecommunications, FMCG, and Agriculture, she has held senior roles including Head of Marketing at Wadi Food in Egypt, Brand Country Manager for Unilever in Sudan, and Marketing Communication Manager at Zain and MTN Telecommunications in South Sudan and Sudan. This diverse background gives her a unique perspective on driving growth across industries. At Wadi Food, Mary leads all commercial functions within the Agrifood Division—developing business and commercial strategies, managing distribution channels, and maximizing growth and profitability across a diversified portfolio. Her leadership has been pivotal in building high-performing teams, fostering collaboration across functions, and ensuring excellence in customer experience. She focuses on consumer-centric strategies, operational optimization, and driving profitability while navigating challenges such as seasonality, supply chain complexities, and market volatility. By leveraging agricultural technology, data-driven insights, and strong cross-functional teamwork, she ensures sustainable growth, efficiency, and resilience.

Mayar El Kheshen is a development economist and passionate advocate for inclusivegrowth, food security, and women’s economic empowerment. With over 15 years ofexperience at the intersection of humanitarian assistance, finance, and agriculture, shehas built a distinguished career designing and scaling transformative models thatempower smallholder farmers, strengthen rural resilience, and open doors for womenacross Egypt and the MENA region.Currently serving as Head of Strategic Innovative Finance at the United Nations WorldFood Programme (WFP) in Egypt, Mayar leads pioneering initiatives in partnership withthe Central Bank of Egypt and the private sector. She has successfully driven the scale-upof national models linking farmers to markets, finance, and sustainable livelihoods. Herleadership has positioned Egypt at the forefront of innovative finance for development,demonstrating how public–private partnerships can transform entire food systems.Before joining WFP, Mayar worked at the National Bank of Egypt within the StrategicPlanning and Investment teams, where she contributed to shaping corporate strategy,investment priorities, and financial inclusion initiatives aligned with national developmentgoals. Her earlier work with GIZ, USAID, and ICARDA centered on rural development,agribusiness, and women’s economic empowerment across the MENA region.Academically, Mayar holds a PhD and MSc in Agricultural Economics from CairoUniversity, and her research has contributed to advancing knowledge on rural livelihoods,agricultural exports, and water resource management in Egypt. She has authored multiplepublications in the Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Economics and presented her work atinternational forums. She also holds a certificate in Peace and Conflict Resolution fromChulalongkorn University & the Rotary Peace Center, reflecting her commitment tobridging development and peacebuilding.Beyond her professional career, Mayar is an active mentor to young professionals in thefields of development and finance. She is passionate about creating pathways for womenand youth to lead in agriculture, recognizing them as key drivers of innovation andsustainability.A frequent speaker at regional and international forums, Mayar brings not only technicalexpertise but also a deep personal conviction that resilient communities and empoweredwomen are at the heart of sustainable agricultural transformation.

Aya has been working in scientific research for 17 years, during which she worked at the National Research Center, the Genetic Engineering Research Institute, and the Plant Pathology Research Institute. Throughout these years, she has gained extensive experience in genetic engineering, molecular biology, and tissue culture. In addition to her work in scientific research, Aya has also worked in several medical analysis laboratories and was part of the Serology Unit team in one of Egypt's largest laboratories. Aya works as a researcher and lecturer in molecular biology and genetic engineering. She holds a bachelor’s degree in microbiology, a diploma in Biotechnology, and a master's degree in Edible Vaccines. She is considered one of the pioneering researchers in Egypt and the Middle East who ventured into this field, focusing her research on producing a vaccine against Herpes Simplex Virus-2 using plants. She received the Best Research Paper Award for young researchers during the Fifth International Conference on Virology. Aya obtained her PhD in Nanotechnology and Biotechnology, where her research addressed the impact of climate changes on viral DNA. She also studied how to benefit from the nano-properties of viruses as an alternative to using nanomaterials through traditional methods.She has published numerous local and international research papers and has worked on many international joint projects between Egypt and Sweden, as well as between Egypt and various countries around the world.

Sahar Sultan currently holds the position of Head of the Microfinance Sector at the agency for approximately five years. Her professional experience has accumulated over 36 years since graduating from the Faculty of Commerce, Cairo University. She has ten years of experience as an auditor and controller at the Central Auditing Organization. Sahar joined the Social Fund for Development (currently the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency) and has worked in the field of microfinance for approximately twenty years, including 4 years in microfinance risk management. 

Mayar El Kheshen is a development economist and passionate advocate for inclusivegrowth, food security, and women’s economic empowerment. With over 15 years ofexperience at the intersection of humanitarian assistance, finance, and agriculture, shehas built a distinguished career designing and scaling transformative models thatempower smallholder farmers, strengthen rural resilience, and open doors for womenacross Egypt and the MENA region.Currently serving as Head of Strategic Innovative Finance at the United Nations WorldFood Programme (WFP) in Egypt, Mayar leads pioneering initiatives in partnership withthe Central Bank of Egypt and the private sector. She has successfully driven the scale-upof national models linking farmers to markets, finance, and sustainable livelihoods. Herleadership has positioned Egypt at the forefront of innovative finance for development,demonstrating how public–private partnerships can transform entire food systems.Before joining WFP, Mayar worked at the National Bank of Egypt within the StrategicPlanning and Investment teams, where she contributed to shaping corporate strategy,investment priorities, and financial inclusion initiatives aligned with national developmentgoals. Her earlier work with GIZ, USAID, and ICARDA centered on rural development,agribusiness, and women’s economic empowerment across the MENA region.Academically, Mayar holds a PhD and MSc in Agricultural Economics from CairoUniversity, and her research has contributed to advancing knowledge on rural livelihoods,agricultural exports, and water resource management in Egypt. She has authored multiplepublications in the Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Economics and presented her work atinternational forums. She also holds a certificate in Peace and Conflict Resolution fromChulalongkorn University & the Rotary Peace Center, reflecting her commitment tobridging development and peacebuilding.Beyond her professional career, Mayar is an active mentor to young professionals in thefields of development and finance. She is passionate about creating pathways for womenand youth to lead in agriculture, recognizing them as key drivers of innovation andsustainability.A frequent speaker at regional and international forums, Mayar brings not only technicalexpertise but also a deep personal conviction that resilient communities and empoweredwomen are at the heart of sustainable agricultural transformation.

Soha Raafat Abu Gharara works as Regional Officer - at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.  Attained her bachelor’s degree in business administration- majoring in Marketing at Arab Academy For Science And Technology- Alexandria , Egypt. She is a Tedx Speaker and an advocate of inclusion and diversity where she speaks at schools and various events. Also she had the opportunity to be chosen as the only Arab Egyptian to represent her work and her country in Japan at 2019 in a training course for 2 months about Capacity Development of Leaders with Disabilities for UNCRPD. She has a physical condition called "achondroplasia" and wants to show the world that with support any disability can become an opportunity to shine.

Dr. Mohamed Tawfik is a socio-economic and governance expert with a specialization in water management and agriculture. With a strong foundation in socio-economic policies and governance frameworks, he has dedicated his career to improving water resource management and agricultural practices, particularly in developing regions. Over the past 12 years, Dr. Mohamed has gained extensive international experience, working across diverse landscapes in Africa, Asia, and Europe. His work has involved collaborating with governmental and non-governmental organizations, local communities, and stakeholders to develop sustainable solutions that enhance water accessibility and promote efficient agricultural systems. He holds a PhD in water resources management from Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands, which has equipped him with the analytical skills necessary to assess complex socio-economic issues. His projects have ranged from analyzing irrigation and drainage reuse systems, conducting socio-economic assessments, and advising policy reforms to advocate for water governance initiatives at various levels. Passionate about leveraging expertise to foster sustainable development, Dr. Mohamed is committed to ensuring that water management practices are equitable and effective. By addressing these critical areas, he believes significant contributions can be made to food security and the well-being of communities worldwide.

Professor Dina Ahmed Orabi currently serves as the Director of Community Services Unit at Galala University. She previously held the position of Vice Dean of Mass Communication School at the Canadian International College (CIC) and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Agency for Marketing Research at Cairo University. With extensive experience in higher education, she has taught at numerous Arab universities and was selected as a Jury member for the National Awards for Saudi Media in 2014. Professor Orabi has also worked as a Media Consultant for various institutions in Saudi Arabia. Her research focuses on international advertising, consumer behavior, globalization, social media, and consumer empowerment, with numerous published studies in these fields. Throughout her distinguished career, she has held leadership positions at Galala University, Canadian International College, Cairo University, and King Abdul Aziz University, receiving multiple research excellence awards including honors at AUSACE conferences and the Best Research Award at Cairo University's 18th International Scientific Conference.