
Ms.Rania - Project Director of the Sahara Agricultural Exhibition
Rania is Project Director of the Sahara Agricultural Exhibition, organized by Informa Exhibitions. As one of the largest agricultural fairs in Africa and the Middle East, Sahara promotes Egypt’s agricultural development and cross-border trade. Under her leadership, the exhibition highlights frontier technologies such as AI and precision agriculture, attracting global exhibitors and visitors. Through close collaboration with farmers, experts, and government bodies, Rania has advanced multiple agricultural initiatives, boosting productivity and crop yields. Her work not only accelerates Egypt’s agricultural modernization but also delivers significant economic benefits to local farmers, strengthening the sector’s sustainability and competitiveness.

Maher Fathy Attia Morsy is an expert at the Water Relations and Field Irrigation Department, Agriculture & Biology Division, National Research Centre (NRC), Egyp
Maher Fathy Attia Morsy is an expert at the Water Relations and Field Irrigation Department, Agriculture & Biology Division, National Research Centre (NRC), Egypt. NRC is one of Egypt’s leading research institutions, providing vital support for science, technology, and agriculture. His research focuses on irrigation water demand under climate change, integrating atmospheric data with remote sensing, GIS, and modeling. He also studies efficient water use, advanced irrigation technologies, optimized irrigation regimes, and soil–plant–water relations. His work provides critical insights for sustainable agriculture and food security in Egypt, where irrigation is fundamental to agricultural productivity.

Huang Weiwei Kris - Business Manager and Assistant General Manager of Zhejiang Sifang Import and Export Co., Ltd.
Business Manager and Assistant General Manager of Zhejiang Sifang Import and Export Co., Ltd. MBA have been engaged in import and export business and project cooperation in Africa for fifteen years. Currently, mainly engage in agricultural machinery trade and agricultural project cooperation in African countries, including Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Togo, Burkina Faso, and Ghana, etc.

Sophie Shao-General Manager of Middle East and North Africa Business Unit
With 14 years of dedicated experience in foreign trade, she has been deeply dedicated to the machinery and equipment industry. Her professional focus remains on supporting clients' objectives in industrialization and modernization by delivering integrated, one-stop solutions customized to address their unique operational requirements. Committed to excellence and innovation, she consistently strives to enhance efficiency and create sustainable value for partners worldwide.

Patrick Onyekwelu- Director of Jiying International Technology and Trade Co. Ltd. and Foreign Trade Manager at Zhejiang Jiying Intelligent Agricultural Machinery Co.Ltd
Patrick is a Nigerian professional who has lived in China for six years, gaining direct exposure to China’s agricultural machinery sector while staying engaged with African agricultural realities. He holds a Master’s degree from Qufu Normal University and serves as Director of Jiying International Technology and Trade Co. Ltd. and Foreign Trade Manager at Zhejiang Jiying Intelligent Agricultural Machinery Co. Ltd.
Patrick has led international partnerships, including the establishment of Jiying Auasia Malaysia, and has represented Jiying at exhibitions in China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Egypt. He is also a cultural promoter, agricultural machinery enthusiast, and media manager.

Lyu Siqi- Deputy Manager, Trading Department, Zhejiang SELEHE Agricultural Equipment Co. Ltd
Deputy Manager, Trading Department, Zhejiang SELEHE Agricultural Equipment Co., Ltd. With multi-cultural experience, Mr. Lyu has led his team to a tenfold sales increase this year through the superior quality of SELEHE's products and post-sale services. A diligent industry apprentice, he is passionate about advancing the Seeyes brand story. In this seminar, he will share: · The market performance of SELEHE's core products. · Case studies on managing international client relationships. · Sustainable strategies for building long-term partnerships. His session is more than a product showcase; it is a portal to meaningful collaboration.

Dr. Ehsan M. M. Rashad, Assistant Professor (Senior Researcher) at the Institute of Plant Pathology - Agricultural Research Center,
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.
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 - development economist and Head of Strategic Innovative Finance, WFP Egypt
Mayar El Kheshen is a development economist and passionate advocate for inclusive growth, 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 Hussein Al-Turki - Researcher at Agricultural Research Center
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- Deputy Director General of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA)
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.

Dr. Lamis Negm- CSR Advisor to the Executive Chairman- Financial Regulatory Authority
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.
