The Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation

Coming from various sectors, Dr. Ibrahim brings extensive marketing and advertising experience spanning nearly two decades. Additionally, he holds an MBA degree and is in the final stages of completing his Doctorate. Since 2016, his passion for international trade has grown starting with the opening of his first trade branch in Bursa, Turkey, marking the beginning of his journey.

Walid Hakiki has been working in the field of water resources planning and management for more than 30 years. He participated in developing policies, strategies and plans for water sector in Egypt since 1998. He served in many positions within the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation including, Director of the National Water Resources Plan Project, Director of Institutional Reform Unit, Head of Central Department for Water Resources and Uses, and Head of Central Department of Research and Studies. Mr. Hakiki worked as a consultant for a number of regional and international institutions. He also worked as the spokesperson for the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation.  He is currently the Head of the Planning Sector at the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, and the Executive Director of the Cairo Water Week Permanent Secretariat.

Experienced marketer, with diverse knowledge in sales and marketing. Excellent team player with high communication and interpersonal skills. Exposing self as a team-player with an adaptive nature, being able to work on own initiative or as a part of a team with effective multitasking skills. Detail oriented and noticeably fast learner with strong problem solving and Leadership skills. Switched Career and decided to use the set of skills I have learned throughout my career to help create a greener and more sustainable world, have been reading, researching, trying, traveling, communicating and learning horticulture since 2019, as a family we have been doing agriculture for generations, so i have decided to use all those inputs and create a sustainable business that could deliver our message for generations to come, and actually make our world more green.

He is a Veterinarian with extensive experience spanning over 22 years in sales across multiple sectors, including the pharmaceutical industry, real estate investment, the feed sector, and most recently, the food sector. He holds two master's degrees: one in Business Administration (MBA) and another specialized in Animal Feed Additives. His diverse expertise and academic achievements reflect his dedication to innovation and excellence in both veterinary science and business management.

He is a pharmacist with a Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) and over 22 years of comprehensive experience across various fields. His expertise spans marketing, sales, and international logistics (import and export), with a proven track record in driving growth and efficiency. Starting his journey in the pharmaceutical sector, he later transitioned to the recycling industry, where he contributed to sustainable practices. Most recently, he has focused on the food sector, leveraging his extensive knowledge to optimize operations in the global marketplace.

Mohannad Abouelrouse is the Founder & CEO of Lifefrom Water, Co-Founder of Mohandes AI, and a Consultant with Microsoftand Meska AI. He works at the intersection of AI, water, and sustainabledevelopment across Africa and the Middle East. With over a decade of leadershipexperience, he specializes in applying AI for real-world impact in the waterand climate sectors.

Dr. El-Mansi, a distinguished agricultural scientist with PhD credentials from Tanta University, leads Egypt's plant protection initiatives while serving on executive committees for regional and international plant health organizations. His groundbreaking work revolutionized Egypt's agricultural export system through implementing GPS-based tracking technology, digital transformation of quarantine procedures, and establishing rigorous quality control standards. Under his leadership, Egypt has secured numerous new export markets globally. Dr. El-Mansi contributed significantly to international phytosanitary standards development, particularly the "Field Inspection" guidelines. As an educator, he mentors future agricultural inspectors through Cairo University's professional master's program while actively engaging with farming communities through awareness campaigns. His expertise in plant health governance, pest management, and agricultural export compliance has positioned Egypt as a leader in sustainable agricultural trade practices.

Hani Hussein has served as the Executive Director of the Agricultural Export Council since 2013. With over twenty years of experience in agricultural crop production, export, and qualifying companies to enter global markets, he brings substantial expertise to the role. Throughout his tenure as Executive Director, he has implemented numerous activities and projects that have contributed significantly to the development and growth of exports across various agricultural crops. His work has focused particularly on enhancing non-financial services provided to professionals in the sector.

Prof. Abdelaziz Belal is Professor of Soil Sciences and Precision Farming, Vice President of NARSS for Technical and Administrative Affairs, National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences (NARSS), President Elect of African Association for Precision Agriculture (AAPA). Prof. Belal obtained a PhD in the field of precision or smart agriculture using remote sensing and geographic information systems from the Freiburg University, Germany in 2006. From March to June 2007, he received a grant from China Government for post-doctoral studies at the Institute of Remote Sensing and Informatics Applications in Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Zhejiang University, China. Also from July 2008 to September 2008, a post-doctoral grant was obtained from the Egyptian government in the field of precision agriculture, Faculty of Life Sciences at the Copenhagen University, Denmark, and from December 2009 to January 2010, a visiting professor scholarship was obtained from the DAAD in Institute of Photogrammetry and Geoinformatics (IFP), School of Aerospace and Surveying Engineering, University of Stuttgart, Germany. Prof. Belal, has many experiences in the application of remote sensing, artificial intelligent (AI), internet of thinking (IoT), information communication technologies (ICT), geographic information systems (GIS), and models in the following fielded: Irrigation water management, precision agriculture or smart agriculture, sustainable agricultural development, crop monitoring and classification. Also, Prof. Belal is involved in research of proximal soil sensing, soil spectroscopy, digital soil mapping, soil degradation and desertification, and land evaluation. Soil and plant pollution and the impact of climate change on soil and plant properties. Prof. Belal supervises more than 30 master's and doctoral dissertations in various Egyptian universities and he is a PI or Co-PI or member of a research team for several national and international projects

Dr. Mohamed El Kersh holds an important role amongst Young leaders in agricultural and veterinary field in Egypt. With years of experience and dedication to the agriculture industry in Egypt, Dr. Mohamed is part of many projects that create an important impact in developping the industry. in Addition to being the ministry's spokesperson, Dr. Mohamed hold the position of Chairman of PRIME, is a Member of the Council of the General Union of Veterinarians and also a member of Scientific Committee and decision of the Skills development committee, Supervisor of the Department of Digital transformation of the Ministry of Agriculture & also a FAO consultant in Egypt for strategy development.

Prof. Dr. Ahmed Abd El-Atti is a distinguished agricultural scientist with extensive expertise in combating desertification and drought mitigation. He serves as the Operational Focal Point for UNCCD of Egypt and Principal Science Technology Correspondent for Africa. His international roles include Vice Chair of the Global CST Bureau in UNCCD and member of the Science Policy Interface. With a Ph.D. in Agricultural Science from Ain Shames University, he leads research on sustainable desert development and plant production under environmental stress conditions. Prof. Abd El-Atti has implemented numerous national and international projects, coordinated with global organizations, and represented Egypt at major environmental conventions. His work focuses on increasing plant production in saltine and drought-affected areas while developing strategies to combat desertification across Egypt and Africa.

Hossam Habib leads quality management at Olive Land Agricultural Development, ensuring product safety, quality, and regulatory compliance while implementing circular economy principles to minimize environmental impact. With extensive experience in Egyptian agriculture, his expertise spans agribusiness management, institutional capacity building, and technical training. Hossam holds a bachelor's in Agricultural Sciences from Cairo University, a master's in Rural Development from Cairo University, and an MBA from Ain Shams University, where he's currently pursuing his doctorate. His professional journey includes roles as a dairy processing engineer, agricultural science teacher, and leadership positions in USAID, UNDP, and Vodafone-funded projects, culminating in his service as Country Director for the Farmer-to-Farmer Program from 2017 to 2025.

Assoc. Prof. GülcihanGülseren leads the Molecular Biology and Genetics Department at Konya Food andAgriculture University. With a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Nanotechnologyfrom Bilkent University, a Master's in Engineering from Osaka University, and aBachelor's in Chemistry from Bilkent University, she brings diverse expertiseto her role. Her professional journey includes postdoctoral research at MiddleEast Technical University, R&D engineering at Iba Valresa Coatings, andlecturing at Baskent University. At Konya Food and Agriculture University, shehas served as Vice Director of the Institute of Science while maintainingresponsibilities as a researcher, lecturer, and coordinator for internship andErasmus programs. Her multidisciplinary background bridges chemistry, materialsscience, and molecular biology.

Eng. Ayman Refaie leads the Mitigation & CDM General Management and Carbon Credits Department at the Climate Change Central Department of EEAA, Ministry of Environment in Egypt. He is an expert in ESG, Circular Economy, GHG Protocol, CFP, and PLC with a proven track record in the financial services industry. Ayman demonstrates exceptional skills in negotiation, team building, leadership, and project management. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Engineering from the Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University. His extensive experience and strong financial background have positioned him as a key figure in Egypt's environmental management and carbon credit initiatives.

Dr. Adil, born in Omdurman, is a professor of international economics at Sudanese universities. He earned a PhD in economics from Al-Zaeem Al-Azhari University in 2004, a Master's degree in public administration from the National School of Public Administration in Morocco in 1995, and a Bachelor's degree in law from Cairo University in Khartoum in 1985. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Sudanese-Egyptian Integration Center, a Cairo-based research institution. Dr. Adil previously served as Director General of the Economic Sector in Khartoum State, Director of Investor Services at the Investment Promotion Commission in Khartoum State, and Director of Economic Security for the National Intelligence Service. Dr. Adil writes a regular column in Sudanese newspapers entitled "Simply" and has authored several books on economics, most notably "Economic Development in Sudan: Current Situation and Future Prospects" and "Issues of the Contemporary Sudanese Economy." His research and academic activities focus on disseminating the concepts of governance and combating corruption, as well as promoting the concepts of the digital economy, entrepreneurship, and youth employment.

Omar Rezk is the Managing Director of Entlaq, a leading entrepreneurship think tank based in Cairo, where he drives strategy, policy innovation, and ecosystem development across Egypt and the broader MENA region. Prior to Entlaq, he worked with Uber’s Strategy & Operations team for the Middle East and Africa, bringing regional insight to scaling operations. His background also includes policy consulting at Lynx Strategic Business Advisors and investment banking at Beltone Financial. Omar was recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree in the 2023 MENA cohort. He holds a BA in Political Science from the American University in Cairo, and has completed Executive Education in Business Analytics at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Engr. Auwalu Sarki, born March 12, 1965, in Kano, is a seasoned technocrat and visionary agripreneur with an engineering background and an MBA. He is the Chairman and Founder of Sarman Integrated Farms and Solutions Limited, where he leads innovations in sustainable agriculture, climate-smart technologies, and renewable energy. Under his leadership, Sarman operates a 1.5MW solar power plant and manages a 1-million-litre daily water supply, setting benchmarks for resilience and sustainability in Nigeria’s agribusiness sector.His career bridges technical precision with commercial foresight, redefining agricultural value chains through integrated systems in crops, livestock, aquaculture, poultry, apiculture, agro-processing, and agri-communications. Passionate about food security and rural empowerment, Engr. Sarki champions inclusive growth, regenerative farming, and environmental stewardship. His strategic vision positions Sarman as a model for innovation and prosperity, cultivating not just a business, but a legacy of empowerment, sustainability, and wealth creation for future generations.

Bernardo Penha Brasil is head of the Commercial Sector of the Embassy of Brazil in Cairo. His previous assignments have included Washington DC and Beijing, and he has headed the Division of Northern and Eastern Africa at the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Fayyad El-Ziuod is a seasoned business consultant with over 30 years of experience in the olive oil industry. As General Manager of Al Zyoud Olive Farm & Oil Mill and President of the Jordan Olive Producers and Exporters Association, he has established himself as a leading authority in olive oil production and business management.With a B.Sc. in Business Administration from Mercy College, NY, and a Diploma in Cooperative Management from Jordan Cooperative Institute, Fayyad combines academic knowledge with practical expertise. His membership in the Advisory Community of the International Olive Council highlights his international recognition.Fayyad serves on multiple national committees, including the Olive Oil Protection and Quality Committee and the Olive Presses Licensing Committee at the Ministry of Agriculture. His skills span strategic vision, negotiation, risk management, and multilingualism. Through his leadership, he continues to advance Jordan's olive oil sector, focusing on quality standards, export opportunities, and sustainable farming practices.

Bashar Msher Agha is a respected leader and influential figure in Iraqi agriculture and politics. As chief of the Goran tribe, he blends traditional leadership with a modern vision for the Kurdistan Region’s development.From 2013 to 2018, he served as a member of the Kurdistan Region Parliament, contributing actively to the Agriculture Committee. This role deepened his policy expertise and strengthened his advocacy for farmers’ rights and agricultural advancement.Bashar’s entrepreneurial ventures demonstrate his commitment to modernizing the sector. He is the founder and chairman of the Awder Cooperative Society for Agricultural Development, which equips farmers with modern technology and capacity-building programs. Since 2009, he has also been a founder and partner in Kurdistan Holland Company, a leading agricultural firm, and Cihani Soz Company, specializing in import and export.His work focuses on boosting local production of crops such as wheat, barley, potatoes, and corn—advancing food security, economic growth, and Iraq’s self-sufficiency.

Ricky Pillay is a visionary entrepreneur, educator, and advocate for sustainable development with over 30 years of experience across international marketing, energy, agriculture, and education. He is CEO of RMP Holdings, Stratosphere Energy Concepts, and iBusinessNetworking, as well as Director of Afrifresh and Tech Energy Africa, where he leads transformative initiatives in solar technologies, biofuels, and agricultural trade across Africa.Ricky began his career as an educator, spending seven years shaping his communication and community engagement skills. He holds an IMM qualification in International Marketing Management alongside certifications in sales, education, and real estate. At RMP Holdings and Afrifresh, he drives resilient food supply chains and market expansion across the SADC region, advancing food security.Through iBusinessNetworking, Ricky empowers businesses with digital strategies, branding, and global networking solutions. Based in Johannesburg, he balances entrepreneurship with spiritual practice as a Heartfulness trainer, while also expressing creativity through music.

As Managing Director of Cornelius Farms and CEO of Lam Naturals, Sheila Cornelius is a pioneering leader in sustainable agriculture and natural products. With a passion for eco-friendly practices and community engagement, she has transformed her family-owned farm into a prominent provider of organic produce and built Lam Naturals into a trusted brand in the natural products industry.

Mounir Makar an Economist took over the management of Makar Farms, a high Tech avant-garde Agriculture venture, after his Father Georges Makar an Agriculture Engineer. Research on how to invert the seasons, to grow in winter what is grown in Europe in summer. We introduced Endive, a crop that grows in the northern part of Europe. We have succeeded in defying nature, and the crop is guaranteed 12 months a year. Also introduced Brocoli, cherry tomato more than 40 years ago. In 1985, the Farm introduced Hydroponic Technics to increase productivity and dramatically reduce the use of water.

Prof. Samuel Godefroy is the former Director General of Health Canada's Food Directorate and former Vice Chair of the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission. With over 25 years' experience in food regulatory science, including 15 years at the executive level with Health Canada, he currently serves as President of the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) for 2024-2026. Dr. Godefroy is a Full Professor of Food Risk Analysis and Regulatory Policies at Laval University, where he leads the Food Risk Analysis and Regulatory Excellence Platform. As founder and president of the Global Food Regulatory Science Society (GFoRSS), he promotes food regulatory science internationally. He also serves on advisory committees including China's Centre for Food Safety Risk Assessment and advises UNIDO and World Bank food safety initiatives.

Iman Mostafa Kamel Iman Mostafa Kamel is the founder and managing director of Hazel Farm which introduced the “Agritainment” concept that combines farming with entertainment. Through Hazel Farm, she aims at raising awareness about the importance of organic food, mindful eating and being in touch with nature and taking care of the environment, by opening the farm to public visits and involving the guests in the farm process. Iman has 8 years of experience in International organizations namely the ILO and GIZ working on different activities including green jobs, waste management, youth employment, entrepreneurship and promotion of technical education. She worked on both the national level and regional level with an intense focus on 10 governorates throughout out her years of experience. Iman also undertook some consultancy work basically in supporting entrepreneurs in Africa. She has completed her Masters degree in Sustainable Development at the American University in Cairo in May 2016 and her thesis topic was “Promoting Recycling in the Solid Waste Management System of Cairo”. She has two bachelor degrees with high honours from the American University in Cairo: a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication earned in 2011, and she has started her professional career in development since then

Prof. Alaa El-Sadek is Professor of Civil Engineering (Water Resources Management). He earned a BSc in Civil Engineering, MSc in Project Management and MSc in Water Resources Engineering, and a PhD (2000) from KU Leuven, Belgium, where he later held a postdoctoral fellowship applying water resources models. Author of 150+ publications, he received the UNESCO-MAB Young Scientist Award (2002) and Egypt’s State Prize in Engineering (2004). Since 2014, he has led the Arab Foundation of Young Scientists, the Arab Consulting Office, and serves as President of Trustees of the Egyptian Water Bank. His expertise spans IWRM, irrigation, groundwater, hydrology, climate change, and sustainability.

Dr. Ayman Ayad is a water economist and strategic programme manager with a PhD in Water Resources Engineering and over 20 years of experience in the design, financing, and policy implementation of resilient water and utility systems.At the European Union Delegation to Egypt, he leads complex water programmes and climate risk financing initiatives across policy, infrastructure, and governance domains — aligning public investment with sustainable development goals and resilience strategies.His work bridges the technical and policy worlds: shaping reform dialogues, de-risking investments, and mobilising blended finance solutions for water-scarce and climate-vulnerable regions, particularly in Africa and the Mediterranean.Dr. Ramadan is passionate about building resilient water systems through smart finance, strong institutions, and inclusive policies. His leadership in green energy generation and water rationalization at the farm level exemplifies his commitment to sustainable development practices.

Dr. Mohie El Din Omar is ICARDA Country Director for Egypt. Dr. Mohie leads water research in irrigated agriculture for ICARDA’s Soil, Water, and Agronomy Team where he works to develop climate-smart water irrigation solutions and innovations that improve on-farm water use and management efficiency for higher water and land productivity. Previously, Dr. Mohie El Din Omar occupied several positions as Associate Professor, Lecturer, Project Manager, and Consultant at the National Water Research Center in Egypt, Faculty of African Graduate Studies at Cairo University, and at the Planning Sector of the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources & Irrigation. His interests revolve around water resources planning, on-farm water energy food and ecology management, improvement of on-farm irrigation and drainage systems, and agricultural water management. Dr. Mohie El Din Omar has been contributing to solving complex challenges to water resource management in many arid and semi-arid areas. He earned his Doctor of Engineering Science (Dr.-Ing.) in Irrigation and Hydraulics from Department of Hydrosystems Modelling and Water Resources Management, Technische Universitaet Berlin (TU Berlin), Germany.

Associate Professor at Irrigation and Hydraulics Department, Faculty of  Engineering-Ain Shams University in Cairo-Egypt and water sector expert at The German-Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Egypt

Dr. Ahmed El Sergany is a water management specialist with extensive experience in designing and implementing modern irrigation systems and water resource management. At the Egyptian Water Bank, he provides strategic consultation on water conservation and sustainable usage practices across agricultural sectors.With a distinguished career spanning technical advisory roles for the Ministries of Agriculture and Irrigation, he has led major projects in modern irrigation transformation and rehabilitation of irrigation networks. His expertise has been sought by international organizations including FAO and GIZ, where he served as an executive consultant on major development projects.Dr. El Sergany's notable contributions include designing solar-powered irrigation systems for farms and agricultural associations, combining renewable energy solutions with water efficiency technologies. He regularly participates in specialized conferences and exhibitions, transferring knowledge and expertise in sustainable agriculture and addressing challenges and opportunities in implementing modern irrigation techniques in Egyptian agriculture.

Mohamed Shawky joined Agricultural Bank of Egypt in May 2018 as Head of SME. He is an experienced banker, with a successful track record in all aspects of structured co-financing deals, product development, commercial and investment banking. He has considerable expertise in SME financing, products structure, Energy Efficiency for agricultural and industrial plants, co-financing with international financial institutions, agricultural and livestock development. Prior to joining Agricultural Bank, Shawky worked for 21 years at National Bank of Egypt

Investment professional/Senior banker with 20 years of progressive and diversified experience in the field of multilateral developmental financial institutions, corporate finance, project finance, treasury & fund raising as well as corporate governance.

Dr. Diaa Youssef is the Founder and CEO of AgriSoft and AgriCash, with over 20 years of experience in agriculture, AgriTech & Agri-FinTecg. PhD in Agri-Sciences & MBA. Dr. Youssef has pioneered several platforms, including AgriDB, AgriMarket, AgriStats, AzraSah, AgriEvents, and AgriJobs, providing digital solutions for marketing, data, and advisory services across the Middle East and Africa. Passionate about agri-fintech innovation, he leads AgriCash to empower smallholder farmers through financial inclusion. Dr. Youssef actively participates in regional forums, sharing his expertise on the intersection of agriculture, finance, and technology

Dr. Mamdouh Issa: CEO & Managing Director of AHDO – Arab Health and Development Corporation With twenty-three years’ experience in the fields of sustainable development, Mamdouh Issa is a Food Safety and Sustainable Development Expert for Arab Planning Institute (Arab Experts List), and an Editor-in-chief for "Food" Magazine. He is also Food content consultant for "Arab Food Gate”, Tutor and/or Translator for many international and local organizations, universities and institutions; i.e. The UN FAO, USDA; Farmer2Farmer, ERAS and TRADE, GIZ, EOS, National Institute of Planning, Konya University for Food and Agriculture - Turkieye, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Agriculture Export Council, Chamber of Food Industries, Egypt International Center for Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture.

Marwa Hussein is the director of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Program at CARE International in Egypt. As part of her role, Marwa is responsible for leading and managing the implementation of CARE's strategy for the development of the agriculture sector in Egypt. She manages and monitors relations with donors, sector key stakeholders and government authorities. Marwa joined CARE in March 2019 to support the organization's growing agriculture development portfolio where she found her passion in working with small farmers specially females and allow them to have equal opportunity as big farms in the market.