SAHARA 2026

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.

Khaled Moubarak is a Crop Consultant for the GCC region at Grodan, dedicated to advancing hydroponic farming through scientific methods and expert consultancy. With a Master of Science degree in Sustainable Land Management focusing on salinity, Khaled leverages his knowledge to support hydroponic farms and startups in optimising their operations. His experience includes roles as Farm Manager and Operations Manager at Agrimatic Farms, where he successfully implemented innovative soilless cultivation techniques. Khaled's passion lies in helping businesses achieve sustainable growth and high productivity, ensuring the adoption of evidence-based practices for enhanced food security and environmental sustainability.

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.

Lamia El-Meligui currently serves as the Director of Local Policies and Urban Economic Development Program at UN-HABITAT Egypt, where she develops inclusive development policies, enhances local governance, and supports communities—especially women—in socioeconomic development. With over 15 years of experience in international development and economic cooperation, she has worked with organizations including UNIDO, SECO, DFID, USAID, and the European Union. At GIZ, she managed market access and business development, supporting rural women and smallholder farmers in sustainable value chains. Lamia supports women entrepreneurs through USAID's Women Entrepreneurs Network (WEN) in green and blue economy projects. She has spoken at global events including Afreximbank Annual Meetings, WFTO Conference, and the AIM Investment Conference in Abu Dhabi. Lamia holds a Master's degree in International Relations from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, Italy.

Mohamed Mohamady is a Strategic Agribusiness Development Specialist with over 25 years of experience enhancing agrifood systems, emphasizing sustainability and international due diligence. He advises on strategic planning, quality systems, and policy development to drive agribusiness investment, ensuring compliance with global food safety and trade standards. His expertise includes strengthening export readiness through food safety improvements and enabling Global GAP certification. Mohamady actively promotes social compliance (GRASP, SMETA, Fairtrade) and leads initiatives advancing SDG-aligned reporting in agriculture. He is committed to fostering efficient, inclusive, and resilient agrifood systems globally.

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. Ahmed Hamed El Kenawy is a Senior Researcher at the Biological Control Research Department and Climate Change Information Center of Egypt's Agricultural Research Center. He holds a PhD in Plant Science and Environmental Technology from the University of Bari, Italy (2017), specializing in Entomology. With over 10 years of experience, Dr. El Kenawy develops policies for sustainable agricultural development and integrated pest management. He has established national and international climate information networks and served as a consultant to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Dr. El Kenawy coordinates the NWFE Platform launched at COP27 and has contributed to the national action plan for disaster reduction in agriculture. He was also a member of the Ministry of Agriculture's technical committee for the Food Systems Summit.

Prof. Dr. Hanan Ragai is a distinguished expert in agricultural development with a specialization in rural sociology. As the Director of the Agricultural Planning and Development Center at the National Planning Institute, she leads research on sustainable agricultural practices and rural development strategies. With a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Ain Shams University focusing on rural organizations, she has authored numerous publications on agricultural economics, food security, circular economy, and sustainable development. Prof. Ragai is an internationally certified trainer and has extensive experience in strategic planning, project evaluation, and agricultural policy development. Her expertise spans agricultural cooperatives, rural development, sustainable agriculture, and the implementation of SDGs in the agricultural sector, making her a valuable contributor to Egypt's agricultural advancement initiatives.

Dr. Ahmad Galal is a distinguished expert in sustainability, food safety, and innovation, with over two decades of multidisciplinary experience advancing food systems across Egypt and the MENA region. His professional journey spans key areas including dairy cold chain optimization, development of hygiene codes, and the integration of sustainability within Food value chains. With extensive experience bridging both NGOs and private sectors like Abt Associates (a USAID contractor), Land O’Lakes Venture37 (a USDA contractor), and the International Labor Organization (ILO), Dr. Galal has held strategic leadership roles that reflect his commitment to practical and science-based solutions for agri-food challenges. His background includes pioneering efforts in sustainable dairy practices, sanitary design consultation, and promoting circular economy principles in food manufacturing. Dr. Galal’s approach blends technical rigor with accessible implementation strategies, empowering stakeholders to enhance food quality and safety while achieving environmental certification and operational resilience. He holds an array of international credentials such as ISO 14001:2015 Lead Auditor, BRCGS, and FSSC 22000 training—underscoring his versatility and commitment to excellence. He has developed technical regulations and manuals for the National Food Safety Authority (NFSA) in Egypt, His insights continue to shape the future of climate resilient, making him a valued voice in the dialogue on Food Manufacturing and Agricultural Practices and sustainability.

Mohamed El Behary is a Lecturer at the Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture Al-Azhar University, Egypt. He also worked as the Present Coordinator of plant tissue culture lab at Department of Biotechnology, at Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, for 10 years. As well as being the Supervisor of more than 10 graduation projects for 10 years. Mohamed worked as the Manager of plant tissue culture lab (Kanana company) for 2 years, and Agronomist of the Marmar company for 1 year.

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. 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.