Keynote Speakers

H.E. Ambassador Berik Aryn has been serving as the Director General of the Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS) since April 2024. His distinguished diplomatic career reflects a commitment to fostering international cooperation and advancing food security initiatives across the Islamic world. Prior to his current post, Ambassador Aryn served as Kazakhstan’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Permanent Representative to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and non-resident Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain. He holds academic degrees in Philology and Oriental Studies, Law, and a Master’s Degree in Regional Studies from leading universities in Kazakhstan. Ambassador Aryn’s extensive diplomatic service includes key ambassadorial assignments in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria, where he actively represented Kazakhstan's interests. He has also engaged with prominent international organizations, including ICESCO, the League of Arab States, and the African Union. Domestically, in his capacity as Deputy Head of Administration in the Senate of the Parliament, he contributed to legislative processes, while his tenure as Vice-Minister for Religious Affairs and Civil Society focused on promoting religious harmony and strengthening civic engagement. Ambassador Aryn had the honor of advancing Kazakhstan's successful bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council (2017-2019) and played an instrumental role in organizing the Congresses of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana. His exemplary service has been recognized with prestigious honors, including the "Kurmet" Order, the "Gratitude of the People" medal, and multiple commemorative awards.

Prof. Abdelmajid Prof. Abdelmajid previously served as Director General of Scientific Research at the Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, represented Tunisia in the ALECSO Commission for Research and Innovation, and was Dean of the National Engineering School of Monastir (ENIM). He has extensive publications and broad leadership experience in research governance, engineering and renewable energy.

He brings extensive experience in international development, multilateral cooperation, and global policy coordination on food security, climate change, and sustainable agri-food systems. Previously, Dr. Rein served as Director of the University of Chicago Innovation Commission for Climate Change, Food Security and Agriculture. He also spent nearly nine years at the European Commission, where he oversaw policy and governance issues and coordinated EU development cooperation on sustainable agri-food systems and fisheries with EU Member States, the G7, G20, and other international partners. In addition, Dr. Rein served as Chair of the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development, hosted by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), further strengthening global donor coordination in agriculture and rural development. Dr. Rein holds a PhD in Government from University College Cork, as well as an MA and BA in African Studies from the University of Leipzig.

Director General of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD), leading regional programs in agricultural development and food security and fostering inter-Arab cooperation in these fields.

Professor Melissa Fitzgerald is the Dean of the College of Agriculture at the University of Al Dhaid (Sharjah). Former Professor and Chair of Food Science & Technology at the University of Queensland, where she also served as Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Science and Head of the School of Agriculture and Food Science. Previously led the Grain Quality program at the International Rice Research Institute. She holds a PhD in wheat quality and has an international track record in agricultural science and higher-education leadership.

Director General of the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD) since 2020. His career spans leadership and finance roles in Syria’s public sector and decades of work with ACSAD. He has authored numerous studies and books, and regularly participates in conferences, workshops, and training programs across the region.

Professor Nayef Al-Shammari, Professor in the Department of Economics at the College of Business Administration, Kuwait University, holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Syracuse University in New York, USA, previously held a Fellow Research Chair in the Department of Economics at the American University, Washington, D.C., USA, and a Visiting Professor at the Paris School of International Affairs at the University of Sciences Po in Paris. Prof. Al-Shammari served as Assistant Dean at the College of Business Administration at Kuwait University, and also worked at the Central Bank of Kuwait and served as Assistant Director in the Economic Research Department. He also served as the Cultural Attaché and then Head of the Cultural Office at the Embassy of the State of Kuwait in Washington DC. He has many publications and published studies of an economic nature in local and international scientific journals, and he received the "Jaber Al-Ahmad Award for Scientific Production" for the year 2019 from the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, as well as the "Distinguished Researcher" Award at the College of Administrative Sciences at Kuwait University for the academic year 2017/2018, and the "Best Young Researcher" award from Kuwait University for the academic year 2020/2021. He received the first award for the "Kuwaiti Economic Researcher" from the Central Bank of Kuwait for the year 2022. Dr. Al-Shammari has provided many technical consultations and specialized courses to government and private entities, including the Amiri Diwan, the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Public Authority for Industry, the Public Authority for Manpower, the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, the Central Statistical Bureau, and the Kuwait News Agency.

Prof. Mohammed Abdul Muhsen Al-Yafei received in Agroecology from Mississippi State University, U.S.A. He is currently the Acting Dean of the College of Agriculture & Veterinary Medicine and Chair of the Department of Integrative Agriculture at the College of Food and Agriculture, United Arab Emirates University.

His research focuses on Water Conservation Strategies in Aridlands, with particular emphasis on Climate Change and UV-B interactions in Arid Agriculture and Global Change Biology. Dr. Al-Yafei served as a Member of the Scientific Group for the International Date Palm Conference (UAE) from 2008 to 2022, and has chaired numerous conference sessions.

He is a distinguished member of the American Society of Agronomy (U.S.A.) and a three-time recipient of the prestigious Rashid Award for Excellent Academic Degree (Dubai, U.A.E). During his studies in the U.S.A., he received several awards for outstanding research presentations.

Dr. Nasser Alkahtani is the Executive Director of the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND). He leads AGFUND’s vision centered on empowering women, early childhood development, blended education, civil society, innovation, and financial inclusion for marginalized groups.

He collaborates with AGFUND’s sister institutions, UN agencies, regional and governmental organizations, and civil society groups to advance these goals.

Dr. Alkahtani holds an honorary doctorate from the UK’s Open University and earned his master’s degree from the University of Miami, USA.