ADVISORY BOARD
The Advisory Board serves as critical resources and provides input and guidance on a variety of matters.
Thomas Abraham is a renowned business entrepreneur and civic leader, inheriting a legacy from his parents, the late Genevieve and Anthony R. Abraham, founders of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. As President and Partner in multiple family office ventures, Abraham has a diverse business portfolio. Chairing the Anthony R. Abraham Foundation for 45 years, he has allocated millions to causes in Lebanon, from education and healthcare to cultural initiatives. Projects funded include the Genevieve Abraham School of Nursing, the Lebanese Hospital-Geitawi, and the Beirut Marathon. Beyond Lebanon, he founded Miami’s StarArt Foundation to support contemporary artists. Additionally, he established the Beirut Foundation-USA and the Help US Rise Initiative, further expanding his philanthropic impact.
Fouad Chartouni
Fouad Chartouni is a Lebanese real estate investor and developer. He is president of Kensico Properties, a real-estate holding company based in New York. He graduated from the American University of Beirut and received a master’s degree in business from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a doctorate in economics from Columbia University. While completing his PhD at Columbia University, he bought The Lowell Hotel at a time when New York really did not have any small luxury hotels. Coming from a European background, he felt that New York needed a European style luxury boutique hotel. Fouad Chartouni is involved in several cultural projects and philanthropic activities.
Hussein Al-Damirji
Hussein Al-Damirji is an accomplished legal expert with roots in a notable Iraqi family. Raised in Beirut and London, he holds jurisprudence and law degrees from Oxford’s Pembroke College and Harvard Law School respectively. With over 30 years of experience, Hussein has worked with leading firms in London, Washington D.C., and the MENA region. He excels in establishing lesser-known firms in highly competitive markets, even earning a UK nomination for Best Firm MENA in pro bono work. Renowned for his cultural versatility, Hussein serves as an advisor and board member to various corporations, prestigious families, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals for investments across the USA, MENA, and Europe. Currently, he works with international law firm DLA Piper.
Eva Farha
Eva Kotite Farha graduated from Beirut University College, currently Lebanese American University, majoring in mathematics and computer science. She worked at MD Anderson hospital in the Biomath department as a statistician in cancer research. She is one of the founders and president of the Lebanese Club at Houston. She was also a member of National Organization of Arab-American Women that participated at the United Nations Women’s Conference in Beijing, China. She formerly served on the Board at Institute of International Education, the Health Musuem of Houston and currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Lebanese American University as well as of the Methodist Debakey Heart and Vascular Center.
Bassima Al Ghussein
Since January 2021, Bassima Al Ghussein serves as the Executive Director of the Middle East Policy Council (MEPC). She is the founder of Alghussein Global Strategies, a consulting firm specializing in government affairs and communications. Her expertise encompasses working with U.S. and international institutions including Congress, the State Department, European Union, and IMF. A recognized Truman National Security Project Political Expert, she also sits on the board of Women of Color Advancing Peace & Security (WCAPS) and is a member of the Meridian International Center Young Global Leaders Council. A frequent commentator on global policy, she holds a master’s in Security Studies from Georgetown and a bachelor’s in International Relations from Mount Holyoke College.
Habib Haddad
Habib Haddad is a renowned tech entrepreneur and a driving force in the MENA region’s startup ecosystem. He is the creator of Yamli.com, a leading Smart Arabic Keyboard and search engine that has reached 10 million users and produced 350 million Arabic words. His milestone deal with Yahoo! amplifies Yamli’s impact. Haddad also founded YallaStartup, which nurtures early-stage entrepreneurship and has spawned 34 startups through a pivotal StartupWeekend in Beirut. Subsequently, he served as CEO of Wamda, further bolstering MENA entrepreneurship across multiple verticals. Haddad has received numerous accolades, including Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and being listed among the 30 most influential Arabs under 30. Additionally, his humanitarian venture, ReliefLebanon, raised $2 million for post-war efforts in 2006.
Luciana Hakim
Luciana Haddad Hakim is an experienced attorney who received a Doctorate in Law at Mackenzie University in São Paulo-Brazil, being awarded with a Master’s degree of Law and specialization in Comparative Law and International affairs, both at Harvard University. She has more than 25 years of strong entrepreneurship, working in the areas of Negotiations, Planning, Intellectual Property all over the world, Litigation, Health Care, Medical Devices and New Business Development. She is a legal advisor and strategist leader on multinational legal matters , representing US and Multinational Corporations doing business in the US and litigation on South American countries. An art lover and Philanthropist, Luciana has co-founded AQUARELA, a Foundation providing better quality of life for foster kids in Colombia.
Khalid Janahi
Khaled Janahi is the Chairman of Vision 3. He served as Group Chief Executive at Dar Al-Maal Al-Islami Trust (DMI Trust Switzerland). He is the Chairman of the Solidarity Group Holding, Naseej Company, Faisal Private Bureau of Switzerland, and the Islamic Investment Company of the Gulf. He is also the Executive Vice-Chairman of Ithmaar Bank and a Boards Member at the Faisal Islamic bank of Egypt and Ithmaar Bank. He has served on a number of other boards including the Center for International Business and Management, and the University of Cambridge. Khaled holds a BS in Computer Science & Accountancy from the University of Manchester, and he is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. He is currently focused on venture capital, specifically on start-ups.
Habib Kairouz
Habib Kairouz is a Managing Partner of Rho Capital Partners, Inc. a private equity firm with approximately $1.2 billion under management and offices in New York, Palo Alto and Montreal. Rho’s business units span various classes of private equity investments, including venture capital in early stage and growth equity technology and healthcare companies (Rho Ventures and Rho Canada), buyouts in the technology sector (Rho Acceleration) and fund investments in all classes of venture capital and private equity funds (Rho Fund Investors). Prior to joining Rho in 1993, Habib worked for five years in investment banking and leveraged buyouts with Reich & Co. and Jesup & Lamont. Habib received a B.S. in Engineering and a B.A. in Economics from Cornell University and an M.B.A. in Finance from Columbia University.
Dana Khuthaila
Dana Khuthaila is a New York City plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the Royal College of Physicians, and Surgeons of Canada in Plastic Surgery. Dr. Khuthaila has been chosen as a Top Doctor by Castle Connolly Top Doctors and Super Doctors featured in The New York Times, for five consecutive years. She has chaired and moderated at workshops and seminars across the world in different plastic surgery specialties. Dr. Khuthaila specializes in procedures for the breast and body, and is known for performing all of her procedures using her “Drainless” technique.
Amel Najjar
Amel Najjar is the Executive Director & Founder of Children of War Foundation, a California based 501©3 non-profit, providing healthcare to children worldwide. In addition to her work with COWF, Amel is an active Ambassador for Children’s Hospital LA, advocating for current life-altering research and initiatives, as well as ongoing international outreach development. Amel has succeeded in developing partnerships with many non-governmental organizations such as the UNHCR-United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees, and UNICEF to foster the growth of COWF. Amel’s interest in technology innovation and global impact, lead her to Oxford Saïd Business School in 2016, completing the Women Transforming Leadership program and then continuing on to study towards her Oxford Executive MBA (EMBA).
Doaa Taha
Dr. Doaa Taha is the Assistant Vice Chancellor at the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology’s Dubai Global Hub Campus. She leads the Artificial Intelligence, Analytics, and Data Science Program and serves as a Professor and Researcher at the US home campus. Dr. Taha is a Civil Society Leader, Chair of ADC Women’s Empowerment Forum, and National Board Secretary of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Additionally, she advises Women Forward International and co-chairs Grey Matter LLC. She holds a doctorate from George Washington University. She is recognized globally for her strategic technology research and sustainability efforts, earning the title of Dame in the Order of Parte Guelfa in 2023.
George AlTirs
George Altirs is a Lebanese-American entrepreneur who moved to New York in the late ’80s and co-founded GMA Accessories/Capelli NY in 1990. Quickly rising to prominence, it’s now one of the world’s largest privately-held fashion companies. In 2011, he launched Capelli Sport, a global sports apparel and fitness equipment brand sponsoring youth and professional soccer organizations. George also established Cedar Stars Academy, aiding underprivileged kids in pursuing college education or a soccer career. With a degree in software engineering, George serves as the chairman of the board of trustees for the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik and holds board positions in several U.S. businesses.
Nicola Yammine
Nicola Yammine is a Venezuelan lawyer with Lebanese and Italian roots from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (UCAB) with an M.A. in Political Studies & Government from Universidad Metropolitana and several diplomas in Social Innovation Management from Amani Institute and the University of Peace. He is the Executive Director of Beca a Un Pana, an organization that has provided access to quality education to more than 180 students through scholarship granting and mentoring while promoting academic, cultural, and sporting excellence among the young population in Venezuela. He is the head of Alumni Relations at UCAB where he develops and strengthens relationships among +80.000 alumni, supporting strategic goals like fundraising, reputation management, learning & development, and corporate culture. He is a professor of public speaking at the School of Humanities (UCAB) and a member of the Global Shapers Community from Caracas Hub, an initiative of the World Economic Forum.