About Us
The Diwan
The Diwan is a nonprofit company founded in 2023 at Harvard, serving as a platform for experts, academics, policymakers, and students to discuss various topics relevant to the Arab world.
The Diwan focuses on areas such as economics, law, social affairs, aviation, politics, business, art, women and youth empowerment, and education.
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Mission
The Diwan is dedicated to fostering leadership and creativity among youth and emerging leaders from the Gulf region through high-impact programs like the Gulf Creative Camp and the Gulf Creatives Conference at Harvard.
By providing cutting-edge leadership training, mentorship, and platforms for knowledge exchange, we aim to inspire innovative ideas, promote cross-cultural understanding, and support entrepreneurial initiatives.
Our goal is to build a strong network of Gulf leaders and professionals, strengthen international ties, and position our programs as leading platforms for innovation and leadership in the Gulf region.
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Vision
To empower and elevate the next generation of leaders and innovators from the Arab world through transformative experiences and strategic connections, fostering a collaborative community dedicated to driving positive change and excellence on a global scale.
Our Team
Meet the dedicated team behind The Diwan—leaders, scholars, and professionals who are advancing our mission.
Saad Al Tami
Founder and President
Mr. Saad Altami is the founder and president of The Diwan, a nonprofit organization established at Harvard University in 2023...
Ghalya Alsanea
Chief Creative Officer
Ghalya Alsanea is a Master in Design Engineering alumna from Harvard University and holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Carnegie Mellon...
Elizabeth Pearson
Program Associate
Elizabeth joined The Diwan after completing her degree at the University of Cambridge, Queens’ College, where she specialized in...
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Rihem Sejil
Program Associate
Rihem Sejil is a development and humanitarian professional with over four years of experience in advocacy and strategic solutions.
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Mohamed El-Emary
Graphic Designer
Mohamed, a graphic designer and Helwan University graduate with a bachelor’s in Management Information Systems, leverages his business...
Elena I. Athwal
Vice President
Elena I. Athwal (LL.M., Harvard Law School) is an S.J.D. Candidate (2024-2027) and Research Fellow for the UNESCO Chair of Environmental Law...
Brock Locnikar
Director of Harvard Undergraduate Affairs
Brock Locnikar is a graduate of Harvard University, where he majored in Government with a secondary in Economics...
Maryam El-Shall
Program Associate
Maryam El-Shall holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of California, Irvine, where she also earned an M.A. in the same..
Alaa Bassiony
Program Associate
Alaa Bassiony is an accomplished researcher specializing in law, international relations, and development...
Saeid Khater
IT Manager
Saeid Khater is a web developer and penetration tester studying at the Faculty of Computer Science at Nahda University (NUB) on a full scholarship...
Capt. Abdulrahman Shadadi
General Advisor
Abdulrahman Shadadi is a visionary in aviation and management, seamlessly combining technical expertise with strategic leadership...
Dr. Neveen Eskander
Program Advisor
Neveen Esknder is a Program Advisor at the Diwan Company with a strong educational background and extensive professional experience...
Ahmed Abdelaziem
Program Associate
Ahmed Abdelaziem is a legal professional with an LLM from Ain Shams University, currently serving as an Associate Consultant for...
Ammar Abdel Latif
Media Manager
Ammar Abdel Latif is a highly experienced communications consultant with over 24 years in the media and communications industry...