Hamad holds a degree in Economics from the University of Nottingham, UK. He started his career as an economic analyst at the Economic Development Board of Bahrain (EDB)- a semi government entity tasked with setting the economic strategy in the country. Whilst with the EDB, Hamad was a political analyst for the core government team that was assigned to work alongside the legal experts of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), the body tasked by HM the King to investigate and report on events that took place in Bahrain from February 2011. In 2012, he was seconded to the Court of the Crown Prince (CCP). In this role, Hamad was involved in drafting policy papers and political and economic proposals, coordinating the CCP’s work with various government entities and preparing briefings for HRH the Crown Prince. In 2013, Hamad was chosen to be part of the core team of the Office of the First Deputy Prime Minister (OFDPM), the newly-established government office of HRH the Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister. As Director of Research and Strategic Studies, he initiates and oversees projects to improve the delivery of government services. On his appointment as a Director in 2017, Hamad was the youngest Director to be appointed in Bahraini government history. In 2018 he received the National Service Medal of Honor of the First Degree by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa. Hamad is currently the Assistant Undersecretary for Research and Strategic Studies at the Office of the First Deputy Prime Minister. A keen sportsman, Hamad is a member of the Bahrain National Sailing Team.

Hala Al Khalifa is an early childhood and SEN educator currently working as a lecturer at Bahrain Teachers College. She has earned her BA in Early Childhood Education and a an MA in Education and International Development from UCL, London. She is also a licensed behavior analyst and technician by Applied Behavior Consultancy, California. Hala is also involved with various non-profit and community programs, including Wish Youth Service Program (a mentoring program targeting at risk children and youth) and Reach Out and Read (a literacy program for hospitalized children). She has also organized numerous fundraising and awareness events including conferences, exhibitions and campaigns.

Nada Darwish is a multi-disciplinary design consultant with over ten years of experience in graphic design, communications, brand strategy, digital marketing, and customer events. Nada is responsible for managing all marketing and communication activities, both externally and internally, in Bahrain and regionally. GBM is at the forefront of helping customers embrace the fourth industrial revolution in the region. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Strategy and Innovation from Saïd Business School, Oxford University, UK. In 2019, Nada earned a Digital Marketing Executive Education Certification from Columbia Business School and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic and Communications Design from the University of Leeds, UK. Nada aims to bridge her creative and analytic brain to prepare her for the jobs of tomorrow.

With an MSc in Development Economics from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, Dana is greatly passionate and inspired by finding sustainable solutions to socio-economic challenges across the globe.

Dana currently works at the Bahrain Economic Board, prior to which, she worked at the International Labour Organization’s regional office for Arab states.

Her experience includes analysis of macroeconomic trends in Bahrain, economic research on topics such as Entrepreneurship and the contribution of Women in the working economy, economic reform initiatives, and more recently Business Development in the areas of manufacturing and industrial services.

She loves traveling and exploring different cultures and finds joy in performing outdoor activities.

Nada is a public policy specialist with strong grounding in economic, technology and data policy. She currently works in the Bahrain Economic Development Board, and previously served in the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Nada spent 18 months as a Data Policy Fellow representing Bahrain at the World Economic Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in San Francisco. She has a Bachelor’s of Commerce in Economics and International Trade and a Postgraduate Degree in Economics from the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

Wafa Alobaidat’s aim has always been to bridge the gap between young and innovative artists and their potential clients. She began her career working with renowned fashion designer Liza Bruce and her husband, interior designer and artist, Nicholas Bruce. She learnt all the aspects of the fashion business while she was still a student at Chelsea College of Art and Design, University of the Arts London. She was mentored by the design duo and was working on sales, PR, buying, window displays and pricing, Wafa assisted on all aspects of running of the business. After graduating Wafa went on to create her own blog, Fashion Ambitions, where she documented her work experiences assisting Marko Matysik Editor of Big/Show Magazine, one of the editors at Vogue Nippon, working with On/Off, publishing her work with Prim and Borderline magazine and generally working in fashion journalism. In 2009 Wafa created Sketchbook Magazine, the fastest growing digital illustration magazine in Europe. With more than 10,000 print-on-demand print copies sold, 6,900 PDFs, and 75,000 online views of Sketchbook the Fashion Blogger Issue was the critically acclaimed first issue, dedicated to fashion blogging.

Lana is the founder and CEO of Gudjuju.com. Gud Juju has one mission, to “Empower Good”. They provide web development and IT constancy services to social good initiatives and companies with good CSR. In addition to helping their clients automate all work online they also advise companies and individuals on how to make their businesses/ideas more social. Gud Juju is powered by women, refugees both internally displaced and externally and unemployed men. They take them in, train them to be full-fledged developers. The end result being their capability to produce flawless gorgeous websites and web apps with sophisticated functionality extensions. Here are a few of the projects Gud Juju has worked on: Energy Saving, Environmental and Disaster Risk Reduction, Animal Care, Organ Donation Bahrain, Women Entrepreneur Empowerment, Autism and Speech Therapy, Innovation and Leadership, Alternative Energy, Tourism in Bahrain, Refugee Rights, Humanitarian Relief, Film, Music, Design and Inspirational speakers. Lana is also the founder of Tasafah.com which is a market place allowing companies and individuals alike to start selling products and bookable services online and managing their inventory and orders. Lana holds a BSc in Computer Science and was the developer on the first place winning team of Startup weekend Bahrain 2014. Lana is also an Ashoka ChangeMaker Exchange Alumni and a Global Shaper.

11+ years experience in Education (mainstream, SEN and management) and Consulting in GCC and UK. MSc Child Development & Psychology (UCL). British Psychology Society Graduate Member. UK qualified Teacher