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Professional Activities

I am the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Middle East Institute Switzerland (MEIS), a Swiss think tank advisory providing stakeholders with insight and analysis on geopolitics and political risk in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Having worked at the intersection of business, politics, and academia throughout my career, I provide stakeholders with a range of services, including bespoke research, political risk advisory, consulting, due diligence, government engagement, policy research and analytical writing. I specialize in providing insight and actionable advice for stakeholders to navigate current and future political and economic developments in the MENA region. I also continue to conduct academic research, publish in scholarly journals, and lecture on Middle East history and politics.

Read about my current and past activities on LinkedIn.

Research Activities

Teaching

  • Post-Arab Spring Politics in the Middle East and North Africa and The Middle East in the Age of Empire. Tutor at the University of Oxford.
  • A History of the Politics of Islam in Egypt. Online lecture for Al Sharq Academia. See the lecture here.

Lectures & Talks

  • “Diplomatic Mediations of the European Union and China in the Middle East Conflicts”. Lecture at Peking University, Beijing (September 2023)
  • “Middle East Geopolitics in Times of Change and Continuity”. Lecture at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, Vienna (December 2022)
  • The Muslim Brotherhood and the Question of Political Violence: ‘Terrorism’ versus ‘Resistance’. Talk at the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the UN Security Council (December 2017).
  • The post-2013 Evolution of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt: Fragmentation and Internationalization. Lecture at the Middle East Institute at Columbia University (November 2017).
  • The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt: Political Organization or Social Movement? Talk at the Center for Middle East Studies at Harvard University (November 2017).
  • Swiss Foreign Policy in the Age of ‘Political Islam’. Talk at the Embassy of Switzerland in Washington DC (November 2017).
  • The post-2013 evolution of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Talk at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (November 2017).
  • The Disruptive Potential of the Communication Revolution on Entrepreneurship in Egypt. Lecture at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs of the JFK School of Government at Harvard University (November 2015). Listen to the podcast here.
  • The Brotherhood in Egypt: Organization and Ideology. Lecture at the Middle East Centre at the University of Oxford (February 2015).
  • Anatomy of a Revolution: Urban Space and Social Dynamics in the Context of the Egyptian Revolution, 2011-2013. Lecture at the Department of Architecture of ETH Zurich (March 2015).
  • Conducting Fieldwork in Egypt during a Political Transitions. Lecture at the Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies of the University of Zurich (November 2014).

Conference Presentation

Research Activities

Teaching

  • Post-Arab Spring Politics in the Middle East and North Africa and The Middle East in the Age of Empire. Tutor at the University of Oxford.
  • A History of the Politics of Islam in Egypt. Online lecture for Al Sharq Academia. See the lecture here.

Lectures & Talks

  • The Muslim Brotherhood and the Question of Political Violence: ‘Terrorism’ versus ‘Resistance’. Talk at the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the UN Security Council (December 2017).
  • The post-2013 Evolution of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt: Fragmentation and Internationalization. Lecture at the Middle East Institute at Columbia University (November 2017).
  • The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt: Political Organization or Social Movement? Talk at the Center for Middle East Studies at Harvard University (November 2017).
  • Swiss Foreign Policy in the Age of ‘Political Islam’. Talk at the Embassy of Switzerland in Washington DC (November 2017).
  • The post-2013 evolution of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Talk at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (November 2017).
  • The Disruptive Potential of the Communication Revolution on Entrepreneurship in Egypt. Lecture at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs of the JFK School of Government at Harvard University (November 2015). Listen to the podcast here.
  • The Brotherhood in Egypt: Organization and Ideology. Lecture at the Middle East Centre at the University of Oxford (February 2015).
  • Anatomy of a Revolution: Urban Space and Social Dynamics in the Context of the Egyptian Revolution, 2011-2013. Lecture at the Department of Architecture of ETH Zurich (March 2015).
  • Conducting Fieldwork in Egypt during a Political Transitions. Lecture at the Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies of the University of Zurich (November 2014).

Conference Presentation

Policy Writing

  • The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood in 2016: Scenarios and Recommendations. Policy paper for the German Council on Foreign Relations (March 2016).
  • Radicalization and Violent Extremism: Causes and Impact on Geopolitics in the MENA Region. Research paper for the World Economic Forum (February 2015). Read the paper on Academia.
  • The Evolution of political Islam in Egypt and Palestine since 2013. Consulting advice for the Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland
  • The Brotherhood during 2011 and 2013. Expert advice to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.

Journalistic Writing

Contributions and interviews in the Financial Times, Huffington Post, Jadiliyya, Tachles and The Conversation.

Mentoring

Throughout my life, I have had the privilege to be coached by a number of great mentors. Today, as I have carved out an interesting career for myself, I would like to pass on my knowledge to the next generation, helping aspiring researchers and professionals with a passion for the Middle East to reach their potential. If you feel that you have something to offer the world, I look forward to providing you with support and advice on your career -- free of charge.

Feel free to drop me an email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..