Panelists

Dr. Ameera Al Hassan

Dr. Ameera Al-Hassan was appointed Head of United Nations Human Settlements Program, Habitat for the Arab Gulf States (UN-HABITAT GCC) since May 2019. As Head of Kuwait GCC office Dr Alhassan focusses on meeting the needs, visions and strategies of Kuwait and the Gulf states, and resolving their cities challenges while implementing Agenda 2030 SDG11. Kuwait Plants I campaign was initiated in partnership with the largest economic sector in Kuwait in 2019, and now in its third Phase many sectors has joined the campaign which aims to raise awareness of greening open public spaces to mitigate the effect of climate change and the exceeding heat and sand and dust storms. Her office organizes capacity building programs for urban planners about issues pertaining to sustainable urban development at local and regional levels. Kuwait and Gulf states develop and submit their national reports to the Habitat III summit and now they are preparing their National Reports on Progress made in implementing the New Urban Agenda to the UN Assembly April 2022 in collaboration with Kuwait office. Dr. Alhassan liaises with Kuwaiti Charities and NGOs funding humanitarian projects such as rehabilitating demolished houses in Mosul (Iraq) and Burj Hmoud (Lebanon) in 2020 and 2021. And at present Kuwait office under her supervision is developing a project with the Kuwait Fund of Arab Economic Development for (Improved Resilience to Transboundary Sand and Dust Storms Project between the Republic of Iraq and the State of Kuwait and Gulf States).

Dr. Alhassan worked for Kuwait government after her graduation in 1994. She began working for the UN-Habitat as an intern in 2009, then a consultant in 2010 until she became Deputy Head of Office on 2014 and in 2019 she officially was appointed as a Program Manager and Analyst. She has participated as a speaker in many international and national conferences. Dr. Ameera is a member of several committees in the field of sustainable development, quality assurance and sustainable urban planning. She has given many lectures in universities, schools, state institutions, and civil society to raise community awareness about the SDGs of the "Agenda 2030" and the "New Urban Agenda". She is a member of the United Nations Sand and Dust Storms Coalition since 2019.

Anas A. Burahmah, PT BSC, PDC

Bachelor of Physiotherapy, 10 years of experience, owner of a home medical services company, former head of physiotherapy and medical rehabilitation, developer of comprehensive home rehabilitation programs, environmental consultant and certified designer in Permaculture since 2015 Winner of the Kuwait Award for Excellence and Youth Creativity and Entrepreneur.

Dr. Bassam Shuhaibar

Dr. Bassam Shuhaibar is the Manager of the Coastal Management Program at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), having joined the team in November 1998 as a Research Assistant. Dr. Shuhaibar received his Ph.D. in 2009 from the George Washington University, U.S.A. in the field of Environmental Engineering. He has been an active member of several prestigious committees at KISR, including the Innovation Development Program Committee (IDPC) and the Kuwait National Nuclear Energy Committee (KNNEC). He has had several papers published in peer-reviewed journals and reputed conference proceedings. His areas of specialization are environmental impact assessments (EIA) and science communication.

Carina Maceira

Carina Maceira is a local activist for environmentalism and community empowerment. She is a founder and director of Trashtag Kuwait. A non profit environmental organization that prioritizes the prosperity of the environment and the well-being disadvantaged communities.

Hamad Al Kulaib

Specialized trainer at the high institute of energy having a diverse career that spans the food supply chain . Consultant in sustainable controlled agriculture to KFAS and Paafr . Food safety law activist

Hessa Al-Fadgosh

I am a very passionate engineer who loves learning about everything regarding technology, development, and research. I am a skilled leader with a great ability to work with budgets, deadlines and under huge pressure as well. I also have a lot of creative and interesting ideas that would be great if they became real-life projects.

Eng Mohammed al Qenaie

Retired petroleum engineer from the oil sector, member of the Kuwait Water Society, environmental researcher and expert in water purification and treatment equipment

Sama Al Wasmi

Sama al Wasmi comes with years of experience working in luxury retail on a global scale. Sama has worked in all aspects of the fashion industry for the last 15 years, from PR to Buying to Fashion Direction for regional retailers and has bought for 160 international brands from Chloe, Dries Van Notes, Alexander Mcqueen, Max- mara Group, The Row, Stella Mcartney, Delpozo, and many more. She has consulted for several brands and retailers locally and regionally. She also writes for Marie Claire Arabia, the owner of a successful slow fashion clothing line Dear Nin and a mom.

Sharifa Alshalfan

Sharifa Alshalfan is an architect, and an urban development expert.

She consults with the World Bank, London School of Economics (LSE) and Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) on projects related to housing, public space and urban planning. She is currently leading “Spaces of Living: Urban Reflections of Kuwaiti Society”, a research project that explores domestic behaviors in Kuwait; developing with a team of experts a housing and urban policy at KFAS; and is the project consultant of an LSE Cities research project entitled "Public Space in Kuwait”.

She also teaches periodically at Kuwait University at the College of Architecture. 

She has a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Southern California and a MSc in City Design and Social Science from London School of Economics.

Ms. Alshalfan's work has been published by the international journal CITY; LSE Kuwait; LSE Cities and the Barcelona Center for International Affairs.