Experts discuss the impact of COVID-19 in the Middle East

Maktabi is a Communication professional with over 20 years' experience in television. Rima rejoined Al Arabiya News Channel in October 2012 as a senior anchor and senior roving reporter. She has done extensive media coverage from Syria focusing on the political, military as well as the humanitarian aspect from Aleppo, Idlib and Daraa provinces. She also did thorough coverage from the frontlines of Mosul in Iraq focusing on stories about the battle with ISIS.

Rima has interviewed top leaders and decision makers in the Arab world throughout her career in journalism and was nominated by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader in 2010 and has some awards for her work in journalism.

Formerly, Maktabi worked with CNN as anchor/reporter covering major news stories across the Middle East including the Arab Spring revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt and Bahrain. She was also the host of CNN's renowned show Inside the Middle East.

Between 2005 and 2010, Maktabi hosted a daily prime time news show at Al Arabiya news channel. She covered major events in the Middle East yet the most significant was her field work in 2006 Israeli war on Lebanon and Lebanese army war with the Fateh el Islam militia in North Lebanon.

Maktabi started her career in media in her home country Lebanon. In 1996, just as she joined LAU as a Communication Arts’ student, Maktabi started working with Lebanese Future TV where she established her career in media.

Rima Maktabi is an MA Graduate in International Affairs and BA in Communication Arts, Lebanese American University in Beirut (LAU)

Dr. Rasheed AL Hammadi is currently Manger of the department of Medical Research in the Department of Health Abu Dhabi. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Villanova University, Villanova, PA, in 1990, his Masters of science in Embryology from Temple University, Philadelphia, PA in 1993, and his Ph.D. in Anatomy & Cell Biology/Neuroscience from University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada in 2010, working with Prof. David Schreyer. In his thesis work he pioneered deciphering the molecular mechanisms controlling the process of peripheral nerve regeneration.

After completing his PhD, DR. Rasheed accepted a position as an assistant professor of biology at the college of sciences, UAE University, where he worked for a total of 25 years. During that time, he taught various courses and developed new ones. He focused in particular on nerve regeneration discovering and characterizing many new states. In his final years at UAE University, he was seconded to the Ministry of Education as a director of curriculum, where new scientific and medically oriented curricula were developed. He also earned a higher Diploma in Innovation from the Prime Ministers public sector program, jointly through Cambridge University.

In August 2018, Dr. Rasheed accepted his current position at the Department of Health Abu Dhabi as Manager of Medical Research Department, where he has been since that time. While at Oregon, Dr. Rasheed has continued his work on developing new innovative ideas to be disseminated in the medical research arena of Abu Dhabi Health Sector. He is currently developing a long-term strategic initiative in healthcare sector.

Dr. Rasheed has over 10 peer reviewed publications in pharmacology, toxicology, anatomy and biological sciences.

From a young passionate medical doctor to one of the top healthcare & insurance leaders in the Middle East & Africa; Dr. Ahmed Nouh has proved not only his effective inputs and consultation in the field of digital healthcare & Insurance industry, but has also proven what an intelligent business oriented person with a huge knowledge can accomplish.

A person’s characteristics, skills and determination are what creates a strong leader; Dr. Nouh accomplishments from developing and creating new young leaders, to face-lifting of areas of his responsibilities, strong bonds and relationships with all stakeholders, authorities and medical providers. High educational path from Master of Science –Pediatric Neurology, Masters of Business Administration, IESE Business School obtaining his Mini Masters of Business in Executive Leadership, to obtaining his Entrepreneurship Executive Program degree from both EM Lyon Business School – Lyon and Cranfield University, England Dr. Nouh recently has joined Vodafone Egypt, as Director of Digital Healthcare Business Unit.

Back in 1996 Dr. Nouh has put his first steps in the Insurance field through Nestle Egypt. In 1999 advancing more through the insurance field, Dr. Nouh joined Orange Egypt as the Head of Medical & Insurance Services till the year 2009 where he implemented the insurance plans, developed and updated policies and procedures, also conducted market researches and analysis as well as auditing insurance suppliers.

He was also acting as consultant to the Chairman of the National Health Insurance Authority in 2006 & 2007 Health Insurance consultant was one of his appreciated roles to Egypt’s most esteemed organizations adding his effective consultancy and execution plans to Telecom Egypt, TE-Data, Egypt Air and Banque Du Caire. Supporting top management with his great knowledge and based on his market research data to decide effective steps needed for implementation while meeting customer’s needs and satisfaction through excellent designed plans.

June 2009 In The National Bank of Egypt, he was assigned as the Director of Health & Insurance services to help the organization to facelift the function from an operational department to a full operating profitable company called Al Ahly Medical Company - AMC which was focusing on healthcare investments and Third Party Administration Services where he was acting as MD for the TPA and Deputy CEO for the healthcare investment sector. Also his role in Egyptian Takaful Life Insurance Company – Gulf Insurance group, Dr. Nouh was a Board of Directors & Executive Committee Member.

In November 2014, Munich Re Group one of the biggest reinsurance companies in the world had Dr. Nouh as their Country Manager for their operating arm in Cairo MedNet Egypt, launching his 3rd green field, and developing on of the first digital healthcare insurance platforms in Egypt reaching an automated operation that exceeded 80% in less than 4 years. Dr. Nouh will be leading the strategic move of Vodafone Egypt to the digital healthcare in the Egyptian market by managing the automation and digitalization of the Universal Health Insurance project recently assigned to Vodafone by the Egyptian government and exploring the opportunities for VF to operate in the private digital healthcare sector.

Steve Lutes is vice president of Middle East Affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He is responsible for managing the U.S.-Egypt Business Council, U.S.-Iraq Business Initiative, the U.S.-GCC Business Initiative, and serves as executive director for each. In this capacity, Lutes is responsible for developing and implementing policies and programs that promote U.S. business opportunities and investment in Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E., Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain. He works closely with Chamber member companies and business and government leaders to deepen and expand commercial relationships.

Lutes came to the Chamber from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA) where he was a senior legislative affairs specialist in the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs. He focused on educating members of Congress on the benefits of trade and foreign direct investment and on advancing the Administration’s trade agenda on Capitol Hill, including securing passage of the United States-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). Lutes also served as the congressional liaison to the President’s Export Council and the Manufacturing Council for the Department.

Previously, Lutes worked for the Republican Party in Columbus, Ohio, where he worked in conjunction with the Bush-Cheney reelection effort in Ohio through 2004, successfully directing political and grassroots strategy in central Ohio and helping turnout the largest county vote for former President George W. Bush in Ohio.

Earlier in his career, he worked on Capitol Hill and held a variety of positions, including press secretary, legislative director, and chief of staff.

Lutes earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. He serves on the Board of Directors of the American University in Iraq – Sulaimani Foundation. Steve and his wife met while working on Capitol Hill and live in Alexandria, Virginia.