Lecturing courses in Investment and Economic Development

Executive General Manager, Emkan Finance, s.a.l., Beirut, Lebanon 2011- 2021Executive Director, Emkan NGO, Beirut, Lebanon 2009-2020Led the institutional development and growth of Emkan Finance, a financial institution, subsidiary of Bankmed Group, specializing in the provision of microfinance services. In parallel, over 2009-2020, established and managed Emkan NGO to deliver economic development activities all over Lebanon, including two subsidiary social enterprises, which focus… Show more Executive General Manager, Emkan Finance, s.a.l., Beirut, Lebanon 2011- 2021Executive Director, Emkan NGO, Beirut, Lebanon 2009-2020Led the institutional development and growth of Emkan Finance, a financial institution, subsidiary of Bankmed Group, specializing in the provision of microfinance services. In parallel, over 2009-2020, established and managed Emkan NGO to deliver economic development activities all over Lebanon, including two subsidiary social enterprises, which focus on agricultural support services in the North of Lebanon. Expanded the outreach of financial and non-financial services all over Lebanon to thousands of clients through the management of both institutions. Initiated and led the implementation of microfinance mobile payments in the country, as well as designed bank digital account opening and processing for Emkan microfinance clients under a USAID financial inclusion grant with parent Bank. Total lending and operational portfolio exceeded USD 350 million and combined staff included over 200 team members Show less

Founding partner and managing director of Development Innovations Group; a private sector company focusing on development finance, fund management, urban development services, and post-emergency reconstruction. Led and managed the company in close partnership with the President-CEO. Principal milestones for projects included the following highlights 1) Establishment of private development finance banks (Tameer Bank in Pakistan); 2) Establishment of Capstone, a service company in India, in… Show more Founding partner and managing director of Development Innovations Group; a private sector company focusing on development finance, fund management, urban development services, and post-emergency reconstruction. Led and managed the company in close partnership with the President-CEO. Principal milestones for projects included the following highlights 1) Establishment of private development finance banks (Tameer Bank in Pakistan); 2) Establishment of Capstone, a service company in India, in partnership with ICICI Bank; 3) Microfinance sector assessment (Yemen) and slum upgrading (Morocco & India); and 4) Research director on the Gates Foundation program of housing finance for the poor, which was implemented in six countries in Asia and Africa from 2006 to 2010. Show less

General Manager, AMEEN s.a.l./ CHF International (now Vitas in Lebanon and Global Communities), Silver Spring, MDEstablished and managed the “Access to Microfinance and Enhanced Enterprise Niches (AMEEN)” program in Lebanon. Contributed to changing the landscape and access to microfinance services in Lebanon through initiating agreements with commercial banks that involved private sector capital-risk share. Led the largest outreach microfinance service company and successfully leveraged… Show more General Manager, AMEEN s.a.l./ CHF International (now Vitas in Lebanon and Global Communities), Silver Spring, MDEstablished and managed the “Access to Microfinance and Enhanced Enterprise Niches (AMEEN)” program in Lebanon. Contributed to changing the landscape and access to microfinance services in Lebanon through initiating agreements with commercial banks that involved private sector capital-risk share. Led the largest outreach microfinance service company and successfully leveraged private sector and donor funding. In addition, provided advising, mentoring and training services to other CHF global programs in the areas of microfinance and market assessment. Show less

Taught financial management and investment classes to more than 500 students. Conducted research on economic development.

1. Conducted research on Microfinance APEX Mechanisms under a contract from the Consultative Group to Assist the Poorest (CGAP), The World Bank; January-June 1997. Co- authored paper on the Role of Commercial Banks in Microfinance under the USAID, Microenterprise Best Practices Project; November 1996-August 1997.2. Prepared a report to the Strauss Commission, on the Demand for Financial Services in the Microenterprise Sector in South Africa . 3. Managed a research project examining the… Show more 1. Conducted research on Microfinance APEX Mechanisms under a contract from the Consultative Group to Assist the Poorest (CGAP), The World Bank; January-June 1997. Co- authored paper on the Role of Commercial Banks in Microfinance under the USAID, Microenterprise Best Practices Project; November 1996-August 1997.2. Prepared a report to the Strauss Commission, on the Demand for Financial Services in the Microenterprise Sector in South Africa . 3. Managed a research project examining the Demand for Financial and Non-Financial Services in the Microenterprise Sector in Lebanon under a UNDP/TOKTEN consultation for the UNIFEM. 4. Conducted research on the demand for financial services in rural Egypt and the role of NGOs under the Rural Finance in Egypt project, funded by Kerditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (KFW) (October 1995). 5. Conducted research on the Financial Markets and the Credit Union Movement in Niger , under a WOCCU/USAID project. Responsibilities included co-designing the research plan, and in-country leading and training the field team (March 1995). 6. Taught invited lectures in the area of economic development, presented numerous seminars to scholars, policy makers and practitioners, and authored several published articles. Show less

1. Conducted research on the Financial Systems in the Enterprise Sector in Ghana under a USAID project. Managed the field project (February-April, 1994). 2. Conducted research on the Financial Systems in the Agribusiness Sector in Rwanda . Managed the field project (Oct.-Nov., 1993). 3. Conducted research that focused on the Rotating Savings and Credit Associations (RoSCAs) and Informal Financial Contracts in Egypt . Led research team in Egypt (May - June, 1993) under a USAID project… Show more 1. Conducted research on the Financial Systems in the Enterprise Sector in Ghana under a USAID project. Managed the field project (February-April, 1994). 2. Conducted research on the Financial Systems in the Agribusiness Sector in Rwanda . Managed the field project (Oct.-Nov., 1993). 3. Conducted research that focused on the Rotating Savings and Credit Associations (RoSCAs) and Informal Financial Contracts in Egypt . Led research team in Egypt (May - June, 1993) under a USAID project within the Principal Bank for Development and Agricultural Credit (PBDAC). Show less

1. Participated in fieldwork in The Gambia, West Africa (January - May, 1992) with The Ohio State University team under a USAID project to examine the Formal and Informal Financial Markets in The Gambia . 2. Conducted extensive analyses of Micro-Entrepreneurial Borrowing Behavior and Access to Formal Credit Markets in Ecuador . Tested the arguments of credit rationing of microentrepreneurs and discrimination against women in formal credit markets in the enterprise sector.

Interned at the Population and Human Resource, Women in Development Division. Prepared a review paper on Women's Participation in and Access to Informal Finance in Developing Countries.

Assisted professors in research; tutored students in Quantitative Methods in Agricultural Economics; graded exams and papers.