In 2004, as Arab countries were, for the first time, Frankfurt Book Fair's guest of honor, I started with RAYA, The agency for Arabic literature. The aim is to bridge the gap between the international editorial scene, and the Arabic production, by promoting quality Arabic literature by established authors as well as by new emerging voices. I sell translation and adaptation rights world-wide.

As a publishing manager at Storytel, I am in charge of content strategy, content acquisition, catalogue management, budget, and promotion. Some highlights of this experience include the release of a few impactful originals, the negotiation of deals with high profile IP, and the collaboration with celebrities.

My research focuses on our relationship to the world as cognitive agents. I have primarily published on sensory categorization at the culture / perception interface, and on color cognition. I am more broadly interested in cultural membership and categorization. Looking into narration from this perspective.

Mubtada wa khabar is a collaborative platform for information on Arab books. Its goal is to contribute to the transparency of the Arab book market, and bringing books closer to readers. It focuses on providing information on Arab books and on the Arab book scene by publishing structured book metadata, using ONIX standards, and a blog.

The Emirates Literature Foundation's project Kateb Maktub tackles a problem that is very close to my heart: the paucity of information on Arabic books online. As a consultant, I led this project the main initial KPI of which was thr number of pages about Arab authors on Wikipedia. The project also made room for a deeper phase, where authors who were completely offline, would be given a first online presence via the Kateb Maktub website. The website provided ONIX-structured forms to users, which… Show more The Emirates Literature Foundation's project Kateb Maktub tackles a problem that is very close to my heart: the paucity of information on Arabic books online. As a consultant, I led this project the main initial KPI of which was thr number of pages about Arab authors on Wikipedia. The project also made room for a deeper phase, where authors who were completely offline, would be given a first online presence via the Kateb Maktub website. The website provided ONIX-structured forms to users, which would ensure the validity of the information's structure. Show less

Kitab Sawti, was along with Storytel, one of the first fast growing Arabic audiobook streaming platforms. Before Storytel acquired Kitab Sawti, I was responsible at Kitab Sawti for deploying metdata on all their audiobooks, evaluating the content, working on a curating strategy, and then more broadly, on a road map for content development. The first phase of this work was to find ways to communicate about the audio assets and their value with the general public. I was responsible for hiring a… Show more Kitab Sawti, was along with Storytel, one of the first fast growing Arabic audiobook streaming platforms. Before Storytel acquired Kitab Sawti, I was responsible at Kitab Sawti for deploying metdata on all their audiobooks, evaluating the content, working on a curating strategy, and then more broadly, on a road map for content development. The first phase of this work was to find ways to communicate about the audio assets and their value with the general public. I was responsible for hiring a team of external resources, training them on ONIX and book metadata, reviewing their work on thousands of books, before using this information in curation, and content strategy. Show less

A short but very exciting and extremely instructive experience.Makana was a Arabic children book subscription plan. The idea was to send to children, on a monthly basis, a carefully selected Arabic book, with a sheet to guide parents into the content, along with smart and fun activities for children. The fun, neon and silver foil, robot-sy, identity was intended to align with the whole project's identity: Making Arabic books cool for children. It was fun while it lasted.

With the help of a Fyssen Foundation post-doctoral fellowship, I was able to complete a year at the Institute of Philosophy, School of Advanced Study, University of London. I designed and conducted behavioral experiments which led to a few peer reviewed publications, as well as managed for a year the events, talks and seminars of the Center for the study of the senses.My focus during that year remained mostly color categorization - at the interface of perception and culture.

MEICA offers web communication tools. I developed and edited two websites: The Interparliamentary Senatorial Friendship Group 'France-Quebec', and the Interparliamentary Senatorial Friendship Group 'France-Saudi Arabia-Gulf Countries'. Involved tasks included PR, fund raising and editorial.