Board of Directors
August 15, 2025 2026-05-14 19:04Board of Directors
Board of Directors
Dr. Husam Haj Omar
Chairperson
Dr Husam Haj Omar is Lecturer in Arabic and Translation at the University of Oxford and Associate Lecturer in Translation at the Open University. He is also a Fellow of Higher Education Academy with a PhD degree in Translation Studies from the University of Leeds where he investigated the role of ideology, media and conflict in the translation of political discourse during the Arab Spring and Syrian Revolution. Dr Haj Omar has taught and lectured at various universities and educational institutions in the UK and abroad and supervised research studies in the fields of discourse analysis and translation studies. He has several papers published in Middle Eastern and Translation Studies in UK and international academic journals as well political commentary articles published in Arabic media websites. He also participated and presented papers at various conferences in the UK and abroad. He is particularly interested in the study of political discourse and its translation in relation to the notions of ideology, media, conflict and narrative.
Dr. Jassem Alokla
Treasurer
Dr Jassem Alokla is an Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer) in Accounting and Finance at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom. A dedicated researcher and academic, he brings over ten years of experience in university-level teaching, scientific research, and publishing in leading peer-reviewed journals. He actively contributes to research, education, and international academic collaboration, working with a range of global institutions across Syria, Malaysia, Turkey, Oman, and Jordan. Dr Alokla holds a PhD in Economics and Finance (with a major in Insurance and Actuarial Science) from the University of Portsmouth. He also earned a Master’s degree in Financial Risk Management, Crises and Resilience from the same institution. In addition, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Insurance from the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), London, and is a holder of the prestigious Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute (ACII) designation in the United Kingdom. He also holds a Fellowship in Higher Education (FHEA) in the UK, recognising his commitment to excellence in teaching and learning. His academic and research interests span a wide range of areas, including monetary policy, sustainable finance, Islamic finance, insurance, and financial risk analysis. He is an active contributor to the global academic community and regularly participates in international conferences, engaging with scholars, policymakers, and industry professionals across these fields. Beyond academia, Dr Alokla plays an active leadership role within the wider community. He is a Co-Founder, Board Member, and Treasurer of the Syrian British Academic Association ( SBAA), where he supports initiatives that promote academic collaboration, knowledge exchange, and capacity building. He is also a member of the Global Institute for Arabic Renewal (Spain), contributing to intellectual and cultural dialogue at an international level.
Dr. Ahmad Wael Al Shaer
Secretary and Head of E-Publication and Communication Committee
Dr. Ahmad W. Al Shaer (PhD & MSc in Advanced Manufacturing, University of Manchester) is currently a Senior Lecturer at the University of Lancashire and Programme Director of the Digital Manufacturing and Automation Programme. Dr. Al Shaer has over a decade of experience in academia and more than five years in industry, having worked with both national and international manufacturing companies including ALT, Jaguar Land Rover, among others. He specialises in additive manufacturing (3D printing), laser processing, electrical discharge machining (EDM), and their simulations. He has authored many research articles and book chapters and contributed to several international conferences. Dr. Al Shaer currently serves as a guest editor and reviewer for several Q1-ranked international journals. He is a member of several professional bodies, including the AILU, IET, and IMechE, and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Dr. Al Shaer has received multiple prestigious awards in recognition of his contributions to teaching & learning and research
Dr. Abdullatif Alfutimie
Head of the Programmes, Partnerships, and Events Committee
Dr. Abdullatif Alfutimie obtained a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science from the School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science (CEAS) at the University of Manchester in 2012. He is currently a Senior Lecturer at CEAS, University of Manchester. Dr Alfutimie is a liquid crystal scientist with extensive expertise in nano-formulation and the pharmaceutical applications of liquid crystals. He brings over 15 years of analytical experience spanning the pharmaceutical industry, academia, and their intersection, alongside several years of experience in ISO training and quality management. His research focuses on the formulation and stabilisation of dispersed systems, with a strong interest in advancing the understanding of the phase behaviour of lipid colloids. His work is particularly relevant to the optimisation of processes in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Dr Alfutimie is a Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC) and an Associate Member of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (AMIChemE).
Dr. Ammar Bajbouj
Head of the Communications and Public Relations Committee
Dr. Ammar Bajbouj holds a PhD in Law from Cairo University and a BA in Law from Damascus University. He currently works as a visiting professor at the School of Advanced Study, University of London, UK. He previously worked as a visiting professor at the Department of War Studies, King's College London, and participated as a researcher in the Strategic Network on Justice, Conflict and Development, hosted by “LSE” at the Centre for International Studies. His work in this network focused on transitional justice and accountability for war crimes in Syria. In addition to his academic work, Dr Ammar served on the Board of Trustees of New Citizens' Gateway, a British organisation that provides support to asylum seekers. Previously, Dr. Ammar worked as a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Damascus, and the Syrian Virtual University until 2014, before moving to the UK. His research interest covers international cooperation in combating terrorism (PhD dissertation); Skilled Refugees Integration into the UK Labour Market; Transitional Justice and Victor's Justice in Syria; Prosecuting War Criminals in Syria (Beyond Borders); and Referral to the International Criminal Court, published by the Arab Academy in Denmark.
Dr. Aala El-Khani
Board Member
Dr. Aala El-Khani is a humanitarian psychologist and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support specialist (MHPSS). She achieved a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Manchester, for which her thesis achieved multiple awards. She has authored numerous MHPSS, trauma recovery, life skills, and family skills interventions and resources for the United Nations and other international organisations and academic institutions. Aala is a global master trainer of a number of MHPSS interventions. She is highly experienced in developing, adapting, training, and implementing these interventions in war and displacement contexts. She has led training in over 40 countries, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Uzbekistan, China and Palestine. Dr El-Khani works as a consultant for numerous international organisations including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, War Child and Chemonics. She is also an honorary Research Associate at the University of Manchester. She has led multiple research projects with populations experiencing war and displacement, leading to publishing many journal articles and numerous book chapters.
Dr. Ahmed Halil
Board Member
Dr. Ahmed Halil is a lecturer and researcher in Arabic Language and Literature. He teaches Arabic at the University of Oxford at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels and is actively involved in the curriculum development in the department. His research interests include Arabic literary studies, language pedagogy, and translation. He has published several books, scholarly articles, and translations and presented at international conferences. Dr Halil is bilingual in Arabic and Turkish, with advanced proficiency in Ottoman Turkish and English.
Dr. Moustafa Alkhalaf
Board Member
Dr. Moustafa Alkhalaf is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester and Programme Director for the MSc in Medical Microbiology. He holds a PhD in Microbiology, is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and an HCPC-registered Biomedical Scientist. With over 20 years of experience in academia and healthcare, Moustafa specialises in curriculum development, inclusive teaching and student support. Since the start of the Syrian crisis in 2011, he has played a leading role in initiatives supporting the education of Syrian children, working with UK-based charities to design and advise on programmes that promote access to learning in crisis-affected regions. He also mentors refugee academics and students, helping them access postgraduate opportunities and rebuild their careers.
Dr. Hammood Obaid
Board Member
Dr. Hammood Obaid holds a PhD in English Literature from Newcastle University, UK, where he specialised in Renaissance drama. He is the author of Topicality and Representation: Islam and Muslims in Two Renaissance Plays (Cambridge Scholars Publishing 2013). His expertise extends to other academic fields including English-Arabic Translation, which he taught at the University of Manchester between 2017 and 2024; and Islamic Manuscripts, which he researched at the University of Manchester between 2016 and 2020. Currently, Dr Obaid is an Assessment Manager in Languages at Cambridge University Press and Assessment. His research interests include Renaissance Literature, Translation Studies, Medieval Islamic Medicine, and Assessment in Education. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists, the UK's Royal Charter body for language professionals.
Dr. Mohamed Kara Mohamed
Board Member
Dr. Mohamed Kara Mohamed is currently a Senior Lecturer in Robotics. Before joining Liverpool John Moores University, he held several academic and research positions with Birmingham City University, the University of Manchester and Coventry University. He also worked in industry as a Switching Systems Engineer at MTN Group before moving to academia. Dr Mohamed holds a PhD degree in Control Engineering from the University of Manchester. His main research interest is within the control and applications of advanced systems including autonomous robotic systems.
Dr. Hala Qasqas
Board Member
Dr. Hala Qasqas is a Barakat Trust Postdoctoral Fellow at the Khalili Research Centre, University of Oxford. She completed a PhD in Art History and Visual Studies at the University of Victoria, Canada (2025). Her doctoral research examined the recreation culture in early modern Damascus, focusing on coffeehouses and shadow theatre as spaces of public discourse, cultural production, and urban identity. She also serves as Motion Graphics and Video Production Editor with Khamseen: Islamic Art History Online, where she develops digital storytelling projects to make Islamic art research widely accessible. She is a member of the Syrian Visual Identity Design Team and the founder of Riwaq, an initiative dedicated to documenting and preserving Syrian cultural heritage.
