QYP Conference 2023

Xiangtong Liu is a strong believer in the potential of the youth to take action in driving impact and change. This is the motivation behind her previous roles as the Secretary General of both DCMUN and THIMUN Qatar, as well as her involvement in MUNImpact and the EAA Youth Advocate Program. Xiangtong has participated in the Kyoto Congress Youth Forum as a youth delegate where she drafted recommendations that were later presented to the 14th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. She has also attended the Pre-COP26 Youth4Climate Summit as both a youth delegate and panellist. Xiangtong continues to work towards stimulating and facilitating youth discussion, engagement and collaboration. 

M. Wasay Mir is a Pulitzer Center fellow who is currently a senior at Northwestern University in Qatar, pursuing a degree in Journalism and Strategic Communication. Belonging from the vibrant city of Lahore, Pakistan, his interests include writing, reporting, public speaking,

marketing, and audio-visual production. He was most recently working as a part of UpFront, a current affairs show at Al Jazeera English in Washington D.C. He has also worked with organizations like Euronews, Doha Debates, and Fox Sports. He is the Editor-in-Chief for his university’s publication and a part of the football and cricket teams.

Wasay’s work has been published in Gulf News, Medill on the Hill, Daily Times, and Pakistan Today. He has produced different documentaries and featured in numerous public forums for discourse and debate. He spent this summer in Jinja, Uganda working with non-governmental organizations to help disadvantaged women achieve financial independence in rural communities.

Nawaal Akram is Qatar's first female comedian with a disability & disability rights activist . She was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy when she was 6 and started using a wheelchair six years later. At the age of 10, Nawaal was denied the right to an education because of her physical disability. She didn't want any child to go through her experience of losing their right to education thus she started advocating for disability at 14 years old, and her work has since pushed for changes to help people with disabilities in Qatar and the MENA region get access to education and accessibility around the country. Nawaal continues her work by content creation , advocating and educating governmental figures, society, and students on the importance of disability awareness, disability diplomacy and the actions necessary to protect the human rights of people with disabilities to education and countries to recognize the rights of persons with disabilities to live and settle with dignity. She was awarded for her work by BBC Worldwide as one of the 100 most influential women in the world in 2017. The Equal Access campaign is an initiative starting in Qatar to spread awareness about the rights and needs of people with physical and intellectual challenges and promote equal access and treatment for all World-wide.

Doris Zogg Bouchaoui has an extensive background in consular services, administration, and finance. After a period in the private sector, Mrs. Zogg transitioned to the consular service where she has accumulated 23 years of experience. More than half of these years were spent in leadership roles such as Visa Chief, Chancellery Chief, and Operational Manager. She has overseen responsibilities at the Swiss Embassy in Egypt and the Swiss Consulate in New York, addressing diverse aspects like

security, finances, and team leadership. Recently, Consul Zogg Bouchaoui has served as the Deputy Head of Mission and Operational Manager at the Swiss Embassy in Qatar, where she is currently acting as Chargée d’affaires ad interim.

Hana Elshehaby is a research assistant for the Middle East Council on Global Affairs’ Foreign Policy and Security Program. She is also Co-Chair of Education Above All’s Second Cohort of Youth Advocates. Hana received a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service with a specialization in International Politics from Georgetown University in Qatar and a certificate in Media and Politics. She has published on the politics of the MENA region, engaged extensively in public speaking, and participated in various events, including being part of the Qatari delegation to the 27th Youth Assembly and organizing for the 28th Assembly as part of the delegation’s steering committee.

Dr. Evren Tok is Associate Dean of Community Engagement and Associate Professor at College of Public Policy, Hamad Bin Khalifa University. Dr. Tok also acts as the regional coordinator for the Executive Master’s Program (Development Policies and Practices) jointly offered by Graduate Institute of Geneva and Hamad Bin Khalifa University. He is the co-editor of Policy Making in a Transformative State: The Case of Qatar, published by Palgrave MacMillan, 2016. His recent publications “Global Governance and Muslim Organizations” published by Palgrave MacMillan and Innovating South-South Cooperation by University of Ottawa Press in 2020. He is the director of a QNRF funded cluster (2021-2026) entitled “SDG Education and Global Citizenship in Qatar”. He is the Lead Project Investigator for Qatar National Research Fund Priority Program for 3 years on “Localizing Entrepreneurship Education in Qatar”. He is the founder of the maker space entitled Maker Majlis: Islam in a Global World, which received Qatar Sustainability Award under Best University Initiative in 2020 and OIC Shaikh Hasina Award of Best Innovative Idea in 2022. Dr. Tok is also the recipient of Best Research Project Award in HBKU in 2022.

Alina Zaman works as a Research Assistant at the College of Public Policy at HBKU. Alina graduated with a Master of Arts in Islam & Global Affairs from the College of Islamic Studies at HBKU. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Linguistics from the college of Arts & Science at Qatar University.

Irshad Ibrahim works as a Research Assistant at the College of Public Policy at Hamad Bin Khalifa University. Irshad has a Master’s degree holder in Digital Humanities from Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, and holds an Undergraduate degree in Commerce with computer

applications from one of the reputed universities in India – the University of Delhi. For the last seven years, He has been a professional digital graphic designer and branding specialist working for various non-governmental entities in Qatar and India. As part of my MA program

requirements, he did a three months internship with Al Jazeera Media Network as a graphic designer.

Jose is an Industrial Engineer/operations manager turned environmentalist. He is an American citizen living in Qatar for the past 6 years. He leads Deap Qatar, an initiative that is raising environmental awareness in the country and is inspiring and empowering youth and the public to take action against plastic pollution. Jose’s work has mobilized over 20,000 volunteers (the majority of them students), and has resulted in more than 180 tons of trash removed from nature. He has presented to thousands of students across the nation making DeapQatar one of Qatar's most continuously active and successful community based initiatives. Jose holds a masters degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the Ohio State University. Upon graduation he spent over a decade successfully working for one of the world's biggest food companies. His areas of expertise are sustainability, productivity, continuous improvement, project management, and optimization of manufacturing and business processes. 

Arman Azad, a Year 12 student at Qatar International School, is an artistic storyteller who specializes in cinematic videography and photography. His captivating visuals delve into the realms of travel and food, inspiring others to embrace their passions. As COVID emerged, Arman discovered his calling, sharing his unique perspective to ignite revolutionary ideas and transform the world. He attracts followers through his love for gastronomy, while also leading initiatives in student assistance and COVID-friendly innovations. Raised amidst Toastmaster conferences, he has honed his eloquence, debating skills, and commitment to change. Arman's culinary explorations, community service, and involvement in leadership programs further enrich his journey. With heartfelt talks, he aims to ignite young hearts, infusing their lives with purpose and anticipation for the future.

Naima Bint Sameel, is a 15-year-old student in Year 11 at QIS. Her unwavering passion lies in advocating for youth empowerment, firmly believing in the transformative power young individuals possess to create a positive impact on our world. Serving as a co-director of Student Reach, a student-led charity, she devoted herself to fostering unity among students and instigating meaningful change within our community. Through this valuable experience, she has cultivated the virtues of empathy, teamwork, and perseverance. Additionally, she actively contributes to her school newspaper, using her writing skills to raise awareness about pressing issues in the world. Naima firmly believes that education and awareness are key catalysts for positive change, and she is committed to shedding light on important topics that often go unnoticed. Beyond these endeavours, she finds immense fulfilment in making a positive difference in the lives of underprivileged children, actively engaging with them to help improve their circumstances.

Sarah Jasmine Said is a passionate advocate for youth empowerment and global leadership. As the Head of Outreach for Student Reach, she has played a pivotal role in fostering connections and expanding the organisation's impact. Through her involvement in THIMUN, including her position as the Deputy President of the General Assembly, she has honed my diplomacy, leadership, and public speaking skills to empower youth in Qatar. Beyond THIMUN, she organised successful service projects that have positively impacted communities. Working closely with underprivileged children, her team has provided educational support, mentorship, and resources to help them unlock their full potential. Additionally, Sarah has organised food drives, mobilising dedicated teams to distribute essential items to those in need. Through these service projects, she aims to make a tangible difference in the lives of individuals and communities. Her experiences have deepened my commitment to youth empowerment, and she actively seeks opportunities to create positive change and uplift those in need.

Passionate, outspoken and ambitious, Mikayla Said is a seventeen-year-old student who is currently enrolled in Qatar International School. Over the past 4 years, Mikayla has actively engaged herself in various organisations, prestigious conferences and attended many debate competitions. Her core passion derived from diplomacy, networking and global awareness; this further fuels her motivation to constantly play an active role in student-led organisations such as The Student Reach. As the Deputy Head of The Student Reach, Mikayla plans to further expand the impact of the organisation by networking and creating a space where teenagers in Qatar alike can contribute their very own efforts directly to bettering their local community. 

Bayyo Pane is a passionate and dedicated student within his community. Understanding the importance of community service, Bayyo is currently the co-director of The Student Reach. The Student Reach is a youth-led organisation established to encourage student impact. He is a firm believer in the power of young people for reformation, which is why he is an avid participant in Model United Nations. He was formerly a Secretary General of QISMUN, overseeing the organisation’s first external conference, and currently serves as the Deputy Secretary General of THIMUN Qatar. Under his direction, Bayyo has launched a Ramadan Food Drive for underprivileged families, SDG Outlet (a student-run blog that covers people who positively impact the world), and a local SDG1 creative writing contest. Beyond these experiences, he enjoys teaching and mentoring others in debate, the World Scholars Cup and martial arts.