Yale University and Egypt’s International Economic Forum To Host Leadership Conference in the Middle East

New Haven, Conn. — The Yale World Fellows Program, Yale University’s signature global leadership development initiative, and Egypt’s International Economic Forum will sponsor a high-profile conference entitled “The Middle East in Transition: Leadership in Challenging Times” at the Four Seasons Hotel – Cairo at Nile Plaza, June 20-21, 2009. The conference marks the second event in the Yale World Fellows Program Global Leadership Series.

A host of highly distinguished leaders from the region will also participate.

Speakers will include:

Mr. M. Shafik Gabr, Chairman, Egypt’s International Economic Forum; Chairman, ARTOC Group for Investment and Development

Michael Cappello, M.D., Director, Yale World Fellows Program

Dr. Lisa Anderson, Provost, American University in Cairo

Dr. Nader Fergany, Director, Al-Mishkat Center for Research and Training

Ambassador Hesham Youssef, Chief of Cabinet, Secretary General, League of Arab States

H.E. Ahmed Maher El-Sayed, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Egypt

Ambassador Margaret Scobey, U.S. Ambassador to Egypt

H.E. Dr. Yosri Al-Gamal, Minister of Education, Egypt

Ambassador Nabil Fahmy, Dean, School of Public Policy, American Univ. in Cairo; former Egyptian Ambassador to the U.S.

H.E. Dr. Hani Helal, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Egypt

Mr. Wael El-Fakhrany, Country Manager, Google Inc., Egypt

Revd Canon Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff, Director General, The C-1 World Dialogue; Dean, All Saints’ Cathedral, Cairo

Egypt’s International Economic Forum (EIEF), a leading Egyptian non-partisan NGO, was founded in 1998 by a group of prominent Egyptians as a reflection of their commitment to the comprehensiveness, sustainability, and consistency of Egypt’s reform efforts, with the ultimate objective of fully integrating the Egyptian economy into the world economy on favorable terms. The Forum’s programs also cover political, social, and cultural developments in Egypt and the Middle East, thus enhancing its role as a catalyst of reform and a positive agent of change. Ashraf Swelam, Acting Director of the EIEF, is a former Yale World Fellow.

The Yale World Fellows Program is a core element of Yale University’s ongoing commitment to internationalization and global leadership development. The Program conducts a worldwide competition each year to select 14-18 highly accomplished men and women from diverse fields and countries for the four-month leadership program at Yale. The Global Leadership Series is a new initiative that brings World Fellows, members of the Yale alumni community, and leading experts together around the world for discussion of critically important global issues.

Members of the press are welcome. For more information, please visit the conference website: www.yale.edu/worldfellows/events.