Akef Fakhri Aqrabawi, President & CEO, INJAZ Al-Arab/JA MENA
Akef is the CEO of INJAZ Al-Arab/JA MENA, the largest non-profit organization in the region that leverages entrepreneurial expertise and harnesses it to train and mentor the younger generation of Arab youth by encouraging the culture of entrepreneurship and innovation in business. Injaz Al Arab operates in 14 Arab countries.
Prior to taking over the management and leadership of the organization since 2015, Akef held various positions in the field of communications and public relations and then managed the operations and strategic planning sections of the organization for the Middle East and North Africa countries.
Akef's expertise and tasks are centered around providing technical support and strategic planning to member states, and coordinating with INJAZ's boards of directors in 14 countries in the region, as well as strengthening relations with government partners such as ministries of education and labor, and discussing ways to expand the organization’s work in a number of Arab countries to empower a new elite of Arab youth to contribute to the development of extracurricular education and entrepreneurship in the region.
Akef has participated as a speaker in several panels, from the WEF to GESF, STEP Conference, and Young Arab Leaders Forum. Upcoming participations include Innovation Arabia 13, Knowledge Economy Forum, and C20. Akef’s recent publications include:
Akef recently completed his education at Harvard University's Executive Leaders Program for 2018-2019. He holds a BA in Archeology from Mutah University, Jordan.