Career update:
After a decade long career, I moved into academia to complete a PhD in an EU funded project NEWAVE-Next Water Governance at the Vrije University of Amsterdam (my thesis research and published works on “water recommoning” are all accessible open access here). I gave birth to two major life accomplishments at once in early 2025: a thesis, and also a baby, within weeks of each other. I also re-branded my consulting work under the name “Host the Future”, now an Amsterdam-based company, still me! At the same time I accepted a research role at Wageningen University (Netherlands), in the Public Administration and Policy group, co-leading a governance work package across 4 European countries (Netherlands, Sweden, Spain and Belgium), focusing on groundwater extremes, particularly drought (present and futures). I am still consulting part-time, so if you’re looking to work with someone on all topics related to: water, climate, gender, participatory governance/democratic innovations, and/or futures (visioning, co-creation, transitions), I’m happy to explore possibilities together.
My Story: I was born in Lebanon in the tail-end of a civil war and witnessed its aftermath. I owe it to this experience to have learned quickly what resilience means. It did - and didn't- get easier after. I immigrated to Canada at age 14 and experienced multiple transitions and changes. This uprooting granted me the gift of adaptability and empathy, and I began to find comfort in stepping outside my comfort zone. I became a full-fledged and proud experimenter. When others around me are hesitating or worrying about what they don't know, I tend to step in to encourage them to break out of fear and overthinking and start a process of designing and testing. The greatest learning comes as feedback.
I am inspired by the hummingbird, a creature curious, playful and optimistic. At the peak of my optimism is being able to ignite fire within every person or group I work with to become the best version of themselves. If we don’t have fun, we don’t get work done.
As a stakeholder and community engagement specialist, I work on projects in social and environmental change and innovation within community and corporate contexts, across multi-sectors. To date I have facilitated well over 100 workshops in various countries including Canada, Lebanon, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Curaçao, South Korea, Singapore, Hungary, Australia, India, Portugal, Mexico and Scotland. Some high profile international conferences include:
Water Innovation Labs: Canada 2013/2015/2018 & Europe 2015/2017, Australia 2018, Lebanon 2019/2020, Mexico 2019/2020, India 2017
German Federal Ministry of Environment/ Deutschen Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH: Co-Moderator to the Annual Partnership Retreat of the Partnership on Transparency in the Paris Agreement (Lebanon)
Budapest Water Summit, Hungary
7th & 8th World Water Forum (South Korea and Brazil)
Singapore International Water Week, Singapore
WatIf Conference - Water Initiative for the Future, Canada
OASIS Caribe Movement, Curaçao
My largest undertaking was working with Waterlution - a standout organisation in the water sector for almost a decade. I held the position of Global Lead for the Water Innovation Labs in my last 3 years, assisting Waterlution in the development and execution of Water Innovation Labs globally. I then transitioned back to academia to complete a PhD at the Vrije University of Amsterdam in water governance, looking at how social movements mobilise to change water governance locally away from privatisation and towards remunicipalisation (bringing water back to public control), and in some cases, even recommoning (bringing water back to the commons).
Some media to showcase my work is available below.
My other passion engagements include inspiring youth leadership as an organiser with the Water Youth Network.
If you are curious about my educational training, I hold a BA in Political Science and an MA in Globalization Studies from the Centre for Globalization and Human Condition at McMaster University, with a joint Graduate Diploma from the United Nations University- Institute for Water, Environment and Health (INWEH).
In 2014, I was selected to train in a 32-day intensive leadership and social innovation program in Brasil - Warriors Without Weapons by Instituto Elos. I am referred to as a warrior at times, but not to fret, I am one without weapons.
This training was life-changing.
After returning to Toronto far beyond inspired, I set out with a travel and project partner (Eirini Vanikioti - the talented photographer behind many of the photos) to pursue a common dream and co-founded a women empowerment project called Círculo de Soñadoras. In 12 months, we hosted 24 community based workshops in 8 countries across 19 different communities, engaging more than 250 women.
As a skilled, multi-faceted facilitator, I can help you tap into collective wisdom, transition through change and unveil innovation. I am always open to grabbing a coffee or tea and discussing how my skills can serve you and your organisation.
I facilitated workshops in Spanish and Portuguese.
I am fluent in Arabic and French (now a bit rusty!) too.
I am learning to play the ukelele - it's a huge learning curve.
I hosted workshops with babies present - when we say all are welcome, we mean it.
I facilitated a workshop in the Amazon region of Colombia.
Also in a tipi. I love creative disruption.
I love more inspiring it in others.