Our Team

Leadership

• 

  Chairman

  Mohammad Omran Al Shamsi

  Mohammad Omran Al Shamsi was born in Ras Al-Khaimah, UAE, in 1953. After graduating from Cairo University, Egypt in 1977 with an Engineering degree in Electronics and Communications, he joined Etisalat - the UAE's telecommunications provider – in 1977 one year after its formation.

  At Etisalat he began his employment in the Engineering Department, rising to the position of Chief Executive Officer in 2004. He was appointed Chairman and CEO in 2005. As Chairman and CEO, Mohammad Omran led Etisalat to its position as a top leading telecom operator in the Middle East.

  During his tenure at Etisalat, which extended for 34 years until 2012 when he decided to retire, he participated in various projects including the digitalization of Etisalat networks, establishment of satellite and submarine cables, extensive fibre optic networks and pre-GSM and GSM networks. These were in addition to his involvement in the establishment of the Thuraya Satellite system where he became the Chairman of the company until his retirement.

  In April 2013 a federal Decree from the President of UAE was issued appointing Him to the post of Chairman of the board of trustees and Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology in the status of a minister. He left this position in April 2018.

  Presently Mr. Omran holds the following positions:

  Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ras Al Khaimah Properties Company

  Chairman of the Board of Directors of National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah

  Chairman of the Board of trustees of the American University of Ras Al Khaimah

  Chairman of the board of trustees of the Ras al-Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University

• 

  Managing Director

  Dr. Mohamed Abdullatif Khalifa

  Dr. Mohamed Abdullatif Khalifa, the Managing Director of the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research, holds a PhD in Management and an MPA in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, United States. His extensive work experience includes stints as Chief Consultant—Strategic Planning, Performance Management and Organizational Excellence—Al Ain Municipality and Managing Director—Dubai Real Estate College. He has also held the posts of Consultant—Strategic Planning and Development—Al Ain Municipality and Town Planning Director—Program for Government Excellence—Ras Al Khaimah.

  Mohamed Khalifa’s expertise spans fundamentals of management, organizational behavior, human resources management, and research methods, among several others. He has had papers published in several prestigious journals and delivered dissertations at high-profile conferences.

• 

  Executive Director

  Dr. Natasha Ridge

  Natasha Ridge is the founding Executive Director of the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research. Prior to this appointment, she was the Acting Director of Research at the Dubai School of Government. Natasha has over 20 years of experience working in the international education sector including in Singapore and Australia. She holds a Doctorate of Education in International Education Policy from Columbia University, a Master's in International and Community Development from Deakin University and a Bachelor of Economics from the Australian National University.

  Natasha has more than 30 publications, including a book entitled Education and the Reverse Gender Divide in the Gulf States: Embracing the Global, Ignoring the Local and another entitled Philanthropy in Education: Diverse Perspectives and Global Trends. Her latest research focuses on philanthropy and education in the MENA region as well as the nature and impact of father involvement on education in the Arab World. In addition to being a founding Executive Board member and former President of the Gulf Comparative Education Society Natasha is also serves on several boards including the NORRAG Advisory Board, EduAlliance and the RAKEZ Academic Zone Board.

  Natasha is passionate about all things related to education and hopes that the work of the Al Qasimi Foundation will continue to make a positive impact on the lives of people in Ras Al Khaimah, the UAE and beyond.

• 

  Grants & Scholarships Director

  Caitrin Mullan

  Caitrin serves as the Al Qasimi Foundation’s Grants & Scholarships Director. She is responsible for organizational collaborations, competitive grants and scholarships, and supporting strategic organizational governance and planning efforts. Prior to joining the Foundation, Caitrin worked at the University of Minnesota in the United States for over eight years in positions related to student affairs and undergraduate education. Her higher education experience includes strategic planning, admissions and advising, student leadership development, experiential learning, and diversity and inclusion capacity building. Caitrin holds a Journalism BA, Environmental Science BS, and Water Resources Science MS from the University of Minnesota and spent a year studying at the University of Queensland, Australia as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar.

  caitrin@alqasimifoundation.rak.ae
• 

  Director of Administration

  Elena Laspoña

  Elena is the Director of Administration at the Al Qasimi Foundation and has more than 20 years of experience in accounting and logistics. Before joining the Foundation, she worked as an accountant in Aden City, Republic of Yemen. In the Philippines, Elena worked as import/exporter-in-charge with an international exporter and large shipbuilding company. Elena holds an Accountancy BS from the University of the Visayas, Philippines. She also received a certificate as a Non-Profit Accounting Professional from Fiscal Management Associates, LLC.

  elena@alqasimifoundation.rak.ae
• 

  Director of Programs

  Dr. Elisabeth Wilson

  Elisabeth is the Director of Programs at the Al Qasimi Foundation. She is responsible for the Foundation’s capacity development efforts for students and adults and has more than fifteen years of international education experience including program monitoring and evaluation, teaching English as a second language, and conducting education research. Elisabeth has worked with a spectrum of international donors and lived abroad as both a researcher and instructor in several countries including Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tunisia, Uganda, and elsewhere in East Africa. Her research has investigated how cross-border university partnerships address needs at the local, national, and international level. Elisabeth holds an Educational Policy and Administration PhD from the University of Minnesota, United States of America and a Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages MA from Michigan State University, United States of America.

  elisabeth@alqasimifoundation.rak.ae
• 

  Arts & Culture Manager

  Suqrat bin Bisher

  Suqrat is the Al Qasimi Foundation’s Arts & Culture Manager. Previously, he worked as a Teaching Assistant at the Higher College of Technology - Dubai Men’s College, where he also received his Applied Communication BA. Suqrat is a member of the UAE Special Olympics and UAE Youth Council. He is an artist and arts administrator, having organized more than five art exhibitions and directed more than seven short films and documentaries, some of which were screened at the Gulf Film Festival in 2011. Suqrat is the Director and Co-Founder of the Dubai Students Film Festival and is passionate about supporting creative minds in the UAE, especially locals.

  suqrat@alqasimifoundation.rak.ae
• 

  Senior Research Fellow

  Marvin Erfurth

  Marvin joined the Foundation as a Senior Research Fellow and the Head of the Research Department. He has a background in research, secondary and higher education, and consultancy. Previously, he was a Research Associate at Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster’s Institute of Education in Germany, as well as a Visiting Scholar at University of Oslo’s Department of Education, Norway, and at the Foundation. Marvin is currently working on his PhD in comparative and international education, focusing on education policy and the economics of education. His work explores the two states' economic and social development in which higher education and research have become central in recent years, in particular in Singapore. Before pursuing his PhD, Marvin studied Political Science and Economics, Music(ology), and Education Science (Teaching Profession) at the University of Kassel, Germany.

  marvin@alqasimifoundation.rak.ae
• 

  Innovation Manager

  Hanadi Mohammed

  Hanadi is the Al Qasimi Foundation’s Innovation Manager. She is responsible for leading the Government Exchange Program, Prison Program at the Ras Al Khaimah Correctional Facility, and Teacher Professional Development Program. She also supports several capacity development programs for students and collaborates with school administrators and principals, Ministry of Education officials, and other stakeholders to promote the work of the Al Qasimi Foundation. Hanadi further provides additional administrative services across the Foundation. She was awarded a Level 3 Certificate in Human Resources Practice (QCF) by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development in 2017. Hanadi joined the foundation because she is passionate about education and youth.

  hanadi@alqasimifoundation.rak.ae
• 

  Digital Media Executive

  Aaesha Al Ahmed

  Aaesha holds the position of Digital Media Executive at the Al Qasimi Foundation, having previously worked as the Community Engagement and Outreach Coordinator. Aaesha is responsible for promoting the Foundation’s activities to its local and international communities through media relations, social media management, and by creating multimedia content. Prior to rejoining the Foundation, Aaesha worked in a government department in Ras Al Khaimah for three years. Aaesha holds an Applied Media BA from the Higher Colleges of Technology in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. Her goal is to participate actively and productively in fields that help her to learn and develop new skills. ​

  aaesha_a@alqasimifoundation.rak.ae
• 

  Human Resources Officer

  Katrina Gomez

  Katrina holds the position of Human Resources Officer at the Al Qasimi Foundation. She is responsible for managing HR processes and providing administrative services. Prior to her work at the Foundation, Katrina worked as an administrative assistant with a German manufacturing company in Ras Al Khaimah and as an Executive Secretary and Document Controller with a construction firm. She holds a Computer Science BS from Eulogio "Amang" Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology in the Philippines and was awarded a Level 3 Certificate in Human Resources Practice (QCF) by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

  katrina@alqasimifoundation.rak.ae
• 

  Assistant Manager for Scholarships and Grants

  Rasha Mohsen

  Rasha is the Assistant Manager for Scholarships and Grants at the Al Qasimi Foundation and is responsible for student affairs, scholarships, and grants administration. She helps support students as they prepare for their university studies through the Al Qasimi Foundation’s College Preparation Program, Overseas and Domestic Scholarship Programs, and other capacity development offerings. Previously, Rasha served as the Senior Admissions Officer at the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) after joining the university at its founding as part of the original student enrollment team. Rasha holds an English Language and Translation BA from Ittihad University, United Arab Emirates, and is currently pursuing her Innovation and Entrepreneurship MA at the University of Wollongong, United Arab Emirates.

  rasha.m@alqasimifoundation.rak.ae