Expertise: Human Rights, Policy and Gender Studies, Communication, Advocacy, Transitional Justice, Political Transition. 

Languages: Fluent in Arabic and English, Beginner in French.

Bio: Nadia A. Al Sakkaf (@nadiasakkaf) has been one of the renowned independent Yemeni leaders in the media, development sectors, as well as in the democratic and political transition processes of Yemen for the past ten years. Post availing a Ph.D. in Political Sciences from Reading University in the UK, Al-Sakkaf now works as a political and developmental researcher, specializing in gender policies in Yemen. 

In 2015, Al-Sakkaf established and chaired the High Relief Committee, which is the Yemeni government’s main body to supervise and coordinate humanitarian aid to Yemen. She was the first Yemeni woman Minister of Information in the Government of Competencies in 2014. Before that, she participated in a number of high-level political committees on the Yemeni transition period under the Gulf Initiative. 

Al-Sakkaf was the Chief Editor of the Yemen Times Media Establishment for about 10 years since 2005. In 2009, she co-founded Yemen 21 Century Forum, a developmental non-governmental organization specialized in women and youth empowerment, as well as media freedoms and professionalism. During her career, Al-Sakkaf won many international and local awards, some of which include the Business for Peace Award from the Business for Peace Foundation in Oslo-Norway and the Free Media Pioneers Award from the International Press Institute in Vienna- Austria. She was also the first recipient of the Gebran Tueni Award for courageous and independent editors and publishers, presented by the WAN-IFRA and Annahar Foundation. Al-Sakkaf was recognized by the BBC as one of 100 Women who changed the world. In addition, she was chosen by the World Economic Forum as one of 2015's Distinguished Young Global Leaders.

Al-Sakkaf is published extensively in the fields of politics, media, and development. She has policy papers, research papers, book chapters, and has written two books on Yemeni women’s empowerment. She also published a book collection on the experiences of Yemeni women as electoral candidates, available in Arabic and English. Some of her work can be found on her research page and LinkedIn profile. Her TED Talk, Yemen through my eyes, is one of the most known videos on Yemen. It has over half a million views and was also translated to 34 languages. She is a member of several local and international platforms, such as the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate, Women Without Borders, and Women’s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality.

Nadia A. Al Sakkaf (@nadiasakkaf) has been one of the renowned independent Yemeni leaders in the media, development sectors, as well as in the democratic and political transition processes of Yemen for the past ten years. Post availing a Ph.D. in Political Sciences from Reading University in the UK, Al-Sakkaf now works as an independent researcher or through the 21 Century Forum, a UK based non-profit organisation, which she co-founded. She is co-founder of the Connecting Yemen initiative to advocate for accessible and affordable internet in Yemen, and publisher of Radio Lana, the first community radio station in Aden-Yemen. In 2015, Al-Sakkaf established and chaired the High Relief Committee, which is the Yemeni government’s main body to supervise and coordinate humanitarian aid to Yemen. She was the first Yemeni woman Minister of Information in the Government of Competencies in 2014. Before that, she participated in a number of high-level political committees on the Yemeni transition period under the Gulf Initiative. Al-Sakkaf was the Chief Editor of the Yemen Times Media Establishment for about 10 years since 2005. In 2009, she co-founded Yemen 21 Century Forum, a developmental non-governmental organization specialized in women and youth empowerment, as well as media freedoms and professionalism. During her career, Al-Sakkaf won many international and local awards, some of which include the Business for Peace Award from the Business for Peace Foundation in Oslo-Norway and the Free Media Pioneers Award from the International Press Institute in Vienna- Austria. She was also the first recipient of the Gebran Tueni Award for courageous and independent editors and publishers, presented by the WAN-IFRA and Annahar Foundation. Al-Sakkaf was recognized by the BBC as one of 100 Women who changed the world. In addition, she was chosen by the World Economic Forum as one of 2015's Distinguished Young Global Leaders.She has worked previously as the director of research of the economic think tank, Arabia Brain Trust. Nadia published extensively in the fields of politics, media, and development. She has policy papers, research papers, book chapters, and has written two books on Yemeni women’s empowerment. She also published a book collection on the experiences of Yemeni women as electoral candidates, available in Arabic and English. Some of her work can be found on her research page  and LinkedIn profile. Her TED Talk , Yemen through my eyes, is one of the most known videos on Yemen. It has over half a million views and was also translated to 34 languages. She is a member of several local and international platforms, such as the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate, Women Without Borders, and Women’s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality.