Faysal El Khalil
After his graduation in Political Studies from AUB in 1969, El Khalil moved to Nigeria where he joined the family’s business that was founded by his late father in 1926. After spending more than four decades in Africa, he moved back to Beirut where he oversees the family’s beverages business that has expanded into West and East Africa in his capacity as Chairman of the Executive Committee of The Board of Directors of Continental Beverages based in Beirut. El Khalil has attended numerous Executive Education Programs at Harvard, was a founding member of the YPO Chapters in both Nigeria and Lebanon and serves on several Industry and community Boards. He was conferred with the prestigious “Officer of The Order of The Niger” Award by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2002 and with the “Lebanese Immigrant Award” by the President of The Republic of Lebanon in 2007. El Khalil has been married to May for 46 years and together, they have 4 children and 5 grandchildren.
Youssef El Zein
Founder and Managing Partner of the Pillar Group, a collection of investment funds established in 1991 focused on investing in innovative medical technologies and, more specifically, on drugs aimed at correcting the genetic causes of diseases. Pillar is currently a lead shareholder in U.S. companies committed to supporting research in genetics. In 2015, The Pillar Group established the Pillar Chair for Biomedical Research at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. Pillar also established the Pillar Genetic Institute at the American University of Beirut Medical Centre.
Elie R. Gebrayel
Chairman and CEO of Erga Group, founded by his wife Randa Faddoul and himself in 1980, which thrived and succeeded in becoming one of the leading Architectural and Multidisciplinary Engineering Design Consultancy firms in the Region. He is considered as a pioneer in Architecture and related fields, with a portfolio comprising of more than 500 projects in Lebanon and in over 20 countries - from large scale Urban Planning to detailed product Design. He is also a member in the Order of Architects & Engineers in Lebanon, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. He is member of AIA, EDC and CMDR. He is vice chair to LAU School of Architecture and Design advisory board (2012).
Mounir Yehia
Chairman of Near East Engineering and Development Services-NEEDS. He is the Co-Founder of the “Digital Utility” Model for the transformation of the Electric and Water Utilities in the 21st century. Yehia is also a former Professor at the American University of Beirut, former Chairman of the Electrical Engineering Department, a former member of the Board of Directors of the Lebanese Electricity Company, and a former Advisor to Abu Dhabi Water and Electric Authority-ADWEA. Yehia is the author of two unique books and more than 80 papers; he has supervised a number of research programs at AUB and MIT. He received several international awards, and lately the Trophy “Grand Prix Du Public” at Smart Grid Paris 2014.
Elias Houayek
CEO of Data Consult SAL, a forefront of Technology Providers in the region serving the Lebanese, Levant and Gulf markets through IT services and cutting edge technologies. Houayek is always involved in community welfare, apparent through various charity programs, student support and go green initiatives. He is also an active member of the United Nations Global Compact Initiative, which fights corruption and advocates transparency, human rights and equitable labor practices.
Riad B. Obegi
Chairman of Banque BEMO SAL, along with Banque BEMO Europe Banque Privée (Luxembourg), Banque BEMO Saudi Fransi in Syria and Obegi Group (Luxembourg). He holds a PHD in Economics from Université Lyon Lumière in France and has invented a banking product called the CHO.
Talal K. Shair
Chairman at Dar Al Handasah’s (Shair and Partners). After joining Dar Al-Handasah (Shair and Partners), in 1988, first as an active member of its structural department and later as the department’s director, Shair was elected Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors. In 2008, he took the role of Chairman. Currently, Dar Al-Handasah is one of the largest engineering and design practices in the world, with 43 offices throughout 29 countries. Shair is also a member of the Young Presidents Organization, and a founding member of BADER Young Entrepreneurs Program and Chairman of its Building Block Fund (BBF) - a community of inspired and committed young business leaders engaged in supporting young entrepreneurs and promoting small businesses, the first such endeavor in Lebanon.
Nizar Younes
Founder and Chairman of BUTEC Corporation which was founded in 1966 and has become one of the leading construction companies in Lebanon and the Middle East with offices in Algeria, France, Germany, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. Prior to this leadership position, Younes was a Senior Partner and Managing Director at BUTEC; he was member of the High Commission at the Ministry of Planning, an economic and engineering consultant, as well as a lecturer at Saint Joseph and the Lebanese Universities on the business and engineering faculties. On the national front he was the first president of the National Alliance of University Students in Lebanon. He ran for parliament in 2000, a very active community activist and a national civic leader who is constantly working for a secular Lebanese Republic. He has participated in many panels, written many articles, and published three books about his vision for a modern Lebanese state with strong institutions: "The Road to the State", "The Future Parliament", "The Other Lebanon" and "Letter to Alma". Younes received his PhD from Ecole des Mines in Economic Sciences and his master's degree in science from the University of Lyon in France. He has received several honors and recognition including the Lebanese Presidential Honor at the American University of Beirut. He supports several philanthropic causes including the Maronite Institute.
Antoine Wakim
Board member at the National Social Security Fund in Lebanon as well as a leading expert in the actuarial field. After beginning his career at Allianz SNA in 1967, he held several positions there between 1973 and 1987. Afterwards, he served for 20 years as a CEO of Allianz MENA Holding Group. Wakim is currently Board member in Allianz SNA Lebanon, in Allianz MENA Holding Bermuda, in BEMO bank Lebanon, and in Actuscope-actuarial Product Development & Systems. In addition, he is member of the Swiss Association of Actuaries (SAA) and the International Association of Actuaries (IAA) since 1969.
Abdul-Salam Hasbini, M.D.
Founder, Chairman of the Board and President of the Green Shield Medical Consultants Group - founded in December 2000 with the mission of reviving Beirut as the Medical City of the Middle East. He was Chairman of the Emergency Unit Committee at Trad Hospital and Medical Center between 2004 and 2011. Dr. Hasbini was also a member of the OR Committee at Trad Hospital and Medical Center between 2009 and 2012. He is Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner in GOMAC - a Scarless Medical Aesthetic Center using the most advanced medical equipment since 2012 and until its closure in October 2020 because of the dire economic situation. At the civic level, Dr. Hasbini is a Board member in the “Civic Influence Hub”, President of “Lilwatan” association and a member in “IRADA” association. He is joining the Board of the “Lebanese Civic Coalition” with the conviction that Lebanon, as a sovereign country, will emerge from its darkness soon.
Joseph El Chikhani
Co-Founder and Chairman of MCM Group (Middle East Construction and Management Group) in Lebanon, U.A.E, and K.S.A. The company is a leader in the construction field and in real estate development. He is also the Chairman of Las Salinas Resort and Eastwood Theaters. El Chikhani is a former member of the Board of Trustees at the University of Balamand.