Keynote Speakers

Prof. Farah Naja is a Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Sharjah and the American University of Beirut, recognized internationally for her work on diet and disease prevention. She has authored over 150 peer-reviewed publications and leads pioneering research such as the first nutrition and lifestyle cohort in the Middle East (MINA). Her research spans cancer epidemiology, maternal and child health, and sustainable diets, with a strong focus on the Mediterranean diet. She is also an active contributor to policy and accreditation efforts in higher education and public health. In 2023, she was awarded the prestigious Abdul Hameed Shoman Award for Best Arab Researcher in Medical Sciences.

Dr. Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh is a Jordanian expert in nutrition and food systems with over 30 years of international experience in public health, nutrition policy, and food security. He holds a PhD in Nutrition from Khartoum University (2000), along with an MSc, Postgraduate Diploma, and BSc in Nutrition and Food Technology from the University of Jordan (1993, 1987, and 1982, respectively).
From 2011 to 2021, Dr. Al-Jawaldeh served as a lecturer at the University of Vienna. He currently works as an independent consultant, following a 16-year tenure as Regional Nutrition Adviser for the World Health Organization (WHO) – Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO). Prior to his role with WHO, he spent nearly 20 years with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), where he held senior positions such as Deputy Country Director and Head of Programmes and Nutrition Units in countries including Egypt, Iran, Afghanist​​​an, Sudan, Malawi, and Iraq.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Al-Jawaldeh worked in Jordan as a clinical dietitian at Queen Alia Heart Center / King Hussein Medical City and the Islamic Hospital. He also served as a Food Quality Control Officer at the Ministry of Trade and Supply for five years.
Dr. Al-Jawaldeh has authored over 200 publications and books on nutrition, food systems, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). His work is accessible online at: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7387-8277

Dr. Duo Li is an internationally recognized nutrition scientist and a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Chemistry and the International Union of Nutritional Sciences. He is Chief Professor of Nutrition at Qingdao University and Professor Emeritus at Zhejiang University. Duo has played key roles in developing WHO Dietary Guidelines, the FAO/WHO report on fats and fatty acids, and multiple editions of the Chinese Dietary Guidelines and Dietary Reference Intakes.
He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition and has held major leadership positions in regional nutrition, nutrigenomics, and vegetarian organizations.
With over 510 publications, 17 books or chapters, and 23 patents, he is consistently ranked among the world’s top 2% scientists and has been a Most-Cited Chinese Scholar for ten consecutive years. His research centers on diet and chronic disease, nutrigenetics/nutrigenomics, lipid metabolism, and the safety and bioactivity of novel foods

Prof. Paulina Nowicka is Chair Professor in Food Studies, Nutrition and Dietetics—with a focus on Communication in Dietetics—at Uppsala University, Sweden. She is Co-Chair of the Childhood Obesity Working Group of the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) and Chair of the 34th European Childhood Obesity Congress 2025 in Uppsala, Sweden. An internationally recognized researcher, Prof. Nowicka is dedicated to improving the lives of children and adolescents with obesity and their families. Trained as a clinical dietitian, she also holds a Master’s in Psychology, a degree in Family Therapy, and a PhD in Pediatrics from Lund University, Sweden. She spent nearly a decade as a clinician at a childhood obesity treatment center in Malmö, where her clinical work continues to inform her research. Her postdoctoral studies were carried out at Yale University, the University of Oregon, and the University of Oxford. Prof. Nowicka’s research focuses on the treatment and prevention of childhood obesity, effective family engagement, and the development of sustainable and non-stigmatizing approaches within dietetics and healthcare.

Dr Dalia Ayyad is a Public Health PhD candidate at Al Quds University and currently working as a Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (SRMNCH) Officer with the World Health Organization in Palestine. I hold a Bachelor of Medicine from Misr university for science and Technology in Egypt and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Nutrition from Al Azhar university in Palestine .My academic and professional work focuses on maternal and child health, nutrition, quality of care and health system strengthening in humanitarian settings. Growing up and wokring in Gaza has shaped my deep commitment to serving vulnerable populations particularly women and children living under crisis conditions, and ensuring right to health and dignity.

Dr. Nadine Zeeni is an Associate Professor of Nutrition at the Lebanese American University (LAU), where she also serves as Coordinator of Liberal Education – Sciences. Her primary research examines eating behavior and its determinants, with a special emphasis on body image, disordered eating, and the influence of social media. Dr. Zeeni has published widely in leading peer-reviewed journals and collaborates on several international projects addressing psychosocial aspects of eating behavior, measurement invariance of body image constructs, and cross-cultural comparisons of well-being. Her recent studies include randomized controlled trials exploring the effects of exposure to social media content on eating behavior, as well as cross-national investigations on body dissatisfaction and life satisfaction across diverse populations. Dr. Zeeni’s work is often cited for advancing understanding of how digital environments shape youth health outcomes.

Dr. Qureshi is the Regional Adviser for Nutrition with the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, supporting 22 countries since 2025. He works across NCDs, health promotion, and emergency response. Previously, he spent seven years in the WHO Sudan office leading programs in nutrition, NCDs, and mental health, and worked with WHO Afghanistan and the Afghan Ministry of Public Health on nutrition surveillance.
He has over a decade of experience with international NGOs—including IMC, AMI, CORDAID, and the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan—supporting health and nutrition programs in Afghanistan and refugee services in Pakistan.
Dr. Qureshi holds an MPH from Karolinska Institute and the University of Oviedo, an MBA in Health Management, and training in sexual and reproductive health research. He is currently a PhD candidate in Public Health in Disasters at the University of Oviedo.

Dr. Leila Cheikh Ismail is an Associate Professor of Nutrition at the University of Sharjah and a Registered Nutritionist in the UK. She holds a Ph.D. in Nutrition and brings over 30 years of experience in global health and nutrition research. She previously served as a senior researcher with the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the University of Oxford, where she led the INTERGROWTH-21st Project.
Dr. Cheikh Ismail has led and contributed to numerous high-impact national and international research initiatives, with a focus on maternal and child health, dietary assessment, growth standards, and nutrition across the life course. She has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers, several book chapters, technical guides and continues to play an active role in shaping evidence-based nutrition policies and programs globally. Her work bridges science and practice, and she is widely recognized for her ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and mentor emerging researchers. Dr. Cheikh Ismail’s contributions have helped inform global standards and improve nutritional outcomes in diverse populations.

Dr. Nauman Khalid is a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology, with extensive experience in teaching and research across various food science and nutrition specializations. His expertise spans emulsions and encapsulation, nutritional interventions, public health, food safety, and functional food development.

He has published over 450 peer-reviewed articles, conference proceedings, and international presentations. He serves as the Editor-in-Chief of Nutrition and Health and is a Board Member of ACS Food Science and Technology.

Currently, he is the Founding Dean and Professor at the School of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan, and a Professor of Nutrition at the College of Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Prof. Jennifer Sacheck is a nationally recognized scholar in nutrition, physical activity, and chronic disease prevention, with a distinguished career dedicated to advancing public health. She serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences at the Brown University School of Public Health, where she is also a Provost’s Professor.
Her research focuses on childhood nutrition, physical activity, and obesity prevention, with emphasis on reducing health disparities in underserved communities. She has led numerous school- and community-based interventions, collaborating with educators, policymakers, and public health leaders. Her work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and various foundations.
Prof. Sacheck is also deeply committed to education and mentorship, guiding future public health professionals and contributing expertise to national panels and international conferences.
Before joining Brown University, she held faculty positions at Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, where she continues to serve as an affiliate faculty member.

Professor Sahar Khairy Director of National Nutrition Institute, Egypt Professor of pediatrics Consultant of Clinical Nutrition Member of Egyptian board of Clinical Nutrition Director of WHO Collaborating Center for Nutrition, Egypt

Professor Eman Habib Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Newborn Consultants of Clinical Nutrition Head of Clinical Nutrition Department in National Nutrition Institute In Cairo Egypt. Lecturer in Egyptian board & fellowship of Clinical Nutrition WHO Collaborating Center -Nutrition, Egypt

Ms. Fetna Al-Naemi National Leader of BFHI & Breastfeeding representative of the state of Qatar, WHO Senior Health Policy Specialist, Ministry of Public Health MOPH Doha, Qatar

Ms. Hend Ali Al-Tamimi is the Acting Head of the Health Education Programs Section within the Health Promotion Department at the Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar. She has over 11 years of experience in the fields of nutrition and health education. Ms. Al-Tamimi holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition from Qatar University and a Master of Science in Sport and Exercise Nutrition from Middlesex University, London (UK). In her current role, she leads the development and implementation of policies, guidelines, laws, and regulations related to nutrition and physical activity. She also leads the design and execution of health education programs and initiatives aimed at raising public awareness and encouraging healthy lifestyle practices across the community.