Events

Join us for a moderated discussion featuring H.E. Dr. Mohamad Al-Ississ, the Minister of Finance in Jordan, as he shares insights on key topics shaping Jordan's economy. Gain valuable perspectives into the outcomes of the Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund (IMF) that took place last month in DC, the IMF review, as well as Jordan's economic positioning globally and domestically and the pivotal role of youth and women's inclusion.

Dr. Mohamad Al-Ississ is the Minister of Finance to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Formerly, he served as Minister Planning and International Cooperation, State Minister for Economic Affairs, Special Advisor to His Majesty King Abdullah II, Advisor Economic Affairs to His Majesty King Abdullah II, and Director of Economic and Social Development at the Office of His Majesty at the Royal Hashemite Court.

From 2010-2016, Dr. Al-Ississ was an Assistant Professor and Associate Dean at the American University in Cairo, as well as a visiting lecturer at Harvard Kennedy School. He is also a founding professor of the first massive Arabic course at Edraak, an online learning platform in partnership with Harvard University and MIT’s EdX platform. Dr. Al-Ississ’ professional positions include Associate Consultant at Boston Consultancy Group, Manager for Investment Promotion at USAID’s AMIR program, and Senior Competition Advisor to Jordan’s Minister of Industry and Trade.

Earning his PhD in Economic Development and Public Policy from Harvard University, Dr. Al-Ississ also has two master’s degrees from Harvard in Public Administration / International Development and Middle Eastern Studies, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Economics with Honors.

Dr. Al-Ississ is a member of the Global Agenda Council at the World Economic Forum, a Fulbright scholar, and a published author on a range of topics including the elasticity of trust, the impact of faith on economic behavior, and equity within economic policy.

Lara Ayoub is a digital media strategist, consultant, and content creator. She is the co-founder of SADAQA, a nonprofit organization that aims to increase female economic participation in Jordan by advocating women labor rights, removing structural barriers, and creating a family-friendly enabling workplace. Ayoub holds a master’s degree in Global Media and Digital Cultures from SOAS University of London and a post graduate certificate in Journalism, Innovation and Leadership from the University of Central Lancashire.

Ayoub sits on the boards of Save the Children-Jordan and the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers Middle East, and has been an Eisenhower Fellow since 2017. She has launched and operated the digital newsrooms of three TV stations and two print publications including Jordan’s first 24-7 public service news station, AlMamlaka TV, and privately owned Ro’ya TV and Alghad Newspaper.

Ayoub is a recipient of the 2019 Goldman Sachs - Fortune Global Women Leaders Award and an active member of the Vital Voices Global Leadership network.