Our Team
Management Team
SETA TUTUNDJIAN
Founder and CEO
Seta is a global thinker and advocate for transitioning to circular food systems and regenerative economy in water scarce regions. She has led transformational programs within the water-energy-food-climate nexus since 1997.
DIMA MAROUN
Partner, Environment & Sustainability
Dima is an environmental scientist, who has dedicated over 15 years of her career to ensure that large scale infrastructure projects comply with international environmental and social standards.
The Team of Associates
DR. MOHAMAD ABIAD
Dr. Mohamad is an Associate Professor of Food Processing & Packaging at the Department of Nutrition & Food Sciences and the Director of the Laboratories for the Environment, Agriculture, and Food (LEAF) at the Faculty of Agricultural & Food Sciences, American University of Beirut (AUB). He also holds an adjunct faculty position at the School of Packaging at Michigan State University (MSU).
DR. HUSSEIN HASSAN
Dr. Hussein is director of academic compliance at the provost’s office, and associate professor of Food Science and Technology at the Lebanese American University.
TAREQ ABDALLA ABDULQADER
Tareq is an independent Strategic Communications & Stakeholders Management expert with over 20 years of experience helping governmental and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to raise awareness and change undesirable behaviors of their target groups.
DR. FATMA REKIK
Dr. Fatma is a soil scientist by training and an agricultural development specialist by practice working to solve some of the world’s most pressing issues related to agricultural sustainability, food security, rural poverty, and malnutrition in developing nations. She holds a PhD, M.Sc., and B.Sc, all from Cornell University in Agricultural Sciences and Development.
REEM MAROUN
Reem is an experienced bilingual PR and Communications professional who, since moving to Dubai in 2011, has supported clients within the investment and development, hospitality, healthcare and lifestyle industries.
EMMA CHOW
Emma is a food systems specialist and provides input in strategy development, product innovations and processes using a cross-sector approach. She previously led the Food initiative at the global circular economy charity, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, authoring two landmark reports: Cities and the Circular Economy for Food and The Big Food Redesign with her international team
DELPHINE ACLOQUE DESMULIER
Delphine Acloque is a researcher and expert in agriculture and food studies in the Middle East. She has a long experience in the Arab world and her work focuses on agri-food challenges in arid areas. She completed her PhD on the agricultural frontier in Egypt’s desert areas in 2019 (Paris Nanterre university, She currently works as a remote consultant for Club Déméter in Paris, a French think tank dedicated to agriculture and food. She is also a member of the editorial committee of The Déméter.
OMAR SHIHAB
Founder, Chief Sustainability Officer, BOCA. The visionary behind the Middle East’s forward-thinking and leading sustainable restaurant, BOCA. Hospitality project director, restaurateur, consultant and food and beverage concept creator based in Dubai, UAE. An advocate of local food and farming, foraging, exploring new food sources, rethinking dining experiences and collaborating across borders and industries. Born and raised in the United Arab Emirates, Omar is Gault&Millau UAE 2022 Sustainability Champion of the Year, and an Advisor to the UAE Restaurant Group, an officially registered association in the UAE unifying the voice of the restaurant industry across the country.
KEARY SHANDLER
Keary Shandler combines a rich background in international business with academia to embed sustainability within the hospitality industry. With a career that originated in New Zealand, she has held international sales and marketing roles in hotels, financial services, publishing, brand licensing and executive education organisations. Keary earned her MBA through Murdoch University and continued to hold teaching and leadership positions at Murdoch Dubai from 2015 – 2020. She continues to sit on the Academic Board and mentor students and graduates in career aspirations.
RIMAN ABUOSBA
Riman has had great success as a leader in public relations, advertising, branding, marketing and production her career spans over 20 years.