Board Structure and Organizational Governance

Established in 2018, Greenpeace MENA is a member of the Greenpeace network that consists of 28 independent national and regional organizations in over 56 countries across…

Each organization of Greenpeace network operates in very different contexts around the world, designing its own specific approach to support positive change. Greenpeace MENA has a regional operation  in the Middle East and North Africa with an ongoing continuous presence in several countries in the region. 

Greenpeace MENA offers solutions to the major environmental problems in the Middle East and North African region, notably the climate emergency. We work hand in hand with diverse regional and national stakeholders, focusing our work where we have expertise and experience and where we can make the greatest impact and contribution. 

Greenpeace MENA seeks to promote a greener, more sustainable and more equitable future for everyone. We believe that a better world is not only possible, but is already happening.

As Greenpeace MENA, we can’t do this alone: 

Greenpeace MENA takes pride to be a financially independent organization and does not accept funding from governments, corporations or political parties. We are honored to rely on donations from generous individuals to carry out our work.

 

Board Structure and Organizational Governance 

Greenpeace MENA is committed to maintaining the highest standards of good governance and financial management, as well as upholding the integrity of our organization. Our Supervisory Board, which normally consists of five members in addition to the Executive Director, plays a crucial role in ensuring adherence to internationally accepted governance and financial management standards. 

The board is responsible for approving our budget and audited accounts, as well as appointing our Executive Director. Our board members serve voluntarily and are selected based on their expertise and demonstrated commitment to Greenpeace’s mission and values within the region. Through the diligent work of our Supervisory Board, we remain a transparent and accountable organization that strives to make a positive impact in the world.

Ghiwa Nakat- Executive Director

Ghiwa Nakat has spearheaded Greenpeace’s growth and expansion in the Middle East and North Africa to make it a vital part of a vibrant environmental movement that prioritizes the climate emergency and a just energy transition. She is determined to bring about real change and has built a passionate and diverse team that represents the breadth and diversity of this region. 

After studying agricultural engineering at the American University in Beirut, Ghiwa obtained an MBA at the Université Paris Dauphine. Serving on the advisory board of WAAUB, she is dedicated to empowering MENA communities with sustainable solutions and support. 

As a business leader, she spent two decades providing inspiration, motivation and encouragement to help organizations develop their ambitious visions and make them a reality. In the agricultural business sector, she worked across the MENA region to apply her expertise in holistically tackling the key agricultural and environmental issues faced by farmers. As the first woman agronomist in her company, she took a fresh approach to building close relationships with growers helping them to build their ambition and innovation. 

Her experience as a long-time environmentalist has taken her to the frontline of climate change, seeing the most vulnerable communities bear the brunt of the climate crisis and pollution. She is committed to help provide these communities with the support and solutions they need to adapt.

Mohammed ElKhateeb – Chairman of the Board

Mohammed ElKhateeb holds a Master of Science degree in Environmental Governance from the University of Freiburg, Germany, focuses his research on sustainable mobility, environmental policy, and urban resilience. He authors a blog called “The SUbMonitor,” which delves into sustainable mobility, policy, and planning in cities globally, with an emphasis on public transportation.

Mario Stephan – Board Member

Mario Stephan is currently the Head of Philanthropy Diversification and Impact for Doctors Without Borders/ Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) based out of Geneva-Switzerland.

Mario’s experience encompasses a wide variety of roles, from field work to leadership and executive roles, with several international organisations. In the course of his career, Mario has lived and worked in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Afghanistan, Somalia, Egypt, and the UAE. Mario also held regional positions covering eastern and southern Africa, the MENA region, and the Gulf (GCC). Mario Has lived and worked in the MENA/GCC region for 28 years.

In the years leading to his present appointment with GP MENA, Mario was involved in different governance roles, namely as the board secretary of MSF Belgium and chairman of INSO (the NGO safety organisation) He also joined two other advisory boards of Gulf universities and foundations, bridging the gap with the Aid & Relief sector, and continues to sit today on the advisory board of the American University in Dubai (AUD)’s Masters of International Affairs (MAIA)
Mario speaks Arabic, English, French and Spanish, and holds a Master’s degree in Management and Business Administration from the KEDGE business school (Bordeaux, France), a professional trainer accreditation from the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (London, United Kingdom), and Mentor accreditation at Senior Practitioner Level by the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC).
He is lastly a faculty member of the Master’s degree in sustainable humanitarian action at the DIHAD humanitarian college (UAE) in partnership with the Universidad Católica de Murcia (Spain)

Yara Shawky – Board Member

Yara Shawky is a seasoned researcher and civil society professional with over 20 years of experience. She has collaborated with international organizations, donors, and funders to enhance the resilience of civil society organizations in Egypt, MENA region and globally. She has worked with organizations such as UNHCR, Save the Children, and UNDP, focusing on youth participation, gender inclusion, and development programs. 

In her recent roles with Ford Foundation, Yara’s efforts have centred on social justice, civic space, digital rights, and climate justice. As a generalist who worked across many themes and fields, Yara brings extensive technical expertise in strategy development, policy and context analysis, program and project management, and institutional capacity building for civil society organizations.

Yara earned degrees in political science, human rights and democratization, and public policy. She is also a Senior Fellow at The Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity (AFSEE) program, with research focused on the challenges of designing entrepreneurship programs, including digital entrepreneurship programs and green start-ups.

Hala Kawzally – Board Treasurer 

Hala Kawzally is a seasoned financial advisor and has acquired over 30 years of experience in banking, investments, and business development. As a certified financial advisor from the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment, United Kingdom, she founded Timeless, a consultancy firm specializing in financial literacy, business advisory, and leadership training programs, collaborating with international organizations such as UNIDO and ESFD. 

Hala has empowered countless entrepreneurs and companies through tailored programs focused on financial wellbeing, wealth management, and organizational restructuring. Her leadership experience includes serving as an Executive Manager at HSBC, General Manager of Abido, a leading spices manufacturer, and more recently General Manager and owner of GALI, a commercial food agency for Middle Eastern products.

As Treasurer of Greenpeace MENA and an active member of MELA and LLWB, she advocates for sustainable development and financial education across the region. With two master’s degrees in finance and accounting, and Marketing and Management, Hala is committed to fostering financial literacy, leadership excellence, and sustainable growth.

Nadine Wahab – Board Member

Nadine Wahab is a civil society leader working at the intersection of environmental sustainability, human rights, and policy advocacy with over 25 years experience. She is the Founder and Director of Eco-Dahab, an initiative based in South Sinai focused on sustainable local development. Under her leadership, Eco-Dahab collaborated with local authorities and national ministries to support initiatives such as the #PlasticFreeDahab campaign, which contributed to the ban on single-use plastics in the region.

Wahab also serves as Director of Sustainable Network Egypt (SNE), a coalition of environmental organizations, social enterprises, and advocates. She coordinated the network’s civil society engagement during COP27 and supported collective advocacy on the Global Plastics Treaty. At COP27, SNE hosted more than 60 events in the Green Zone. Wahab also played a key role in CultureCOP and the Climate Heritage Network’s programming in Sharm ElSheik.

Her earlier work includes directing the Arab Center for the Promotion of Human Rights and managing international advocacy at the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies. She was previously Deputy Campaign Manager for Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei’s 2011 presidential campaign, overseeing national operations and strategy. She has also worked in Washington, D.C., in communications and advocacy roles with the Rights Working Group and the Arab American Institute.

Wahab’s work has consistently focused on building cross-sector partnerships and supporting community-centered approaches to policy and advocacy. She has contributed to publications including The Climate Change Primer, a resource for policymakers in the MENA region. Her areas of focus include civic space, environmental governance, and movement-building in challenging political contexts.