PEACE & DEVELOPMENT

our staff

QATAR

Khalid Saad Al Hajri

Co-Founder- Board member Middle East Representative

Mr. Al Hajri has extensive working experience in the Ministry of Municipality, where he served as Assistant Director of the Minister’s Office for Municipal Council Affairs until 2016. His responsibilities included coordination between the office of the Minister and relevant departments, as well as following up on the work of the Municipal Council and its related recommendations and reports. He also served as Director of the Minister’s Office and attended several conferences representing the Ministry.
... Read More He also previously worked in the Qatari Armed Forces and Al Rayyan Municipality. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration, International Cooperation. He also studies at the Higher Institute for Cooperative Studies.

Hani Shamseldin

Education and Business Development Manager

Hani Shamseldin is a distinguished business development and education executive with more than 20 years of international leadership experience in education, technology, channel management, and strategic partnerships across the Middle East and Africa. He currently serves as Educational and Training Manager at Qpoint Education Company, Qatar, where he works closely with schools, ministries of education, and educational institutions to deliver innovative learning solutions, curriculum development initiatives, STEM and Artificial Intelligence (AI) education programs, and capacity-building strategies that prepare learners for the future.
... Read More Prior to joining Qpoint Education, Hani served as Distribution Manager at Pearson, the world’s largest education company, where he led regional distribution strategies, strengthened partnerships with educational institutions and governments, and expanded access to world-class educational resources across the Middle East. His corporate leadership also includes senior management positions with Canon Middle East, Lenovo Middle East, Redington Arabia, and HP Saudi Arabia, where he successfully managed multimillion-dollar business portfolios, developed high-performing distribution networks, established strategic partnerships, and consistently delivered outstanding business growth across regional markets. Throughout his career, Hani has built a strong reputation for strategic planning, business development, organizational growth, partnership development, and market expansion. His expertise spans education management, corporate strategy, distribution and channel management, marketing, customer relationship management, financial performance, and organizational leadership. As a Board Member, Hani contributes valuable expertise in institutional development, strategic planning, private-sector engagement, educational innovation, and international partnerships. His extensive experience working with multinational organizations enables him to provide strategic guidance that strengthens organizational performance, expands collaboration opportunities, and supports sustainable growth. Hani holds a Master’s Degree in International Strategic Management from the University of Salford and a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering from Bangalore University. He has also completed executive professional development programs in leadership, sales management, finance, international marketing, information technology, and organizational development. Driven by a passion for innovation and lifelong learning, Hani remains committed to advancing education, fostering strategic partnerships, and supporting initiatives that promote sustainable development, capacity building, and organizational excellence across the region.

Imad Omar Mohamed

Mr. Imad, serves as the Public Relations and Communications Manager of the Darfur Peace and Development Organization (DPDO), where he supports the organization's mission on a voluntary basis. He is responsible for leading DPDO's public relations, media engagement, and institutional communications, ensuring effective outreach to government institutions, development partners, donors, civil society organizations, and local communities.
... Read More Working closely with the organization's leadership, he promotes DPDO's humanitarian, peacebuilding, and development initiatives through strategic communication, public awareness campaigns, media relations, and stakeholder engagement. He also coordinates the preparation of communication materials, strengthens the organization's public image, and fosters collaborative partnerships that advance DPDO's vision of sustainable peace, development, and community resilience. His dedication and commitment play an important role in enhancing the organization's visibility and supporting its humanitarian mission across Sudan and the wider region.

Dr. Sabah Al-Shabebi (UAE)

Board Member

Dr. Sabah holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from Sanaa University, Republic of Yemen. She is a certified obstetrician and gynecologist by the Jordanian Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the Arab Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Prior to her current role as Deputy Director of the Modern Medicine Center, she served as an Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialist at the Dubai Health Authority, Director General of Sharjah City Medical Center, and Medical Director of the National Center of Modern Medicine. Dr. Sabah is a member of the Emirates Medical Association and currently serves as the Chairman of the Supreme Council of Consulting and Training Group (Five and One Training Centre) within Mohammed bin Rashid’s projects – Government of Dubai. Additionally, she is the Chairman of KENZEL FACILITY MANAGEMENT within Mohammed bin Rashid’s projects – Government of Dubai. Dr. Sabah’s extensive experience and leadership in the medical industry make her a valuable asset to our DPDO organization.

Shiri Kalai

Assistant of programs

Shiri Kalai is an MSPH student in the Social and Behavioral Interventions program for International Health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is completing her practicum with HEAL. In addition to joining the HEAL team, Shiri works with Key Point Health Services helping children in Baltimore City and County with their mental health symptom and behavioral management. She is anative Spanish speaker and is excited to work with Darfur Peace and Development to provide humanitarian relief to those in need!

Maisoon Ateem

Deputy Director of Health Program

Maisoon Ateem, Deputy Director of Health Program Maisoon has over 10 years of experience working in the field of public and global health. She graduated from Johns Hopkins Master of Applied Science (MAS) in Global Health Planning and Management and studied as an undergraduate in Sudan. Upon her graduation with a BA in Medical Science from Sudan University of Science and Technology, she worked for the United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) among other UN agencies and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Sudan and the USA. Her focus was conflict-affected populations in particular women and Internally Displaced People (IDPs) with special attention on survivors of sexual violence and people living with HIV/AIDs. She has been involved in all stages of emergency and reproductive health design and implementation and dedicates her career to bridging access to quality healthcare at the community and individual levels. A strong advocate for education, Maisoon works to integrate various aspects of her practical and personal experience into helping to make the world a better place for all.

Susan Burgess-lent

Vice President & Director of Operation

Ms. Burgess-Lent began her career in humanitarian relief and development in 1994 and has worked extensively in East Africa. She is the former Program Director of Darfur Peace and Development Organization (DPDO), responsible for the funding and operation of Kassab Women’s Center, the model on which WCI’s work is based. She previously served as a consultant to the African Immigrant and Refugee Foundation (AIF), InterAction, CEPDA, and on staff at the American Red Cross International Services. In 2019, she published the non-fiction book Trouble Ahead: Dangerous Missions with Desperate People, about her work in Africa. She has presented speeches for many organizations about the impact of war and poverty on women, and solutions that can be implemented for their benefit.

Dr. Sabah Al-Shabebi

Board Member

Dr. Sabah holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from Sanaa University, Republic of Yemen. She is a certified obstetrician and gynecologist by the Jordanian Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the Arab Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Prior to her current role as Deputy Director of the Modern Medicine Center, she served as an Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialist at the Dubai Health Authority, Director General of Sharjah City Medical Center, and Medical Director of the National Center of Modern Medicine. Dr. Sabah is a member of the Emirates Medical Association and currently serves as the Chairman of the Supreme Council of Consulting and Training Group (Five and One Training Centre) within Mohammed bin Rashid’s projects – Government of Dubai. Additionally, she is the Chairman of KENZEL FACILITY MANAGEMENT within Mohammed bin Rashid’s projects – Government of Dubai. Dr. Sabah’s extensive experience and leadership in the medical industry make her a valuable asset to our DPDO organization.

Cindy Castano

Treasure - Board of Directors

Cindy Castano is the president of Alpha Management Group, Inc. (AMG), which is an organization that focuses on business development, management and documentary film production. She has 30 years’ experience in client relations, sales and business development and has been a licensed investment advisor. Prior to founding AMG, amongst several positions in sales/marketing, Cindy has worked in the investment/financial markets of USA, London, England and Geneva, Switzerland, specializing in high value, multi-million dollar accounts. Documentary film production is one of the primary elements of AMG’s business and is structured under AMG Media, a division of Alpha Management Group. Ms. Castano is currently acting as writer, editor, and producer for a documentary entitled “MY SLAVE, MY INFIDEL,” which is in production. The film focuses on the slave trade in Southern Sudan and has expanded filming as events continue to unfold Darfur, Sudan. AMG also has a documentary in negotiations which will focus specifically on the genocidal conflict in Darfur.

Dr. Suliman A. Giddo

President ,Board Member

Dr. Suliman A. Giddo is a highly accomplished expert with over twenty years of intensive and comprehensive experience in leadership, international relations, strategic planning, conflict resolution and disaster and emergency management; having successfully created strategic plans for governments and private institutions in the Middle East, Africa, and the United States. He is also a renowned academic and researcher at George Mason University, with a proven track record of excellence in teaching at American universities including the School of Business at Indiana, and serving in senior positions for several international organizations, including the prestigious American Red Cross, Management System International and Qatar Foundation. Dr. Giddo’s extensive experience includes serving as a consultant for the UA-UN joint mission. He also served as a board member for several institutions and organizations.

Dr.Giddo is the dynamic founder and president of Sub-Saharan University, which offers eight programs in diverse fields such as medicine and general surgery, nursing, medical lab, business administration, information technology, computer network, and banking and finance, with over 2000 enrolled students mostly from Internal Displaced Persons.

Dr. Giddo earned his Ph.D. in Peace Studies and Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University in the United States, where he demonstrated exceptional academic prowess. He also completed postgraduate studies in Humanitarian Assistance from Fordham University in New York, a Master of Science in Business Administration/Accounting from Strayer University in Virginia, where he was an outstanding alumni (2008), and post-graduate studies in Strategic Planning and Project Management from the prestigious Stanford University in California. Dr. Giddo obtained his B.Sc. in Business Administration from the University of Khartoum.