TEDxBaghdad

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Aya Alqaisi

  Aya Al-Qaisi is an Iraqi television presenter and journalist who uses media as a platform for inclusion and social impact. After earning her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Al-Esraa University in Baghdad in 2023, she spent over five years working with UTV, where she became one of the first media presenters with a disability to appear on Iraqi television. Aya is a member of the Dubai Press Club and currently serves as Iraq correspondent for the Lebanese newspaper An-Nahar. Alongside her journalism, she leads public awareness campaigns, including the “From the Heart” breast cancer initiative, helping encourage early screening and saving lives.

• Dr. Moneer K. Faraj

  Dr. Moneer K. Faraj is an Iraqi neurosurgeon and Assistant Professor at the College of Medicine, University of Baghdad. In recognition of his contributions to public healthcare, he was named Best Government Employee in the Arab World in 2024. Dr. Faraj has performed several pioneering neurosurgical procedures introduced for the first time in Iraq and holds six registered inventions in brain surgery. He founded the country’s first experimental neurosurgery laboratory to train future specialists and contributed to establishing the first neurosurgery unit and intensive care unit in Diyala Province. An active researcher and educator, he has published more than 42 peer-reviewed scientific papers, authored four medical textbooks printed in the United States, and supervised numerous graduate students in neurosurgery, medical physics, and biomedical engineering. His work continues to advance neurosurgical practice and education in Iraq and the region.

• Dr. Murtadha Ali

  Dr. Murtadha Ali is a senior clinical genomics scientist with more than a decade of expertise in molecular diagnostics and rare genetic disorders. He earned his Ph.D. in molecular biology from Universität Greifswald, Germany, and completed advanced training in human genetics at Université Montpellier, France. His lifelong mission is to decode the language of DNA and uncover how a single genetic change can alter the course of an entire life. Demonstrated success in both research and diagnostic settings, including CAP/ISO-certified laboratories and international biotech environments. Today, Dr. Ali focuses on diagnosing rare genetic mutations in children and adults who have faced years of uncertainty and misdiagnosis. His work has brought clarity and hope to over 1,500 families worldwide and contributed to the discovery of novel variant disease-causing genes, turning unanswered questions into life-changing answers.

• Lamah Harb

  Lama Harb is a social worker, psychologist, and behavior analyst specializing in therapy for children. She studied Social Work and Psychology at the Lebanese American University (LAU) and holds advanced training in Behavior Analysis at the BCBA-D level. Lama has extensive experience working in the social work sector and with NGOs, where she provides child-centered therapeutic services, behavioral interventions, and family support. She also serves as a BCBA consultant, designing and supervising individualized behavior plans and supporting multidisciplinary care teams. Her work integrates evidence-based practice with a strong commitment to children’s mental health, ethical care, and community well-being.

• Mohamed Al-Jubori

  Mohamed Al-Jubori is an Iraqi architect with an international design career spanning the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and China. A defining chapter of his professional journey was his long-term work at Zaha Hadid Architects, where he developed an advanced design approach and extensive experience delivering highly complex, large-scale projects. During his time at Zaha Hadid Architects, Al-Jubori contributed to the design and realization of landmark projects, including the Central Bank of Iraq Headquarters, the National Heritage Museum in Diriyah (Riyadh), the Nuremberg Exhibition Center in Germany, and Al Janoub Stadium for the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, alongside numerous high-rise and low-rise developments. His expertise spans master planning, urban development, residential and commercial projects, hospitality, culture, education, offices, and sports facilities, with a particular focus on cultural, hospitality, and mixed-use developments. His work combines forward-looking design vision with technical precision and a deep understanding of construction and execution.

• Mohammed Aldelaimi

  CEO

  Cybersecurity expert and CEO of Borderless Security, with over 25 years of experience protecting governments, financial institutions, and major enterprises. Holds dual CCIE certifications (Security & Data Center) and leads advanced military-grade security projects across multiple countries.

• Mohammed Ismaeel

  Mohammed Ismaeel is a Technical Manager in the automotive industry, where he leads the development and evolution of digital platforms and complex systems that support large-scale operations. His work focuses on defining technical roadmaps, modernizing legacy systems, and translating business needs into scalable, cloud-native solutions. Mohammed works closely with cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders to improve system reliability, performance, and long-term sustainability. His experience sits at the intersection of technology, strategy, and operational resilience, with a focus on building systems designed to adapt and endure in rapidly changing environments.

• Qais Al-Sindy

  Qais Al-Sindy is a visual and conceptual artist born in Baghdad and based in California. Trained in both mechanical engineering and fine arts, his multidisciplinary practice spans painting, installation, video art, and conceptual projects. His work explores themes of memory, displacement, war, and the fragile relationship between truth and history, often using symbolic materials such as blueprints, burnt books, and archival forms. Through a philosophical inquiry into loss and survival, Al-Sindy transforms remnants of destruction into poetic visual narratives that question how histories are recorded, erased, and remembered. His work has been exhibited widely across the United States, Europe, and the Middle East, with recent and upcoming solo exhibitions in California, Virginia, and Saudi Arabia.

• Watar Band

  Watar Band is a contemporary Iraqi music group founded in late 2022, blending academic backgrounds with artistic passion to create a distinctive musical identity that has resonated both inside Iraq and internationally. The band is led by Dr. Farqad Khudhur, its founder and guitarist, a dentist and lecturer in oral medicine who bridges professional precision with artistic sensitivity. He is joined by Dr. Ahmed Alsaidaly, lead vocalist and cajón player, a practicing pharmacist known for his expressive voice and stage presence, and Ahmed Alhyali, lead vocalist, oud player, and composer, an information technology engineering graduate who shapes the band’s melodic character. Since its formation, Watar Band has performed at festivals and international stages across Australia, Sweden, the UAE, Oman, Jordan, and beyond, presenting original songs and reimagined Iraqi heritage music to diverse audiences worldwide.

• Wisam Allami

  Wisam Allami is an architect and founder of LAMI Architects, based in Dubai, working across residential, cultural, and hospitality projects in the Middle East, India, Turkey, and beyond. His work centers on creating meaningful connections between people, place, and nature, with human experience at the core. Wisam began his professional journey in the UAE, graduating in architecture in 2012, and later earned a Master’s degree in Business in Architecture and Design in Spain. This combination shaped an approach that blends creative exploration with strategic thinking. He views architecture as a process of listening—reading materials, history, and context to reveal the inherent qualities of a place rather than imposing form. Beyond architectural practice, his perspective is informed by photography, using observation to explore the subtle relationship between people and the spaces they inhabit.