Biographies

Khalid Samara

Khalid Samara is the chair of the MENOG Programme Committee.

He is a seasoned Cybersecurity, Networking, and Telecommunications Technology Leader currently with NETSCOUT, bringing extensive expertise in network security architecture, threat mitigation, and scalable infrastructure strategies.

Throughout his career, Khalid has served as a trusted advisor to leading Internet Service Providers and Tier-1 telecommunications operators across the Middle East and globally, concentrating on core network design, security framework deployment, BGP/Flowspec mechanisms, and operational scaling.

A prominent figure in the regional and international Internet ecosystem, Khalid is deeply committed to technical capacity building, focusing heavily on enhancing engineering capabilities, network resilience, and infrastructure readiness across the Middle East. Over the course of his career, he has played a pivotal role in training hundreds of ISP engineers and delivering specialized technical tutorials at major network operations conferences and industry forums worldwide.

Anwar AbuAfifa

Anwar Musa Abu Afifa is a Senior Packet Core Planning Engineer at Jawwal with more than 12 years of experience in telecommunications, specializing in mobile data services, packet core networks, and Mobile Packet Backbone Networks (MPBN), with expertise in network operations, planning, and implementation. She has contributed to major mobile network initiatives, including 3G deployments, and is currently involved in 4G network implementation, as well as the evolution of mobile data infrastructure.

Anwar holds an MBA in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Birzeit University, evaluated as Distinguished, and a B.Sc. in Communication and Electronics Engineering from Palestine Polytechnic University, where she was recognized on the university honour list three times. Her continuous professional development includes specialized training in Ericsson Telco Cloud, PCC, PCG, CCPC, 5G Core fundamentals, IPv6, DNS and Internet technologies, IP networking, and Quality of Service.

She is an active contributor to the regional and global Internet community and serves as a Program Committee Member for MENOG. She has contributed to RIPE and other Internet community initiatives through volunteer roles, fellowship coaching, and selection committee participation. She has received fellowships to attend RIPE and IETF meetings and MENOG, and continues to contribute to community, mentorship, and knowledge-sharing activities.

Anwar has published research papers in telecommunications and mobile communications, with a focus on diversity techniques in MIMO systems and big data in the Palestinian telecommunications sector. She has published research in international conference proceedings in Korea, Taiwan, the UK, and Jordan, and has personally presented her research in Jordan. Her research on big data in the Palestinian telecommunications sector was published by Springer in 2023 and presented at an international conference in Zarqa, Jordan.

Her achievements include the Engineer Hijjawi Award for first place in the Best Research in Communication and Information Sector competition in 2011, as well as the Creativity Award from the Jordan Engineers Association's Fourth Creativity Forum in 2011. She has also received an award for distinguished graduation projects and other academic and professional recognitions.

Beyond her technical and research work, Anwar is passionate about volunteering, community building, mentorship, and knowledge sharing, particularly supporting the next generation of engineers and Internet professionals. Her interests include Internet infrastructure, mobile technologies, network planning, innovation, research, and the role of connectivity in advancing digital transformation and automation.

Fahad Ahmed

Fahad Ahmed is a member of the MENOG Programme Committee.

Halil Kama

Halil Kama is a member of the MENOG Programme Committee.

Hanna Kreitem

Hanna Kreitem is the Director for Internet Technology and Development at the Internet Society. He focuses on peering infrastructure and shutdowns. Hanna holds a PhD in Media and Communication from Northumbria University in Newcastle, UK, where he studied Internet limitations and their impact on tangible outcomes of Internet use.

Massimiliano Stucchi

Massimiliano Stucchi is a member of the MENOG Programme Committee

Mehmet Tik

Mehmet Tik is a member of the MENOG Programme Committee

Osama Al-Dosary

Osama is a seasoned professional with an extensive engineering background, currently serving as an Independent Advisor for organizations and consulting firms in the technology and telecommunications sectors. With 25 years of diverse domestic and international experience in ICT, he has excelled in various roles encompassing delivery, engineering, operations, product development and GTM. His expertise lies in technology adoption, market development, business transformation, change management, and strategic execution.

Previously, Osama was the President and CEO of Salam (Integrated Telecom). He also served as an advisor to the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, where he led initiatives focused on bridging the digital divide and enhancing ICT infrastructure as part of the Vision 2030 National Transformation Program. His prior experience includes over 12 years in multinational companies, notably at VMware and Cisco Systems.

Osama actively contributes to the Saudi Internet Society and has been a key organizer of the Middle East Network Operators Group (MENOG) for over 14 years, including 7 years as Chairman. He earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from King Saud University.

Taha Hussain Marathi

Taha Hussain Marathi is a member of the MENOG Programme Committee

Waleed S. Aloriny

Waleed S. Aloriny is a member of the MENOG Programme Committee

Marco Brandstaetter

Marco Brandstaetter is an Internet infrastructure entrepreneur and interconnection expert with more than three decades of experience building telecommunications businesses, Internet ecosystems, and digital infrastructure across Europe, the Middle East, and emerging markets. Today, Marco serves as Global Program Manager for DE-CIX as a Service, where he works with partners around the world to develop and operate Internet Exchanges and interconnection ecosystems. Over the past decade, he has played a key role in DE-CIX’s expansion across the Middle East, helping establish and grow Internet Exchanges and digital hubs in markets including the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Qatar, and Jordan. Marco has been closely involved with UAE-IX in Dubai since its early days, supporting its development from a newly established Internet Exchange into the region’s most important Internet Exchange platform. More recently, his work has included the development of IRAQ-IXP, Doha IX, and AqabaIX, with a particular focus on keeping Internet traffic local, improving resilience, attracting international content and cloud providers, and strengthening regional digital ecosystems. His career in the Internet industry began in 1992 when he co-founded software company HAPPYsoft, followed by HAPPYnet in 1995, one of Austria’s early Internet Service Providers. In 2003, he founded telecommunications wholesale provider i3b, expanding the company internationally before selling it to its largest wholesale customer in 2010. Combining an entrepreneurial mindset with deep technical and commercial understanding of Internet infrastructure, Marco has spent his career bringing together network operators, carriers, content providers, data centers, governments, and technology partners to turn new interconnection concepts into sustainable infrastructure businesses. In 2026, Marco was named to Capacity’s Power 50 Middle East, recognizing influential leaders shaping the region’s digital infrastructure and connectivity industry.

Sara Alamin Mohamed Hassan

Sara Alamin is the Interconnection Manager at Packet Clearing House, where she provides assistance and support to IX operators and contributes to PCH's network expansion by explaining the benefits of hosting a DNS node at Internet exchange points.

Prior to joining PCH, Sara was the CTO of SudREN, the Sudanese Research and Education Network, and before that, Network Engineer at the Nile Center for Technology Research.

She is an active supporter of Network Operations Groups and co-founded the Sudanese NOG. Sara is also a frequent trainer on IPv6, DNS, DNSSEC, and network scalability at AfNOG, and a speaker at internet meetings such as APRICOT, MENOG, and other IXP and peering meetings.

Sara also enjoys supporting internet measurement initiatives, serving as an ambassador for the RIPE Atlas project, and she contributed to the OECD report on BGP Routing Security ("October 2022, No. 330").

She holds an MSc in Internet Engineering and a BSc in Electronic Engineering.

Hisham Ibrahim

Hisham Ibrahim is the Chief Community Officer at the RIPE NCC.

He leads the RIPE NCC's engagement efforts to foster a dynamic, inclusive RIPE community. He is responsible for the engagement with the RIPE NCC members, the RIPE community, Internet governance and training services.

Both from a technical and policy background, Hisham has 20 years of experience in the field of Internet technology and its governance.

He has a strong vision of the market, a broad understanding of technologies used on the Internet and a deep knowledge of the European, African and Middle Eastern markets.

Hisham is active on several committees in various Network Operator Groups (NOGs), peering forums, IPv6 task forces and forums across three continents.

Jad El Cham

Jad El Cham is a network engineer and cyber security enthusiast with extensive knowledge in designing, deploying and securing networks. Passionate about driving positive change in the telecommunications sector, Jad is currently serving as a Senior Public Policy Technical Advisor at RIPE NCC, the Regional Internet Registry serving Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East.

His role involves engaging in strategic policy developments and monitoring emerging technology trends. Jad also focuses on capacity building and community knowledge sharing through dedicated workshops and tailored activities for network operators, universities, law enforcement agencies, banking institutions and government regulators.

Before joining the RIPE NCC, Jad was in charge of deploying IP networks for SMEs and service providers in Europe, Middle East and Africa. His experience spans the networking domain, IoT and mobile access technologies.

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Chafic Chaya

Dr Chafic Chaya is the Regional Manager for Public Policy and Government Affairs for the Middle East (Senior External Officer). With over 25 years of experience in the Internet and telecommunications sectors, he works closely with governments, regulators, policymakers, and intergovernmental organisations to promote a secure, scalable, and resilient Internet infrastructure, grounded in multistakeholder collaboration and inclusive public policy.

He is an active contributor to national, regional and global Internet governance fora, including the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and the United Nations activities related to the Internet, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the League of Arab States, as well as the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process. Through these engagements, he advances dialogue and cooperation in support of the WSIS Action Lines and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

At the RIPE NCC, Dr Chaya leads outreach, public policy engagement, and capacity development initiatives across the Middle East and beyond, supporting the growth of Internet infrastructure and good governance practices. He also oversees academic and professional training programmes in the region that empower the next generation of Internet professionals and strengthen local technical communities.

Dr Chaya holds a Doctorate in Business Administration with a focus on Internet governance, an MBA, and a degree in Telecommunications Engineering. His commitment to Internet advancement is reflected in his active roles and collaborations with numerous national, regional, and international activities and organisations, including the Order of Engineers in Beirut, the American University in Dubai’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Advisory Board, the Policy Network on AI (PNAI), GigaNet, the global IGF, the national and regional initiatives (NRIs) and others. Through these efforts, he continues to foster strategic partnerships and policy dialogue to build a more open, secure, and inclusive Internet across different regions.