Mudawanat, a new initiative of ictQATAR encouraging people in Qatar and the Arab world to take the blog-waves. Mudawanat event is happening this Saturday, December 12, 2009, from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Sharq Village & Spa in Qatar. The event will feature international and regional blogging experts, as well as interactive workshops.
Speakers:
Jeremiah Owyang is one of the fresh, young voices on the social media transformation of business. He is a Partner at Altimeter Group, a social media research and advisory firm started by Charlene Li. In this role he publishes industry reports and provides social media counsel to clients. Jeremiah lead the executive blogging program at Hitachi Data Systems, which is still blogging at blogs.hds.com and launched his own blog, Web Strategy by Jeremiah ( http://web-strategist.com/blog), which is in the top 1000 accessed according to Technorati.
Until recently, he was a Senior Analyst at Forrester Research focused on Social Computing for the Interactive Marketer. Before Forrester, Jeremiah’s was responsible for the strategy and development of corporate web programs at PodTech.net an online media network as the Director of Corporate Media Strategy. Jeremiah founded and lead the Community Marketing program at Hitachi Data Systems and has experience in Web Marketing, Intranets, Extranet and User Interface Design at companies such as Exodus Communications, Cable and Wireless, and World Savings (now Wachovia).
Ahmed Hamzawi
Head of Engineering, Google Inc., Middle East/North Africa
Ahmad is the Head of Engineering at Google for the Middle East and North Africa region. He is currently leading engineering teams focused on building and adapting products for the Arab world. Ahmad joined Google in 2006 from KNOVA Software in Silicon Valley where he was Senior Director of Engineering. At KNOVA, he led the onshore and offshore engineering development and operations of an award-winning enterprise search and knowledge management product. Previously, he managed engineering teams of early stage startup companies as well as large enterprise companies such as Autodesk and Gateway. He has also taught courses in the Department of Computer Science at the University of San Francisco. He holds a Bachelors degree in Computer Science from Carleton University in Canada, and a Masters degree in Computer Science from the University of San Francisco.
Raouf Shabayek
Blogger, blog.shabayek.com
Raouf is one of the leading Arabic voices on entrepreneurship in the blogosphere. Raouf launched his blog, blog.shabayek.com, in 2004 and has been discussing a range of businesses issues since – from start-ups to advertising, e-marketing to sales. In addition to his blog, Raouf serves as an Editor-in-Chief at Real Marketing Solutions in Dubai. He is also the author of five Arabic language books.
Mohamed Talal Badawi
Senior Web Developer & Project Manager, Royal Commission for Jubail & Yanbu
Mohamad is a Senior Web Developer and Project Manager for the Royal Commission for Jubail & Yanbu in Saudi Arabia. He founded Arab Team 2000, the largest Arab Developer Online Community in 2000, and in the past two years, founded a Books Exchange website (2008) and Tech Buffs Community (2009). He is also a technical writer for the Wahat Alhaseb Magazine in Saudia Arabia where he discusses the latest internet technologies. Badwi has been personally blogging since 2007, on issues related to IT, Project Management , Small Business and Self Development. He got his bachelor’s in Information Technologies and pursued a Masters Degree in Management Information Systems. Badwi holds certifications in Microsoft, Oracle and Self Development.
Shabina S. Khatrisi
Freelance Journalist
Shabina is an American journalist freelancing in Doha, Qatar. She has her hands in several blogs, both professional and personal, including Twitter and Global Voices Online. While in the Gulf, Khatri has reported on Doha’s struggle to transform from a tiny desert peninsula that imports everything into the region’s premier cultural, political and economic hub. Born and raised in suburban Detroit, Khatri has previously worked as an editor/reporter for the Wall Street Journal and a reporter for the Detroit Free Press.
Ammar Mohamed Khaled
Al Jazeera Talk
Ammar is one of the leading bloggers in Qatar, with his blog, being one of the most heavily trafficked in the country. As a founder of the pioneering Al Jazeera Talk, Ammar has helped create a platform for Arab youth and media to discuss a wide range of issues including world news, politics and youth affairs. Ammar is committed to engaging more Arab youth in new media and launched many Arab-focused new media projects while working as an engineer in the New Media Department at Al Jazeera. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Mass Communications from Qatar University.
Sophie Campagne (Moderator)
Forum One
Sophie is a passionate advocate for usable online products. As the Managing Director of Forum One Communications’ User Experience practice, she leads an experienced team of Information Architects, Interface Engineers and Graphic Designers producing user-centric sites and applications online. Sophie’s client have included Fortune 500 companies, US Foundations and Government agencies including ChevronTexaco, Merrill Lynch, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the United States Food & Drug Administration and the World Bank among others.