After graduating with a PhD from the United Kingdom, I was privilege to gain executive level experience in research and administration at the King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. I utilized my seven years at KAU to empower dozens of colleagues and thousands of students and researchers to achieve their best potential. I helped to lead the research, which resulted in over 30 peer-reviewed publications in prestigious journals focused on stem cells, exosomes and preeclampsia.

At KAU, I have held number of positions including Vice-Dean of Student Affairs, Deputy Head of Stem Cell Unit and Head of Central Laboratories and Museums. These experiences have enabled me to mature as an executive, while having a positive impact on student life and colleagues. As Vice-Dean, I served on multiple committees. I am the Founding member of the Executive Committee in, Head of the Scientific Committee and Academic Supervisor in the Recruitment Committee. These experiences now culminated in being appointed the Advisor to the Vice-President for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research. I am a member of the board for the KAU and University of Oxford’s Center for AI in Precision Medicine.

My leadership experience at KAU also extends to external organizations. I was awarded grant on a Fast Track Project for “The role of exosomes in COVID-19 pathogenesis” from KACST. I am a team member working on a national project on Biobank for stem cell.

My academic experience has served me well in my entrepreneurial ventures, both in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.  I completed my Summer Post-Doctoral (PDSR) from the British Council in the laboratories of Professor www.asifahmed.org. I have continued to collaborate with this world-renowned researcher, who also the founder of Aston Medical School and MirZyme Therapeutics; both are based in Birmingham UK. I am involved in the development of MirZyme, who’s mission to make preeclampsia history. MirZyme has been granted 10 patents in top 10 economies and has developed a diagnostic test and a cure for preeclampsia. I have contributed to the development of the business plan in highlighting the importance of MENA region as market for unmet medical need in pregnancy complication and contributed to increasing the likelihood of a Saudi-British partnership. As part of this, I was instrumental in forging a partnership agreement between KAU and MirZyme Therapeutics.

As part of my national duty for inclusivity, Islam and scientific rigor, I contributed to the establishment of HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal Center for Moderation. I was also appointed a member of the Executive Committee of the Moderation Award which gave this award to distinguished individuals including senior government officials and ministers. It is worth mentioning that I’m the founder of the Qurathon International Hackathons.

These experiences have enabled me to be a public speaker, a guest on television and a columnist for national and regional newspapers like ArabNews. I had also an interview on the Saudi TV regrading my team’s research contribution during the COVID crisis.