Our People

Mr. Waseem Aref

Mr. Waseem Ziad Fayek Aref is a business, finance, and administrative executive with over 25 years of experience in commercial and economic development enterprises. He offers a unique blend of knowledge and expertise in new ventures and project creation, setup, and operation. Mr. Waseem has expertise in building business and financial models, mentorship of teams, and building customized operational financial systems. He coached many entrepreneurs and new firms through building their financial skills and designing sound operational and financial systems. Throughout his career, Mr. Waseem played leadership roles in financial management, strategic planning, grants design and implementation, business development, procurement, internal control assessment, and organizational structuring activities. Mr. Aref acquired a strong and wide network of business partners in Palestine, commercial and non-profit, in addition to access to several regional and international professionals in related fields. Mr. Waseem played key operational roles in the successful operations of several local and international development organizations including Birzeit University, PalTrade, DAI, Chemonics, International Youth Foundation, and Tetra Tech ARD. Born in Palestine in 1972, Waseem has a Ph.D. in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from ISM Paris-France, jointly with Baruch College in New York, USA. He holds an MBA from Birzeit University since 2004, as well as a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting. He is a Certified Fraud Examiner and is a member of MEDALLIANCE Consortium for Enhancing Business Support Organizations-EBSOMED-Academy.