The Policy Initiative - Team

  • عربي
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    • Sami Atallah

      Founding Director

      Dr Sami Atallah, a trained economist and political scientist, is the founding director of TPI.  He was formerly the executive director of the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies (LCPS) from 2011 to 2020. His research spans various policy areas including political economy of development, political institutions, economic and local development. He has published several policy and academic articles and edited four books on public finance, decentralization in the Arab world, the effectiveness of the parliament, and the prospects and impacts of oil and gas. He has authored more than one hundred opinion articles on politics, economics, and social issues on Lebanon. In addition to research, Sami served as an advisor to the Lebanese Ministries of Finance, Industry and the Interior and municipalities, as well as to the Office of the Prime Minister. He also served in the government established committee to draft a decentralization law and contributed to many policy discussions with key decision makers. Moreover, he has consulted for the World Bank, European Union, UNDP, and UNICEF among others. He holds a PhD in Politics from New York University (NYU) and two masters degrees from Yale University in International Economics and Development and Columbia University in Quantitative Methods.

    • Akl Al Kassouf

      Finance and Grants Manager
      Akl Al Kassouf is the Finance and Grants Manager at The Policy Initiative. His work focuses on overseeing the organization’s financial management and grants administration to ensure compliance, transparency, and effective use of resources. He is responsible for preparing and reviewing financial reports, developing and monitoring budgets, conducting cost analyses, managing revenue, and supervising the center’s accounting operations to safeguard the organization’s financial health. In his grants management capacity, Akl ensures donor compliance, monitors project budgets, reviews grant agreements, and supports program teams in aligning financial reporting with donor requirements. Akl previously worked as a Financial and Accounting Consultant for multiple entities, including Non-Profit Organizations. He holds an IFRS Certification from The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA, London), a B.A. in Accounting from the American University of Culture and Education, and a T.S. in Accounting from Notre-Dame de la Consolata.

    • Sami Zoughaib

      Economist and Research Manager

      Sami Zoughaib is an Economist and Research Manager at The Policy Initiative. His research focuses on Lebanon's political economy, governance structures, macroeconomics, and local economic development. In addition to managing the research team, he also coordinates and conceptualizes TPI's research projects. Prior to joining TPI, Sami was a researcher at the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies, where he led and worked on several projects related to international donor conferences, parliamentary elections, and monitoring legislative production and reform. In addition to his affiliate platforms, Sami's research has been published in Governance, Economic Research Forum, openDemocracy, L'Orient-Le Jour, L'Orient Today, Annahar, and Al-Akhbar. Sami holds an M.A. in Public Policy from the University of Reading and a B.A. in Economics from the American University of Beirut.

    • Suzan Massaad Sfeir

      Project and Administrative Assistant
      Suzan Massaad Sfeir is the Project and Administrative Assistant at The Policy Initiative. Her work focuses on all the administrative work, including updating the website and disseminating all publications. She is also in charge of conferences, coordinating with participants, and works closely with the accounting department. Suzan previously worked at the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies as the center’s project and administrative assistant, and at the Middle East publications as executive secretary. She holds an executive secretary degree from the Young Women Christian Association.

    • Rawand Issa

      Digital Communications Lead
      Rawand Issa is the Digital Communications Lead at The Policy Initiative, where she develops and executes the organization’s visual and digital content strategy across social media, website, and multimedia platforms. Her role ensures cohesive and engaging messaging to amplify the organization’s mission, campaigns, and advocacy efforts. Issa has worked in the media field since 2011 with both Arab and international organizations. She is also a cartoonist and the author of the graphic novel Inside the Giant Fish, published in Arabic in 2021 and in English in 2022. She is currently pursuing an MA in Cultural Studies at Istanbul Bilgi University.

    • Lea Ghandour

      Researcher
      Lea Ghandour is a researcher at The Policy Initiative, where she supports evidence-based policymaking through legislative analysis, macroeconomic reform tracking, and financial data reporting. Her work includes developing visual tools like the Financial Crisis Dashboard and producing accessible policy analysis. Lea has also worked on governance-focused research and strategic planning to improve child welfare frameworks. She holds a BS in Economics with a minor in Political Science/International Affairs.

    • Najib Zoghaib

      Data Officer and Researcher

      Najib Zoghaib is a Researcher and Data Officer at The Policy Initiative. His work spans political economy, Lebanon's economic collapse, international trade, elections, foreign aid, and local governance. Najib has led the development of monthly memos and data dashboards that track state activity to the wider public. He has also co-authored several policy reports on Lebanon’s economic and governance challenges. Najib holds a B.S. in Banking and Finance with a Minor in Data Analytics from the Lebanese American University.

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