The International Committee



THE International COMMITTEE



comprised of 12 independent, internationally renowned experts from a variety of disciplines, countries and backgrounds



H.E. Prof. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim



Ameenah Gurib-Fakim has served as the 6th and First Female President of the Republic of Mauritius (2015-2018). Prior to that, she has been the Managing Director of the Centre International de Développement Pharmaceutique (CIDP R & I) as well as Professor of Organic Chemistry with an endowed chair at the University of Mauritius.


Since 2001, she has served successively as Dean of the Faculty of Science and Pro Vice Chancellor (2004-2010). She has authored and co-edited 30 books, several book chapters and scientific articles in the field of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. Elected Fellow of several academies and societies, Ms Gurib-Fakim received several international prizes including the 2007 l’Oreal-UNESCO Prize for Women in Science and the African Union Commission Award for Women in Science, 2009.


In 2021, she has been appointed as Distinguished Professor at the John Wesley School of Leadership, Carolina University, USA. In June 2016, she was in the Forbes List for the 100 ‘Most Powerful women in the world’ and 1st among the Top 100 Women in Africa Forbes List 2017, 2019. She is honoured as one of Foreign Policy’s 2015 Global Thinkers.



HRH PRINCE ADNAN EL-HASHEMITE



The second son for HRH Prince El-Sharif Mohammad bin King Faisal (I) of Iraq El-Hashemite. He earned a BSc Degree in Management - International Banking and Finance and a High-Diploma in International Relations from the USA. Along with philanthropy and social development, after graduation, he worked at renowned US and international financial institutions and established a development group dedicated to utilization of private equities and home offices for urban redevelopment in underprivileged unfinanceable sectors.

His love and passion for Arts and Culture was clear since young age. At the age of 16, exhibited his first Thematic Calligraphy Artwork with other renowned artists and at 17, held first one-man show and then after continued to exhibit his paintings in Cairo, Madrid, London and New York Metro where he donated all proceedings to support youth education and arts programs in developing countries mainly in Latin America. Prince Adnan utilized knowledge of cultures and language of Arts for promotion of Peace and Social Development and to influence international organizations and governing bodies including UNESCO to name Culture as The Foundation for Global Peace.

In 1995, RASIT’s Board of Trustees and Executive Board elected Prince Adnan as the Dean of RASIT, following the Founder President of RASIT the late HRH Prince El-Sharif Mohammad’s retirement. Since 1995, Prince Adnan’s experience in banking and finance, vision and leadership led to a great development and transformation in RAST’s work and sustainable methods of funding its programs. He turned RASIT’s policies, work, partners, and affiliates into an international platform for catered development programs that would answer the specialized needs of countries and regions. In 1997, Prince Adnan’s study on incentivizing Corporate Social Responsibility and turning a percentage of corporate taxes into defined taxation for education and direct investments in youth and social developments. The study was adopted by the British Government and other European countries, and later with the United Nations in its Millennium Development Goals.

In 2004, Prince Adnan established his independent business, and focused on academic career. He established RASIT’s Operation at the United Nations in 2007, and is the founder of UN Fellowship Program, which is now an academic program in different universities. In addition to his position in RASIT, he is a Professor of International Relations, and on the Board of Regents at Felician University, USA.



DR. SUSAN WINDHAM-BANNISTER



Dr. Susan Windham-Bannister is a nationally and internationally recognized expert in biopharma innovation, market access and market optimization strategies. She has been recognized by the Boston Globe as one of the “10 Most Influential Women in Biotech,” by Boston Magazine as one of the “50 Most Powerful Women in Boston” and by Biosphere as one of the 10 most prominent African American life science leaders. She is the immediate past Chair of the National Governing Board of the Association for Women in Science (AWIS), a Director of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a Director of Aridis Pharmaceuticals, a Director of Humacyte Inc. and a Director of Histogen Inc.


From 2008-2015 Dr. Windham-Bannister served as President and CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC), which administered a $1-billion (USD) Life Sciences investment fund created to catalyze innovation in all sectors of the Massachusetts life sciences community – biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, medical diagnostics and bioinformatics/analytics. She was a member of the Center’s Board of Directors with Boston life sciences luminaries that include Joshua Boger Ph.D., founder of Vertex Abbie Celniker Ph.D., the first female partner of Third Rock Ventures Edward Benz, M.D., former President of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and Peter Slavin, M.D., President of Massachusetts General Hospital. Since completing her tenure with the Massachusetts Life Sciences Initiative, Dr. Windham-Bannister serves as President and CEO of Biomedical Growth Strategies, LLC, serving as an advisor to innovation initiatives in the U.S. and internationally.


Dr. Windham-Bannister received a B.A. from Wellesley College, a Doctorate in Health Policy and Management from the Florence Heller School at Brandeis University, and a Doctor of Science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (honoris causa). She completed her doctoral work at the Heller School under a Fellowship from the Ford Foundation and was also a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School. Dr. Windham-Bannister also served as a Fellow in the Center for Science and Policy (CSAP) at Cambridge University, Cambridge, England.



DR. HARVEY F. LODISH



Harvey F. Lodish is a Professor of Biology and Professor of Biological Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Founding Member of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research. He is a Member of the National Academy of Sciences, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and an Associate (Foreign) Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization.


During 2004 Dr. Lodish served as President of the American Society for Cell Biology. He received the 2010 Mentoring Award from the American Society of Hematology, the 2016 American Society for Cell Biology WICB Sandra K. Masur Senior Leadership Mentoring Award, the 2020 Metcalf Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society for Experimental Hematology, and the 2021 Coulter Award for Lifetime Achievement in Hematology from the American Society of Hematology.


He is the lead author of the widely used textbook Molecular Cell Biology. The book has been translated into 14 languages and the ninth edition appeared in January, 2021.


Prof. Lodish is a member of the Board of Trustees of Boston Children’s Hospital. He was also Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, the group charged with oversight of the state’s 10 year, $1 billion investment in the life sciences.


Prof. Lodish has been a founder and scientific advisory board member of 12 biotech companies, including Genzyme (acquired by Sinofi for US$20 billion in 2011), Millennium Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Takeda for US$8.8 billion in 2008), and Rubius Therapeutics (IPO in 2018).



DR. BELEN CARRILLO-RIVAS



Biopharmaceutical seasoned executive. Proven track record of leading large product portfolios, R&D programs, and complex regulatory submissions, building productive business partnerships that result in quality, sustainability, and business growth.


Awarded with the most prestigious Spanish Government Overseas Postgraduate Studentship, received a Doctorate Degree from Oxford University (St. John’s College), and carried out a post-doctoral research fellowship at Harvard Medical School.


As Senior Vice President and Head of Regulatory Affairs at Imvax, develop, lead, and implement the regulatory strategy for the company’s portfolio. Additional business experience includes pioneering regulatory paths forward for people living with devastating Rare Diseases as Global Head of Regulatory Affairs at Saniona A/S. During her Pfizer tenure as Head of Global Clinical Submissions Quality, strategically managed rulings on major regulatory submission readiness regarding cohesive strategy and clinical data quality for Pfizer products. As Pfizer CURES Lead, designed and developed Pfizer CURES, the whole foundation for SpringWorks Therapeutics, LLC - Pfizer Spin-Off. As Head of R&D Projects and Strategy, structured BioTherapeutics R&D transformation as a formal program, which led to the establishment of portfolio sustainability and higher productivity. Before Pfizer, held senior R&D positions in several biotech companies.


Recognized in the community as a top innovator and disrupter, in 2015, she was one of the Fifth finalists of the prestigious Boston Innovation Awards (BostInno) on Healthcare & Medicine Innovation. In 2021 she received the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) Leadership Award.





Dr. Frank-Jürgen Richter



Dr. Frank-Jürgen Richter is the Chairman of Horasis - a global visions community dedicated to inspiring our future. Horasis is using its unrivalled history of partnership with corporations from emerging markets to create a powerful platform for cooperation between emerging and developed markets. The flagship events are the Horasis Global Meeting as well as regional summits focusing on China, India, and South East Asia.


He has developed an extensive experience and knowledge on the world's economic, business and political scene and of its key players. As one of the leading analysts of international business, he influences major business and governmental decisions with his public commentary. Prior to founding Horasis, Dr. Richter was a Director of the World Economic Forum. He also lived, studied and worked in Asia for almost a decade, principally in Tokyo and in Beijing where he developed and managed European Multinationals' China operations.



DR. LYDIA VILLA-KOMAROFF



Lydia Villa-Komaroff, Ph.D. is founder and President of Intersections SBD Consulting. She is a molecular biologist, a business executive, and a diversity advocate. She was among the early cadre of scientists who first joined DNA from animals or people to DNA from bacteria to make useful proteins and to study biological processes and human diseases.


She is a board member of ATCC and Cytonome and serves on several academic advisory boards. Villa-Komaroff held faculty positions at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Children's Hospital (Boston), and Harvard Medical School. As an administrator, she served as Vice President for Research at Northwestern University (Illinois) and Vice President for Research and Chief Operating Officer of the Whitehead Institute (Cambridge, MA). She has served on advisory committees for the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, and the Massachusetts Life Science Board.


She represented small business for the State Department at an Asian-Pacific Economic conference. She is co-founding member of SACNAS (Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science), a fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the Association for Women in Science (AWIS). Her awards include the 2013 Woman of Distinction from the American Association of University Women, the 2016 Elting Morison prize from the MIT Program in Science and Technology, and the 2021 SACNAS Presidential Award. She received her BA from Goucher College, her PhD from MIT, and a certificate in executive management from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.



PROF. KENZO HIROKI



Prof. Kenzo Hiroki is Professor of National Graduate Institute of Policy Studies (GRIPS) and Coordinator of High-level Experts and Leaders Panel on Water and Disasters (HELP). He is also Member, Executive Board of International Lake Environment Committee (ILEC), Bureau Member of OECD High-level Risk Forum, and Member of International Advisory Committee, Sichuan University, China. He was Member and Vice Chair of GWP Steering Committee, and Chair of GWP Selection Committee.


Prof. Hiroki serves His Majesty the Emperor of Japan as the advisor on water.


Prof. Hiroki has been engaged, globally and nationally for over 40 years, in policy studies and formulation, engineering and designing, research and development, budgeting and financing, and legislation in the sectors of water resources management, climate change and water environment, and water-related disaster risk reduction. The positions he held include Vice Secretary-General of the 3rd World Water Forum, Head of Secretariat, The United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation (UNSGAB), Director for Innovation, Science and Technology, Cabinet Office, Director of Water Resources Management, MLIT and Vice President of College of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (CLIT).



Dr. Bahija Jallal



Dr. Bahija Jallal is Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Board of Immunocore. Prior to joining Immunocore in January 2019, she was President of MedImmune, AstraZeneca’s global biologics research and development unit. She was also Executive Vice President of AstraZeneca and a member of its senior executive team.


Bahija serves on the Boards of Anthem, Inc. and Guardant Health. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Johns Hopkins University and the Board of Directors of the University of Maryland Health Sciences Research Park Corporation.


Bahija has authored more than 70 peer-reviewed publications and has more than 15 patents. She is a Council Member of the Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. She is also the immediate past president of the Association of Women in Science. Bahija was named the 2017 Woman of the Year by the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association.


Prior to joining MedImmune, Bahija was Vice President, drug assessment and development, at Chiron Corporation, where she successfully established the company’s translational medicine group. Prior to Chiron Corporation, she was part of the research team at Sugen, Inc.


Bahija received her PhD in Physiology from Université de Paris VI, France and conducted her post-doctorate work in molecular biology and oncology at the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry in Germany.



Dinesh Joshi



• Graduated from Mumbai and Completed MBA from London in international marketing and international business.

• Chairman and Managing Director of SatyaGiri Ventures Pvt Ltd. an infrastructure and natural resources investment and advisory company.

• He is also a mentor and investor in a few startups in India and the Netherlands.

• Member of FICCI National Executive Committee 2020-2022.

• Elected Managing Committee Member and on Board of Directors of IMC Chambers of Commerce and Industry. 2018-2020. 2020-2022

• Chairman: International Business Committee of IMC for the years 2019-2020. 2020-2021. 2021-2022.

• President: China India Forum 2017-2019.

• Managing Trustee Kalbadevi Mandir Trust. The temple was built by his ancestors in 1785 after which the famous Kalbadevi Road was named.



Dr. Tahani Amer



Tahani Amer discovered her natural passion and inclination for engineering while watching her father fixing his car’s engine as she sat inside her small Egyptian apartment. While her love of math created a clear path for a mechanical and aerospace engineering future, it was great teachers and her father that encouraged and guided Dr. Amer. In return, she spends a great deal of her time to inspire and challenge young women to reach their potential.


Dr. Amer started working at NASA in the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Branch. By working in this branch, she gained valuable experience and fulfilled her dream to work with scientists and researchers in solving real-life problems. She recalls, “It was a real privilege to work with state-of-the-art technology and with researchers who love their work.” Then, she landed an opportunity in one of NASA’s wind tunnels to conduct pressure and thermal sensitive paint experiments in support of the NASA’s aeronautical research efforts. This proved to be a valuable experience from both a theoretical and practical point of view. She has experienced the excitement of working with large CFD computer codes and climbing up the ceiling of a wind tunnel to install a velocity probe.


Dr. Amer has invented and patented a system to measure the thermal conductivity of a thin film. This measurement is used in the thermal modeling of several techniques for determining boundary layer transition location on models being tested in wind tunnels.


Dr. Amer holds a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering, a master’s in aerospace engineering, and a doctoral of engineering from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.



H. Serhan Süzer



H. Serhan Süzer graduated from McGill University in Montreal, Canada in 1999 with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree, Major in Finance and Concentration in Accounting. He has been a member of Greenpeace since his college years. He is writing a blog at http://serhansuzer.com.


During his career, Serhan has had responsibility for the asset management of the Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul Hotel since the opening in October 2001 and has managed Süzer Group’s International Relations Department from 2003 until 2007.


In 2007, he played an active role in managing Suzer Group’s investment to establish a Coca Cola Plant in Iraq for the first time in decades until 2009. Between 2002-2004, he was an Executive Committee Member of the Istanbul Convention and Visitors Bureau (ICVB). Serhan served at the Turkish State Planning Organization (DPT) Tourism Commission to form the Ninth Development Plan (2007 – 2013) of the Republic of Turkey. He is currently a board member of the American Turkish Council. In addition, Serhan has been the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Costa Rica since 2008, appointed by President Oscar Arias, a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. Serhan is proud to officially represent Costa Rica, a country pledging to become one of the only developing nations to make itself “carbon neutral” — a zero net-emitter of carbon — by 2021.


Serhan worked as Vice President of the Board and CEO of KFC Turkey and Pizza Hut Turkey between 2009 till the end of 2011. He decided to end all of his responsibilities at KFC & Pizza Hut Turkey in November 2011 to focus on Sustainability Projects. One of his last tasks at KFC and Pizza Hut Turkey was to build the first LEED certified environmentally friendly restaurant in Turkey and also in the Yum! International Chain (the owner of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell Brands). In November 2011, this KFC Restaurant in Bostanci, Istanbul received the certification for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” (LEED) from the U.S Green Building Council. In December 2011, he invested in Hittite Solar Energy, a CSP company and joined the company as the CEO. In December 2012, he established Eko Renewable Energy Inc. which is a PV and Wind EPC company.



Global Initiative of the Royal Academy of Science International Trust



All right reserved © Royal Academy of Science International Trust