Biography
Allam is a Professor of Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development; Founding President of World Association for Sustainable Development (WASD) (2003); Founding Director of SDGs Universities International Initiative (SDGsUNI) (2020) Founding Director of Middle Eastern Knowledge Economy Institute (MEKEI) (2012); Founder, in collaboration with the UNESCO Chair on Transfer of Technology (UNESCOTT), the International Diaspora Initiative/Sudan Knowledge (SK) (2008); and early 2022, Professor Ahmed joint Queen Mary University of London Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry as a Honorary Professor and Senior Policy Fellow at Queen Mary University of London Global Policy Institute (QMGPI).
Prior to Queen Mary, Professor Ahmed spent 15 years (2004-2019) at the University of Sussex Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) (1st science and policy think tank in the UK) where he established and led Sussex’s most successful postgraduate programme MSc International Management.
Having worked in the field of international engagement and leadership in Higher Education Institutes (HEI) for almost 25 years, Professor Ahmed is considered to be a transformative leader with track record and repute in the UK and across the world particularly Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
In his capacity as the President of (WASD), Professor Ahmed led WASD’s strong partnership with the United Nations Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other UN Agencies: UN Conference on “Public-Private Partnerships for the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” at the Palais de Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, 2018 (Report); UN project A.435 “Strengthening the Policy Research Uptake in Service of the 2030”; Making Science, Innovation and Research work for the Sustainable Development Goals, IMO, London, 2019 (Report); and “Policies and platforms in support of learning: towards more coherence, coordination and convergence”, 2020 (Report). Professor Ahmed is also a member of the Scientific Council of the UNESCO Chair in Women, Science and Technology.
In the period 2009-2011, Professor Ahmed led the Government of Abu Dhabi major and first of its kind in the UAE and MENA region Knowledge Management Framework (Musharaka). Musharaka aims to enable employees to acquire and share information of international best practices, create creative and up to date methods for communication, exchange of knowledge and experiences, promote their functional performance, increase their productivity, and enhance their provided services. Musharaka was rated Excellent after extensive review and scrutiny by the Abu Dhabi Government Award for Excellence office and presented before the General Secretariat of the Executive Council as a model for the entire UAE KM projects.
In addition to UAE, Professor Ahmed has also travelled and worked abroad and continues to provide advisory and consultancy services for many governments across the world such as Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, State of Kuwait, Uganda, Kingdom of Bahrain, St Lucia, Sudan and other governments in SSA, Europe and MENA.
Professor Ahmed also played an active leadership advisory role for several major public and private institutions such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); United Nations University in Hamilton Canada; World Bank Knowledge Economy Institute; Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA); Global Development Network (GDN); Africa Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) (2011-2013); Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Dutch Research Council; Expert Advisor to the European Commission on International Scientific Cooperation (2006-2008); International Coordinator UNESCO Chair on Transfer of Technology (2008-2010); UNESCO Chair in Women, Science and Technology (2019-); Oxford University Press; Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South; Global Youth Forum; Planet Earth Institute; Sustainia100 Advisory Board (see various Sample Testimonies).
For more than 25 years, Professor Ahmed has presented many keynotes and public speeches to a wide range of audience drawn from academic institutions, industries and international organisations from a broad range of backgrounds, post and undergraduate students, senior and middle management to government officials and trainees at all levels.
Professor Ahmed completed his Ph.D. in Economics in two years at Edinburgh Napier University, UK; awarded the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) Scholarship and Prestigious Book Prize for Best MSc/MBA Dissertation; Fellow (FCIM) and Chartered Marketer of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK. Listed in the Who’s Who in the World 2009-2021 and 2021 Who’s Who in the World Lifetime Achievement Award, Who’s Who in Finance and Business 2009/2010 and Who’s Who in America 2012-2014 published by Marquis Who’s Who, USA.
If you have any media/press inquiries or looking for an expert comment on a particular subject please contact Professor Ahmed at allam@wasd.org.uk or his PA Janet Snow (janet.snow@wasd.org.uk).
Location
Queen Mary University of London, The QMB Innovation Centre, 5 Walden St, London, E1 2EF
