The International Committee on Public Policy, Diplomacy, and Sustainability, under the auspices of the Global Ambassadors of Sustainability, is dedicated to advancing global sustainability through effective policy-making and diplomacy. The committee convenes thought leaders, diplomats, policymakers, and experts to tackle the world’s most pressing sustainable development challenges. By bridging the gap between high-level policy, strategic diplomacy, and on-the-ground implementation, the committee creates actionable pathways to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Key Objectives:

ICPDS focuses on developing inclusive, forward-thinking policy frameworks that integrate sustainability into national and global governance. By utilizing diplomacy as a catalyst for multilateral cooperation, the committee drives global partnerships across governments, the private sector, and civil society to share resources and tackle sustainability challenges. Furthermore, it advocates for data-driven, innovative technologies to enhance transparency and accountability in pursuing the SDGs, while leveraging diplomatic efforts to resolve conflicts, foster sustainable peace, and promote long-term stability in fragile regions.

News: 5th June 2026, Kuala Lumpur, Great meeting at UCSI exploring strategic collaboration between Global Ambassadors of Sustainability and the International Institute of Science Diplomacy (IISD). By bridging scientific research and international policy, we aim to drive impactful solutions for global challenges. Thank you to the IISD team for a productive session and a shared vision.

Members:

Dr. Deina Abdelkader, Director of the Peace and Conflict Studies, Associate Professor, Political Science Department, University of Massachusetts Lowell-USA

I am comparativist focused on the Middle East region and the Muslim World. My training is in Comparative Democratization, Comparative Political Thought, and Peace and Conflict Studies. My specialty courses are Islam and Politics, Identity Politics in the Middle East, Women In Islam and Diplomacy and Cross Cultural Negotiations.

Dr Wesam Al Madhoun, Founder-Global Ambassadors of Sustainability

Dr. Al Madhoun is an environmental engineer, sustainability diplomat, and academic leader with over 20 years of global experience across public policy, research, and consultancy. He is the Founder of the Global Ambassadors of Sustainability (GAoS), an international non-profit think tank uniting over 14,000 members across 130 countries.

Dr. Al Madhoun’s cross-border expertise spans assignments in Brunei, Canada, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Palestine, South Korea, and the USA, including roles as a Research Professor at the University of Seoul and a Visiting Scholar at the University of Windsor. A recognized voice in environmental governance, he has spoken at Harvard, MIT, and IIT.

He holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering from Universiti Sains Malaysia, a Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology, and a Sustainable Cities Fellowship from MIT—bridging technical science with impactful global policy.

Dr. Bibi Ashour, The International Center for Development and Strategic Studies (IDC), Kuwait.

Dr. Bibi Ashour is a distinguished social policy specialist, political analyst, and human rights advocate based in Kuwait. She is the Head of the International Center for Development and Strategic Studies (IDC) and the Chairperson of the Kuwaiti Society for National Fraternity. With extensive experience analyzing and drafting public policies, Dr. Ashour has been a pivotal voice in GCC development planning, championing social capital, legislative reform, and human rights. Her work intersects public policy and strategic diplomacy, focusing on structural stability, social justice, and inclusive governance to drive long-term institutional sustainability.

Prof. Benno Werlen, UNESCO Chair on Global Understanding for Sustainability, the Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany.

Benno Werlen, born 10th October 1952 in Münster/VS (Switzerland), holds the UNESCO Chair on Global Understanding for Sustainability, the Friedrich Schiller University Jena. He is a fellow of the World Academy of Art & Sciences and the Max Weber Center for Cultural and Social Studies, a member of the Academia Europaea, chair of the IGU Commission on Global Understanding (since 2016), is the initiator and chair of The Jena Declaration on the Cultural and Regional Dimension of Global Sustainability’ endorsed by many of the leading organizations in the field, founder and executive director of the International Year of Global Understanding (IYGU) including more than 30 Regional Actions Centers, approved by the UNESCO General Conference, proclaimed by the three major science councils of the Human, Social and Natural sciences.

Dr. Rosni Abdul Wahid, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship, UniKL Business School at Universiti Kuala Lumpur.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rosni Abdul Wahid is an experienced academic leader and researcher specializing in entrepreneurship, new venture creation, digital entrepreneurship, and Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) development. In her dual role as an Associate Professor and Deputy Dean at UniKL Business School, she actively drives strategic industry-academia collaborations, international partnerships, and institutional linkages. Dr. Rosni bridges the gap between academic theory and practical business application by combining extensive higher education experience with a background in senior management within the oil and gas sector. Her academic contributions include curriculum design—notably developing modules for Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) and Open and Distance Learning (ODL) MBA programs—as well as postgraduate research supervision and institutional accreditation initiatives.

Dr Mohd Zulhafiz Said is a Senior Lecturer at Department of Social and Development Sciences, Faculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra Malaysia.

He has a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Sustainable Development, a Master’s degree in Islamic Development Management, and a Bachelor’s degree (Honours) in Development Planning and Management from Universiti Sains Malaysia. His areas of expertise include Planning and Development Management, Disaster Risk Management for Sustainable Development (Flood Vulnerability and Adaptation), Sustainable Regional Development (Geopark Development), Sustainable Community Development, and Development Sociology.

Ms. Lailatul Zuraidah Hussain, A former diplomat and Consultant at Niaga Compliance-Brunei

Lailatul Zuraidah Hussain is a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience in policy planning and international affairs within the realm of transport and infocommunications. Having served as the Former Director of Policy Planning and International at the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications, Zuraidah has garnered extensive exposure to diverse portfolios including Infocomms, Transport, and Public Relations. With an unwavering commitment to lifelong learning and adaptability, Zuraidah remains at the forefront of management, process, and technological innovations driving transformative change. Their passion for policy and strategy research, formulation, and analysis is matched only by their dedication to fostering stakeholder collaboration. 

Dr Evangelos Koutronas, Social Policy Economist at Westminster International University in Tashkent-Uzbekistan.

Research economist with expertise in social security and financial economics. Demonstrated publishable work in the areas of pension economics, labor economics, economics of terrorism, economics of natural disasters and game theory. Ability to work with theoretical and empirical economic models, manage databases, and present statistical information. Advanced knowledge in SPSS, Eviews, Matlab, and basic knowledge in STATA and SAS. I lived, studied and worked in the United States of America for 7 years and Malaysia for 8 years. I came back in the United States in 2019. While I was in Greece, I obtained an overall 10-year working experience with significant exposure to a wide variety of business fields such as accounting & finance, real estate, financial services, and IT and specialized in financial, business, and economic analysis.

Dr Sara K. Phillips, Scientist, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), USA.

Sara is an interdisciplinary legal and policy specialist with extensive experience in extractive industry governance, climate change, environmental law, and international development research and practice. Her research bridges law, policy, and social science to address critical challenges in sustainable resource governance, business and human rights, international trade, and sustainable development. Previously, Sara was a Consultant and Doctoral Fellow with SEI Asia, where her work focused on mineral resource conflict, climate change adaptation and resilience, and climate litigation. Sara has held academic and consulting roles and led assessments on human rights, social justice, and environmental governance, focusing on equitable solutions in resource-rich countries. She regularly engages governments, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society in policy-relevant research related to resource governance, legal and regulatory frameworks, and dispute resolution.

Ms. Michelle Thatcher, CEO at U.S. Green Chamber of Commerce-USA.

She is the CEO and Co-Founder of the U.S. Green Chamber of Commerce (USGCC), where we give businesses the triple bottom line advantage. Helping both established and emerging companies, the USGCC improves operational efficiency, implements environmentally sustainable practices, and taps into unexplored markets and opportunities.

Prof. Dr. Jasmeet Kaur Lamba, O. P. Jindal Global University, India.

With a career dedicated to the intersection of data analysis,econometrics and education, my role as a Professor and Associate Dean at O. P. Jindal Global University embodies my commitment to academic excellence and student development. Our team’s focus on econometrics has enabled us to provide robust educational programs that empower students with critical analytical skills.

In collaboration with colleagues, we’ve fostered an environment where economic research and statistical modeling are not just taught, but brought to life through practical application. This hands-on approach has been instrumental in enhancing the educational experience, thanks to our collective dedication to teaching and mentoring the next generation of leaders.

Dr. Eyad Yacoub Yacoub, an Assistant Professor at the Arab American University-Palestine.

During his previous 20 years of work, Eyad served for nine years as a Palestinian member in the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations and Director of Research and Development Department the in Palestinian Water Authority. During the second half of his tenure, he served as a strategic advisor with the German Technical Agency (GIZ), and Research program coordinator with Austrian Aid Agency in favor of the Palestinian National Authority, and finally a local expert with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Eyad a certified regional trainer in integrity and transparency –water sector management- from the Swedish Agency for International Cooperation and the German Agency for Technical Assistance. Eyad Published several papers in international scientific journals about transboundary water conflict. Eyad Yacoub holds a PhD in Transboundary Water conflict and Management from the University of Cincinnati, USA. His concerns include education for sustainable community development and education to promote equality and human rights in a global context.

Dr Sarina Theys, Senior Lecturer in Diplomacy and International Affairs, The University of the South Pacific, Fiji

Dr Sarina Theys is a Senior Lecturer in Diplomacy and International Affairs and the Coordinator of the Diplomacy and International Affairs Program at the School of Law and Social Sciences at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji. Previously, Sarina was a Postdoctoral Research Associate working on an ESRC impact project on improving the effectiveness of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations through mediation; a Postdoctoral Research Associate working on research impact beyond academia; and a Lecturer in Politics at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom. Prior to this, Dr Sarina was a Visiting Scholar in the Faculty of Law at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand; an Observer at COP25; a Knowledge Frontiers Forum Fellow in Australia; one of the co-editors for Politics and the Middle East and North Africa Newsletter (published by the American Political Science Association); Middle East and North Africa Fellow in Qatar and Kuwait, appointed by the American Political Science Association; and a Research Fellow at Georgetown University in Qatar.

Dr Nabila Riaz, Science Policy Analyst, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB)-USA.

She is currently working at FASEB as a Science Policy Analyst and manage FASEB’s training and workforce portfolio. Dr Nabila interested in gender equity and STEM education policy in higher education, with a focus on career development for basic science trainees. Her scientific training is in Food Security and Climate Change. My PhD dissertation research focused on making edible plants more nutritious and resistant to climate change, with the goal of eventually assisting in establishing a sustainable food system that provides adequate nutrition to all.

Dr. Noor Nirwandy Mat Noordin, Warfare Specialist and Security & Political Analyst-Malaysia

Dr. Noor Nirwandy Mat Noordin is a Fellow of Psychological Operations at Universiti Teknologi MARA’s Centre for Media and Information Warfare Studies. His expertise encompasses public diplomacy, national security, and the integration of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Dr. Nirwandy has also strategically explored the role of public diplomacy in national security, emphasizing its importance in shaping international perceptions and fostering diplomatic relations.

Eng. Iqbal Hamad, Senior Technical Advisor for Food Water Systems, CARE USA- Based in Jordan

As a Senior Technical Advisor for Food Water Systems (FWS) at CARE in the MENA region, I provide leadership and support for agriculture and food systems programming across Country Offices (COs) in the region. Additionally, I co-lead the Community of Practice on Climate Justice, offering technical support to MENA COs. Iqbal is very interested in the HDP Nexus and she are working in developing a framework and best practices on HDP-N. I have held leadership roles in various INGOs and NGOs, serving as Head of Mission and Program Director. I hold two master’s degrees—one in Horticulture and Field Crops from the University of Jordan and another in Urban Management and Development with a focus on Sustainable Environment and Climate Change from Erasmus University Rotterdam. Additionally, I have a postgraduate diploma in Sustainable Local Economic Development and have completed various short courses from international institutions.

Mr. Jayden Yoon, Senior Policy Researcher, The Asia Foundation- Thailand

Jayden Yoon is a seasoned professional with a strong commitment to regenerative development. With a diverse background in climate change, human rights, and military service, he brings a unique perspective to his research associate role. Jayden brings experience in inclusive and equitable aspects of regenerative development.

Previously, Jayden served as the Director of Strategic Planning at a Swiss Human Rights NGO, where he honed his skills in designing and implementing initiatives. His extensive experience in conducting counter-trafficking and modern slavery operations in nearly 20 countries has equipped him with a deep understanding of the intersectionality between social justice and sustainability.

Dr. Mariani Ariffin, Associate Professor at Universiti Putra Malaysia

An academician and researcher in environmental law and governance with over 15 years of experience in teaching, research, and policy advisory services. Her work focuses on sustainable development, pollution control, biodiversity protection, and environmental regulation. She published widely in international journals, supervised postgraduate research on renewable energy, SDGs, and environmental education, and contributed to government consultancy projects. Passionate about bridging law, policy, and practice, She supports stronger governance for a more sustainable future.

Ms. Aznie Rahim, Climate Change Policy Expert, Malaysia

Exceptionally motivated and enthusiastic, with more than 18 years of experience in public service, focusing on climate change adaptation, policy formulation, and project execution. Proficient in merging scientific research with policy structures to create thorough adaptation plans. Demonstrated achievements in advocacy, stakeholder collaboration, and strategic planning.