His Excellency Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali Al Qassim is Chairman and founder of the Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue (GCHRAGD), an independent, non-governmental organization dedicated to the advancement of human rights through consultation and training for youth, civil society and governments. As such, he is an influential leader throughout the Arab region in the areas of human rights policy and the related impact of regional political, economic, and social trends on society. He is formerly the founding President of Zayed University where he led the establishment of a new, premier university system across the UAE. He also served in the UAE cabinet as the UAE Minister of Education leading significant education reform across the country and subsequently as the UAE Minister of Health with a tenure focused on expanding access to a broader base of the population. Dr. Hanif is the Chairman of Asas Investments, a multi-industry portfolio company with holdings in healthcare, real estate and other sectors.

Select Experiences: • Minister of Health of the United Arab Emirates, responsible for national health strategy, healthcare regulation, healthcare services, public health programs, and international initiatives and Chair of Emirates Health Authority.
• Minister of Education of the United Arab Emirates responsible for national educational strategy and transformation and education programs for kindergarten through grade 12. • Vice President of Zayed University, the leading national university and the only public higher education institution solely committed to the education of Emirati women. HE Dr. Hanif received his Ph.D. in Islamic Studies, Umm Al Qurra University, Saudi Arabia, (1991), M.A in Islamic Shari’a, Umm Al Qurra University, Saudi Arabia, (1987), and B.A. in Arts, major in Islamic Studies, UAE University, (1983).