PMI Lebanon Chapter National Conference 2025

Mr. Hanny Alshazly is Managing Director, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) at Project Management Institute, leading regional strategy and growth while working with government, academia and industry to advance project management.

He brings more than 25 years of global experience in education, including senior leadership roles at D2L, Blackboard and Ellucian, where he supported innovation and business expansion across international markets.

His expertise combines learning, strategic business leadership and the delivery of large initiatives and national projects. A regular speaker on education, project management and transformation, he also contributes through advisory work and mentorship, including as an External Mentor at Ajman University Innovation Center.

He holds a B.Sc. in Computer Science with a focus on Business Administration from Dalhousie University, a Master of Education and an Advanced Post Graduate Diploma in Distance Education and Technology from Athabasca University. He holds the CAPM certification.

Ms. Dania Chaar serves as Chapter Engagement Specialist at PMI MENA, supporting collaboration and community development across regional chapters while fostering knowledge sharing and professional engagement throughout the PMI network.

Mr. Chouaib Barnou, M.Sc., is Head of Community, MENA at Project Management Institute (PMI), where he focuses on strengthening professional communities, fostering regional collaboration, and advancing project management across the Middle East and North Africa.

With nearly a decade of experience at PMI, he has worked with professional associations, universities, students, nonprofit organizations, corporations, and government institutions to expand access to professional development and career opportunities. His expertise encompasses community engagement, leadership development, stakeholder collaboration, and connecting education with industry needs.

With an academic background in Computer Science, Chouaib brings a multidisciplinary perspective to professional community development, emphasizing the relationship between technology, education, and human-centered leadership. He studied at University of Constantine 1 ( University of Mentouri Brothers Constantine ) and has completed The Leadership Contract® Course and Generative AI Overview for Project Managers. Through his work, he advocates for purposeful collaboration, continuous learning, and empowering project professionals to create meaningful impact across the region.

May El Khalil serves as President at Beirut Marathon Association. In this role, May El Khalil leads the strategic vision and overall operations of the organization.

May El Khalil brings extensive leadership experience in sports management, community engagement, and event organization. Areas of expertise include strategic planning, stakeholder management, non-profit leadership, and public relations.

Dr. Thomas Walenta serves as a Global Project Economy Expert and self-employed Interims Manager in Program and Project Management. He previously spent 31 years delivering projects for IBM customers, including roles as an Account Manager, Program Manager, Systems Engineer, and Application Developer across sectors such as investment banking, utilities, social insurance, and public administration.

Dr. Walenta specializes in establishing PMOs, defining portfolio management processes, setting organizational strategy, conducting project audits, and coaching project managers in leadership. He earned a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Strategy, Project Leadership, and PMO from SBS Swiss Business School and holds the Diploma in Company Direction (Dip IoD) from the Institute of Directors.

Dr. Walenta holds the PMP® and PgMP® certifications and was named a PMI Fellow in 2012. He has made significant contributions to the Project Management Institute, serving on the PMI Board of Directors, as President of the PMI Frankfurt Chapter, on the PMI Ethics Review Committee, and as a global volunteer.