The Lebanon Chapter of the Project Management Institute
Follow the Chapter
Roundtable · PMI MENA Held

PMI MENA Hosts Its First ATP Leadership Roundtable

PMI MENA’s first ATP Leadership Roundtable brought regional leaders and training partners together in Dubai to explore collaboration, project talent development and ATP growth.

This event has ended. Registration is closed — see the recap, or find the next event.

  • Thursday, September 10, 2026
  • Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai
  • In person
Why this session matters

The inaugural roundtable brought PMI leadership, regional Chapters and training partners together to discuss shared priorities for professional development across MENA. By combining partner feedback, program updates and opportunities for collaboration, it provided a forum for strengthening the ecosystem that supports project professionals.

“With 190+ ATPs already operating across MENA, we have a strong foundation — but the scale of what lies ahead calls for more capacity, deeper collaboration and new ways of building project talent”

Mr. Hanny Alshazly, Managing Director, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) at Project Management Institute
Session overview

PMI MENA hosted its first ATP Leadership Roundtable on September 10, 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre. The invitation-only, in-person gathering brought together Authorized Training Partners, prospective ATPs, PMI senior leadership, the MENA team and PMI UAE Chapter. Participants included partners from the UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, Oman and Lebanon.

In his keynote, Hanny Alshazly, Regional Managing Director, highlighted the need to expand project talent capacity and deepen collaboration across the region. Rudolf Khoury explored market needs, while Sima Qafiti discussed the expansion and evolution of the ATP program and how PMI supports its partners. The discussions connected regional opportunities with practical ways to strengthen professional development and partner success.

A conversation featuring Chouaib Barnou and Hakim TAANE, Director of Outreach, PMI UAE Chapter, examined how collaboration between Chapters and ATPs can strengthen professional communities, expand their reach and build project management capabilities. This was followed by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between PMI UAE Chapter and PM-Tricks, signed by Hakim TAANE and Elsayed Mohsen.

The program continued with a workshop and a panel discussion featuring Sima Qafiti and Rudolf Khoury, moderated by Dania Chaar. These sessions focused on ATP growth, the support available through PMI and the evolving role of training partners within the PMI ecosystem. Dania also served as the day’s master of ceremonies, guiding participants through the sessions and drawing out their key messages.

Across the program, collaboration, capability building, growth and innovation emerged as shared priorities. For the Chapter and Lebanon’s project management community, the gathering provided regional context for how stronger links between professional communities and training providers can create further learning and development opportunities.

Recognizing excellence across the region

The roundtable recognized four Authorized Training Partners for their contributions to professional development:

  • PM-Tricks — PMI MENA ATP Partner of the Year 2026.
  • PwC Academy Middle East — Excellence in Workforce Development.
  • Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) — Excellence in Future Talent Development.
  • Engineering Tracks — ATP Impact Award.
And what a day it was at the PMI MENA ATP Leadership Roundtable!, photo 1
Recap

Key takeaways

  • Chapter–ATP collaboration can strengthen professional communities, expand reach and build project management capabilities.
  • Developing regional project talent requires greater training capacity and deeper collaboration.
  • The ATP program continues to evolve, with partner support and opportunities for joint growth central to the discussion.
  • The PMI UAE Chapter–PM-Tricks Memorandum of Understanding provided a concrete example of partnership in practice.
  • Regional gatherings give training partners opportunities to exchange experiences, share best practices and build connections across markets.

Key themes

  • Chapter and ATP collaboration
  • Project talent and capability building
  • ATP growth and program evolution
  • Regional partnerships and knowledge exchange
For PM professionals

Why it matters

For project professionals in Lebanon, stronger collaboration between the Chapter, regional peers and Authorized Training Partners can help connect learning opportunities with evolving market needs. The roundtable’s emphasis on capability building, partner support and knowledge exchange highlights the role of professional communities in developing project talent across MENA.

Agenda

Program of the day

ShowHide program
TimeSessionSpeaker
Regional opportunities and project talent capacity: keynote Hanny Alshazly
Market needs and the evolution of the ATP program Rudolf Khoury; Sima Qafiti
Chapter and ATP collaboration Chouaib Barnou; Hakim TAANE
Memorandum of Understanding signing: PMI UAE Chapter and PM-Tricks Hakim TAANE; Elsayed Mohsen (signatories)
Workshop
ATP growth and PMI support: panel discussion Sima Qafiti; Rudolf Khoury; Dania Chaar (moderator)
About the speakers

Meet the speakers

ShowHide speakers (7)
Portrait of Ms. Dania Chaar

Ms. Dania Chaar

Chapter Engagement Specialist at PMI MENA

ATP growth and PMI support: panel discussion

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.

Connect on LinkedIn ↗ with Ms. Dania Chaar (opens in a new tab)
Portrait of Hanny Alshazly

Mr. Hanny Alshazly

Managing Director, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) at Project Management Institute

Regional opportunities and project talent capacity: keynote

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.

Connect on LinkedIn ↗ with Mr. Hanny Alshazly (opens in a new tab)

Mr. Rudolf Khoury

Head of Markets, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) at Project Management Institute (PMI)

Market needs and the evolution of the ATP program

ATP growth and PMI support: panel discussion

Mr. Rudolf Khoury is Head of Markets, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) at Project Management Institute (PMI).

His work focuses on collaboration with enterprises, government organizations, Authorized Training Partners and academic institutions to strengthen professional capabilities and project delivery across the region.

He has described supporting large-scale transformation programs, expanding access to learning and building partnerships that help professionals at different stages of their careers.

His public professional contributions also address artificial intelligence and the management of AI, machine learning and data-centric projects, including the alignment of AI initiatives with business goals, ethical considerations and practical delivery frameworks.

He holds an MBA and has publicly announced earning the CPMAI AI and ML Project Management certification. His regional engagement includes participation in partnerships supporting project management education and organizational capability development.

Connect on LinkedIn ↗ with Mr. Rudolf Khoury (opens in a new tab)

Ms. Sima Qafiti

Head of Partnerships at Project Management Institute

Market needs and the evolution of the ATP program

ATP growth and PMI support: panel discussion

Ms. Sima Qafiti is Head of Partnerships at Project Management Institute, working with the partner ecosystem across the Middle East and North Africa.

Her professional background includes program management, strategy and transformation, channel sales, partner engagement and skills development.

Before joining PMI, she held roles at IBM supporting partner ecosystems, software technical sales and strategic initiatives across the Middle East and Africa. Her work has included partner enablement, advocacy, technical workshops and initiatives to strengthen partner capabilities.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from American University of Sharjah, and her publicly listed credentials include IBM AI Skills Academy Machine Learning Explorer.

She also writes about artificial intelligence, data and their implications for project management, and contributes to discussions on Authorized Training Partners and regional professional development.

Connect on LinkedIn ↗ with Ms. Sima Qafiti (opens in a new tab)

Mr. Chouaib Barnou

Head of Community, MENA at Project Management Institute

Chapter and ATP collaboration

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.

Connect on LinkedIn ↗ with Mr. Chouaib Barnou (opens in a new tab)

Mr. Hakim TAANE

Director - Outreach at PMI UAE Chapter

Chapter and ATP collaboration

Memorandum of Understanding signing: PMI UAE Chapter and PM-Tricks

Mr. Hakim TAANE serves as Director - Outreach at PMI UAE Chapter and holds the PMP® certification.

His professional background spans finance, governance, project management and change management, with experience across oil and gas, healthcare, electrification and automation, audit and consulting, and food and beverage.

He previously served as the Chapter’s Director of Finance and PMO Manager.

He holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance, a Postgraduate Diploma in Audit and a Master's degree in Marketing.

His regional engagement includes participation in the PMI MENA ATP Leadership Roundtable, where he discussed collaboration between PMI Chapters and Authorized Training Partners and represented PMI UAE Chapter in signing a Memorandum of Understanding with PM-Tricks.

These activities connect his professional experience with partnerships supporting project management education and professional development.

Connect on LinkedIn ↗ with Mr. Hakim TAANE (opens in a new tab)

Mr. Elsayed Mohsen

CEO & Founder at PM-Tricks

Memorandum of Understanding signing: PMI UAE Chapter and PM-Tricks

Mr. Elsayed Mohsen is CEO & Founder of PM-Tricks and an Authorized Training Partner Instructor - PMP.

Based in Riyadh, his professional work encompasses project management training, program management and management consulting. He holds a BSc. in Civil Engineering from Mansoura University in Egypt.

His publicly listed credentials include Project Management Professional (PMP), PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®, PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® and PMI Certified Professional in Managing AI (PMI-CPMAI)™.

Through PM-Tricks, he delivers professional learning and certification preparation, including instruction in construction contract and risk management listed in PMI’s Continuing Certification Requirements System.

He also represented PM-Tricks in signing a Memorandum of Understanding with PMI UAE Chapter during the PMI MENA ATP Leadership Roundtable, supporting collaboration in project management education and professional development.

Connect on LinkedIn ↗ with Mr. Elsayed Mohsen (opens in a new tab)

More events

All past events →
Monthly Talk Held

Risk Ready: Turning Uncertainty into Strategic Advantage

PMI MENA’s Monthly Webinar Series explored how organizations can move beyond traditional risk management to build resilience and turn uncertainty into strategic value.

Wednesday, August 26, 2026 · PMI MENA · Online

1 / 5Use left and right arrow keys to navigate photos.