Dr Hossam Elsharkawi is MENA Regional Director for IFRC and has over 35 years of professional experience in the humanitarian world, spanning assignments in more than 40 countries, comprising volunteer and professional work with many National Societies, ICRC and IFRC. He was previously Vice President of Health in Emergencies, Learning and Innovation at the Canadian Red Cross, where he led the preparedness and response for complex humanitarian emergencies.

 

Hossam has been leading the preparedness and response to complex humanitarian emergencies – including epidemics, earthquakes, hurricanes, and wars. He has managed teams responding to catastrophic events domestically and internationally. He focuses on capacity strengthening of local efforts, learning and innovation. He worked with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, where he developed the guidance document for medical teams responding to health emergencies in armed conflict and insecure environments (The Red Book).

 

He is currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia and guest faculty at McGill and McMaster Universities. He teaches disaster response and healthcare in complex humanitarian crises. He has authored or edited more than a dozen publications and presentations on issues dealing with humanitarian work, disaster response, healthcare and medical technology, and capacity building.