The Foundation welcomes its new CEO James Lynch

The Saïd Foundation is delighted to welcome our new CEO, James Lynch, who comes with a wealth of experience of our region and the non-profit sector.

James began his working life in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, studying Arabic in Damascus and being posted to the Gulf region. He has focused much of his career on the Middle East, working for over a decade in non-governmental organisations on areas including human rights and international relations, and advising the private sector on managing environmental, social and governance risks. He is a former visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations and is a trustee of the AB Charitable Trust, a UK grant-making organisation. He has a degree in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge and a master’s degree in International Politics from SOAS, University of London.

James Lynch said, “I am very happy to be joining the Saïd Foundation, having heard so much about its incredible legacy of impact in the Levant and beyond. I am looking forward to meeting our amazing scholars, alumni, partners and other members of the Foundation family.”

We would like to extend our profound gratitude to our former CEO, Hani Jesri, for over six years of dedicated service to the Foundation. Hani has now returned to live and work in Syria where we know he will continue to make an important contribution to our region. He has our very best wishes for the future.