Khuloud Hasan Al Nuwais

In Feb 2024, Khuloud received Arab Women of the year for social development Award from London Arabia Organization. In 2023 she was selected as one of the 17 women faces that were profiled during COP28 for tackling one of the 17 sustainable development goals which address Hunger and reducing food waste. Named among the ‘Top 20 Most Influential Women in the UAE’ by The National in 2008, Khuloud is credited with playing a pivotal role in establishing the Emirates Foundation in 2005. In 2014 was profiled as one of UAE’s Inspirational leaders and Won the Emirates Woman Award for leadership by Dubai Quality group in 2015.

As Chief Sustainability Officer at Emirates Foundation, she is responsible for developing strategies and establishing key sustainability and circularity initiatives to achieve its mission & socio-economic impact including high priority initiatives to the UAE leadership. In Recent years, she has been tasked to develop the national initiative- ne’ma to tackle food loss and waste reduction across the UAE to achieve the national food security strategy goals through a collaborative approach that engages all sectors across the food supply chain to change current behaviors and practices leading to food waste. She is also supporting the development of a new textile circularity initiative

Khuloud has close to 28 years of experience in private sector and philanthropy running both operating models, grant making and incubating new programs & initiatives; throughout her career she handled different responsibilities including establishing different projects that are focused on establishing some of the foundations flagship programs such Takatof for volunteering, Kafaat leadership and entrepreneurship development, transforming the parentless children sector in the UAE, thought leadership to position the foundation regionally & international as reference hub for youth & progressive philanthropy through her membership in European Venture philanthropy Association, and Arab Foundation Forum amongst others. Khuloud leads the development of new initiatives, conducts research and advocates to influence relevant policy forums and dialogue. She has developed strong partnerships with the private sector including local & multi-nationals over the years to improve long term sustainability initiatives and integrate best practices into her work.

She recently was a Judge for the prominent Zayed Sustainability Prize, the FoodTech Challenge both are competitions for innovative startups in addressing sustainability issues and food systems. Khuloud has previously served on a number of boards to mention a few as a member of the organizing committee for World skills Abu Dhabi, board member of the Abu Dhabi Tawteen council, member of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability group, board member in AMCHAM Abu Dhabi and a judge for the AMCHAM Mena Women’s Award, as well as an advisory board member of Flat6Labs an accelerator for startups in diversified sectors.

Before building her career in the third sector she gained her initial experience from working for 8 years in oil and gas, she was a Senior Analyst in the Corporate Planning Department of Dolphin Energy Limited and She has also served as a Market Research Analyst at the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC)

Khuloud holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a major in Advertising Management and Marketing from Portland State University, US.