Executive Committee

• From Beirut; born 1936.
• Holds an MBA from Columbia University (New York).
• Active in public life; a businessman in industry, banking and trade.
• Chairman of the board of the social-welfare institutions (the Islamic Orphanage), member of the boards of trustees of the American University of Beirut and of the Maqasid Islamic Charitable Association, member of the executive committee of the St Jude children's-cancer centre at the AUB Medical Center, and of other development institutions.
• Joined the Movement at its founding in 2001; member of the Executive Committee since 2013; elected President in July 2016.

• From Ain Dara (Aley district, Mount Lebanon); born 1954.
• Holds a doctorate in industrial chemistry from the University of Paris.
• Consultant on development and public-policy issues; professor at the Lebanese University (1981–2011).
• Active in civil society and public life through, among others, the Lebanese Association for the Democracy of Elections (1995), the “My Country, My Town, My Municipality” campaign (1997), the Lebanese Meeting for Dialogue (Lausanne then Beirut, 2001–2006), the Democratic Forum (2001–2006), the Conference for the Defence of Freedoms (Carlton, 2001), the preparatory committee of the Bristol Gathering (2004), the coordination committee of the Independence Uprising (2005), the general secretariat of the 14 March Forces (2006–2009), and Civil Lebanon Gathering (since 2012).
• Active in humanitarian work through the Middle East Council of Churches (1991–2008), the World Council of Churches, Geneva (2000–2005), and World Vision (2000–2012).
• Author of numerous studies, including The Role of Oil in the North–South Conflict (1982), Poverty in Lebanon (ESCWA, 1996), Democracy and Poverty in the Arab World (2001), the National Human Development Report (1997 and 2002), and The Civil State: Between Choice and Construction (2012).
• Joined the Movement at its founding in 2001; member of the Executive Committee since 2001; Secretary of the Movement (2001–2016); elected Vice-President in July 2016.

• From Sidon (South Governorate); born 1960.
• Holds a BBA from the American University of Beirut.
• Worked in journalism and business, including with the newspapers Al-Hayat and The Daily Star.
• Member of the board of the Lebanese Press Syndicate; founding member of Civil Lebanon Gathering.
• Joined the Movement at its founding in 2001; member of the Executive Committee since 2001; Treasurer (2005–2016); elected Vice-President in July 2016.

• From Bsalim (Metn district, Mount Lebanon); born 1944.
• Civil engineer, Higher Institute of Engineering, Saint Joseph University, Beirut (1970), with a postgraduate diploma in soil mechanics (1971).
• Runs an engineering consultancy in construction; taught at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (1982–2002).
• Active in public life: founding member of the Engineering Union Renewal current, of the Cultural Movement – Antelias (and its secretary-general for several years), and of other civic bodies.
• Writes on housing, construction, public safety, the environment, heritage and municipal development; author of The Land Is Not Ours: Views on Development and Reconstruction (2011) and We Build Through Culture (2012).
• Ran for parliament in the Metn district alongside Nassib Lahoud in 1996 and 2005.
• Joined the Movement at its founding in 2001; member of the Executive Committee since 2007; the Movement's representative to the government since 2013.

• From Dbayeh (Metn district, Mount Lebanon); born 1983.
• Holds a master's in international relations and development from Sciences Po Paris (2006) and a degree in economics from Saint Joseph University, Beirut (2004).
• Executive director of the Samir Kassir Foundation and its SKeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom (since 2011); director of the Global Forum for Media Development, Brussels (since early 2016).
• Works as a consultant on electoral systems, public-policy design and media communication; has published studies on media, freedoms, human rights, the Lebanese banking sector and strategies for attracting foreign investment.
• Joined the Movement in 2008; coordinator of the Youth Sector (2008–2013); member of the Executive Committee since 2010; elected Secretary in July 2016.

• From Deir Mimas (Marjeyoun district, Nabatieh Governorate); born 1986.
• Holds a master's in telecommunications engineering.
• Active in civil society; works in youth capacity-building, consultancy and training.
• Joined the Movement in 2012; coordinator of the Youth Sector since 2013; member of the Executive Committee since 2013; elected Treasurer in July 2016.

• From Zahle (Bekaa Governorate); born 1950.
• Holds a doctorate in political sociology from the Higher Institute of Social Sciences, Paris.
• Retired professor at the Lebanese University; supervises doctoral research; researcher and consultant at the Lebanese Center for Studies and at Statistics Lebanon.
• President of the Lebanese Sociological Association (1997–1999).
• Co-author of studies on Lebanon's post-war elections (1992, 1996 and 2000).
• Joined the Movement at its founding in 2001; member of the Executive Committee (2007–2013) and re-elected in July 2016.

• From Tripoli (North Governorate); born 1947.
• Holds a doctorate in basic medical sciences, specialising in nutrition, from the American University of Beirut (1977).
• Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the American University of Beirut (since 2006).
• President of the Lebanese Association for Nutrition and Food Sciences (since 1993); founding member of the Nour Association for Arab Women; elected fellow of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (since 2009).
• Joined the Movement in 2003; member of the Executive Committee (2010–2013) and re-elected in July 2016.

• From Beirut; born 1943.
• Holds a law degree from Saint Joseph University.
• Worked first in journalism, then as adviser to the former minister and MP and Movement founder Nassib Lahoud (1991–2012).
• Joined the Movement at its founding in 2001; member of the Executive Committee since 2013.

• From Baabdat (Metn district, Mount Lebanon); born 1948.
• Holds an MBA from Columbia University (New York) and an engineering degree from Saint Joseph University, Beirut.
• Chairman of Lahoud Engineering Company.
• Joined the Movement at its founding in 2001; member of the Executive Committee since 2013.

• From Bsharri (North Governorate); born 1949.
• Holds degrees in Arabic language and literature.
• Active in human rights and non-violence; former mayor of Bsharri and former head of the Gibran National Committee.
• Joined the Movement at its founding in 2001; member of the Executive Committee since 2013.

• From Beirut; born 1966.
• Studied architecture and urban planning at ALBA, the University of Balamand and the Politecnico di Torino; holds a doctorate from Bordeaux 3 University (France).
• Architect, urban planner and lecturer at several Lebanese universities; founder and director of the MAJAL urban observatory at IUA-ALBA (since 2006); director of Yazigi Atelier (since 1994). Has carried out planning projects with the European Union and the Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform.
• Ran in the 2016 municipal elections on the “Beirut Madinati” list, receiving about 30,000 votes.
• Joined the Movement in 2003; member of the Executive Committee since July 2016.

• From Zahle (Bekaa Governorate); born 1987.
• Holds an MBA from Harvard University, a master's in engineering from Stanford University, and a BE from the American University of Beirut.
• Works in strategy consulting and venture-capital investment.
• Joined the Movement in 2008; AUB Youth Sector coordinator (2008–2009); Secretary of the Youth Sector (2011–2012); member of the Executive Committee since July 2016.

• From Kfarnabrakh (Chouf district, Mount Lebanon); born 1990.
• Holds a master's in international relations from the University of Manchester (2011); doctoral candidate in international relations at Central European University.
• Programme coordinator at the Samir Kassir Foundation; lecturer in political science and political economy in the British programme at the Modern University for Business and Science.
• Joined the Movement in 2008; Secretary of the Youth Sector since 2013; member of the Executive Committee since July 2016.

• From Beit Chabab (Metn district, Mount Lebanon); born 1986.
• Holds a BBA from Western University (Canada).
• Worked for seven years in business consulting; now a consultant in the technology and internet sector.
• Joined the Movement in 2008; member of the Youth Sector since 2013; member of the Executive Committee since July 2016.

Former Presidents of the Democratic Renewal Movement

• From Baabdat (Metn district, Mount Lebanon); born 1944.
• Holds a BSc in engineering from Loughborough University, England (1968).
• Founded Lahoud Engineering Company in 1972.
• Ambassador of Lebanon to the United States (1990–1991).
• Member of parliament for the Metn district from 1991 to 2005 (appointed in 1991 under the Taif Agreement, then elected in 1992, 1996 and 2000). Chaired the parliamentary Defence Committee (1991–1992); member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Finance and Budget Committee (1992–2005). Voted against every amendment made to Article 49 of the Constitution (1995, 1998 and 2004).
• A founder of the Qornet Shehwan Gathering (2001–2005); helped organise the Conference for the Defence of Freedoms (Carlton, August 2001) and the launch of the Bristol Gathering that led the opposition in 2004–2005; voted against extending President Emile Lahoud's term (2004).
• Helped launch and lead the Independence Uprising (February–March 2005) after the assassination of the martyred President Rafik Hariri; member of the leadership body of the 14 March Forces (2006–2009).
• On 13 September 2007 announced his candidacy for the presidency of the Republic on the basis of an intellectual and political text entitled A Vision for the Republic.
• After the presidency fell vacant in November 2007, joined the rest of the 14 March Forces in endorsing General Michel Sleiman.
• Appointed Minister of State in July 2008 in the government headed by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, the first under President Sleiman.
• Co-founded the Democratic Renewal Movement and was elected its President (July 2001). Died on 2 February 2012.

• From Harharaya–Al-Qattine (Kesrouan district, Mount Lebanon); born 1943.
• Holds law and political-science degrees from Saint Joseph University, Beirut.
• Lawyer, member of the Beirut Bar since 1967; president of the National Union of Lebanese University Students (1966).
• Elected member of parliament for the Kesrouan–Ftouh district in 1992 and 1996.
• Joined the Movement at its founding in 2001. Treasurer (2001–2005), then Vice-President (2005–2012), then acting President (July 2012), then President (2013–2016).

Former Members of the Executive Committee

• From Kfarfalous (Jezzine district, South Governorate); born 1936.
• Holds a BSc in mechanical engineering from the University of Bradford, England.
• Elected member of parliament for Jezzine in 1972 and re-elected in 1992 and 1996.
• Minister of Public Works and Transport (1990–1991), Minister of State (1995–1996), Minister of Industry (1996–1998).
• Member of the Executive Committee of the Democratic Renewal Movement (2001–2008). Died on 27 April 2008.

• From Beirut; born 1924.
• Holds a master's in architecture from the University of Cambridge, England.
• Professor of architectural design at the American University of Beirut (1954–1977).
• President of the Order of Engineers and Architects – Lebanon (1995–1999); president of the Union of Arab Architects (1999–2001); member of the reconstruction bodies for Beirut's central district (1977–1986); president of the Association for the Protection of Natural Sites and Old Buildings (since 2003).
• Author of The Reconstruction of Beirut and the Lost Opportunity (1992) and Reconstruction and the Public Interest (1995).
• Member of the Executive Committee of the Democratic Renewal Movement (2001–2010). Died on 4 November 2012.

• From Al-Debbiyeh (Chouf district, Mount Lebanon); born 1927.
• Holds a doctorate in medicine from the French Medical Institute in Beirut (later Saint Joseph University).
• Professor of radiology at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Saint Joseph University.
• President of the Lebanese Order of Physicians (1992–1995); secretary-general of the National Consultative Committee on Medical Ethics (since 2001).
• Contributed to drafting a number of medical laws; author of some 120 published studies and dozens of articles in Lebanese, French and international journals.
• Member of the Executive Committee of the Democratic Renewal Movement (2001–2012). Died on 9 October 2012.

• From Tripoli (North Governorate); born 1962.
• Holds a business degree from INSEAD and an economics degree from the London School of Economics.
• Member of parliament for the Tripoli district from July 1996 to June 2009 (elected in 1996, 2000 and 2005).
• Honorary consul of France in Lebanon (1992–1996); president of the Lebanese–Italian Friendship Association (since 1999).
• Took part in the Conference for the Defence of Freedoms (Carlton, 2001) and the opposition Bristol Gathering (2004–2005); voted with 28 other MPs against extending President Emile Lahoud's term (September 2004); helped launch the Independence Uprising (February–March 2005); member of the leadership body of the 14 March Forces (2006–2009).
• Joined the Movement at its founding in 2001; member of the Executive Committee (2001–2016); the Movement's representative to the government (2001–2005) and Vice-President (2005–2013).

• From Beirut; born 1930.
• Holds a doctorate of state in law from the University of Paris 2 (France).
• Lawyer, member of the Beirut Bar since 1954; director of the National News Agency (1962–1964).
• Director of the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris (1984–1990); member of Lebanon's permanent delegation to UNESCO (1959–1984); founding member and secretary-general of the former Lebanese Democratic Party (1969–1976); editor-in-chief and editorialist for several Lebanese and Arab newspapers and magazines.
• Author of Lebanon and the Israeli Challenge (1965), The Lebanese National Pact, and Why It Fell (1978), The Lebanese Conflicts (1985), and Fouad Chehab (1999).
• Joined the Movement at its founding in 2001; Vice-President (2001–2005); member of the Executive Committee (2001–2010).

• From Sidon (South Governorate); born 1945.
• Holds a diploma in Arabic literature and psychology.
• Chairman of companies working in trade, industry and transport.
• Founded the Popular Congress Bloc party (1972–1977).
• Member of the Zakat Fund of Dar al-Fatwa (since 1997); deputy head of the syndicate of bus owners and internal-transport offices; member of the board of trustees of the Cultural Centre for Research and Development (Sidon).
• Joined the Movement at its founding in 2001; member of the Executive Committee (2001–2016); the Movement's representative to the government (2005–2013), then Vice-President (2013–2016).

• From Ansar (Nabatieh district, Nabatieh Governorate); born 1950.
• Holds a doctorate in applied psychology from the Sorbonne (Paris 5).
• Professor of psychology at the Faculty of Arts, Lebanese University; researcher in social and applied psychology.
• Member of the Lebanese Association of Women Researchers (since 1994) and of the International Society for Social Defence (Milan, since 1992); consultant expert for UN agencies (UNICEF, ESCWA, ILO).
• Author of Prison: A Wild Society (1999), The Trap of the Body (2000), The Masks of Arab Culture (2006), and What It Means to Be Lebanese (2008); writes for the newspapers An-Nahar and Al-Hayat.
• Joined the Movement at its founding in 2001; member of the Executive Committee (2001–2010 and 2013–2016); Vice-President (2013–2016).

• From Tyre (South Governorate); born in Beirut in 1936.
• Holds a law degree from Saint Joseph University, Beirut.
• Professor of media and communication at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Saint Joseph University (since 1981).
• President of the Lebanon Businessmen Gathering (since 2007); chairman and general manager of Front Page Communication S.A.L. (since 2005); international vice-president for the Near East region of the International Union of the French-Language Press (since 1980); member of the board of the Lebanese Press Syndicate (since 2002); member of the National Committee for Islamic–Christian Dialogue (since 1994).
• Joined the Movement at its founding in 2001; member of the Executive Committee (2010–2013).

• From Beirut; born 1939.
• Economist and independent consultant specialising in gender and development.
• Former professor of economics and director of the Institute for Women's Studies in the Arab World at the Lebanese American University (1997–2005).
• Member of the advisory board of the Gender Economic Research and Policy Analysis programme established by the World Bank and CAWTAR in 2006; coordinator of the World Bank's Middle East gender advisory board (2000–2006); member of the National Commission for Lebanese Women (1996–1999); member of the board of trustees of the UN International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, INSTRAW (1996–1999).
• Has written widely on women, gender, the economy and the labour market; current research focuses on migration and women.
• Joined the Movement at its founding in 2001; member of the Executive Committee (2001–2013).

• From Bednayel (Baalbek district, Baalbek-Hermel Governorate); born 1953.
• Holds a doctorate in industrial-polymer chemistry from the University of Paris 6 (France).
• Professor at the Faculty of Sciences, Lebanese University (Beirut); researcher in chemical industry and the environment; founder and member of several cultural and youth bodies in the Bekaa and across Lebanon.
• Political columnist in Arab and Lebanese newspapers, with scientific publications in international journals.
• Joined the Movement at its founding in 2001; member of the Executive Committee (2001–2016).

• From Bhamdoun (Aley district, Mount Lebanon); born 1979.
• Holds a master's in international relations from the American University of Beirut (2000).
• Programme coordinator at the Middle East office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Beirut (since 2009).
• Coordinator of the Civil Campaign for Electoral Reform in Lebanon (2007–2008); programme coordinator at the Lebanese Center for Studies (2006–2008); executive director of the Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (2005–2006).
• Joined the Movement in 2009; member of the Executive Committee (2010–2013).

• From Beirut; born 1986.
• Holds a master's in development studies from the University of Geneva and a doctorate on the issue of the missing and abducted in Lebanon from the Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva.
• Joined the Movement in 2009; head of international relations in the Youth Sector (since 2011); member of the Executive Committee (2013–2016).