Dr. Manal Abdel-Samad, PhD, MBA, PMP®️
Senior Advisor in Taxation, Financial Policy, and Public Governance, Dr. Manal Abdel-Samad is a former Lebanese Minister of Information and a recognized expert with over 27 years of experience across executive, advisory, academic, and public policy roles. She holds a PhD in Law from Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University with high distinction, an MBA from the American University of Beirut (GPA 4.0), and an executive certificate in public policy from Harvard Kennedy School. She is also a lifetime member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the International Honor Society.

Dr. Abdel-Samad is a powerful advocate for women’s empowerment and human rights. In 2022, she was selected by the OECD to join the Pioneer Group of International Women Leaders in Tax Transparency and was awarded a High-Level Certificate of Honor by the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) for her integrity and service during her ministerial tenure.

Her career includes leadership at the Lebanese Ministry of Finance, where she played a pioneering role in implementing Lebanon’s VAT system and supporting the adoption of international tax standards under the OECD/G20 BEPS framework. She has contributed to tax administration reforms, including legislative drafting and implementation of VAT and excise taxes, and supported procedural and institutional enhancements across various countries.

Dr. Abdel-Samad served as a senior tax advisor at a Big Four firm in the Gulf, managing strategic government accounts and helping to build comprehensive tax systems for Giga projects, particularly in Saudi Arabia. She currently serves as a Senior Advisor for the International Tax and Investment Center (ITIC) in Washington, DC, where she advises on fiscal and public policy matters with a special focus on developing and emerging economies.

Recently, she has been focusing on public and fiscal policies in the areas of energy, sustainability, and digital transformation, working with key stakeholders to align reform efforts with global trends and development goals.

As Minister of Information, she championed transparency and communication during Lebanon’s financial crisis, advanced reforms in media laws, promoted access to information, and led anti-corruption strategies. She initiated national campaigns on cybersecurity, media freedom, and COVID-19 awareness, and played a pivotal role in Beirut being named “Arab Media City 2023.”

In academia, Dr. Abdel-Samad serves at top universities in Lebanon and the region, where she teaches public budgeting, taxation, leadership, strategic planning, and change management. She is also an IMF-nominated Lead TADAT Assessor and contributes to key regional and international tax and governance forums.

Dr. Abdel-Samad is trilingual (Arabic, English, and French) and continues to provide thought leadership on tax policy, governance, and economic reform, blending strategic insight with practical experience to support resilience and growth in the MENA region and beyond.