Valentina Kassisieh is a Jordanian cultural leader who has served as CEO of the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation (AHSF) for more than a decade. Under her leadership, AHSF has grown into one of the Arab world’s leading institutions in culture and science, delivering cultural programmes and grants across Jordan and Palestine and supporting scientific research through the Foundation’s dedicated research fund.
AHSF’s awards are central to its mission. The Abdul Hameed Shoman Award for Arab Researchers recognizes outstanding scientific achievement by Arab researchers; the Abdul Hameed Shoman Award for Children’s Literature supports unpublished Arabic works for young readers; and the Creativity Award for Children and Youth, “Abde’,” nurtures the next generation of creative talent.
She serves on the boards of Bethany, the Baptism Site development project; the Innovative Startups Fund; and the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature. She has also contributed to the development of national strategies for music and reading. Her previous roles include serving as Director General of the Jordan River Foundation and as a board member of several leading national institutions, including Al Mamlaka TV, the National Scientific Research Fund and the University of Jordan.
Valentina holds a master’s degree in management studies. She is a 2010 Eisenhower Fellow and a recipient of the Ward Wheelock Fellowship. Her work spans culture, youth empowerment, women’s development and social innovation.