Desert Bloom Team

Mr. Mamoun Khreisat, MBA, PMP

The Founder & President, Desert Bloom for Training & Sustainable Development

Regional Coordinator, URI- MENA

A proactive and well-rounded executive with over 25 years of diverse local and international experience in business sector and non-profit and voluntary sector management.

Mamoun is currently leading two non-profit NGOs in Jordan; Desert Bloom for Training & Sustainable Development and URI MENA. He manages several community development programs related to economic empowerment, conflict resolution, environmental sustainability, education, capacity building, women’s empowerment, youth leadership programs, and advocacy for human rights. Additionally, he is an International Training and development professionals in fields of Leadership, Management and People Empowerment accredited by reputable training and consultation institutions across MENA region.

As a Regional Coordinator (Director) of URI- MENA (the United Religions Initiative in MENA region), Mamoun Guide and supports the work of 90+ autonomous URI’s member groups across MENA region. URI is a global NGO that cultivates peace and justice by bridging religious and cultural differences and work for the good of the world. It enjoys a consultative status with the United Nations.

Mamoun has a wide experience in private sector, he held several senior leadership positions in the largest two banks in Jordan, the latest was the Vice President – Area Head of Asia & Australasia at Arab Bank plc (2011- 2017).

Example of special programs managed by Mamoun:

Women Economic Empowerment initiative 2015-2018 (Jordan, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia)
Preventing Youth Violent Radicalization & Violent Extremism program.
Intercultural Citizenship program.
Youth Entrepreneurship program.
Startup Business Model for marginalized groups.

Academic and professional credentials include:

MBA, International Business, the University of Birmingham (among top 100 MBAs worldwide), Birmingham- UK, 2008.
Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) since Nov. 2009.
A GATHER Fellow, USA – Social Entrepreneur since Jan. 2018.
Spirit in Action Leadership Program (a yearlong program), Spirit in Action, North Carolina, USA, April 2018 to June 2019).
SCdegree in Business Administration, the University of Jordan, Amman, June 1995

Mamoun was a panelist/ key speaker in several international conferences, including:

The Accelerate Peace Conference, URI, the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, California, June 2019.
The World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa, Jordan, April 2019.
Integration of Immigrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers conference, Sicily- Italy, May 2018.
Modern strategies in managing organization conference, Joint Efforts Group, Amman Oct. 2016

Mamoun had volunteered for several organizations including Save the Children (INJAZ)- Jordan, Over the Wall- UK, Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies – Jordan, Seeds of Peace – USA, and World Conference on Religion & Peace.

Mr. Samer Al Kasih

Advisory Board Member, Desert Bloom

Coordinator, Youth Projects, Desert Bloom

Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from the University of Jordan, 1991.

Samer is an international trainer and consultant in the field of youth, sport and Management. He is certified/ accredited trainer by a number of reputable organizations including:

Certified as a Professional Trainer (on Leadership & Management), from ILM institute of leadership and management, London, since Sep 13, 2011.
An accredited trainer by Salto- youth within the Erasmus+ Youth programme.
Certified trainer on Human Rights from Equitas Mena institute/ Canada and Anhor institute/ Jordan, using games for child and adults’ Human rights (Jan. 2012 to Jan. 2013).

Delivered tens of training courses for leading NGOs including: The British council, GIZ, Oxfam, Royal Health Awareness Society (RHAS), Anna Lindh Foundation, Caritas, King Abdullah Fund for Development (KAFD), Equitas, Generations for peace, IMC (international Medical Corps), Salto-Youth and Euro-Med / Erasmus Plus programs

Samer is talented at employing games and sport as a tool for intercultural dialogue, peace building, social inclusion, conflict resolution and a healthy lifestyle.

Professional Background includes:

Outreach Manager, Madrasati organization (Royalty Non- profit organization working on Education), 2012- 2013.
Project Manager, „King Abdullah II Award for Physical Fitness”, Royal Health Awareness Society (Royalty Non- profit organization working on Education and Health Awareness), 2007-2012

King Abdullah II Award for Physical Fitness is a school-based national initiative established in 2005, It targeted young people, who represent one-third of the Jordanian population, and seeks to encourage young Jordanians to be more physically active and lead healthier lifestyles.

President Assistant of the „sport for all committee in Jordan”, Jordan Olympic committee (2012- 2015).
Manager Fitness & Health Clubs for several reputable GYMs and Hotels.

Awards & Special Projects

A founding member of the Youth@Work Pool of Trainers in April 2019, which provides training and facilitation services to Erasmus+ National Agencies and SALTO-YOUTH Resource Centre.
His Majesty King Abdullah II Award for: initiating, implementing, executing and Closing the King Abdullah II Award for Physical Fitness project 2012.
His Royal Highness Prince Feisal Ben Hussein Award, for being succeed as a pioneer with the Generations for Peace Organization, April 2013.
Created a network about Sport for Education & Social Inclusion „the 8 series”. Conducted 6 international training projects: Motiv8, Activ8, Cultiv8, Participa8 Collabora8 and Evalu8 in Europe and South Mediterranean countries.
Duke of Edinburgh International Award

Muntaser Al Masri, Financial Manager

Muntaser enjoys 8 years of financial management and accounting for Nonprofit organizations. Also, he is a professional grant writer and social activist. Muntaser organized/ co-organized 12 Erasmus Plus projects (Youth Exchanges and Training Course, of which 4 were implemented in Jordan). He started his career as Human Rights activist in 2006, capitalizing on his Master Degree in International Law.