OUR TALENTED

Speakers

Dr. Zahi Hawass

We are honored to present the esteemed Dr. Zahi Hawass with the Telemed Foundation Man of the Year Award.  Former Egyptian Minister of Antiquities and Director of Excavations at Giza, Saqqara, Bahariya Oasis, and the Valley of Kings, Dr. Hawass received his PhD in 1987 from the University of Pennsylvania where he studied as a Fulbright Fellow.  He has written numerous scholarly articles and books, and is a highly respected Egyptologist.  Known for his charisma and ability to reach out to the public, for more than thirty years he has been raising awareness of archaeology and the preservation of Egypt’s precious heritage.

Dr. Hawass will be the keynote speaker at our event, presenting new important discoveries in ancient Egyptian history such as the discovery of the mummy of Queen Hatshepsut, the mummies of the family of King Tutankhamun, and the mystery of the death of Ramses III.  Dr. Hawass will also discuss new discoveries around the great pyramid and the Sphinx, new tombs found at Saqqara, the secret doors inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu, and will introduce his excavation in search of the tomb of the magical queen Cleopatra.

H.E. Nabila Makram Abd El-Chahid

Nabila Makram Abd El-Chahid currently holds the position of Minister of State for Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates’ Affairs. Born in Alexandria on the 13th of August 1969, Abd El-Chahid attended Sainte Jeanne-Antide School and received her Bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University in 1991. In 1993, Abd El-Chahid joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and began an esteemed career in the diplomatic sector. Some of the highlights of her career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs include serving as a Third Secretary at the Office of the Assistant Foreign Minister for European Affairs in 1995, serving as Third Secretary, Embassy of Egypt in Brazil in 1997, becoming Second Secretary, Consulate General of Egypt in Chicago from 2004, and being promoted to First Secretary at the Embassy of Egypt in Italy in 2007. Abd El-Chahid’s diplomatic journey reached new levels when she was appointed as Adviser of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps management in 2011, and in 2013 when she attained the position of Deputy Consul General in Dubai.

Nabila Makram Abd El-Chahid's hard work, dedication, and impeccable career record shed light on her ability to become part of the Egyptian government, and thus on the 19th of September 2015 she took oath in front of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and became the Minister of State for Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates’ Affairs, reviving the Ministry after 20 years of absence. From her first days at the Ministry, Nabila Makram Abd El-Chahid has shown interest in women-related issues - particularly those of Egyptian expatriate women - tying the second and third generations of Egyptians abroad to their homeland, working on combating irregular migration for minors, and paying close attention and working on solving all issues related to Egyptians abroad. Abd El-Chahid has set the standard where the Ministry of State for Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates’ Affairs is the government-back for all other Ministries when it comes to serving Egyptians abroad.

Abd El-Chahid is keen on staying a women's and children's advocate, and on tying Egyptians abroad with their roots in Egypt. She works closely with Egyptian scientists and experts abroad, as she is aware of the importance of bringing the latest technologies, research, and studies to be used and implemented in Egypt. A mother, wife, achiever, and dedicated government official, Abd El-Chahid is a purposeful, energetic Egyptian woman who follows her passion and plans ahead as she sets an example for modern Egyptian women and women world-wide.

Anissa Hassouna

Anissa Hassouna is currently a Member of the Egyptian Parliament, and previously held the position of the Executive Director of the Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation. Prior to that, she was a political advisor to the Chairman of the Information & Decision Support Centre of the Egyptian Cabinet.

Ms. Hassouna previously held the position of the Director General of Egypt's International Economic Forum and worked as Assistant General Manager at Egypt Iran Development Bank. Ms. Hassouna, who writes regularly on public affairs, is the Vice Chair of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs and is a member of the Executive Council of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, which won the Nobel prize in 1995.

She is a founding  member of the Think Tank for Arab Women and the Forum for Arab Citizenship in Transition Democracies. In 2014, Ms. Hassouna was named on the annual list of the Arabian Business & CEO Middle East magazine as one of the World's 100 Most Powerful Arab Women. 

Laila Pence

Ms. Pence is ranked in the top 1% of all LPL Wealth Advisors in the United States. As President and Co-founder of Pence Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm, Ms. Pence has helped the firm grow to approximately $1.4 billion.

After her family’s home was bombed during the Six Day War, Laila emigrated with her family from Egypt to the United States as a teenager. She landed first in New York City, where she sold hot dogs and knishes on the Staten Island Ferry, then moved to California to attend the University of California, Los Angeles. Today, Ms. Pence has earned accolades from numerous industry organizations and publications. Both Forbes and Barron’s puts her in the top 100 financial advisors nationwide, and the Financial Times featured her in the 400 Top Advisers nationwide. Ms. Pence was the recipient of the Orange County Business Journal's 18th Annual Women in Business Award, and a year later she was named #1 Wealth Manager in Orange County. Laila is co-author of the book “Living and Learning,” published by Quantum Press in 2005. She is also a licensed real estate broker who specializes in 1031 exchange transactions and triple net leases nationwide. 

Dryden Pence

Eldon Dryden Pence III serves as the Chief Investment Officer of Pence Wealth Management.  He is a Registered Principal & Investment Advisory Representative with LPL Financial. Under his leadership and investment direction, the firm has grown to be one of the most respected wealth management firms in the nation with both the firm and its advisers frequently recognized by industry journals such as Forbes and Barron’s.

Dryden obtained his degree in Economics from Harvard University in 1982. In that same year he was commissioned in the US Army as a Military Intelligence Officer through the ROTC program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). After further Graduate Study in Law and Crisis Management, Dryden functioned as a Military Intelligence and Special Operations Officer, specializing in Psychological Warfare. He was reactivated for Desert Storm and is the recipient of three Meritorious Service Medals, both the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal with “V” for valor in combat, and the Legion of Merit from the U.S. Army, one of the highest honors earned by a soldier. After commanding joint intelligence units in support of both US Central Command in the Middle East and US Africa Command, Colonel Pence retired from the Army Reserve in July 2015.

From 1985 – 2001, as a civilian, he served as principal owner and President of a regional investment banking firm, headquartered in Fort Smith, AR where he led and participated in over $1 billion in financial transactions.  In 2001, Mr. Pence retired from Investment Banking, selling the firm to his junior partners and joined his wife Laila Pence in forming Pence Wealth Management in Newport Beach, California.

Formally trained as an economist, Dryden Pence received his Certified Portfolio Manager designation from Columbia University, and as CIO of Pence Wealth Management he oversees the service of over $1 billion in brokerage and advisory client assets.

Dryden Pence combines his formal training and knowledge as an economist with his years of experience in psychological warfare to bring a unique understanding of human behavior and how it affects the economy and the markets. Dryden Pence is a frequent speaker at regional and national events.