Our Leadership

Teuta Rexhepi is the Secretary General of Rehabilitation International. Having worked in the nonprofit sector since 1999 at national and international level, Teuta specializes in nonprofit management and capacity building, development of membership programs, nonprofit marketing and public relations initiatives and advising on communications strategy and advocacy on rights and inclusions of people with disabilities. Teuta holds master’s degree in Global Affairs from the New York University, specialized in International Development and Humanitarian Assistance.

Professor Christoph Gutenbrunner, MD, PhD, FRCP, SFEBPRM

1. Life line and education

• 1954: born in Freiburg im Breisgau (Germany)
• 1982: Medical Doctor (Marburg University) and license to practice medicine (“Approbation”)
• 1990: PhD in applied physiology and appointment as assistant professor (Marburg University)
• 1995: Specialist for Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine and appointment as University Professor at Hannover Medical School
• Since 2007: Chair, Head of Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Hannover Medical School including Coordination Centre of Rehabilitation Research of German Pension Insurance Brunswick-Hannover
• Visiting Professorships at University of Graz (Austria), University of Padjajaran, Medical Faculty Bandung (Indonesia) and Southern China University Guangzhou/Shenzhen (China)
• 2016: Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (London)

2. International leadership experience
   • President (2019-2020) and Vice President (2018-2019; 2020-2022) of the Global Rehabilitation Alliance (GRA)
   • President of the Baltic & North Sea Forum of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (2008-2013) and chairman of the advisory board (since 2013)
   • Vice-president for Europe of the International Society for Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (2004-2008) and ISPRM-WHO-Liaison Officer/Chairman of the WHO Liaison Committee of the International Society for Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (2010-2018)
   • Chairman of the Professional Practice Committee of the Section de la Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation de la Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes (2003-2010)
   • Board Member and Treasurer of the European Society for Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (2008-2011) and chairman of the Public Health Committee (2010-2016)
   • Member of the European Academy for Rehabilitation Medicine (since 2011) and chairman of the Foresight Committee (2013-2018)
   • President of 9^th ISPRM World Congress 2015, Berlin, Germany

3. Scientific fields related to disability and rehabilitation

• Development, implementation and evaluation of innovative rehabilitation programs for return-to-work
• Studies on subjective and objective criteria for the need of rehabilitation in persons experiencing disability
• Conceptualizing rehabilitation in health systems and development and testing the International Classification of Service Organization in Rehabilitation (ICSO-R)
• Development of a methodology for National Disability, Health and Rehabilitation Plans and application in Egypt, Ukraine, Albania, People’s Democratic Republic of Korea, Albania, and Shenzhen (China)
• International Community survey on Spinal Cord Injury (related to the lived experience and societal integration of persons with SCI)
• Innovative teaching concepts for Disability and Rehabilitation
• Rehabilitation in persons with COVID-19 ( Long-/Post-COVID)

4. Collaborations and projects with national and international organizations

• World Health Organization ( contribution to the World Report on Disability (2011), the Global Disability Action Plan 2024-2021, the recommendation Rehabilitation in Health Systems (2017) and the Rehabilitation 2030 – a call for action)
• The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
• The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the Community Based Rehabilitation Network (CGN), the Christoffel Blind Mission (CBM), the Dementia Alliance International, Humanity & Inclusion (HI), Light for the World, Liliane Foundation, Motivation (UK) and a number of professional organizations
• In collaboration with HI, advocacy towards a WHA resolution on rehabilitation in contact with 15 national permanent missions in Geneva as well as the WHO regions Africa, South-east Asia, Europe and Latin Amerika
• The German Pension Insurance
• The German Workers Compensation Fund
• The German Members of Rehabilitation International: BAR and DVfR
• The Lower Saxony Ombudsman of Persons with Disabilities

5. Publications

• Four scientific monographs and 81 book chapters
• 395 original scientific papers (200 of them listed in pubmed)
• Editor of 6 scientific books and one textbook for students
• Co-editor of two scientific journals and 8 consensus papers as well as three white books

Appendix: 10 recent publications

Gutenbrunner C, Nugraha B: Principles of Assessment of Rehabilitation Services in Health Systems: Learning from experiences. J Rehabil Med 2018; 50: 326-332

Gutenbrunner C, Nugraha B: Responding to the World Health Organization Global Disability Action Plan in Egypt: Developing a National Disability, Health and Rehabilitation Plan. J Rehabil Med 2018; 50: 333-337

Gutenbrunner C, Tederko P, Grabljevec K, Nugraha B: Responding to the World Health Organization Global Disability Action Plan in Ukraine: Developing a Na-tional Disability, Health and Rehabilitation Plan. J Rehabil Med 2018; 50: 338-341

Sturm C; Bökel A; Korallus C; Geng V; Kalke YB; Abel R; Kurze I; Gutenbrunner, CM: Promoting factors and barriers to participation in working life for people with spinal cord injury. J Occup Med Toxicol 2020; 15: 37; PMID: 33334363

Bickenbach J, Batistella L, Gutenbrunner C, Middleton J, Post MW, Stucki G: The International Spinal Cord Injury Survey: The Way Forward. Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 2020; 101: 2227-2232.

Gutenbrunner C, Nugraha B, Gimigliano F, Meyer T, Kiekens C: International Classification of Service Organization in Rehabilitation: An updated set of categories (ICSO-R 2.0). J Rehabil Med 2020; 52: DOI 10.2340/16501977-2627

Gutenbrunner C, Kubat B, Kröhn S, Haller H, Schiller J, Korallus C, Sturm C: Teaching functioning, disability and rehabilitation to first year medical students. J Rehabil Med 2021; 53: PMID: 33594446

Gutenbrunner C, Briest J, Egen C, Sturm C, Schiller J, Kahl K, Tegtbur U, Fuhr H, Korallus C: Fit for work and life: an innovative concept to improve health and work ability of employees, integrating prevention, therapy and rehabilitation. J Rehabil Med 2021; PMID: 33829273

Gutenbrunner C, Nugraha B, Teixido I Martin L: Phase-adapted Rehabilitation for acute corona virus disease-19 (COVID-19) patients and patient with long-term sequelae of COVID-19. Am J Phys Med Rehabil, 2021; 100: 533-538

Spir M, Lugo Agudelo LH, Posada A, Cruz K, Velasquez J, Dio RD, Gonzalez M, Ospina V, Patiño D, Mesa L, Gutenbrunner C: Countries response for people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic- Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences 2021 (accepted Dec 8, 2021)

Regarded as China’s Helen Keller for her outspokenness on disability rights, Zhang Haidi is the chairperson of the China Disabled Persons Federation and the President of Rehabilitation International. Born in Jinan, Shandong Province, Zhang became a paraplegic at age five due to complications from polio. Unable to attend school, she educated herself to university level, learning several foreign languages including English, Japanese, German and Esperanto. Zhang started writing and translating in the 1980s, authoring her life story Beautiful English in both Chinese and English. as well as the novel, A Dream in Wheelchair. Zhang holds a Master in Philosophy from Jilin University.

Susan Parker has more than 30 years of executive experience in the field of worldwide disabilities. The former Secretary-General of RI (1993-1998), Parker’s experiences as a New England ski racer and instructor pointed her toward a career in disability advocacy. Parker has served as the Disability Commissioner of the U.S. Social Security Administration, opening up disability benefits to 465,000 U.S. children. From 2002-2011, she joined in the U.S. Department of Labor as the Disability Policy Director and helped create the national Disability Unemployment Statistic. Prior to the federal level, Parker held top leadership posts in two state governments: the State of Maine, Commissioner, Department of Mental Health & Mental Retardation; and the State of New Hampshire, Executive Director of the Developmental Disabilities Council. From 1998 to 2001, Parker was the Senior Policy Officer, Disability at the International Labour Organization in Geneva. She holds the Master of Social Work and Master of Social Planning degrees from Boston College School of Social Work and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Demelash Bekele is a leader in the realms of social work and disability advocacy, boasting a career spanning over two decades. Currently serving Rehabilitation International as Deputy Vice President for Africa region and a founder and Executive Director of the Ethiopian-based NGO, VCBRA (Vision Community Based Rehabilitation Association). Additionally, he contributes as an International Disability Consultant at Light for the World (LFTW), further extending his impact across borders. He is an alumnus of Washington University in St. Louis, where he earned a master’s degree in social work. His academic achievements are complemented by his status as a Fellow of the prestigious Acumen Fellowship Program, where he engages in research and initiatives aimed at advancing disadvantaged community rights and inclusion. In his illustrious career journey, he has served as Board Chairperson of Community-Based Rehabilitation Network Ethiopia, further cementing his dedication to fostering inclusive practices and empowerment within communities.

Hashem Taqi is the General Manager of the Kuwait Society for the Handicapped and the first Kuwaiti to assume a key post in RI Global. Taqi, who has been working for the Kuwait Society for the Handicapped for nearly 35 years, previously served as RI Global’s Middle East Chair. Established in 1971, the Kuwait Society for the Handicapped offers various free services, such as medical care, rehabilitation and education to persons with disabilities. The Society started with the caring for 30 children with disabilities, and now it owns a modern purposed designed centre for 250 multiply disabled children, as well as day care centers in Hawally, Jahra and Ahmadi.

Joseph Kwan is an Architect and Consultant in Universal Accessibility who received his architectural training in Australia, and later in Environmental Psychology from the United Kingdom. He is awarded the degree of Doctor of the University by the Queensland University of Technology Council in 2020.   He has more than 40 years of experience in international architectural practice having worked in Australia, United Kingdom, France and now over 30 years in Hong Kong. Joseph has been the Director of a Hong Kong NGO for 18 years that focused on making Hong Kong more accessible for the elderly and people with disabilities, to the built environment and public transportation. He is the Founding Director of UDA Consultants Ltd. (Universal Design and Accessibility Consultants) in Hong Kong since 2005. Joseph was a Consultant to the UN-ESCAP, on the preparation of a Technical Guideline on the “Promotion of Non-Handicapping Environments for Disabled and Elderly Persons in the Asia – Pacific Region”, and also a Resource Person for the UN-ESCAP on “The Regional Training of Trainers Course on the Promotion of Non-Handicapping Environments for People with Disabilities”. He is their current Expert/Consultant on the promotion of Barrier-Free Tourism in Asia and the Pacific. He was a Consultant to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on the preparation of a Technical Guideline on “Universal Access to ADB Transport Projects”, in addition to advising on accessibility to the proposed MRT Systems in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Joseph was a Member of the ISO (International Standards Organization) Working Group on the drafting of the Standard entitled: “Accessibility and Usability of the Built Environment” 2011, and is currently serving in the Working Group on the Review of this Standard. He is a Member of the Hong Kong Government Rehabilitation Advisory Committee (RAC), a Member of the Working Group on Hong Kong Rehabilitation Programme Plan (RPP) 2020-30 Review, a Convenor of the RPP Task Force on Accessibility and the Chairman of RAC Sub-committee on Access. Since 1987, Joseph Kwan has prepared over 300 Personal Injury legal reports, for people who sustained personal injuries, for the Legal Aid Department, private Solicitors and Lawyers in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and Canada. He has extensive lecture experiences in the field of access and universal design at the local, regional and international level having lectured in 33 countries.

Mathieu Simard has been working in the physical rehabilitation area for the past 19 years and has been involved in a large number of international health projects since 2000. This mixed background has led to a number of different positions to strengthen disability inclusion in high and low-income settings alike. These range from clinical service provision to providing teachings and trainings in various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and universities in Canada and abroad. In addition to serving as Deputy-Vice President North-America and Vice-Chair on the International Commission on Accessibility and Technology, Simard chairs RI Rehabilitation International’s Task Force on Disability, Armed Conflict, and Natural Disasters. He is currently pursuing a PhD candidate in Rehabilitation Sciences at McGill University.

I have worked and been a leader and Director in different companies in the Welfare Sector for more than 35 years, both in Norway and in the Nordic countries. I am educated and have a Master degree from Copenhagen Business School. I also have a degree in psychology from the University in Oslo, Norway.

For the moment I am a Freelancer as Specialist consultant in the field of welfare, working as a manager for international projects and as a Board member in different institutions. These institutions work for and with persons with a disability.

During my period as a Chair of Education Commission some of the following topics has been on the agenda:

• Responsible for a Side event during COSP – 2018 with the theme “Inclusive education for people with a disability – From special schools to inclusive education”
• Presentation about inclusive education on II Congress on Mental Health in Moscow in 2018
• Responsible for a parallel event at the 62 nd Session of Commission on the Status of Women in New York in 2018. The theme was “Rural girls with disability – their access to education.
• Presentation about Inclusive Education on a Regional Conference in Africa in 2017
• Responsible for a side event during COSP 2019 meeting in New York. The topic for the side event was “Technology as a tool for inclusive education – Digital empowerment through inclusive education”
• Producing the paper: “Challenges to achieving equality between disabled persons and persons without a disability” 2019

Limin Liao, MD, PhD, is president of the China Rehabilitation Science Institute (CRSI) and vice-director of the China Rehabilitation Research Center (CRRC) in Beijing, where he has chaired the departments of urology and neuro- urology since 2002. He is a professor of urology and director of the PhD training program in neuro-urology and urodynamics at the rehabilitation school of Capital Medical University in Beijing and the Cheeloo College of Medicine of Shandong University in Jinan.

Dr. Liao earned a bachelor’s degree from the Third Military Medical University in Chongqing, China, in 1986.He completed his urologic training and postgraduate education at the General Hospital of PLA in Beijing and  received his MD degree in 1994. He joined the department of urology at the Medical School of the RWTH Aachen University, Germany, in 1998. There, Dr. Liao earned his PhD in urology with the thesis Development of Urodynamic  Standards for Quality Control in 2006.

Dr. Liao is the president of the Chinese Continence Society and vice-chairman of the China Neuromodulation Society. He is on the editorial board of eight Chinese journals, including the Journal of Chinese Urology. As a leader in  neuro-urology, urodynamics, and incontinence in China, Dr. Liao uses his background in education and research in Europe to promote academic exchange between China and Europe, and his significant academic performance has a  wider range impact including in China, Asia-Pacific or Pan-Pacific and the other regions of the world. He has been an officer of the board committee for regional chapters of the International NeuroUrology Society, which is based in  Zurich and Innsbruck, Switzerland, since 2015 and became the first Chinese member of the International Continence Society (ICS), based in Bristol, England, in 1997. He is also a member of the ICS’s urodynamic and neuro- urology subcommittee. He is an associate editor of the ICS and Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction's official journal Neurourology and Urodynamics. Dr. Liao was elected a trustee of the ICS in 2008, has hosted more than 10 ICS Educational Courses 2 in China, and chaired the 42nd ICS Annual Meeting in Beijing in 2012. In 2016, Dr. Liao became the funding member and executive board member of the  PanPacific Continence Society (PPCS) and chaired the 11th PPCS annual meeting in Beijing. He also is an editorial board member of PPCS official journal LUTS.

Meera Alshamsi is a Genomic Genetic Analyst and committed advocate for individuals with determination (people with disabilities). She holds a Bachelor of Science in Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development from the University of Minnesota and a Graduate Certificate in Molecular Genetics from Yale University. Currently pursuing a Master’s in Human Genetics at Queen Mary University of London, her research focuses on the genetic foundations of  neurodevelopmental disorders, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Meera has furthered her expertise through certifications in Agile Leadership, Protecting Human Research Participants, Good Clinical Practice, Project Management, Data Analytics, Product Management and more. With over a decade of experience in genetic research and healthcare management. Meera currently working on identifying genetic markers linked to conditions such as  ASD underscores her dedication to developing personalized therapies that enhance rehabilitation outcomes and early diagnosis. Driven by her passion for inclusivity, Meera is dedicated to advancing global standards in rehabilitation and creating pathways that support individuals with congenital and genetic conditions.

Prof. Asha Hans is Executive Vice President of SMRC an OPD in India and Associate member RI. Academic Council Member Indian Association of Women’s Studies. Former Prof of Political Science and Founder Director School of Women’s Studies Utkal University. Member Board Women’s, Peace Humanitarian Fund, Editorial Board Member Journal of Peace Education and member Editorial Board Member Bloomsbury . Academic Publishers book series on Peace & Human Rights Education. Vice President Red Cross (Odisha) Founder Women with Disabilities India Network. An academic activist, she promotes girl child with disability education, security of girls in the education sector of climate change and school drop-out. The forthcoming book is disability inclusive climate change.

Director of the ISRP (China)
Vice chair of Social Commission of Rehabilitation International (RI)
Deputy head of the psychomotor Therapy Group of the Children’ss Rehabilitation
Committee, Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine
2023 Hong Kong Outstanding Talent
Holding the Social Worker Expert Title recognized by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of China

Professor Yueqin Huang has worked as the chair of Commission of Health and Function of Rehabilitation International since 2016 and committed herself mental health promotion and study on mental rehabilitation. She is psychiatric epidemiologist and director of the Division of Social Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine in Institute of Mental Health/Sixth Hospital of Peking University for teaching and research. Her concurrent posts include vice-president of China Disabled Persons’ Federation, and president of Society of Crisis Intervention of Chinese Association of Mental Health. She is principal investigator of a series of research projects and international collaborations including World Mental Health Survey and 10/66 Dementia Study. She have published 357 academic article in many journals and is editor-in-Chief of eight books.

In 2004, Zhanxin Tang finished master degree in Germany. just one day before her returning back to china, i suffered a spinal cord injury from a car accident.

In 2014, three persons with SCI and i set up a Disabled Persons’ Organization with peer service to help the person with SCI to improve their abilities, which named Beijing Hope House.

By 2022, with the guidance of Zhanxin Tang, their organization has offered rehabilitation for quality life to nearly 900 persons to help them to regain self-care ability; helped 1500 persons with vocational skills training and helped nearly 500 persons to obtain jobs. As a national demonstration center, her organization not only trained more than 300 persons with SCI from 30 provinces to be professional peer trainers, but edited several group standards and  guidelines related to rehabilitation with peer training and service for the person with disabilities. She also set an unique social value reconstruction system for persons with disabilities, which is from”self-help” to “help others” to “help more people” to “affect groups and society”.

Hiroshi Kawamura is a long-term board member of the DAISY Consortium, a global partnership of organizations committed to creating the best methods of publishing for people who are blind or print disabled. He has also served DAISY in several other positions, including as an ambassador for DAISY in the Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DiDRR) sector. Kawamura helped coordinate the Global Forum on Disability in the Information Society in Geneva and in Tunis, which has been followed by international conferences on DiDRR and on-site collaborative research. Under Kawamura, the forum focused on empowering all community residents by providing accessible and easy to understand in in order too inform scientific knowledge on DiDRR in DAISY multimedia format. Kawamura arranged the Asia-Pacific Meeting on DiDRR in Sendai, Japan in April 2014 in collaboration with UN ESCAP, Nippon Foundation and Rehabilitation International. He has worked as a professional librarian at the University of Tokyo Library since 1970.

I’ve always wanted to work for a greater good. At my current position as the director of Supporting Foundation of children and youth with disabilities I have had the opportunity to promote equal rights, inclusion and diversity in both working life and education. My expertise lies within the fields of employment, education and rehabilitation policies and services. I’ve worked in national and international expert groups implementing projects, research and training. Currently I am the president of RI Finland and the chair of Policies and Services commission of RI Global.

I have a master’s degree in sociology, and I’ve published several articles on the employment of young people with disabilities.

Ms. Maria de Fátima Salvador dos Santos Ferreira is currently the president of the Fuhong Society of Macau since 2003 and has been the Director of the Social Welfare Bureau in Macau. With enthusiasm and the intention to keep providing services for society, she started the Fuhong Society of Macau and hoped to deliver a variety of opportunities for people with disabilities to develop their personal capabilities, actively integrate into the communities, and live a wonderful life.

After graduating, she began working in Macau Public Service as the first social worker which sparked the development of social service in Macau. She was first allocated as a social worker at the Social Welfare Bureau and aimed to improve people’s lives by helping with social and interpersonal difficulties and promoting human rights and wellbeing. In February 1976, she was then shifted to the Social Recovery Centre (CRS) in temporary diligence due to a manifest and urgent need for the service. In July 1989, she was transferred to the Macau Health Services, having been placed at the Conde de S. Januário Hospital Centre as the head of the Social Service sector, being critical in defining problems to effectively accomplish its goal. By achieving professional qualifications and extensive experiences throughout her career path, Fátima was greatly honored to serve as the Director of the Social Welfare Bureau in August 1991. After retirement, Fátima also resolved to continue her participation in social service and expect to pass on the good experience and spirit. She has taken part in the board of management in many organizations, such as serving as the president of the Rotary Club of Macau in 2004 and the president of the Montepio Geral de Macau. In her execution capabilities as president, Fátima led the organization with the ongoing commitment and strong purposes for both local services and international projects, making contributions to the betterment of Macau.

In 2003, together with two friends, she founded the Fuhong Society of Macau, aiming to provide vocational training, techniques of independent living, and support in the search for work for the intellectually disabled and the former mentally ill, having contributed to the creation of the first laundry service social enterprise in 2012, offering job opportunity for people with disabilities. For affirmation and commendation, Fátima was awarded the “Medal of Merit in Altruistic” by the Macau SAR Government in 2008 for her personal achievements in the field of social service over the half-century. With her steadfast belief and excellent leadership skills, the organization became one of the members of Rehabilitation International (RI) in 2017 and received the opportunity to host the Rehabilitation International Asia and Pacific Regional Conference in June 2019. It was a splendid event and accomplishment, both in terms of intellectual quality and social gratification. The Conference was held alongside the exhibition of Assistive Devices and the Art with the Disabled Exhibition simultaneously with approximately 1,500 attendees from 32 countries, gathered international experts, practitioners, academics and researchers from all over the world. Throughout the conference days, together with various sectors, we signed the “Memorandum of Collaboration of Partnership of Parents Networks” and adopted the “Macau Statement 2019” which called Governments and peoples of the region to support inclusive policies and measures and proactively expedite the procedure.

Under her administration, the organization was awarded the “Medal of Merit in Altruistic” by the Government in 2018 for proving its 15-year efforts and selfless dedication to people with disabilities. Her dedication has marked an important milestone in the development of social work. She will remain in committed to enhancing the entire social work profession and rehabilitation service by exploring its difficult issues, new challenges, and current successes in Macau

After having studied law at the universities of Bonn (Germany), Lausanne and Geneva (Switzerland) Dr. Gregor Kemper wrote his doctoral thesis in Public International Law. He accepted various legal assignments in post conflict countries followed by practising as a lawyer in Germany. Since 2002 Dr. Gregor Kemper held several managerial positions in the area of global mobility before being seconded by the German Government to the European Union’s External Action Service for state capacity building related projects.

In 2011 Dr. Gregor Kemper joined the DGUV as Head of International Relations. He chairs several international commissions and serves as Secretary of the ISSA Technical Commission on Insurance against Employment Accidents and Occupational Diseases. Dr. Kemper is President of the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC) and Member io the Executive Committee of Rehabilitation International (RI).

Former CEO of the 24th RI-World Congress of rehabilitation. Vice Chair of the Commission of Leisure, Recreation and Physical Activity of RI. Member of the Danish Paralympic and Special Olympic Board of Directors. Since 1999 Manager at MarselisborgCentret, a national center for rehabilitation and serves as National Secretary of RI Denmark. Member of the Organizing Committee WRC 2024 in Abu Dhabi. Educational background as a physical educator and post graduate diploma in exercise for rehabilitation from Melbourne, Australia. Co-author and editor of a number of publications in rehabilitation and adapted physical activity.

Khaled El Mohtar, Lebanese Business Administration Graduate, Born in 1952. He started his career as teacher of Mathematics.

In 1980 he founded and served as Chairman of National Rehabilitation and Development Center till 2016.

He served as Rehabilitation International Deputy Vice president for the Arab Region from (2000-2005) and as RI Vice President from (2006-2013).

Khaled El Mohtar is founding member and Chair of Rehabilitation International-Arab Region organization since 2008, and continue serving as Voluntary Social Activist for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Human rights.

He organized 5 RI International Conferences in collaboration with RI Global and his Colleagues in the Arab Region, and co-organized many conferences, seminars and workshops in the fields of Disability, Rehabilitation, Social concepts, and Responsibility of Civil Society. Additionally, participated in many other Local, Regional and International activities concerned with disability, rehabilitation and development.

He served as Chair of RI Social Commission between 2016 and 2024.

He served as Board Member of RI Foundation since 2014 and re elected during the last RI GA meeting in Abu Dhabi.

Currently serves as Vice Chair for RI Work and Employment Commission.

Mark Soubiran is the CEO of ISRP (French acronym for Higher Institute for Psychomotor Therapy), a group of higher education institutions specialized in the field of healthcare and more specifically psychomotor therapy (PMT). A graduate of HEC Paris Business School, Mark has been particularly involved in the development of ISRP and PMT in China since 2015. He is the third generation to lead ISRP, which was founded by his grandmother and father in 1967 and is committed to fulfilling his legacy by contributing to the development of humane and innovative approaches in health to better support people with disabilities and vulnerabilities. His area of action is naturally in France and China, but also in the Middle East since 2022 and Central Asia since 2023.

Mark Soubiran is also the General Secretary of the Foundation for Research in Psychomotricity and Lifestyle Diseases, housed by the “Fondation de France”, largest philanthropic and research foundation in France. This foundation works to fund research in the health field, specifically around psychomotor disorders at all ages of life.

Dr. Madan Mohan Kundu served as Chair and Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation, Disability Studies, and Counseling at Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA, for 40 years. He received grants of $50 million for Training, Research, Capacity Building, and the National Technical Assistance Centers. He has 50+ publications and has given 61 international presentations and 166 presentations at national, regional, and state conferences. Dr. Kundu has received over 50 Academic, Research, and Service Awards and Honours, including a Fulbright Scholarship, Rehabilitation Educator of the Year, Distinguished Career in Rehabilitation Education, and Research Awards.

Eman Al Tamimi is a a distinguished authority in public policy, is a tireless advocate for disability rights. Her current role as the Director of the Program Development and Quality Office at the Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination is a testament to her dedication.

With an extensive career spanning over 18 years, she has devoted herself to supporting individuals of determination within the UAE community. Her collaborations with both local and international bodies to advance disability rights and advocacy initiatives are driven by a deep-rooted passion for inclusivity and accessibility. Eman’s educational background is as robust as her professional experience, boasting a bachelor’s degree in Family Sciences, a master’s degree in business administration, and a Diploma in Executive Policies Program. Additionally, she holds a license in evaluation and institutional excellence, underscoring her commitment to excellence in her field. Her profound expertise and comprehensive understanding of disability rights have firmly established her as a prominent figure within her community. Eman’s journey began in 2004 as a Core Thinking Trainer, evolving into an Autism Trainer by 2006. From 2012 to 2017, she served as the Head of the Rehabilitation Section at ZHO, concurrently founding the Emirates Autism Society in 2013 to raise awareness of autism spectrum disorder among mothers of children with autism. Since 2012, Eman has played a pivotal role in crafting policies tailored to the needs of individuals of determination. Her leadership in shaping services and initiatives to enhance their quality of life is a testament to her commitment and expertise. She has also lent her knowledge as an Institutional Discrimination Evaluator and auditor for numerous organizations, further solidifying her role as a leader in the field of disability rights and advocacy.

Eman’s impact extends beyond her local sphere; she has presented papers on disability services at the CPRPD of the United Nations Committee on Disability in 2014 and has been deeply involved in training and capacity-building efforts on disability-inclusive practices in collaboration with partners. Eman’s commitment to empowering individuals of determination led her to launch a self-advocacy program within the social sector. In additional Supporting the autism system in Mauritania with supportive policies and systems in cooperation with its higher authority In 2022, Eman showcased her expertise internationally by presenting a paper on policies and services at the Rehabilitation International (RI) conference in China. Her instrumental role in approving the first national vocational qualification for individuals of determination in the UAE underscores her dedication to fostering inclusivity and accessibility. Eman’s significant contributions to the advancement of disability rights have earned widespread recognition, and she remains steadfast in her mission to create a more inclusive and accessible world for all.

He is Past President in Rehabilitation International (RI Global) from 2022. He was Immediate Past President from 2016-2022. He has been President of RI Norway from 2008-2012 and from 2018-2020. He was President in Rehabilitation International from 2012-16, President Elect from 2010-2012 and Deputy Vice President of RI Europe from 2008 – 2011.

From 2018 – 2020 he was Treasurer of the Global Rehabilitation Alliance -and co- founder of this organization. He was a Board member (Treasurer) of International Federation of Psoriasis Associations from 1999 – 2007. He was leader of the Committee for the World Psoriasis Day from 2005-2007.

He was Chairman of the Norwegian Federation of Disability Organization from 1999 – 2001. He was a Board member of European Disability Forum (EDF)from 1998 – 2005. He was also a member of the Finance Committee of EDF. He has also served as President for the Nordic Disability Federation. He has also worked with developing projects in China – Russia – in the Baltic States and in Africa. He was project manager for establishing a Women’s Health Association in Ethiopia from 2008-17.

He is a former director of Negotiations in the Norwegian Nurses Association. He is also a former sec. general for the Norwegian Psoriasis Association. He was working as special advisor in The Norwegian Women’s Public Health Association from 2007-17. He has also been working as a teacher in Nursing Education for several years. He has been a member of a large number of different Boards and Project committees both on National and International level.