Meet the Team

Adel Al Toraifi
Editor-in-Chief

Adel Al Toraifi is the current Editor-in-Chief of Al Majalla, the leading Arab magazine. A specialist on Saudi foreign policy, he is recognized as a commentator and participant in televised programs for CNN, NBC, BBC and Al-Arabia TV. Awarded the post-graduate International Conflict Prize 2008 from Kingston University for outstanding work, Mr Al-Toraifi is currently a PhD candidate at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Jan Singfield
Executive PA to the Editor in Chief

Jan Singfield is a qualified secretary experienced in administration and finance at management level. Jan has previously worked in local government and the private sector specializing in start-up companies and those transitioning from public to private sector.

Azeddine Senegri
Managing Editor for Al Majalla

Azeddine Senegri is a Tunisian Journalist living and working in London. Azeddine was previously the Arab Affairs Editor at the Al-Arab Daily Newspaper. He has also worked as a Freelance Journalist for several Arabic Newspapers and Magazines.

Maryam Ishani
Senior Editor for International Affairs

Maryam Ishani is a free-lance journalist based currently in London producing reporting for Reuters, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post and Foreign Policy Magazine. An Iranian and Canadian she is a graduate from McGill University and Columbia University and has been a monitor on the impact of armed conflict on civilians for the United Nations Security Council and a reporter covering the impact of conflict on assignments in Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Afghanistan, Colombia, Mexico,
Haiti and Egypt.

Jaleel Alsaadi
Desk Editor

Jaleel Alsaadi is a Libyan writer, journalist and broadcaster. Previously worked as a presenter and writer for cultural and linguistic radio programmes. He also worked at various Arabic newspapers based in London. He has a BA in Arabic/ Tripoli, and an MA and a PhD/ London.

Michael Whiting
Desk Editor

Michael Whiting is a London based writer who has lived and travelled extensively in the Middle East. A student of politics and literature, he received his Master’s degree in Near and Middle Eastern Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies. Michael writes the fortnightly blog “It Occurred To Me”.

Amy Assad
Desk Editor

Amy Assad is a Syrian-English London based writer, specializing in the Arts and Culture of the Middle East. She received her BA in Arabic and Middle Eastern studies from Leeds University, and has lived and studied in Morocco.

Andrew Bowen
Contributing Editor

Andrew Bowen is a regular contributing editor for the Majalla. He is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of International Relations at the London School of Economics and regularly writes, teaches, and consults on Middle Eastern politics and American foreign policy. His work primarily focuses on the regional and international politics of the Levant, but he frequently comments on the international relations of the Gulf and American national security policy. Based in London, originally from the United States, he frequently travels to the Middle East and the United States.

Thomas Alberts
Contributing Editor

Thomas Alberts is a PhD candidate at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London. From Cape Town, South Africa, Thomas has previously written about South African political history, human rights, and legacies of apartheid. He is based in London.

Manuel Almeida
Contributing Writer

Manuel Almeida is a contributing writer for The Majalla, and previously a senior editor for The Majalla’s English edition. Mr. Almeida is currently a PhD candidate at the Department of International Relations of the London School of Economics and Political Science, where he also teaches. His areas of expertise are failed states, international development and political violence. Mr. Almeida is currently working on a forthcoming book, based on his PhD thesis, tentatively titled From Godless Barbarians to Failed States: A History of the Problem of Disorder.

Paula Mejia
Contributing Writer

Paula Mejia is a contributing writer for The Majalla based in Tunisia. As a freelance journalist and consultant for the African Development Bank, her work has focused on the economic and social challenges in Africa, with a special focus on Egypt, Tunisia and Libya. She is a graduate of the London School of Economics, L’Institut D’Etudes Politiques de Paris and the University of Chicago.

Jacqueline Shoen
Contributing Writer

Jacqueline Shoen is an American from the Southwest, who has spent much of the last 11 years studying the modern history and politics of the Middle East. From New York, Egypt, Palestine and finally to London, Jacqueline has worked as a reporter and editor with various publications, as well as in public relations and development. She has a BA in Journalism from Fordham University in New York, and an MA in Near and Middle Eastern Studies from SOAS in London. Jacqueline writes a bimonthly blog, “Between You and Me.”

Fawaz Taj
IT Project Officer/Webmaster

Fawaz Taj has a Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Business IT from Manchester. He has extensive experience in Computing and Business Information Systems and has worked in various IT roles. Over the last few years Fawaz has focused on specializing in Web Project development.