02 October, 2022
Recognized for their outstanding achievements in Saudi Arabia and internationally, these Alumni Change Makers impact a range of industries and communities including academia, entrepreneurship and government. They are alumni whose continued volunteer service and support to KAUST is making a significant difference, and individuals who are making inroads into changing the world.
The process:
KAUST widely advertised the Alumni Change Makers Awards in Saudi Arabia and internationally, and called for nominations of alumni demonstrating sustained impact professionally, within their communities or through volunteer service. Over 100 nominations were received; these were then reviewed and selected by a committee of KAUST senior leadership.
Our congratulations to the following alumni, who will be recognized at an awards ceremony and dinner at KAUST on Friday November 4, 2022:
Leadership and Impact
Ahmad Showail, PhD ’16, MS ’10
Fulbright Scholar (2022), and Assistant Professor Computer Engineering at
Taibah University, Saudi Arabia.
Social Impact
Grant Hill-Cawthorne, PhD ’15
Managing Director of Research and Information,
and House of Commons Librarian, United Kingdom.
Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Luisa Javier, PhD ’21, MS ’11
CEO and Co-Founder of Wayakit, Saudi Arabia.
Special Recognition
Abeer Al Doghaither, PhD ’15
President of Dar Al-Hekma University, Saudi Arabia.
Jian Pan, MS ’11
General Manager, Hangzhou Bertzer Catalyst Co., Ltd., and President
of KAUST’s Chinese Alumni Chapter, China.
Luca Passone, PhD ‘18, MS ’11
Co-Founder, CTO and General Manager at FalconViz, Saudi Arabia.
Yasmeen Najm, PhD ‘19, MS ’13
Innovation Lead, Hydrogen and E-Fuels, NEOM, Saudi Arabia.
Lina Eyouni, PhD '21
Physical Science Environmental Manager,
The Red Sea Development Corporation, Saudi Arabia.
Yu Li, PhD ‘20, MS ’16
“Forbes Asia 30 Under 30” (2022),
Assistant Professor, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China
Aubrie O'Rourke, PhD ‘15
Project Scientist, NASA, USA.
For further information on the 2022 KAUST Alumni Change Makers, visit our website: