Israa Abushaker

Motivated and multidisciplinary professional with a PhD in Entrepreneurship and over 10 years of experience in project coordination, academic research, and business development. Specialised in refugee integration, women’s empowerment, and institutional challenges in fragile and transitional contexts. Led UNDP-funded programmes for displaced women in Gaza, collaborated with Oxford Brookes University, and presented research on refugee women entrepreneurs at leading conferences, including GWO. Experienced across sectors including development, KYC compliance, consultancy, and NGO support. Fluent in Arabic and English, with working proficiency in Spanish, and committed to inclusive, rights-based approaches that promote innovation and sustainable impact.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/israa-shaker-46537b92

Research Focus Conference Presentations

My academic research focuses on refugee integration, women's empowerment, and entrepreneurship in the MENA region and Europe. Conducted extensive research on institutional factors influencing female entrepreneurship, particularly in developing countries. Collaborated with research groups to analyze challenges and opportunities in the field, contributing to academic studies and policy recommendations. Authored and presented findings on gender dynamics and entrepreneurial practices in various educational and professional settings. Currently, I have two papers accepted for publication: one explores how asylum and immigration systems affect refugee women in Europe, and another investigates the situation of displaced Palestinian women during the war in Gaza.

Reviewer–International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship (IJGE) 2025 – Present

Contributed to the journal's academic rigour by evaluating the manuscript’s theoretical contribution, methodological soundness, and relevance to gender and entrepreneurship scholarship.

Gender, Work & Organization (GWO) Conference – Audience Finance Track Presenter | Audencia Business School – Nantes, France | July 2025 Voices of Resilience: Understanding Palestinian Refugee Women Entrepreneurs in European Institutional Contexts

FORTRESS EUROPE: Human Rights Violations Against Migrants and Refugees at Europe's Borders Participant | ECIU University | June–July 2025 Focused on rights violations at EU borders, mobility justice, and refugee agency.

Geneva/Fribourg Entrepreneurship Forum Participant | Geneva & Fribourg, Switzerland | June 2024 Attended a multi-day international forum on entrepreneurship, innovation, and the role of MSMEs. Participated in sessions at the United Nations Geneva and the International Labour Organization (ILO) as part of MSMEs Day, engaging in workshops and roundtables on women's entrepreneurship, public-private collaboration, and SME development.

Program Participation

Cediendo el Micro – Academia de la Participación Advocate | UNHCR Spain | 2025–2026 Selected as one of 14 participants across Spain to be a public communication and refugee storytelling ambassador. This two-year advocacy and storytelling programme, launched by UNHCR Spain, aims to place refugees at the centre of public communication by equipping them with advanced training in public speaking, media interaction, and refugee rights. Participants receive: - Capacity building in oral communication and public speaking - Training on refugee rights, protection policies, and community engagement - Public speaking opportunities in national events, media appearances, and private-sector panels - Ongoing mentorship from a UNHCR multidisciplinary team.

• Alexandra Simon - Associate Professor at UAB Email: alexandra.simon@uab.cat
• Omamah Barqawi - Assistant Professor at Umm Al-Qura University Email: oabbarqawi@uqu.edu.sa
• Muthanna Assim - RCO Manager at Amazon Email: vmuthaal@amazon.com