Sohair Salam Saber keynote speaker

Sohair Salam Saber stands as a distinguished businesswoman, philanthropist, investor, and an indomitable force in global business development and geopolicy. Her career is a rare synthesis of high-stakes international law, entrepreneurial institutional leadership, and visionary policy-making for humanity's newest frontiers. Described as a leader defined by "innovation, resilience, and diplomacy," Saber operates at the critical intersection where law, global governance, and social responsibility converge, shaping solutions for the world's most complex challenges. Her multifaceted work demonstrates a unique capacity to not only navigate the existing structures of global power but to build new ones, establishing her as an essential voice for our time.

The foundation of her authority is built upon decades of experience in the complex arenas of international disputes and strategic counsel. As the Principal of Wasel & Wasel, Saber leads a prominent international law firm with a specialized focus on disputes and "geopolicy", a term that aptly captures the firm's practice at the nexus of law, politics, and statecraft. With offices in global hubs including Washington, D.C., Toronto, Melbourne, and Abu Dhabi, the firm advises a sophisticated clientele of sovereign states, international organizations, and Fortune 500 companies on navigating political risk, economic sanctions, and transnational regulatory compliance. This practical, in-the-trenches experience has earned her recognition as a "heavyweight in the field of international law". Further cementing this status, she founded Wasel & Wasel Arbitrator Services Inc., a distinguished chamber for elite arbitrators. As its steward, she has curated a roster of over thirty esteemed professionals who have presided over disputes collectively amounting toan impressive USD 3 billion, a figure that quantifies the immense value and risk inherent in the matters she oversees.

This deep well of practical legal and commercial expertise provides the credibility and real- world grounding for her most significant public role. In 2019, Saber was announced as the President of The Hague Institute for Global Justice, but her ascension to this post was anything but conventional. The Institute, established in 2011 with support from the Dutch government and the Municipality of The Hague, had fallen into insolvency and was declared bankrupt in 2018, closing its doors. In a move that speaks volumes about her leadership style, Sohair Salam Saber, a Jordanian businesswoman, did not merely accept an appointment; she intervened directly. In September 2018, she purchased the defunct institute, undertaking a complete rescue and revival. This act was not that of a traditional NGO president, but of a strategic investor and institutional architect. She saw the immense value in the "Hague" brand and the potential of a revitalized platform. Under her leadership, she "revitalized and transformed" the organization, redefining its mission and re-establishing it as a "preeminent platform" and "premier think tank and action-driven organization" tackling conflict, security, and the future of international law. This turnaround narrative is a powerful testament to her vision, business acumen, and capacity for execution.

The synergy between her commercial practice and her non-profit leadership is a defining feature of her influence. Her work at Wasel & Wasel provides the granular, real-world knowledge of international disputes that informs the policy work of The Hague Institute. In turn, the prestige and neutral platform of the Institute provide the ideal venue to convene global leaders and advance systemic solutions, which enhances her authority as a global legal and policy expert. This dynamic feedback loop is the engine of her effectiveness.

Nowhere is this more evident than in her pioneering work on space governance. Leveraging the revitalized Institute as a strategic platform, Saber has directed its focus toward the next frontier of international law. She co-chairs "The Off-World Approach," a global governance initiative bringing together leading experts to formulate solutions for a peaceful and equitable future in space. Most significantly, she was instrumental in drafting and launching "The Washington Compact," a groundbreaking international instrument that establishes norms of behavior for commercial space operations. By proactively addressing the legal vacuum in the rapidly commercializing space domain, she has positioned herself and the Institute at the forefront of shaping the future of global governance, demonstrating a remarkable ability to bridge the gap between law, policy, and the most pressing challenges of the 21st century.