S PREFACE.
Advoca;ng for Women Empowerment..
InternaMonal Women's Day is celebrated on March every year around the world. The United NaMons officially adopted InternaMonal Women's Day in 1975
It's the Day dedicated to celebraMng Women's achievements in various social, poliMcal, design and cultural fields. Achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment is integral to each of the 17 goals. Only by ensuring the rights of women and girls across all the goals will we get to jusMce and inclusion, economies that work for all, and sustaining our shared environment now and for future generaMons.
As we believe in Effat Sustainability Hub that Every woman's success should be an inspiraMon to another. We believe women can be powerful actors for peace, security, and prosperity. When they parMcipate in peace processes and other formal decision-making processes, they can play an important role in iniMaMng and inspiring progress on human rights, jusMce, naMonal reconciliaMon and economic revitalizaMon.
To all amazing women out there, Believe in yourself and be proud of who you are. There is beauty in everyone and no one should stop you from growing into a confident and strong person. Follow your dreams and be passionate about whatever you do. Create your own fields, fight for what maIers to you, and never take no for an answer.
Dr. Noha Essam Khamis, PhD
Chair- Effat Sustainability Higher CommiIee
Effat University
Associate Professor of Interior Architecture & Interdisciplinary Design- CoAD Member of Advisory board- Sustainability Professional of Saudi Arabia- SPSA
Effat Sustainability Hub
ESH NewsleBer in Collabora;on with ECoAD
Special Issue/ March 2025
Celebratory Edi;on
Women Shaping a Sustainable Future
Architecture + Design
Moving Forward Together
It is the 'me of the year to honor the remarkable contribu'ons of women and recognize their ongoing achievements. Effat Sustainability Hub is celebra'ng women of Sustainability in Women’s month, focusing on how understanding and valuing women’s inclusion is essen?al to a sustainable future. This celebra'on aims to highlight the empowerment of women as ac've contributors to to and claimholders of development. In 2025, the theme is “Moving Forward Together”!
Check what women share to inspire each other… Sending messages from heart to inspire others..
ESH Newsletter in Collaboration with ECoAD
Special Issue/ March 2025
Celebratory Edi:on
Women Shaping a Sustainable Future
“You can tell the condi;on of a na;on by looking at the status of woman in the society”-
pt. Jawaharlal Nehru
Sustainability emphasizes balancing environmental conservation, social equity, and economic viability for enduring intergenerational well-being. Regarding business, sustainability entails sustainable materials, optimized supply chains, renewable energy, and education support.
The role of women in leading sustainability efforts is not just critical; it's transformative. Across various sectors, from corporate to non-profit, female leaders are driving meaningful changes toward a more sustainable and equitable world. Their leadership is not only about implementing eco-friendly practices but also about fostering inclusive environments that encourage innovation and resilience. Women bring unique perspectives and approaches to sustainability, often focusing on collaboration, long-term planning, and inclusive decision-making. This approach is essential for addressing the complex challenges of sustainability, which require comprehensive strategies that consider social, environmental, and economic impacts
Despite the progress, women in leadership posiMons, especially in sustainabilityfocused roles, face significant barriers, including gender bias and lack of representaMon in senior management. Overcoming these challenges requires concerted efforts from all sectors to ensure that women have equal opportuniMes to contribute to sustainability efforts This includes policies and pracMces that promote gender diversity and inclusion, mentorship programs to support emerging female leaders, and pla_orms that highlight the achievements of women in sustainability.
The importance of women's leadership in sustainability efforts cannot be overstated. Their contribuMons are essenMal for creaMng a sustainable future that benefits everyone. By supporMng and promoMng female leaders in sustainability, we can ensure a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient world.
- Noha Essam Khamis -
HRH Princess
Nourah Al Faisal
CEO of the Art of Heritage center
Founder of bespoke
Jewelry brand Nuun
I feel incredibly fortunate to witness the tremendous transformation for Saudi women Growing up, I saw the tireless efforts of my mother and grandmother’s generations, and watching those seeds bloom in todays young women is truly a blessing Don’t take your opportunities for granted - they are hard won . Honor those who came before you by achieving your full potential
CEOof te ArtofHeritagecentr Founderofbespokejewelry brandNuun
HRHNourahAlFaisal
Dear Effat Female Community, Design Success is about function then beauty..
It’s about timelessness then being fashionable.. It’s about simple quality more than being an expense..
It’s about personality more than fear of missing out. Embrace new technologies that help you work faster in order to have more time for creativity and enhancement Every Design tells a story let yours inspire the world Believe in your voice Trust your talent Design without limits
Mona Hussein CEOof Mona HusseinDesign House FounderofMahally
Special Issue/ March 2025
Alia Bengana
Founder of Alia Bengana Architecte’
*Dear Effat Female Community, Architecture is not just about building structures it’s about shaping the world we want to live in. Do not let technical knowledge be reserved for men. Claim your space, embrace the tools, and design the future with confidence. The challenges ahead are immense, but so are the possibilities. Materials are at the heart of our discipline. Concrete is not an inevitability. Traditional materials like structural stone, earth, and plant fibers offer more sustainable alternatives and are within our reach. The knowledge exists it only needs to be reactivated, enriched with the necessary innovations, and carried forward. Dare to dream of a world that respects its resources, and take part in shaping it because it is not only necessary, it is possible.
AliaBengana F ounder at Alia Bengana A rchi t c t
Rasha Al-Kady Founder & Principal Architect | Studio KAD
*To the women of Effat University, Architecture taught me that the most enduring designs emerge not from rigid lines, but from the harmony of contrasts-Dubai’s dunes meeting its skyscrapers, tradition whispering to innovation. My journey, from mountain peaks to skydiving drops, from designing spaces to nurturing souls-has been a quest to merge the seen and unseen: where the mind’s precision dances with the heart’s intuition. True power, like a timeless structure, lies not in shouting for attention, but in standing unshaken by storms, rooted in dignity, and open to the world’s symphony. Build your lives as I build: with quiet audacity, where every choice is a brushstroke of grace.
RashaAl-Kady Founder &Principal Architct | Studio KAD
Sarah ElBattouty Chairperson of the Board of Directors of EConsult
Dear Effat Female Community, Follow what keeps you questioning and engaged. Nothing is more empowering than working on something that is fueled by a cause and passion to solve a problem that impacts positively on people and planet.
Focus on your persona being a model of your values as a business visionary. Respect your time and maintain a very clear division between privacy family and work exposure.
SarahElBatout Chairperson of te Board of Directrs ofE-Consult
ESH NewsleIer in CollaboraMon with ECoAD Special Issue/ March 2025
Professor-Architecture and Urban Design-Maltepe University
Editor-in-Chief, Ekis?cs and the New Habitat Effat Sustainability Hub
*To the female community of Effat University Designers and architects hold the power to shape environments that enhance quality of life, fostering well-being, connection, and comfort. Women designers bring unique perspectives that are vital in creating inclusive and empathetic places. By blending creativity with a deep understanding of social and cultural needs, you can transform the built environment - making cities more attractive and livable, communities more connected, and everyday experiences more meaningful.Your voice, vision, and ideas matter. Step forward, contribute, and help design a better world! I wholeheartedly celebrate International Women’s Day at Effat University!
DeryaOktay Professor - Architecture and Urban Design - Maltepe University Editor - in - Chief, EkisticsandtheNew Habitat
Founder & Principal Architect
Throughout history, women have shaped the interiors of their own homes, enhancing the lives of those they cherished. Today, with confidence, compassion, and sensiMvity, women conMnue to challenge the boundaries of design on every scale. To all female designers: embrace design with curiosity and though_ul analysis, never losing sight of the ethos of the space you are creaMng.
Jemma Chidiac Founder&PrincipalArchitct
A woman’s ambition and determination can make the impossible possible. Throughout my journey in the gold and jewelry industry, I have learned that creativity and passion are the keys to success and that every challenge is an opportunity for growth and excellence. Believe in yourselves, pursue your dreams with confidence, and remember that the future belongs to those who believe in their abilities and strive with determination to achieve their goals.
DanaAlAlami
FounderofDanaAlAlamiJewelry
Dana Al Alami
Founder of Dana Al Alami Jewelry
Special Issue/ March 2025
Founder of Ola Abid Interior Design Studio
*To the women of Effat University, I know this must be a very exciting time for most of you, there’s a lot to look forward to. But sometimes life can be unfair, and I know that can be frustrating, but it is still incredibly beautiful. Every failure you face carries a deep lesson, shaping you into a wiser, stronger person even when it doesn’t feel that way at first. No matter how tough things get, please remember that brighter days are always ahead Enjoy the journey, embrace the highs and lows, and don’t forget to pause and appreciate the little moments that make life special. And above all, take care of yourself—your mental and physical well-being should always come first You are your greatest investment, and the best is yet to come. Keep going!
OlaAbid Founder of Ola Abid Intrior Design Studio
Effat Sustainability Hub
ESH NewsleIer in CollaboraMon with ECoAD
Special Issue/ March 2025 Celebratory EdiMon
than just aesthetics in decoration it defines spaces, and tells stories. As creatives, you have the power to tell your expression of color, embracing the rich culture and landscape, blending tradition expression. Let the power of color guide identity as a designer and architect as heritage and your path to creativity.
J udith van Vliet Founder and color intelligence provider at The Color Authority . Founder and color intelligence provider at The Color Authority.
Special Issue/ March 2025
Al-Johara Beydon Founder of Ink Design Studio
To every aspiring designer and future leader your creaMvity, strength, and voice are powerful tools of transformaMon. Design is not just about shaping spaces, but about shaping narraMves, communiMes, and futures. Believe in your vision, stay rooted in purpose, and never underesMmate the impact of your ideas. The world needs more women who design boldly and lead fearlessly.
AlJoharaBeydoun F ounder of Ink Design Studio
Special Issue/ March 2025
Amira Khidr Interior Designer/ Founder of DesignsDecorista
*As women in engineering and design field, we are not just breaking barriers we are shaIering them. We are defying expectaMons, rewriMng the rules, and carving a path for those who will follow in our footsteps. Every challenge we face only fuels our resilience, every obstacle only strengthens our resolve. To the incredible women of Effat and to all the amazing women, never forget that our power lies in our unity, and our boundless creaMvity. Together, we rise. Together, we inspire. And together, we are unstoppable. Keep pushing, keep dreaming, and never stop believing in the brilliance within you!
Amira Khidr IntriorDesigner/ FounderofDesignsDecorista
Effat Sustainability Hub
ESH NewsleIer in CollaboraMon with ECoAD
Dina Kisbi
Program Manager at Friedrich-Ebert-StiftungRegional Climate & Energy Project
*Special Issue/ March 2025
Celebratory EdiMon
The engagement and positive impact wonderful women of Arab Region have on communities, cities and villages, is unmatched globally yet rarely recognised women who are fighting the regimes, challenging the norm, and embedding values in each step of their journeys deserve to be celebrated.. it is about time for us to start using our narrative in supporting the outstanding work done by local heroens at different fields without prejudice but with love, collaboration and respect. Thus, our rising stars, educate yourselves, widen your horizon, exchange expertise, learn from previous experiences and support local knowledge
Dina Kisbi
Program Manager at Friedrich-Ebert Stftung- Regional Climat & Energy Project
ESH NewsleIer in CollaboraMon with ECoAD
Kholoud AEar
Crea?ve Design Leader, Entrepreneur, Founder of Drb Designs
Special Issue/ March 2025
Celebratory EdiMon
Dear Effat Female Community, Know that you can always design your life with the creative vision you have , there is a power hidden within each one of you to create so build and and with Allahs blessing people will come to it
KholoudAttar Creative Design Leader, Entrepreneur, Founderof DrbDesigns
Safaa Charafi Founder and principal consultant at Urban Inclusion
To the females of Effat community, Your existence is already an act of defiance. In a world that too often tries to shrink us, take up space. Speak up, even when they call you difficult Build, create, disrupt - on your own terms. You owe no one silence or smallness.
SafaaCharafi Founder and principal consultant at UrbanInclusion
In a field where challenges often test our strength, remember that every structure we design is a testament to our determination. My journey in the construction industry has shown me that innovation and impact come from those who dare to challenge the norm. Your creativity, leadership, and passion are paving the way for a more inclusive and sustainable future Keep building, keep inspiring, and never underestimate the power of your work in shaping the world around us
Radwa Rostom
Founder & CEO of Handover
Hub ESH NewsleIer in CollaboraMon with ECoAD
*Through my journey in sustainability, and leadership, I’ve learned that purpose is not something you find it’s something you build Every bold step, risk, and challenge is part of it. To the women of Effat University: let your creaMvity lead with courage, you are not just shaping spaces; you are shaping futures and lighMng the way for others.
CEO & ESG Lead, Kenya Green Building Society Chairperson, Africa Regional Network - World Green Building Council
NasraNanda CEO
&ESG
Lead,
KenyaGreenBuildingSociet
Chairperson,
Afica Regional Network - World Green Building Council
Habitat Advisory BoardHead of QA –Sustainable Architecture & Urban Design -SAUD
*To all the inspiring women of Effat University’s community: Every space you design has the power to uplift and empower When women shape the built environment, cities become more inclusive, streets feel safer, and homes truly feel like home Your presence in this field means more women will see themselves reflected in the spaces around them welcomed, valued, and inspired Keep pushing forward, because with every space you create, you’re opening doors for generations to come ”
Zeina ElZein
UN - Habitat Advisory Board - Head of QA – Sustainable Architecture & Urban Design - SAUD
Rania El-Kalla Founder | Crea?ve Director of ShellHomage
*Designers should always remember the word “FUN” that exists in FuncMon. Design things with humor and interacMon with users. Design is all about solving problems creaMvely.
Everything around us is made of materials. They play crucial role in innovaMon and are the first consideraMon in any design process. Sustainable materials have a significant impact, influencing industry, society, and cultural values.
Material-based innovaMon enables the development of new iniMaMves, the discovery of more sustainable soluMons, and the iniMaMon of more creaMve design processes.’
Rania El-Kala Founder | Creatve Directr of Shel Homage
ESH NewsleIer in CollaboraMon with ECoAD
Dina Al-Mahdy Chief Operating Officer, Women of Egypt Network
Empowered Arab women are the architects of a brighter future! Every challenge we face is an opportunity to rise, inspire, and lead the way for our communiMes with strength and resilience. Let us celebrate our unique strengths and contribuMons, support one another, and conMnue to push boundaries together. United, we are a powerful force for posiMve change!
Dina
Al - Mahdy Chief Opera t ng O ffi cer, Women of Egypt Network
ESH NewsleIer in CollaboraMon with ECoAD
Founder and Ceo of Maamor Design studio
*To all Effat ladies, Take your time with learning, embrace both success and failure Growth comes with persistence and patience Ambitions are built step by step, nothing happens overnight Stay committed, keep learning, and trust the process.
Founder and Ceo of Maamor Design studio
FatmahAlMadani
Fatemah AlMadani
Rana Khadra
Travel photographer and regional communica?ons and color expert at Jotun
Today, and everyday we celebrate not only the achievements of women throughout history but also the incredible potential within each of you. Never underestimate the impact of your voice and your unique perspective design is not just about function or form; it’s about reflecting the diverse experiences and dreams of all people. Continue to break boundaries, challenge norms, and let your passion guide you to spaces of empowerment and opportunity.
Rana Khadra
Travel photographer and regional communications and color expert at Jotun
Effat Sustainability Hub
ESH NewsleIer in CollaboraMon with ECoAD Special Issue/ March 2025 Celebratory Edition
Rana AlSaggaf
Designer-Founder of Wings-over-saudi
To the creative and ambitious women of Effat Community, never stop dreaming, exploring, and creating.
Your passion and dedication have the power to shape the future, believe in your vision and let your creativity shine.
Rana AlSagaf
Designer - Founder of Wings - overSaudi
To Effat female community, You are the changemakers, the visionaries who can build a more sustainable world. Your strength, creativity, and resilience have the power to shape spaces that honor both people and the plane. Keep pushing boundaries because when women lead, the future thrives.
Jeddah Architecture
Wiam Kafah Architct / C0-Founder of Jeddah Architcture
Gender and Youth Development Prac??oner Sustainability Advocate
To the females within the influence of this publication: It is a fact that we face unique challenges that seek to block our successes. But as we commemorate the gains made by those who've gone before us, in this month of March, let us remember that we have resources at our disposal including innate abilities to overcome the obstacles- personal, societal and professional. With determination and resilience, we tap into the collective strength of our networks as we transform our circumstances, rising to the occasion to confront emerging challenges of our time, including the climate crisis, with courage and unwavering resolve. Giving up is not an option.
Gender and Youth Development Practitioner-Sustainability Advocate
Eunice Barasa
Eunice Barasa
Effat Sustainability Hub
ESH NewsleIer in CollaboraMon with ECoAD Special Issue/ March 2025
Kunica Khosla
Founder of Kunica Interiors
Every day is Women’s Day for the unstoppable women who balance careers, homes, and children with grace and strength. Independent and bold, they rise with confidence, fueled by passion and vision. They are innovators, leaders, and the architects of the future proving that power lies in resilience, determinaMon, and the courage to chase their dreams!
Kunica Khosla Founder of Kunica In t riors
Special Issue/ March 2025
Hind
Al-Essa Architect/ Chief Execu/ve
To the brilliant and inspiring women of Effat University, your courage, dreams, and determinaMon light the path to a brighter future. The most extraordinary moments in life unfold when you dare to step beyond your comfort zone; there, you find growth, self-discovery, and endless possibiliMes. Embrace every challenge with an open heart, trust in your incredible potenMal, and let your light shine. The world eagerly awaits the magic only you can create.
HindAl-Essa
Shaakira Jassat Founder of Studio Sway
Your voice matters Your dreams matter And most importantly, your strength matters.
The world may try to set limits on you, but you have the power to break through every barrier and redefine what's possible. Every challenge you face is simply an opportunity for growth, and with each step, you are paving the way for yourself and those who will follow.
You are worthy of success, happiness, and everything you desire. So go out there and make the world better, not just for yourself, but for everyone you inspire along the way.
Shaakira Jassat Founder of Studio Sway
As a researcher and development practitioner, I have seen countless inspirational women. From economists to social workers to architects to environmental experts, educators and designers they all have a vision of a better tomorrow. They also have the courage to take action when needed, to stand up for principles and lift their families, neighborhoods and communities. Whatever your path may be, go forward with passion, curiosity and empathy, for those are the qualities of true leaders.
Yasmine
Co-Founder - CommunityDevelopment Consultant
D'Alessandro
Yasmine D'Alessandro
WSCopyright © 2025 Dr. Noha Essam Khamis - Effat University All right reserved .No part of this book may be reproduces or used in any manner without wriIen permission of the copyright owner.
