Dr. Reem Kassem is an Egyptian cultural manager, producer, and researcher based in Abu Dhabi, and a former board member of the International Music Council (IMC). In 2021, she was named one of the 50 most inspirational women in Egypt in recognition of her innovation in the field, efforts in empowering women, and her role in advancing gender equality, and in 2025, she was honored with the Women of Impact Award for her exceptional role in driving positive change and making a lasting difference in her community and beyond.
She currently serves as the Head of Performing Arts at the Cultural Foundation (Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi) and has 23 years of experience in the cultural sector, covering performing arts, community arts, arts for social, community, and economic development, cultural policies, and cultural diplomacy.
Her professional journey includes roles as Head of Performing Arts at the Library of Alexandria (Egypt), Manager of Programming and Cultural Affairs at the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF), and Manager of Community and Education at ADMAF. She is also the Founding Director of AGORA for Arts and Culture and co-founder of Basita.live.
Dr. Reem holds a PhD in Hybrid Cultural Engagement in the Context of Crisis from the University of the West of Scotland, where her research explores the role of virtual cultural engagement in fostering resilience and supporting disadvantaged communities to emerge stronger from crises.
She is an international fellow of the DeVos Institute of Arts Management, a global fellow of the International Society for Performing Arts, a Chevening Scholar, a Clore Cultural Leadership Fellow, a Tandem Shaml fellow, and a Robert Bosch Stiftung Alumni.
Her accolades include the Pioneer of Egypt award from the Synergos Institute, the Nahdet Elmahrousa and Barclays Bank award for social innovation in employment, and the Anna Lindh Foundation Award for intercultural dialogue. She is also an active member of several international networks, including the U40 global network of UNESCO, the Cultural Innovators Network, the African Youth Advocacy Network, and the MusiConnect Asia Network.
Dr. Reem served for one year on the board of the International Music Council (IMC), contributing to global cultural policy discussions and advocating for the role of arts and culture in social transformation and crisis resilience.