The American University in Cairo (AUC) has appointed Hala El Said, economic advisor to the President of Egypt and former minister of planning and economic development, as its new University Counselor.
She will succeed Tarek Shawki, Egypt’s former minister of education and technical education, who has served in the role since May 2023. Shawki will now return to his academic post as a faculty member in AUC’s Department of Mechanical Engineering at the School of Sciences and Engineering.
AUC President Ahmad Dallal confirmed the appointment in a message to the university community, highlighting El Said’s role in strengthening AUC’s ties with national universities, the Supreme Council of Universities, and the Egyptian government.
“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Hala El Said as the new University Counselor. As a member of AUC’s senior leadership, Dr. El Said will play a key role in advancing our relationships with national universities, the Supreme Council of Universities and the Egyptian government,” Dallal said.
He also expressed gratitude to Shawki for his contributions, noting that during his term AUC reinforced its collaboration with national institutions and advanced its public service mission.
Distinguished background
El Said has an extensive record as an economist, policymaker, and academic leader. From 2017 to 2019, she served as Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Administrative Reform. She later became Minister of Planning and Economic Development, a position she held until 2024, overseeing Egypt’s Vision 2030 strategy.
She also chaired The Sovereign Fund of Egypt, served as the first elected Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Political Science at Cairo University, and was a board member of the Central Bank of Egypt.
Earlier in her career, El Said was Executive Director of the Egyptian Banking Institute, where she led reforms that positioned it as the first internationally accredited financial training body in the Middle East and North Africa.
A graduate of Cairo University, she holds a PhD in Economics and has published widely on financial reform, international finance, and development issues.
Commitment to higher education
Responding to her appointment, El Said described her new role as a chance to deepen AUC’s institutional relationships and enhance its role in education and public service.
“I am deeply honored to join AUC as University Counselor, a role dedicated to advancing the University’s relationships with national universities, the Supreme Council of Universities, and the Egyptian Government,” she said.
El Said stressed that AUC continues to be a “beacon of intellectual rigor and innovation” in the region, adding that universities must help societies navigate profound technological and societal change.
She emphasized her commitment to supporting AUC’s mission of preparing leaders capable of bridging cultures and driving sustainable development.
“Through strengthening these vital institutional partnerships, I look forward to contributing to AUC’s mission of empowering generations of change makers who will not only excel in their fields but also serve as catalysts for progress across Egypt, the region, and beyond,” she said.
