Profile URL

https://oceanexpert.org/expert/suzankholeif

Highest Degree

PhD

Job Type

Research
Natural Resource Management
Institutional Management
Technical Advice & Consulting

Subject Area

Fisheries, Aquaculture
Marine Geology, Geophysics
Pollution
Research Support Services

Activities

Suzan E.A. Kholeif: - Prof. of Oceanography, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), Egypt - Former President of National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries - Member of National Council for Women - Executive Planning Group of UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development

 Suzan Kholeif born in Egypt and graduated from Alexandria University. She has Ph.D. from Cairo University in paleoclimatology, pale-oceanography. She got a lecturer position in Marine Geology at the National Institute of Oceanography and fisheries (NIOF) in 1994 and a Full Professor position since 2005. Prof. Kholeif is Oceanographer, with 30+ years’ experience in the management of coastal ecosystems, climate change, monitoring and assessment of marine water pollution, Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), mainly in the Mediterranean Sea waters and coasts. As well as advancing the application of ecosystem approach to the management of water resources. She is experienced in applying multiple indicators approach to build strong scientific evidence on the status of and pressures to the marine environment and carry out holistic and thematic environmental assessments, in supporting national implementation processes, and in organizing robust follow up on the agreed measures (eg., her role as a coordinator and WPs leader and expert in EU funded projects, SESAME, PEGASO, AQUAMED, MEDINA, FORCE , …) She has gained skills in developing and managing both managerial and technical tasks through her role as head of Marine Geology and Geophysics Lab, Director of Mediterranean and Northern Lake NIOF Brach; President of National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Egypt and member of a scientific Committee at National Council for Women. She has managed and coordinated several national and international projects and consultancies related to ICZM, EIA, management of marine waters resources in the Mediterranean and Black Sea countries (particularly North Africa countries). She built up a solid reputation as an expert and consultant in developing guidelines for sustainable development and management of water and aquatic resources and ICZM, both at international and national agencies (eg, for Wageningen, Netherland; GeoImaging Ltd, Cyprus, UNEP, Plan Blue, and IOC/UNESCO). Dr. Kholeif has been a very passionate public advocate for environmental conservation, focusing on individual and community responsibility for protecting natural resources. For the first time in Egypt and N Africa, she established the public-private body “Nile Delta Coastal Management Committee-2010" which comprises representatives of stakeholders, specialists from the coastal provinces, coastal development, and the Policy bodies of the Nile Delta region” with certain mission and official decree to facilitate the communication and develop a dialogue between public, private, and policymakers. She chaired and organized numerous national and international conferences, workshops and capacity development events programs dedicated for middle career and junior researchers. Recently, she initiated a "creative researcher" targeted young and middle career to build a new professional team able to collaborate with all sectors of the community to meet the environmental and ocean challenges. She also worked on the identification of special needs of countries to apply a successful coastal management system, considering that their economic development could be sustained by properly managing their coastal and marine assets. Suzan Kholeif.

 

 

Sea regions of study

Mediterranean Sea - Western Basin

Skills

SKILLS

Prof. Kholeif is an experienced Egyptian marine geologist, with 30+ years professional experience in Oceanography which includes coastal geology, sediment transport, accretion problems in shores, assessment of coastal waters include lagoons and estuaries, sediment transport, land-Sea interface changes, shore protection, climate change, pollution monitoring, vegetation, hydrographic changes and sea level changes. In addition, since 2007, her efforts are focussing on the field Integrated Coastal Management, and Water Quality Management, as well as Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) using many tools such as; sustainability indicators (include geomorphological and land-use changes, coastal changes), environmental accounting scenarios, participatory methods, and social and economic valuation techniques. To enhance her capability to work with ICZM, she received several types of national international training.  Experience in reviewing and conducting Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) consultant and Strategic Environmental Assessment in Egypt according to the Egyptian Environment Law#4 for year 1994 and it’s amendment Law#9 for year 2009. This includes; industrial, agriculture, marine industry, touristic and infrastructure projects 

 Experience in developing guidelines for sustainable use and innovation methodology for the management of wild resources as well as modules for R&D in order to have a better knowledge on the existing situation and possible changes of the ecological cycles of the aquatic resources in the Mediterranean. 

 Broad experience in evaluating the water monitoring programmes in Mediterranean countries. She shared this experience with other international organization, as; MYTIOR, IMP- MED, MEDINA .. projects. Prof. Kholeif chaired the international expert group of de-pollution of the Mediterranean Sea of MIRA project which submits to EC an intensive review of Mediterranean contaminants. 

 For the past 10 years, she conducts several international consultancies such as; Conducting Terminal Evaluation of the UNEP/GEF Project "Integration of climatic variability and change into national strategies to implement the ICZM Protocol in the Mediterranean”; to assess project performance (in terms of relevance, effectiveness, and efficiency), and determine outcomes and impacts stemming from the project, including their sustainability;- her role as a member of the Executive Planning Group (EPG) for planning UN Decade for Ocean Science for Sustainable Development to serve as an advisory body to the IOC governing bodies to support the development of an Implementation Plan for the Decade and the delivery of other activities needed to establish the Decade;- as a member of the Steering committee of reviewing and assess the overall scientific coherence of the State of the Environment and Development in the Mediterranean report (SoED 2019). 

 Experience in using the DPSIR model and SWOT analysis tool for assessing the effects of environmental change on ecosystem and for evaluating the programs and development plans in coastal areas that may be exposed to environmental pressures or environmental degradation.  Experienced in institutional relations, to work and dialogue with Government executive officers ad authorities; 

 Prof. Kholeif, for the first time in Egypt, established the public body “Nile Delta Coastal Management Committee-2010" which comprises representatives of stakeholders, specialists from the coastal provinces, coastal development, and the Policy bodies of the Nile Delta region” with a certain mission and official decree to facilitate the communication and develop a dialogue between public, private, and policymakers. The mission, of this committee, is to Identify the key issues (pressure) experienced by the study area; a compilation of development plans and programs in the study area; analysis and evaluation of plans and programs and to identify conflicts between them; participation in the preparation of the integrated coastal management plan for the study area development of policies proposed to implement the development plans; approving the proposed Nile Delta ICZM. 

 Built up a solid reputation as an expert in the marine environment (Sea-level changes, hydrographic changes, pollution Monitoring), both at the international and national level (eg, Expert in EU bodies IASON, MIRA, ERAMEDNET- UNEP, NGO bodies, Wageningen, Netherland, and GeoImaging Ltd, Cyprus,..). 

 She managed and coordinated several national and international projects, works and activities related to the environment, climate changes theme, ICZM, dynamic indicators and modeling for water pollution, aquatic resources and capacity building (see section 8), which enabled her to accumulate considerable experience (more than a decade) in the field of management, Land-Sea interface activities, water monitoring, implementation of development projects which provide a broad understanding of international environmental directives and conventions as; Marine Framework Strategic Directives; Ecosystem Approach, Good Environmental Status; Horizon2020 and Barcelona Convention.

 She has previous work experience with international organizations for more than a decade, such as; Institut Français de la Recherche pour l’exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER); the European Fisheries and Aquaculture Research Organisation (EFARO); the United Nations Environment Programme/ Mediterranean Action Plan-Marine Pollution Assessment Control Programme (UNEP/MAP/MED POL); the Regional Activity Centre for the Priority Actions Programme (PAP RAC); International Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC); the Commission Internationale pour l’Exploration Scientifique de la Méditerranée (CIESM); Centre d'Activités Régionales - Regional Activity Centre (PLAN BLEU)-France; Geoscience Azur-Nice university; Marseille Marine Institute; Hellenic Center of Marine Research (HCMR-Athens, Greece); Max Blanka Institute (Bremen, Germany); IAEA/MEL (International Atomic Energy Agency, Marine Environmental Laboratories-Monaco) and other EU institutions. She has also worked with Missouri University (USA) Geological Survey of Canada and IOC/UNESCO. This experience leads to create a valuable collaboration platform network to ensure sustainable cooperation between Egypt and EU countries in the field of Marine environment; fisheries and aquaculture and Environmental raising Awareness. 

 She establishment the Public Awareness annual workshop for international & national organizations and stakeholders entitled "Marine and Coastal Zone Environmental Management: Risk Analysis and Mitigation for sustainable growth, ERAM" (www.eram-ws.co), October 2010. This international awareness body is supported by most of the international organizations and intergovernmental bodies as IOC, UNEP, MEDPOL, Plan Bleu, CIEZM, IAEA, IFREMER,...

 Within the framework of the 2030 strategy, she launched the Capacity Development programme a "creative researcher" at January 2018, targeted young and middle career universities, research institutions, to build a new professional team able to collaborate with all sectors of the community to meet the environment and ocean challenges. The program aims to build a new generation of innovative and creative young people to be the nucleus to take responsibility and face environment, ocean, and food aquatic resources challenges in Egypt, through a set of training courses and learning by doing. This program also aims to correct false ideas and put them on the right path. Besides, this program is the main supporter in implementing the 2030 sustainable development strategy, which is concerned with youth as the cornerstone of the country's progress. 

 WORK EXPERINCE: +28 years in NIOF (from 1994 -until present) 

28/8/1989-18/07/1999: Assistant Researcher in Marine Environment Division, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Alexandria, Egypt.
17/05/1995-18/07/1999: Researcher position in Marine Environment Division, marine Geology lab, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF) (geology, geomorphology, geochemistry, paleontology, environmental assessment, coastal zone management, water pollution … ,
  
1999-2004: Investigator of the International project ''IGCP 831'' "South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlation", UNESCO-INEQUA, Focus mainly on sea-level changes by applying of many tools (geological, chemical, biological, ,,,, tools).
2002-2004: Investigator of an international project funded by Chevron Overseas Petroleum Ltd and SARC (Qatar) “Stratigraphy, Geology, paleoecology and Organic thermal maturity of the Lower – Middle Jurassic sediments, Qatar, for the petroleum source rocks exploration,

15/02/2005: Assistant professor of in Marine Environment, marine geology (climate changes; Sea-level changes, hydrographic changes,), National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF).

05/ 2005-05/ 2006: Principal Investigator of national project "Study of Mangrove environment of Red sea coast", sediment transport from wadies to the sea, physical-chemical water characteristics (environmental assessment, sediment transport, geochemistry, geomorphology, palynology, fauna, coastal sediment analysis (for organ and contents), heavy metal, organic pollution, Mangrove plants and Coral reef studies to assess and evaluate the status of protectorate.

9/11/2005-13/3/l2015: Director of Scientific Documentation and Media Unite (SDMU), which has carried out national and international public awareness, communication, and capacity building events.

2005- 2006: Team leader of the national project "Marine environment study of Eastern Harbour Coastal, Alexandria Egypt", focused on the human-induced changes in the coastal water regarding environmental impact assessment of water, sediments in coastal and area.

01/2006- 9/2007: Principal Investigator of National project "Environment Impact assessment of fish cages on the Nile water, Damietta branch, Egypt". Analysis of water, sediment, fauna, biota of the water around under the fish cages to assess the impact of cages in the water quality of the Nile Branch. This study was performed to help for policy decisions for removing fish cages from the Nile River.

30/6/ 2007- 30/6/ 2010: National coordinator of EC FP6 SESAME project “Assess and predict changes in the Mediterranean and Black Seas ecosystems” (in collaboration with 44 partners, coordinated by Hellenic Institute of Marine Research, Greece).

28/05/ 2008-28/05/2010: National coordinator and principal investigator for a project funded by France Foreign affairs (EGIDA programme)/ ASRT; “Quaternary Climate Fluctuations Study on the Nile Continental Margin and the Mediterranean Nile Deep-Sea Fan bottom sediments”, France Foreign affairs (EGIDA programme) and Egyptian Academic of Scientific Research and Technology. This study included Sedimentology, Geochemistry, hydrograph, flora, fauna, water circulation, bottom sediment analysis, analysis of 10 years remote sensing maps of the study area was for Forecasting, hindcasting mathematical modelling of climate changes – remote sensing analysis of Med & Black Seas.

1/01/2008-30/12/ 2010: Co-Principal Investigator of “Oceanic Anoxic Event and organic facies of the Cenomanian-Turonian and their relation to oils formation, North Western Desert, Egypt,” project funded by Joint grant Egypt- Missouri University USA (determine oil and gas source-rock potential, organic thermal maturity, and reconstruct paleo-environmental conditions, sedimentology, sediment transport, Paleontology, geochemistry, paleoclimate changes. 2008-2012: Scientist member for UNESCO/INEQUA program for “Black Sea Interdisciplinary Caspian-Black SeaMediterranean Corridor during the last 30 ky" , sea level change and human adaptation.

11/6/2009– 11/5/2012: the NIOF' contact point at the Research Development and Innovation (RDIN) EU Programme Network and FP7, which aims at strengthening the links between the Egyptian research sector and the EU for enhancing the innovation and technology transfer culture.

2009-2010: National coordinator of UNEP/MedPol funding project “The evaluation of chemical contamination in the Eastern Mediterranean by the method of transplanted mussels (MYTIOR) that carried out to investigate the sources, fate and effects of contaminants in the Mediterranean Sea in order to support the management of environmental issues. In the context of this program, the scientific cruise MYTIOR was assessed contamination (Metals, organic pollutants and insecticides) along with Egyptian Mediterranean coats, using caged mussels in adequate locations covering all the coasts.

1/02/2010-31/01/2014: National Coordinator for EC FP7 project “People for Ecosystem-Based Governance in Assessing Sustainable Development of Ocean and Coast (PEGASO)” project in partnership with 30 Mediterranean and Balck Sea countries, coordinated by Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain, for Coastal Zone Management planning and master plans for the Nile Delta regarding, land-use, climate changes, shore protection, water resources management, coastal topography, coastal resources and institutional relations, with Government executive officers and authorities and established a participatory approach with local stakeholders.

1/3/2010: Professor Position of the marine environment (Climate change; marine pollution monitoring), National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries at Mediterranean Branch, NIOF, Alexandria, Egypt.

6/03/2010-1/12/2014: Team member of the EIA studying funded by Abi Qir Fertilizer Company " Assessment and treatment of water discharge of El Amya Drain, Abu Qir, Alexandria, Egypt", (environmental assessment, assessment of water treatment planning and institutional relations, with Government and authorities.

12/03/2010 -12/03/2014: National Focal point of “The Future of research on Aquaculture in the Mediterranean Region (AQUAMED)” project in collaboration with IFREMER, France (building a platform of public and private stakeholders of aquaculture in all Med countries, developing her skills on institutional relations, with policy makers, and authorities at national and international level.

8/9/2010 -1/03/2013: Head of "Nile Delta Coastal Management Committee" established by NIOF president Decree No.”1” 2010". It consists of specialists from the coastal provinces, coastal development, and the Policy bodies of the Nile Delta region. The mission of this group is; This Group Will be concerned with the following: - Identify the key issues (pressure) experienced by the study area; - A compilation of development plans and programs in the study area,-- Analysis and evaluation of plans and programs and to identify conflicts between Suzan Kholeif 7 them, - Participation in the study area preparation of integrated coastal management plan for the, - Development of policies proposed to implement the plan, - Approved the Nile Delta Integration Coastal zone Management Plan. **The feedback from this group is proposed Integrated Zone Management Plan of the Nile Delta.

18/10/2010- 2/06/2014, Head of Marine Geology and Geophysics Lab, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Mediterranean Sea Branch, Alexandria, Egypt.

1/01/2011-30/04/2014: Project international Coordinator of “Fisheries and aquaculture-Oriented Research Capacity in Egypt (FORCE)” for capacity building of Egyptian scientists and developing research activities for sustainable development of aquatic resources in Egypt and the Mediterranean North African regarding the environmental assessment tools of Fish-cages, wild fish management and help to build institutional relations, with policymakers and authorities and establish a dialogue with stakeholders and public; raising awareness of fishermen and authorities.

1/09/2011-30/03/2015: Work-package leader of “Marine Ecosystem Dynamics and Indicators for North Africa (MEDINA)” EC FP7 project in partnership with Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Italy (enhancing Northern African countries - Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt- in the monitoring capacity of their coastal areas and implementing environmental policies, regarding water resources planning; water scarcity, and ICZM.

18/10/2010- 2/06/2014: Head of Marine Geology and Geophysics Lab; Academic supervisor for all staff members; - Managing department administrative work; -Research strategy planning, implement and follow up this strategy, - Raising awareness amongst decision-makers, -Accelerated implementation of the scientific plans of projects and help to choose new fields of specialization.

20/10/2010-1/03/ 2012: Expert of “Mediterranean Innovation and Action Research (MIRA)”, assigning job was; review the task for H2020 new EC program" review the water resources and programmes and define pollution hot-spot areas, gaps and weaknesses in past 20 years of Mediterranean countries -, Recommending and propose future action planning for de-pollution and Good Environmental status in the Mediterranean Sea,-enhancing institutional relations, with national policymakers".

 2011-2012: Consultant for Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) at Centre for Development Innovation, Wageningen, the Netherlands, (Environmental Impact Assessment, stakeholders analysis, management planning of natural resources, legislations and future planning of Mediterranean Wetlands.

 9/2011- 9/2014: Team member of a study funded by JICA/Alexandria University, Egypt " “Environmental impact assessment study for the establishment of drinking water treatment plant in Itay” El-Baroud, Boheira Governorate (environmental assessment -EIA tools, socioeconomic, ,).

15/06/2012- 20/01/ 2014: Team leader of project funded by NIOF “Geoenvironmental and Sedimentological study of Burullus Lagoon” (assessment of the current status of the lake using DPSIR analysis, including the change in water body; water, sediment, biota quality assessment, water resources planning, sedimentology, geochemistry, ..).

03/2013-12/ 2014: Coordinator of NIOF funded study “Geological and Geophysical study of El-Salloum Bay and coastal area”, western coast of the Mediterranean Egyptian Coast (environmental assessment, coastal area management, water resources planning, coastal topography, remote sensing - a collection of geophysical data for spatial studies).

1/01/2014-30/12/2015: Consultant for Research & Development at GEO Imaging LTD, Nicosia Cyprus, (Part time), to evaluate the results of research projects relating to marine management, water resources planning, sustainable development of marine resources, - build knowledge platforms, networking and uptake of research results for more strategic international R&I cooperation in Black and Mediterranean Seas.

7/2014-12/2014 (part time) Trainer at FLDC Centre “Faculty and Leadership Development Centre”, Alexandria University. 1/10/2014- 1/7/2015: Lecturer (part Time) at Faculty of Science, Dameitta University; Lecturer for under graduate students of marine lab.

1/10/2014-until now (part time): Consultant of PROMEC NGO "Project Management and Environmental consultancy-www.promec-consultancy.com), Alexandria Egypt ; PROMIC is a professional consulting organization with knowledge and experience in project management, water resources management, Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) consultancy.

5/04/2015- 17/11/2015: Executive Director of NIOF National Central Lab

April 2015 -December 2015. 1/1/1994-until now: organizer and chaired a quite number of national and international conferences; workshops and training courses in and outside Egypt, related to the sustainable development of water resources; integrated coastal management and raising environmental awareness among young people and young researchers.

15/11/2015-30/10/2016: Independent Consultant at UNEP in Conducting Terminal Evaluation of the UNEP/GEF Project "Integration of climatic variability and change into national strategies to implement the ICZM Protocol in The Mediterranean”; to assess project performance (in terms of relevance, effectiveness, and efficiency), and determine outcomes and impacts stemming from the project, including their sustainability. 1/03/2016-until now: Coordinator of Egyptian Oceanography, Fisheries and Aquaculture Standing Committee for professors’ promotion. 

14/03/2016-26/09/2016: Director of National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Mediterranean Sea & northern lakes Branch, Alexandria, Egypt.

7/02/2018-1/08/2019: President of National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), Egypt.

 1/09/2018 until now: Member of Executive Planning Group (EPG) of UN Decade of Ocean Science 2021-2030-- Executive Planning Group established by the IOC to serve as an expert advisory body to the IOC governing bodies to support the development of an Implementation Plan for the Decade and the delivery of other activities needed to establish the Decade. It will set priorities for the different stakeholders to contribute to the Decade.

1/1/2019 until now: Coordinator of “Sustainable Development national Plan for Lake Naser, Egypt”.
 16/3/2018-1/1/2020: Coordinator of Bardawil National Committee to submit a full study to Government of North Sinai and to the secretariat of Ministry of Defence "assessing the current state of Lake Bardawil, and the potential impacts of increasing the salinity and temperature on the diversity of wildlife in Lake".”. This study drew the main lines of sustainable development of the lake and surrounded area.

1/12/2018-until now: Member of the Executive Planning Group (EPG) for planning UN Decade for Ocean Science December 2018-December 2020. EPG is appointed experts to serve as an advisory body to the IOC governing bodies to support the development of an Implementation Plan for the Decade and the delivery of other activities needed to establish the Decade

Working language(s)

English
Arabic

Citation(s)

Google Scholar

Social

Website(s)

http://www.eram-ws.co

Comment(s)

I took a primary goal in my life, which is to be a public advocate of environmental stewardship, focusing on individual and community responsibility for the protection of natural resources. Accordingly, I dedicated most of my efforts, to young women, youth, and the vulnerable communities for increasing their capacity, competitiveness, and communications. Thus, I introduced a new initiative in Egypt and through my institute, directed to young women, youth, and the vulnerable communities for increasing their capacity, competitiveness and communications