Young Professionals (YPs) Committee
The Young Professionals Committee (YPs) is responsible for supporting young professional members (professional members under the age of 36) in the section by developing programs and initiatives that will have a specific benefit to those in the early stages of their careers. These programs will support young members by addressing themes related to networking, soft skills, gaining a fundamental awareness of industry practices, and building a long-term career in the oil and gas industry.
YPs Committee Chair
Ahmed Aljarah
Ahmed serves as the Business Development Lead for Renwa Group, and previously for TGT in south Iraq, with 16 years of diverse experience across various companies and domains, including service and operation giants like ExxonMobil, Halliburton, BP, and TGT, Ahmed brings a wealth of expertise to his role. Currently, he connects customer challenges and opportunities with tailored solutions. He is responsible for developing and executing effective market strategies to drive growth and success for TGT in the region.
Technical Lead
Hasanain Kadhim Alsaheib
Hasanain is currently working with BP Iraq as the Production Forecasting Lead Engineer in the production management team. Prior to this, he spent 11 years at SLB (Schlumberger), where he held roles as a reservoir management, modeling and simulation engineer, and project manager. Hasanain graduated from the University of Baghdad’s Petroleum Engineering Department in 2011 and is a certified project manager with a PMP-PMI certificate.
Social Activites Lead
Zahraa Mohammed
Zahraa, a petroleum engineer with a background in Drilling and a passion for social impact, brings valuable experience to our committee. Currently serving as a Drilling Supervisor at Rumaila Operating Organization with BP, Zahraa leverages both her academic background, having graduated with a B.Sc. in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Baghdad, and her hands-on experience gained through working in various companies and internships.
Student Chapters Support Lead
Abbas Alawi Al-Khayat
Abbas is a Wellsite Supervisor with Kerui Petroleum. He holds a BSc in Petroleum Engineering from Koya University and served as President of the Koya University SPE Student Chapter. He began his career as a Wellsite Drilling & Completion Engineer with EDC Romfor, then advanced to Drilling Supervisor with HKN Energy. Abbas continued as a Drilling Engineer with NESR before becoming a Wellsite Supervisor with Oilserv and currently with Kerui Petroleum.
Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Committee
In line with the SPE International D&I Committee, the SPE Central Iraq D&I Committee’s vision is to advance the section’s commitment to diversity and inclusion within the oil and gas community in Iraq through collaboration and education.
D&I Committee Chair
Arwa Mahmood Alrefaai
Arwa is a pioneering figure, being the first and only Iraqi woman engineer at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment in the USA, where she has been serving as a BOA-Engineering Associate since April 2023. Arwa earned her BSc in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Kansas, USA, and her BSc in Computer Science from Basra University, Iraq. Her academic career includes many honors and awards.
STEM Lead
Ahmed Nayyef
Ahmed is a dedicated and ambitious petroleum engineer who graduated from the University of Baghdad in 2018. He began his career at the Rumaila Operating Organization (ROO) in Basra, Iraq, as a reservoir engineer in the subsurface department. After three years of exemplary performance, he was promoted to Lead Petroleum Engineer within his department.
Programs Lead
Hinda Riyadh
Hinda earned her BSc in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Baghdad in 2022. She completed a summer training program with SLB in 2021, excelling in the Completion Segment. Beyond the Oil and Gas industry, she worked as a supply chain officer at Fly Baghdad Airlines. Currently, she is a Project Coordinator at Earthlink Telecommunications.
Digital Content (DC) Committee
The Digital Content Committee is responsible for shaping and enhancing the section’s digital presence, working effectively to create, curate, and distribute high-quality content that engages members, promotes industry knowledge, and highlights the section’s activities and achievements. By leveraging digital platforms, we aim to foster collaboration, drive innovation, and connect with a broader audience in the energy sector.
DC Committee Chair
Samer Waleed
Samer is a drilling engineer, researcher, with over 8 years of experience at the Petroleum R&D Center and MdOC. He holds a BSc in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Technology, where he also served as Vice President and Membership Chairman of SPE UOT Student Chapter. Experienced in drilling fluids labs, Samer has achieved numerous research accomplishments. He is also the Deputy Manager of the Alnukhba Volunteering Team, dedicated to youth development.
Content Creation Lead
Ali Ateia Ibrahim
Ali is a petroleum engineer specializing in Wireline and Slickline operations. He currently works as a Workover Specialist at OilTech. He holds a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Kerbala, where he also served as the President of the SPE Kerbala Student Chapter. Ali has a published research paper in an International Journal. He has a passion for technology, and programming. His interests extend to graphic design, and AI and its applications.
Social Media Lead
Haider Lafta Mohsen
Haider is a petroleum engineer with 3 years of experience in the oil and gas sector. He holds a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Baghdad and a strong background in geophysics from Al-Karkh University. His expertise spans drilling operations, production optimization, and wellbore stability, gained through hands-on fieldwork and industry training. Haider is committed to driving efficiency and innovation in the energy sector.
Graphic Design Lead
Khallad Rabea
Khallad is a skilled graphic designer with over 7 years of experience specializing in branding, visual identities, and social media design. He is passionate about creating impactful visuals that enhance brand recognition and engagement. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Oil and Gas Engineering from the University of Technology. As the Graphic Design Lead for Committee, he plays a key role in developing visual content that supports digital marketing and communication strategies.