Lina worked for over 20 years as a humanitarian aid worker in contexts such as Afghanistan, Haiti, the Central African Republic, Papua New Guinea, and others. Lina now works independently and advises organizations and companies in enhancing their engagement with women’s rights and gender equality. She serves as the Senior Advisor for Global Women’s Rights at the Arab Institute for Women at the Lebanese American University, where she served as Executive Director for seven years. Lina is also the founder of Yalla, Feminists!, an online space and open platform dedicated to amplifying women’s voices worldwide.

She was honored to be able to share her passion and experience in ending violence against women on global stages, including her TEDx talk, Women Deliver PowerTalk, and keynote address for the Swedish International Development Agency annual meeting, amongst others. Lina completed her doctoral work at the London School of Economics and published “Gender and International Aid in Afghanistan: The Politics and Effects of Intervention” in 2009, based on her Ph.D. research. Her second book, “Freedom on the Frontlines: Afghan Women and the Fallacy of Liberation,” was released in 2022. Her next book outlines fifty years of Arab feminism and will be published in spring 2023.

Lina speaks and frequently publishes on various gender issues, such as the need for a feminist response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on Arab women and girls. She believes women’s leadership is the strongest vehicle for peace and sustainable development. Lina’s piece I Hate International Women’s Day was among many that resonated with women’s rights activists worldwide. Her work in support of women in Afghanistan was featured on CNN, leading to a live CNN interview on this topic. She continues to advocate for women’s rights worldwide, with appearances on France24, CNN Greece, BBC, Good Morning America, and others.