Omar Ali is a Japanese-born Egyptian American
currently residing in the Netherlands. Growing up across four continents
presented him with the opportunity to develop understandings of people across
cultural, political, economic, and linguistic barriers.
While at the University of St Andrews, Omar
focused his studies on social movements, democratisation, and humanitarian
interventions. He spent his free time gaining practical experience as a writer,
producer, editor, and photographer. In 2015, Omar co-founded Ampersand Media, a
creative collective which has today grown into a global storytelling platform
with bases in St Andrews, London, and Amsterdam. As President of the St Andrews
International Politics Association, Omar had the opportunity to interview CNN’s
Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour in front of a live
audience.
The following year, he spearheaded the St Andrews
Year of Interfaith Dialogue. This series of guest lectures, seminars, and
gatherings culminated in the signing of the Declaration on a Shared Humanity,
an event which brought together 130 representatives of religious organisations,
national governments, and academic institutions from around the world.
In 2017, Omar completed his MA Honours in
International Relations and moved to Amsterdam to join the team of the THNK
School of Creative Leadership as a Multimedia Producer. While conducting
interviews with numerous entrepreneurs within THNK’s community, he was inspired
to branch out and begin his own practice. In 2020, he co-founded Sandbox
Initiatives, and is currently consulting on creative strategy, platform
development, and venture design for a range of social enterprises.
- 5 November, 2024