Maria El Rahi is a registered dietitian and early-career public health professional with a strong interest in global health, community engagement, health equity, and evidence-based public health initiatives. She holds an MSc in Healthcare Leadership with Distinction from University of Hull and a Bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from Gabriele d’Annunzio University. She also earned a Teaching Diploma in Biology from Notre Dame University–Louaize.

Over the past several years, Maria has worked across public health, education, NGO coordination, and community-based initiatives in Lebanon. She has collaborated with NGOs, municipalities, schools, and local stakeholders to support health awareness campaigns, sustainability initiatives, and educational programs in coordination with the Lebanese Ministry of

Education. Her work has included supporting rural women in sustainable food production, contributing to healthcare quality research, and participating in the development of organizational policies related to food safety, child protection, and professional conduct.

Maria also has extensive experience in science and health education, having taught and developed interactive learning approaches that promote student engagement and health awareness. Her research interests focus on food security, leadership advocacy, humanitarian response, and the role of NGOs during crises. Her MSc dissertation explored NGO advocacy and food security challenges during conflict in Syria and Lebanon.

In addition to her professional work, Maria continues to pursue training in health behavior change, ethnography, food sustainability, and health and safety. She is fluent in Arabic, English, and Italian, with proficiency in French, and is passionate about contributing to multidisciplinary initiatives that improve access to care and strengthen community health systems.