Biographies: People & Power

Samah El-Shahat

 An accomplished programme maker, Samah has worked closely with Al Jazeera in the past, most recently on a special film for People & Power called A Bitter Clash. This 15 minute film exposes the clash dividing rich and poor nations at the WTO, over proposals to reduce industrial tariffs, on a scale never seen before in the history of trade.

Samah founded Thingybob Productions, a film company, in order to raise awareness of development issues in the South. 

Samah is also a development economist, and has been a consultant to the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Canadian Government, Foundation for International Training (FIT) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO). She has also been an economic advisor on SMEs and innovation policy to the governments of Kenya, Egypt, Ghana, Pakistan and Mauritius.
 

Juliana Ruhfus

Award-winning reporter Juliana Ruhfus combines a passion for strong journalism with an equal passion for filmmaking that takes the viewer on a journey of discovery.

For People & Power she has met presidents, rebels and warlords, managed to go undercover in Turkmenistan, and launched Al Jazeera programming with a film about Liberia’s ex-combatants the day the channel went on air.

Juliana also presents People & Power in the studio and on location.

Prior to joining Al Jazeera, Juliana spent more than a decade working as a reporter and producer for British and international broadcasters. She has covered many of the world’s under-reported conflicts often gaining unique access to the warring factions, and always with a strong focus on the human stories behind the news.

As an investigative journalist Juliana has undertaken consultancies for other organisations. She has served twice as an expert to the United Nations Security Council on Somalia monitoring violations of the Sanction Committee’s arms embargo. Juliana has also worked for the UN Small Arms Survey on illegal arms trade issues and carried out undercover filming and research for the Environmental Investigation Agency.

As People & Power’s chief reporter Juliana travels across the globe to investigate ‘power’ in the 21st century, scrutinising those in power, those who seek power, and meeting those without a voice.