Biographies: People & Power

Samah El Shahat is the new presenter of People & Power.  

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.  

Samah will obtain her PhD in economics from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, in 2007.

Juliana Ruhfus

Award-winning journalist Juliana Ruhfus has spent a decade working as a reporter and producer for British and international broadcasters, specialising in international programme making and investigative work.

 

Juliana has covered many of the world’s under-reported conflicts including Somalia, Haiti, Congo, Indonesia, Yemen and Peru, often gaining unique access to the warring factions and always with a strong focus on the human stories behind the news. 

 

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

 

Juliana will help shine a light into the dark corners of governments, institutions and multi-national corporations – find out how countries really function, what benefits new technologies have and for whom, explore new thinking – all of which have the power to shape our world.