Former Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala Elsaid, who is currently the economic adviser to Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, is stepping into the role of University counselor with excitement, looking to build tomorrow’s leaders out of the promising youth at AUC.

“I’m passionate about young people,” she affirmed. “I believe in the power of youth; they can move mountains. You just need to give them the proper ecosystem and show them the support and guidance they need.”

As University counselor, Elsaid will help advance AUC’s relationships with national universities, the Supreme Council of Universities and the Egyptian government. “My short-term goal is to enhance the linkage between AUC, the different Egyptian academic institutions and governmental bodies,” she said. “My long-term vision is to see AUC leading this reform of academic excellence across Egypt.” 

Elsaid has a robust background, having served as minister of planning and economic development from 2019 to 2024 and as minister of planning, monitoring and administrative reform from 2017 to 2019. She oversaw the development and update of Egypt’s Vision 2030. She was also previously chair of The Sovereign Fund of Egypt, the first elected dean of the Faculty of Economics and Political Science at Cairo University, and a board member of the Central Bank of Egypt. In addition, she was executive director of the Egyptian Banking Institute, which became the first internationally accredited financial training body in the Middle East and North Africa under her tenure.

“All these mixed leadership roles have given me a diversified perspective,” Elsaid explained. “I believe that education is crucial in addressing the government’s national priorities. We need partnerships between academia, the government and the private sector to serve the community and help in the national transformation of the country.”

Elsaid expressed her interest in working with the young minds present at AUC, including meeting with the Student Union and engaging in student activities. “By working closely with the AUC community, I can see how we can best serve students and therefore how we can best serve Egypt.”

Get to Know University Counselor Hala Elsaid

Outside of her role as counselor, Elsaid is excited to get to know the AUC community. She shared with News@AUC the things she enjoys outside of the office.

What’s your favorite film?

Gary el-Wuhoosh and Forest Gump.

Who are your favorite authors?

Reem Bassioueny because I love how she mixes history and drama. And Ian Bremmer because I’m very interested in political economy.

What’s your favorite food?

Molokhiya. And taameya; I cannot resist it.

What music do you listen to?

I love Arabic classics, such as Abdel Halim Hafez and Mohammed Abdel Wahab. But I also enjoy the new light Arabic songs. 

What do you like doing in your free time?

Reading, swimming and watching old movies.

What’s something not everyone knows about you?

I love and appreciate art. There are so many great opportunities around Cairo, including all the museums and the Cairo Opera House. I also love painting, though I don’t paint myself.  

What’s your proudest achievement?

My children and grandchildren. Whatever professional achievements I make, my true success is seeing my children and grandchildren.