With over thirteen years of experience in the field of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC), Dr. Charbel Maydaa (they/them) is a co-chair of ILGA Asia, the regional chapter of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association. As a co-chair, they represent and advocate for the diverse and heterogeneous SOGIESC communities in West Asia, promoting human rights, inclusion, and acceptance.

Dr. Maydaa is also a senior advocacy and humanitarian advisor at the Afghanistan LGBT Organization, where they provide strategic guidance, technical support, and capacity building for the organization's staff and partners. In addition, they are a senior visiting fellow at the Institute for Migration Studies at the Lebanese American University, where they conduct intersectional research on topics such as masculinity, sexuality, migration, and displacement.

Dr. Maydaa holds a Ph.D. in immunology from Université Paris Descartes and a master's degree in social work from Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth. They have extensive expertise in community development, strategic planning, and consulting.