Members

Mohamad Daboul (born in 1950 in Damascus, Syria) is an entrepreneur and industrialist. He began his career after graduating from the Department of Mathematics at the Faculty of Science, Damascus University, in 1974. In 1976, he founded the Madar Group, a leading manufacturer of aluminum products, rolling shutters, glass, and related accessories in Syria. He also established Orbit Company in Jordan and Setara and Canex companies in Egypt.

Mr. Daboul places a strong emphasis on social and environmental responsibility alongside business success. He was among the pioneers of development initiatives implemented in Syria in the early 2000s, including industrial apprenticeship programs, support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and scholarships for young men and women in Syria.

He personally oversaw a long-term project to document Syria’s natural and archaeological heritage through visual and geographical records, resulting in several publications about Damascus and its surrounding countryside.

He is actively involved in business associations in Syria and abroad. From 2005 to 2009, he served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Damascus and Rural Damascus Chamber of Industry. He has served as President of the Syrian-Canadian Businessmen Association since 2005. From 2018 to 2021, he served as Executive Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Arab Federation of Engineering Industries, before being elected President of the Federation’s Board in 2022, a position he continues to hold. He has been a member of the Federation’s Board since 2001 and is one of the founding members of its regional office in Damascus.

Driven by his interest in science and global developments in the aluminum industry, Mr. Daboul regularly attends international conferences and exhibitions to stay informed about the latest technological advancements and innovations in the sector.

Mr. Abdul Karim Maasarani is an accomplished business executive with over 30 years of experience in the international lumber and forestry sector. He has held senior leadership positions in Canada, Syria, and the UAE, specializing in international trade, business development, operations management, and strategic partnerships.

He currently serves as President of Treemax Wood Products in Dubai and Holtz Wood Export Inc. in Ottawa, Canada. He is a founding member and Vice Chair of the Board of the Syrian Canadian Business Association (SYCAB), contributing his extensive business expertise and international network to strengthening economic and commercial relations between Canada and Syria.

Mr. Maasarani holds a Diploma in Business Administration from McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

Eng. Nidal Al-Bitar is a development leader and engineering expert with over two decades of experience spanning engineering, international diplomacy, private sector development, and humanitarian programming. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Damascus (1992) and an Executive MBA (2006), combining strong technical foundations with strategic business leadership.

He began his career in the oil and gas industry as a project engineer, marketing manager, and economic advisor for international companies before transitioning into international development and economic cooperation roles. Since 1995, he has served as a business advisor for EU-funded initiatives in Syria, followed by senior diplomatic and advisory positions including Chief Advisor at the Swiss Embassy’s Commercial Department (1999) and Economic Advisor at the Canadian Embassy in Damascus (2000–2010). Alongside these roles, he founded and managed industrial production companies that remain active in the market today.

From 2013 onward, Nidal has served as Country Director and Representative of the European Institute for Cooperation and Development (IECD), leading large-scale TVET and STEM-focused programs across Syria. Under his leadership, multi-governorate livelihood and youth empowerment initiatives were designed and implemented in partnership with UN agencies, reaching Damascus, Rural Damascus, As-Suwayda, Aleppo, Latakia, and Deir Ezzor. His work has consistently focused on strengthening employability, entrepreneurship, and practical skills development for youth, with a strong emphasis on aligning training systems with labor market needs.

He played a key role in a national TVET reform initiative (2021–2022) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and a UN agency, contributing to the review and modernization of vocational curricula and providing strategic recommendations to improve alignment with current economic demands. He has also contributed to national policy and academic research, including proposals on transitional justice mechanisms and frameworks supporting vocational education, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

A strong advocate for youth empowerment, STEM, and TVET systems development, Nidal has designed and supported seed funding mechanisms in partnership with UN agencies to foster innovation and community-driven solutions. He is also an experienced business trainer and consultant, having worked with governmental institutions, international organizations, and leading industrial companies on management, production systems, marketing, HR, and organizational development.

He has actively contributed to governance and advisory bodies, including serving as Treasurer of the Syrian Canadian Business Association (SYCAB) (2025–present), Founding Board Member of the Civil Association of Deir Ezzor (2025–present), Jury Member for Youth Entrepreneurship Projects in collaboration with JCI and the Chamber of Commerce, and member of the Scientific Council for the Syrian TVET Skills Olympiad under the Commission for Excellence and Innovation. Throughout his career, Nidal has remained committed to advancing inclusive development, strengthening education-to-employment pathways, and empowering young people with the skills needed to drive economic and social recovery in Syria.

Dr. Ammar Zuhair Katranji serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Syrian Canadian Business Association (SYCAB), contributing to the Association’s governance, institutional coordination, and efforts to strengthen professional and economic ties between Canada and Syria.

Eng. Firas Al-Rifai is a Member of the Board of Directors of the Syrian Canadian Business Association (SYCAB), supporting bilateral business initiatives, strategic partnerships, and professional collaboration between the Syrian and Canadian business communities.

Mr. Ayman Alasali is a Member of the Board of Directors of the Syrian Canadian Business Association (SYCAB), actively engaged in fostering commercial networks, investment opportunities, and sustainable economic cooperation between Canada and Syria.

An industrialist and investor with more than twenty years of experience in engineering industries, transportation infrastructure, and specialized contracting. He graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at Damascus University and later earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Sheffield Business School. He currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Monmetal, a Canadian company specializing in metal industries.

His professional career has extended across the Middle East, Europe, and North America, where he has contributed to the establishment and management of industrial and investment projects and partnerships, with a particular focus on business development, building strategic alliances, and transferring knowledge and technology.

Alongside his professional activity, he strongly believes in the social role of the business sector and considers corporate success to be linked to the extent of its contribution to the economic development of the communities in which it operates.

He currently serves as President of the Syrian Canadian Business and Professional Association (SCBPA), a Canadian association dedicated to building and strengthening relationships among Syrian Canadian investors and professionals within their Canadian environment. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Syrian Canadian Business Association (SYCAB), where he works to encourage investment, expand cooperation networks among entrepreneurs and professionals, promote knowledge exchange, and build sustainable economic partnerships.