Speaker

Abid Shamdeen is the co-founder of Nadia’s Initiative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rebuilding communities in crisis and advocating globally for survivors of sexual violence. A native of Sinjar, Iraq, Shamdeen is a seasoned global development professional with over thirteen years of experience working in nonprofit organizations and development, focusing on improving the lives of marginalized communities and preventing violence against them.

At Nadia’s Initiative, Shamdeen advocates for Yazidi Genocide survivors and vulnerable communities while supporting critical redevelopment efforts in the Sinjar region. During the 2014 ISIS attacks on the Yazidi community, Shamdeen played a pivotal role as a member of the Sinjar Crisis Management Team, where he worked tirelessly to relay critical information about the atrocities on the ground to U.S. government officials. His efforts provided invaluable insights that helped shape the U.S. response to the crisis and brought international attention to the plight of the Yazidi people.

Before his current role, Shamdeen contributed his expertise to the United States Army in Iraq as a cultural advisor and translator from 2005 to 2010. He also dedicated three years to Americorps, where he supported nonprofit organizations in their missions to serve refugees in the U.S.

Shamdeen holds a master’s degree in political science from American University’s School of International Service and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska. During his time at Nebraska, he gained valuable experience as an administrative assistant in the Nebraska State Legislature.