Ala’a Zaza (Alaaddin) is the Manager of the Syria Development Centre and an expert in international development and education, with over 15 years of experience leading stabilisation and development initiatives in crisis-affected contexts including Syria, and Yemen. He is currently a PhD candidate at University College London (UCL), focusing on education governance and its role in development in Syria. He also holds a Master’s degree in Special Education from Qatar University. Ala’a has held senior leadership roles with organisations such as Save the Children International, Chemonics International, and Adam Smith International. His positions have included Chief of Party and Senior Advisor, where he led large-scale, complex programmes across the MENA region. His core expertise includes scaling the impact of development solutions, strengthening education systems , advancing policy reform, and delivering education in emergencies and conflict-sensitive contexts.