Biography
Rana is a part time PhD researcher at the IfM (Industrial Resilience Research Group). Her work focuses on the intersection of industrial metabolism, resource sovereignty and digitization for the diffusion industrial symbiosis in increasingly complex geopolitical and economic environments. She also serves as an industrial fellow MENA lead at the Global Supply Chain Observatory at the Department of Engineering.
With over 13 years of experience spanning marine conservation, litigation, and chemicals manufacturing, Rana founded the regions’ leading climate-technology start up, The Surpluss in 2021. Now, a Future 100 company (Ministry of Economy, UAE) and B Corp certified, The Surpluss connects businesses to trade surplus industrial assets and materials, operating across three continents, and recognized as a 2x Top Innovator by the World Economic Forum for global challenges spanning industry 4.0 and circular economy. Rana holds a U.S patent for developing new systems for circular economy standardization and resource sharing.
Rana has received an Mst in Sustainability Leadership from the Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership (CISL) with distinction, where she developed an interest in creating diagnostic frameworks for more resilient, localized supply chains in resource-intensive sectors. She has also completed an LLM in International Law from Middlesex University, an M.Phil in International Peace Studies specializing in the legality of transboundary resource management, and a B.A in Philosophy, Political Science, Economics & Sociology (PPES) from Trinity College Dublin. Rana is also an accredited GRI Sustainability Professional, Sustainability Excellence Associate, and Biomimicry Practitioner certified.
She is a Climatebase Fellow, an official member of the Forbes Business Council, and selected for the 2024 Harvard Climate Entrepreneurs Circle. As a trusted thought leader on cross-cutting topics of supply chain sustainability, climate mitigation and the circular economy in the Arabian Gulf, her Op-Eds have been featured by BBC, CNN, The National and Harvard Business Review, amongst others. In 2024, she has been featured in Vanity Fair’s Global Goals list for championing UN SDG 12, responsible consumption and production, and served as a reviewer for the Seventh Edition of the Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-7), UNEP’s independent expert-led assessment of the environment and flagship report.
Rana also serves as the part-time student representatives for doctoral students at the Department of Engineering.
Please contact rh814@cam.ac.uk.
Department role and responsibilities