Wael Alwani
I am an expert in artificial intelligence and financial crime analysis, with more than fourteen years of professional experience in Canada and the Middle East. I have worked with organizations including Deloitte and TD Bank. My work includes developing AI strategies and projects using agentic AI, generative AI, OCR, and OSINT, as well as building graph technologies, applying social network analysis, and developing machine-learning models.
I am a co-founder of the Observatory of Political and Economic Networks, a Canadian nonprofit organization focused on tracking and analyzing political and economic networks in Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq.
I have co-authored multiple data-driven research reports on key issues affecting Syria, including sanctions, narcotics, and crony capitalism. I have also translated a number of articles and books on self-organization, self-management, and systems thinking.
I hold a master’s degree from KAUST and a B.Sc. from KFUPM in Saudi Arabia, with a focus on artificial intelligence and computer engineering.
Who Are We ?
Karam Shaar Advisory is a New Zealand-based limited-liability consulting company. We focus on Syria’s economy and politics, covering topics ranging from macroeconomics, monetary economics, energy, aid, conflict economics, actor mapping, and sanctions. Our services are tailored to meet the needs of international organizations, governments, NGOs, and the private sector.
Led by Dr. Karam Shaar, who has over a decade of experience in the field, the stellar team has in-depth and unparalleled knowledge of the Syrian context, with skills ranging from economic and political research to data analysis, field assessment, KYC, OSINT, programming, and AI-driven analytics.
We know how to influence policy and produce quality research recognized and published by world-leading think tanks and media outlets. With a team spanning various control areas within Syria, Türkiye, Lebanon, New Zealand, the United States, France, and Germany, we never lose the connection to the ground and know first-hand the needs of those trying to empower Syrians abroad.