Zahraa Saiyed
About Zahraa Saiyed
Zahraa Saiyed is a Board Director at the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute and a Senior Disaster Risk Consultant at The World Bank. With extensive experience in structural engineering and disaster risk reduction, she advocates for resilience and equity in public policy.
Work at Earthquake Engineering Research Institute
Zahraa Saiyed serves as a Board Director at the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, a position she has held since 2022. In this role, she contributes to the organization's mission of advancing earthquake engineering practices and policies. Her involvement supports research and initiatives aimed at improving community resilience against seismic events.
Current Role at The World Bank
Zahraa Saiyed has been working as a Senior Disaster Risk Consultant at The World Bank since 2020. In this capacity, she focuses on disaster risk reduction strategies, particularly in Yele, Northern Sierra Leone. Her work involves assessing vulnerabilities and developing frameworks to enhance community resilience to disasters.
Education and Expertise
Zahraa Saiyed has an extensive educational background, including a Doctor of Law and Policy Candidate from Northeastern University. She holds a Master of Science in Architecture from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she also studied Structural Engineering. Additionally, she has degrees in Architecture and Structural Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and has studied at Harvard University and Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi. Her expertise encompasses building science, design, and structural engineering.
Advocacy and Research Focus
Zahraa Saiyed advocates for resilience, health, and wellbeing in public policy. Her research emphasizes social vulnerability and equity within disaster risk reduction policies. She is committed to empowering women in STEAM fields, facilitating dialogue and discourse to promote inclusivity and representation in these areas.
Membership in Professional Organizations
Zahraa Saiyed is an active member of several professional organizations. She has been a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers' Infrastructure & Research Policy Committee since 2019. Additionally, she serves on the Engineering, Construction, and Building Codes Committee of the Western States Seismic Policy Council and is a voting member of the Structural Engineering, Engagement, and Equity Committee at the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations.