Shameem Rassam

Shameem Rassam is a veteran journalist, media executive, and cultural consultant with more than 30 years of experience in media programming, broadcasting, government relations, and Arabic language and cultural instruction. Beginning her career with the Iraqi Ministry of Information, she became a prominent television journalist and co-founder of Iraq’s first FM radio station before moving to the United States. She later served as radio manager and TV consultant for the Arab Network of America in Washington and worked as a reporter, producer, translator, and interpreter for organizations including Voice of America, the U.S. State Department, Iraqi Media Network, and Alhurra Iraq TV. From 2003–12, she advised U.S. officials on communications, Iraqi and Arab culture, civil society, and regional conflicts while also helping to establish southern Iraq’s first postwar radio station and serving as general manager of Iraqi Media Network. Most recently, as executive producer for Alhurra Iraq TV, she oversaw news and current affairs programming focused on major social and humanitarian issues, including Iraqi women, orphans, and vulnerable children. She is also the founder of the Breast Cancer Society of Iraq and an advocate for women’s health and cross-cultural understanding.