Ahmed Abukhater

Ahmed Abukhater (born 1977) is an architect, environmental scientist, and an urban and regional planner by trade. He is an author, powerlifter, and the first athlete to represent Palestine at the World Association of Bench Pressers and Dead lifters (WABDL) World Powerlifting Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2006. He set a new record for the state of Illinois in 2004, and holds many national and international records in powerlifting.

International and world records Open and elite men's division −198 lbs weight class Set in official drug-tested competition Squat: 630 lbs Bench Press: 610 lbs Deadlift: 705 lbs

Personal records Powerlifting Gym Records: Done in the gym (unofficial) Squat: 705.4 lbs Bench Press: 727.5 lbs Deadlift: 749.5 lbs Powerlifting total: 2182 lbs He also bench pressed 413.3 lbs for 10 repetitions, touch and go in the gym.

Professional career Abukhater is currently working for Boeing in Digital Aviation. Previously, he served as senior director of GIS at Trimble Navigation Ltd, global director of product management at Pitney Bowes Software, Esri’s global industry manager for planning and community development and director of PLACES in California and a GIS manager and instructor at the University of Texas at Austin.

He is keynote speaker in a number of areas including GIS solutions and strategic marketing in Planning and Community Development, Urban and Regional Planning, environmental science and sustainable development, and trans-boundary water resources management and Conflict Resolution. His expertise is focused on the geopolitical and hydropolitical aspects of water resources in the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the transboundary management of water resources, and multinational environmental policies in the Middle East.

Early life Born in the Palestinian city of Rafah, Ahmed Abukhater grew up in a world of environmental inequity. Being a native Palestinian from the Gaza Strip and raised during the Palestinian Intifada (uprising), he recognized the value of water as the sustainer of life and peace.

Abukhater holds a Ph.D. in community and regional planning from the University of Texas at Austin with a focus on water resources management and conflict resolution and mediation (alternative dispute resolution) Abukhater has authored numerous publications, served on governing and advisory boards, and received over 20 awards for his work.

Publications Palestine – Peace by Piece: Transformative Conflict Resolution for Land and Trans-boundary Water Resources, Springer International Publishing. Water as a Catalyst for Peace: Transboundary Water Management and Conflict Resolution, Taylor & Francis Group (Routledge).