Reem Al-Hashimy has been the UAE's Minister of State for International Cooperation since 2016. She was the minister responsible for delivery of the Expo 2020 in Dubai (which ran from October 2021 to March 2022 because of Covid). In addition to her cabinet role, she serves as CEO of Expo City Dubai Authority, Chair for Dubai Cares - a philanthropic organisation which aims to improve access to education in developing countries - and Chair of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. She holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and French from Tufts University, a Master's degree from Harvard, and a PhD from Tsinghua University. When Ground Shifts is her debut book.