May al-Ibrashy

May al-Ibrashy obtained a Bachelor's of Architectural Engineering from Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt.[3] She continued her education to complete a Master's in History of Islamic Art, Architecture, and Archaeology from the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) followed by a PhD in Archaeology from the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).[3]

May al-Ibrashy began her career working as an architect and a professor prior to co-founding Megawra, an Egyptian non-governmental organization architectural practice in 2011 with 10 colleagues.[4] Along side her work for Megawra, she continues to work simultaneously as an adjunct lecturer of architecture at the American University in Cairo and at Cairo University and Professor of Practice in Islamic architecture at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.[3] In 2012, Megawra partnered with Built Environment Collective (BEC), a local urban cultural development organization.[4] Together, Megawra-BEC is an architectural firm and non-governmental organization which works with the built environment with a focus on theory, praxis, arts, and linking heritage to sustainability and social responsibility across Cairo.[2] In the same year, May al-Ibrashy began and continued to coordinate, the initiative Athar Lina (Heritage is Ours!) in partnership with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.[3] Al-Ibrashy's fieldwork continues to engage with the communities in the Al-Khalifa district in Sayeda Zeinab, Al Hattaba district, and Al-Imam Al-Shafii district through participatory conservation initiatives in marginalized areas for the decade prior to 2022.[5]

2022 Prince Claus Impact Award Recipient:[2]

May al-Ibrashy was the recipient of the 2022 Prince Claus Fund Impact Awards,[2] along with María Medrano, Argentina; Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, Cuba; Ailton Alves Lacerda Krenak, Brazil; Hassan Darsi, Morocco and Alain Gomis, Senegal.