Speaker Emad Yahya is an Iraqi-American who recently traveled to the Mideast.

Yahya was born in California to an Iraqi father and American mother. He was raised and went to school in Iraq, and today continues to have family living in Baghdad and Mosul, Iraq. He visits Iraq and the Middle East at least once a year.

He earned BS and MSc degrees in Civil Engineering from University of Mosul, Iraq, and was awarded an MBA from San Jose State University in 2000. He currently works the in the electronics Industry.

His observations on Iraq today are timely and relevant, and his perspective is unique.