Maqsoud Kruse

Maqsoud Kruse was raised in a multicultural, multiethnic family, with a German father and an Emirati mother, shaping his deep understanding of cultural and social influences and his appreciation for tolerance, coexistence, and diversity. Since 2021, he has served as Chairperson of the National Human Rights Institution (NHRI). Previously, he was a Strategic Communications Advisor at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs (MOPA) and a member of the UAE National Media Team. Before that, he was the Executive Director of Hedayah, leading global efforts to counter violent extremism through dialogue, capacity building, and research. Kruse has also served as a Steering Board Member for the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) and as an Organizational Psychologist in the UAE Armed Forces, specializing in applied psychology, strategic planning, and leadership development. With over 20 years of experience across international, governmental, and private sectors, Kruse is a prolific writer, public speaker, and media contributor. His interdisciplinary interests span psychology, gifted education, strategic studies, tolerance, extremism, and contemporary Arabic thought. His published works include The Future of Mental Healthcare in the UAE (2023) and various studies on human potential, gifted education, and countering extremism. He holds a Master’s in Organizational Psychology from the University of Melbourne and a Bachelor's in Psychology from UAE University.