Umayya Abu-Hanna is a Palestinian and Finnish writer, cultural broker and researcher based in Amsterdam. In Finland Abu-Hanna was a journalist at the Finnish Broadcasting Company, the head of the media department at Helsinki University of Applied Sciences and the Diversity Advisor at The Finnish National Gallery. Some of her public positions were as member of the Finnish Arts Council and member of committees at the Finnish Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Education and Culture. She was also member of the Helsinki City Council and the Helsinki Real Estate Board. Umayya has published among other, four books for WSOY and Siltala Publishing.

 In the Netherlands Umayya was the advisor for the Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux, and a senior adviser for CIE ‘Centre for International Heritage Activities’. She co-founded ‘Rethink Amsterdam’ and ‘The Hummus Academy’.