Ms. Howaidy has held the position of Director of International Relations since 2001, she has extensive experience in the fields of project administration and international cooperation in local, regional and international development organisations. Her fields of knowledge are particularly oriented towards higher education, human rights, management development, information technology and export promotion.

After finishing her degree studies, Ms. Howaidy worked as a Project Officer for the Egyptian Export Development Bank from 1987 to 1989, followed by a three year position as a Senior Program Officer for the Bi-national Fulbright Commission in Egypt. In 1992, she furthered her experience within the field of international cooperation as Program Officer for the Cabinet Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC), and in 1995 became Coordinator for International Relations for the Arab Organization for Administrative Development. From 1996 to 1997, Ms. Howaidy became a campaigner in the Middle East Program for Amnesty International, and in 1998 was Unit Manager for the Integrated English Language Program II, funded by USAID, before joining the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

Ms. Howaidy studied Middle Eastern Studies to post graduate level at the American University in Cairo, before attaining a MSc in Public Management and Pubic Policy in 1994 from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She also attended Harvard Business School Senior Executive Program for the Middle East in 2003.