Born and raised in Lebanon, Maria relocated to London with her husband Malek and their three children in 2004. Their art collection, named ISelf, looks at identity with particular reference to the human condition. ISelf was shown at the Whitechapel Gallery in 2017 and 2018 and received over 350,000 visitors. Maria is a member of the International Council at Tate. She co-chairs their Middle Eastern Acquisitions Committee (MENAAC) and sits on their Photography Acquisitions Committee (PAC). Maria is a trustee of the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA), a member of the Contemporary and Modern Middle Eastern Art (CaMMEA) acquisition group of the British Museum, and a Strategic Advisor of the Delfina Foundation. She also sits on the Commissioning Committee at the Hayward Gallery. She supports the Showroom, the Chisenhale, the Camden Art Centre, the South London Gallery and the Design Museum. Whilst in Lebanon, Maria supports the Beirut Art Centre. She also sits on the Solomon Guggenheim Directors Circle and the New Museum International Leadership Council in New York. Maria is on the Photo London Founders Committee and their Advisory Board and is a nominator for the Prix Pictet photography prize. She is also a juror on the Max Mara Art Prize for Women and the Louis Roederer Art Prize for Sustainability. She is also a member of the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies Advisory Board at Boston University and a contributing editor to LUX magazine. Maria is a trustee of the St Jude's Cancer Centre for Children (Beirut-London) and a vice-chair of the Chain of Hope (London).

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