Former Minister, Nesreen Barakat, received a BSc. in Computer Science and Information Technology from the University of Jordan (UJ) in 1990, and an MBA from the Business School at Durham University in the UK in 1995. In 2014, Mrs. Barakat was listed as one of the Forbes 200 most powerful Arab women.

Mrs. Barakat has more than 25 years' experience of working with the government, international organizations, civil society and the private sector in areas of economic and social development.

In 2005, Mrs. Barakat founded 'To-Excel Consulting', an innovative boutique company that specializes in providing evidence-based services in the fields of monitoring and evaluation, qualitative and quantitative research, situation analyses, capacity building, strategic planning and socio-economic development and recovery. 

She served as the Managing Director of the National Aid Fund, before which she was appointed Minister of Public Sector Development (2010-2011), and then held the portfolio of Minister of Social Development (2011- 2012).

Beyond her day-to-day work as CEO of To-Excel, Mrs. Barakat utilizes her skills and experiences to contribute to a number of organisations and important causes across Jordan. She is a member of the National Center for Human Rights Board of Trustees and a board member of the Central Bank of Jordan. Prior to that, she was a Member of the Greater Amman Municipality City Council, Economic Advisor to the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW) and member of the UNWOMEN NGO Advisory Group in Jordan, the Business and Professional Women Association (BPWA), fellowship member of Vital Voices and  founding member of different Associations.