For His Contribution to The Promotion
of Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue
Dr. Nidal Shoukeir receives the “Soft Skills” Award in the Italian Senate
Rome, 22nd of January 2026
On the initiative of Senator Cinzia Pellegrino, the Italian Senate hosted the second edition of the “Soft Skills Award – The Competence That Makes the Difference” at the ISMA Hall of the Institute of Santa Maria in Aquiro of the Senate of the Republic.
The award, organized by E-Learning Formazione and promoted by Senator Cinzia Pellegrino, aims to draw public attention to the increasingly strategic role of transversal skills in institutional, professional, and educational contexts—particularly at a time when artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming work, leadership, and decision-making processes.
The ceremony saw broad participation from institutional representatives, Members of Parliament, leading professionals, and media figures. Proceedings were led by Senator Cinzia Pellegrino, alongside Dr. Francesco De Noia, CEO and Founder of the e-learning platform Formazione, Dr. Morena Merolla, Chief Operating Officer & RSGQ, and Dr. Giuseppe Natuzzi, Senior Officer of the Italian Coast Guard Corps.
During this second edition, the award was conferred on several distinguished Italian personalities recognized for their exemplary leadership and human-centered professional impact, including Fabio Pompei, CEO of Deloitte Italy, whose participation underscored the growing commitment of the corporate sector to valuing soft skills as a cornerstone of responsible leadership in the digital and AI era.
The ceremony also honored Dr. Nidal Shoukeir, Executive Board Director of the International Committee on Countering Extremist and Hate Speech (ICCEHS), who was the only non-Italian recipient of the award.
The Award Committee recognized Dr. Shoukeir “for the contribution offered to the promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue through strategic communication skills and institutional relations.”
The citation further highlighted that “throughout his professional path, a capacity for mediation emerges based on listening, contextual awareness, and the ability to build spaces for responsible dialogue in environments marked by high social and cultural complexity.”
The motivation concluded by emphasizing that “for his commitment to promoting dialogue as a tool for conflict prevention and for strengthening social cohesion, the Soft Skills Award recognizes in Dr. Nidal Shoukeir an example of professionalism oriented toward responsibility, cooperation, and ethical leadership.”
In her opening remarks, Senator Cinzia Pellegrino, Group Leader of Fratelli d’Italia in the Extraordinary Commission for Human Rights, underlined that: “Soft skills—namely transversal, non-technical competences that shape how individuals communicate, lead, collaborate, and manage complexity—have become essential. Today, they are no longer a secondary asset, but a fundamental requirement for leadership, institutional credibility, and social responsibility.”
She added: “Unlike hard skills, which refer to specific technical expertise, soft skills encompass behavioral and personal abilities that enable individuals to adapt, relate, and lead effectively in any role.
These skills are not innate privileges; they can be cultivated through experience, reflection, and meaningful exchange. Listening within the Senate to the testimonies of authoritative voices from education, institutions, and the professions has been a genuine source of enrichment.
This initiative was conceived precisely to acknowledge and strengthen the strategic value of transversal skills at a time when technological acceleration—particularly AI—demands leaders who are not only competent, but deeply human.”
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Nidal Shoukeir thanked Senator Cinzia Pellegrino and E-Learning Formazione for the recognition, stating: “Receiving the Soft Skills Award at the Italian Senate is a profound honor, especially because it recognizes dialogue, mediation, and responsibility as strategic competencies. In societies marked by cultural and religious diversity, communication is not merely a professional tool—it is a bridge that transforms differences into opportunities for understanding.”
He continued: “Interreligious and intercultural dialogue begins with listening. Strategic communication, when grounded in empathy and contextual awareness, creates spaces where differences can be addressed without confrontation, and where respect becomes the foundation for cooperation and social cohesion.”
Dr. Shoukeir emphasized the broader responsibility associated with the recognition: “This award reinforces my belief that soft skills—such as cultural sensitivity, ethical judgment, and mediation—are essential to preventing conflict and reducing polarization.
In an era shaped by artificial intelligence and rapid change, these human competencies are not optional; they are indispensable to building resilient, inclusive, and trustworthy societies.”
He concluded: “I accept this recognition not only as a personal honor, but as a collective acknowledgment of all those who believe that dialogue, when responsibly guided, can strengthen institutions, protect social harmony, and foster peaceful coexistence.”
For media inquiries: info@iccehs.org