Helen Gries is an archaeologist specialized in Mesopotamian Archaeology and curator at the Vorderasiatisches Museum Berlin. She has excavated in Syria, Iran, Jordan and Lebanon. Her research focuses on historic Mesopotamia during the 4th through 1st millennia BCE, particularly on the material culture of the first millennium BCE. She has published numerous articles on Mesopotamian glazed brick decorations and the development of the glazing technology, as well as an exhibition guide to the Ishtar Gate of Babylon.

Ammar al-Taee is an archaeologist from the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage (SBAH). Fully involved in the Future of Babylon Project, Ammar acts both as a liaison between SBAH and WMF and as WMF’s project archaeologist in charge of monitoring and coordinating work on-site. Prior to joining the Future of Babylon Project, Ammar worked in the Babil Inspectorate Guides Department at the Nebuchadnezzar II Museum in Babylon and, before that, in archaeological investigations in the Maysan Province Inspectorate of Iraq.

Jeff Allen joined WMF as a consultant on the Future of Babylon Project in 2009 and as a staff member in 2013. He specializes in managing field projects that contain community components, especially those aimed at building the capacity of local heritage professionals to encourage project sustainability.