Jwana is a proud Kurdish native, born in Sulaymaniah, and the wife of Dylan Omer, one of Explore Mesopotamia's senior guides. She graduated from the University of Human Development with an English degree. She is passionate about raising future generations who will contribute to a better world and believes sharing her culture and her nation's history will help achieve that goal.   

Jwana has taught many subjects at a private school in Sulaymaniah, including history, language, linguistics, and literature. Her hobbies include reading, collecting old books, acquainting herself with different languages and cultures, and classical music. Her outgoing and vibrant personality makes any tour a joy to be on.  She and her husband head up a new division of Explore Mesopotamia, which provides day and short-term tours for businessmen and women and for short-term visitors to Iraq who wish to explore Mesopotamia for a day or two.

Waffa was born in the ancient city of Al-Samarrai near Baghdad. She is married with three children. Her eldest daughter studied at the University of Colorado on a Fulbright Scholarship and earned an advanced degree in AI. She also loves history and hopes to follow in her mother's footsteps. Waffa's early education was with the Chaldean nuns of Mar Yohanna Al-Habib in Baghdad. She obtained an English language certificate through courses organized by the American Embassy in cooperation with the Ministry of Labor in Baghdad. She has a degree in archaeology from the prestigious University of Baghdad, which has partnered with many international institutions such as the British Museum, the Louvre, the Smithsonian, the German Archaeological Institute, and others on Iraq's major archeological 'digs.'   

Waffa has been an active archeologist working at the Spar site and at Tell Al-Baqarat in Wasit Governorate with the Italian mission. She also served as Director of the Iraqi-Italian Center of Studies and Research Department. It should be noted that the Italian government built the current building of the Iraq National Museum, and Waffa was a part of developing relations with the Italians for many years. She also accompanied the UNESCO delegation to include the ancient city of Babylon on the 'World Heritage List' as a translator and archaeologist. She has visited over 400 archaeological sites in Iraq - more than almost any person alive.  Waffa held the prestigious position of 'Director of Recovering Iraqi Antiquities Department', helping to recover thousands of ancient pieces from the United States, Italy, Britain and other countries. 

Waffa then served as the Senior Guide of the 'Iraq National Museum' in Baghdad for many years before joining Explore Mesopotamia. During her work with the Museum, she became intimately familiar with all of the artifacts in the Museum's nineteen halls - collectively housing the most extensive collection of antiquities in the world. Her grasp of Iraq's ancient history is impressive, and our guests are always thrilled to share her vast knowledge and command of Iraq's culture and heritage.