A devoted husband to Aseel Barakat and proud father of four children — Ryan, Eve, Amer Joe, and Tia — Yousef is deeply rooted in family, community and a professional tradition of public service. He began his career as a protocol coordinator before becoming Office Director for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Palestinian Authority. This experience shaped his lifelong commitment to service, collaborative diplomacy and expertise in stakeholder and community engagement.

Yousef next worked in settlement and integration services for newcomers, including with OPTIONS Surrey. He later served as Coordinator of Outreach and Employer Relations with WorkBC, where he built strong relationships with business owners, service organizations and diverse communities across the province, and especially in Surrey. Through this work, he has consistently promoted diversity, inclusion, and intercultural understanding.

Yousef plays an active role in fundraising and community-building initiatives supporting multicultural, academic, and humanitarian causes. His efforts earned him recognition as one of the 500 Most Influential Muslim Personalities in the World (2015), by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre in Amman, Jordan.

Yousef previously served as Outreach Director for the federal Liberal Fleetwood–Port Kells riding association under MP Ken Hardie, and is a Laurier Club member within the Liberal Party of Canada. His community impact extends out through several respected organizations, including the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), British Columbia Muslim Association (BCMA), Muslim Business Council and the Muslim Food Bank network.

As Founder and President of the Canadian Arab Forum (CAF) of British Columbia, Yousef leads the non-profit organization to focus on celebrating Arab and Muslim heritage within Canada’s diverse, multicultural society. CAF promotes unity and understanding among both Muslim and Christian Arab communities while fostering wider cultural dialogue across Canada through conferences, public discussions and stakeholder engagement – precisely the kind of powerful, productive outreach he will undertake as an Imagine Surrey city council candidate.

Yousef is widely respected by community, business and political leaders for bridging communities, connecting residents with information and support services, and encouraging citizen-participation across social, cultural, and civic life. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in French Literature and is fluent in Arabic, Hebrew, French, and English. Yousef currently serves as a professional legal interpreter, facilitating communication and access to justice for diverse communities.

With a strong record of service, leadership, and community engagement, Yousef remains committed to building a more inclusive, connected, and prosperous Surrey for all.