H.E. Eng. Ahmad bin Sulaiman AlRajhi is the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In 2018, he was appointed the Minister of Labor and Social Development. In 2020, a royal order was issued to merge the Ministry of Civil Service with the Ministry of Labor and Social Development to become the Ministry of Human Recourses and Social Development.
H.E. Eng. AlRajhi is the Chairman of the Board of a number of public entities including; the Human Resources Development Fund (HADAF), the Social Development Bank, the General Authority of Awqaf, the Charity Orphans Care Foundation (Ekhaa), the National Committee for the Care of Prisoners and their Families, and Ex-convicts (Tarahum), the Family Affairs Council, the Princess Seetah Bin Abdulaziz Award for Excellence in Social Work, the Authority for the Care of People with Disabilities, the National Center for Social Studies, the Institute of Public Administration, Takamol Holding, Future Work Company, the National Center for Non-Profit Sector and the Occupational Health and Safety Council.
H.E. Eng. AlRajhi is in charge of the legal and administrative legislations of the Saudi labor market, and the legislations necessary for the growth of the non-profit sector. He has a vast administrative and institutional experience acquired from his role as founder, chairman and member of many major companies and local and international factories, as well as his experience in philanthropy through leading many charitable organizations. He was also previously the chairman of the Federation of Saudi Chambers, the chairman of Riyadh Chamber of Commerce & Industry, vice-chairman of the Federation of GCC Chambers, and a member of many governmental bodies and entities.
H.E. Eng. AlRajhi has an exceptional vision supported by extensive experience in the governmental, commercial and charity fields that helped develop the Saudi labor market and the non-profit sectors.
H.E. Eng. AlRajhi holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals.

His Excellency Prof. Abdullah bin Sharaf Alghamdi is currently the President of Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA), at the rank of minister, and a chairman / member of several boards and committees. He was formerly appointed as the Director of the National Information Center (NIC), at the excellent rank. His Excellency has a broad experience in digital transformation for over 35 years, in which he has made many outstanding achievements at the national level. He led many pioneering national initiatives, most notably of which were the founding of SDAIA, developing NIC’s strategy and the National Strategy for Data & AI (NSDAI), and the founding of the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity Programming and Drones (SAFCSP). In addition, he worked as a digital transformation consultant to several civil and military government entities.

His Excellency received King Abdulaziz Sash of the second class, and Moderation Award in its sixth edition. He also attained full professorship in Software Engineering in 2011 and a post-doctoral certificate in Web Engineering from University of Ottawa, Canada, in 2005. He obtained a Ph.D. in Computer Science (Distinction) in 1997 and an M.Sc. in Computer Science (Distinction) in 1993, both of which from the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom.

His Excellency worked as a visiting professor in software engineering at George Mason University, US. He held several positions at King Saud University such as the Assistant Vice President for Knowledge Exchange and Technology Transfer, and the Founder and Head of the Department of Software Engineering (the first software engineering department in the Kingdom). He also founded and directed the C4I Center for Advanced Systems (C4ICAS), the world second specialized center, as well as the AI Center of Advanced Studies (Thakaa). Furthermore, he published over 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers in international journals and conferences, authored many books.

His Excellency also worked as a consultant and held several executive positions in a number of international companies such as the leading BAE Systems, IBM, and GeoSurvey. He was also appointed as a chairman of the board of directors of the Saudi Company for Artificial Intelligence (SCAI).

H.E. Majed AlHogail is the Minister of Municipalities & Housing (MOMRAH) for the last 2 years. Prior to that he was the Minister of Housing since 2015 and acted as Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs since Feb 2020 in addition to his Housing rule, until a royal decree was issued to merge the two ministries and H.E. Majed was appointed as Minister of the merged MOMRAH in Jan 2021.

Over the last 24 years, H.E. AlHogail had held several senior positions such as Chairman, CEO, or Board Member in various business sectors including real estate development, FMCG, banking and insurance, for companies like AlSafi-Danone Ltd., Makshaff Service Ltd., Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA), Bank Aljazira, Wafa Insurance, Aljazira Capital, NAS Airline Holding JSC, Rafal Real Estate Development Co., Burj Rafal Real Estate Development Co., Saudi Arbitration Center, and Riyadh Chamber of Commerce.

H.E. AlHogail holds an MBA from the University of Illinois, USA at Urbana-Champaign obtained in 1988, an EDP in Business administration and management from IMD business School in 2007 as well as a CPA Certification obtained in 1999 from the New Mexico Public Accountancy Board. 

Faisal F. Alibrahim is the Minister of Economy and Planning of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Alibrahim is also the Supervisor of the Secretariat of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs (CEDA) and a member of the council. His Excellency also chairs the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Statistics as well as the Board of Directors of the National Infrastructure Fund (INFRA).

Alibrahim is a member of several governmental committees such as the Finance Committee, the Strategic Management Committee, the CEDA Standing Committee, the Supreme National Investment Council, the Supreme National Council for Industry, the Supreme Transportation and Logistics Committee, the Large Companies Investment Committee, the National Incentives Committee, the Privatization Program Committee, the Financial Sector Development Program Committee, and the National Transformation Program Committee. HE also serves on several boards including Saudi Aramco, the Public Investment Fund, the National Development Fund, the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, the General Organization for Social Insurance, the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority, the National Center for Performance Management, and the Cultural Development Fund. His Excellency served as secretary/second secretary of the Aramco IPO Committees. He was also chairman of the Executive Committee and member of the Supervisory Committee for the Kingdom’s participation in EXPO 2020 Dubai which has received multiple awards and recognitions.

Previously, Alibrahim served as Vice Minister of Economy and Planning and prior to that held key positions at Saudi Aramco including head of mergers and acquisitions, project manager of King Salman International Complex for Maritime Services and Industries, project manager for the Vela-Bahri merger, the largest transaction in Saudi at that time, and Vice President of Aramco Development Company.

Alibrahim holds a master’s degree in business administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a bachelor’s degree in economics, a bachelor’s degree in accounting, and a Minor in Management Information Systems from the Pennsylvania State University. HE is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and member of the UCLA Health International Advisory Board. 

On August 30, 2019, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman issued a royal decree appointing Bandar Ibrahim AlKhorayef as Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, where he holds several positions. These include CEO of Abdullah Ibrahim AlKhorayef Sons Co., a holding company for a group of industrial, commercial and investment companies; CEO of AlKhorayef Printing Solutions Company, a company that specializes in printing and packaging equipment and material; and Vice Chairman and Managing Director of the Arabian Agricultural Services Company (ARASCO), which works in the feed and poultry production sector together with several other related activities.

H.E. AlKhorayef has more than 25 years of experience in leading industrial, commercial and investment positions, including Chairman of Middle East Food Solutions Co. (MEFSCO) in collaboration with the American company Cargill, that specializes in the manufacture of starch, glucose and fructose, and chairman of the financial company Al Dukheil Financial Group (AFG). In addition, he has served as a member of the Board of Directors at AMACO in Ukraine, a company active in the field of agricultural equipment sales, and the Arabian Production and Marketing Lubricants Company in partnership with British oil giant BP.

H.E. AlKhorayef graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in International Agriculture from King Saud University in Riyadh and holds several certificates in business administration and international business from Switzerland’s prestigious International Institute for Management Development.

Currently, H.E. Dr. Saad AlKasabi serves as the Governor and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Standards, Metrology, and Quality Organization (SASO) and the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. He also currently holds the position of the Chairman of the Saudi Building Code National Committee (SBC) and Head of the Executive Committee emanating from the National Committee. In addition, he belongs to the Steering Committee of the Trade Organization.

Furthermore, Dr. AlKasabi is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC) and the Institute’s General Assembly, a member of the Board of Directors of the International Standardization Organization (ISO), and a member of the council strategy & planning and Nomination Committee. He is also a member of the Supreme Advisory Committee for Standardization of the Arab Organization for Industrial Development, Standardization, and mining (AIDSMO), a member of each of the technical council of the Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO), and the International Organization for Legal Metrology (CIMIL) & (OIML) as well as overseeing the National Electro-Technical Committee.

Moreover, Dr. AlKasabi is the Secretary General of King Abdulaziz Quality Award (KAQ). He also operates as a member of the Board of the Saudi Energy Efficiency Center (SEEC), and a deputy chairman of its Executive Committee. Dr. AlKasabi is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Food and Drugs Authority (SFDA), a member of the Board of Local Content & Government Procurement Authority (LCGPA) and a member in its Executive Rewards and Nominations Committee. He is also a member of the Board of Saudi Accreditation Center (SAAC), and a Chairman of its Executive Committee. Moreover, Dr. Saad O. Alkasabi is a member in the Industrial Council and its Executive committee. He is also a Board member of National ELearning Centre (NEC) and Education and Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC).

Mr. Mohammed A. ElKuwaiz was appointed as the Chairman of the board of the Capital Market Authority (CMA) of Saudi Arabia in July 2017. Prior to being Chairman, Mr. ElKuwaiz was the Vice Chairman of the board of the CMA since August 2016.

Prior to joining the CMA, Mr. ElKuwaiz was the Co-founder and CEO of Derayah Financial Company. He was formerly a management consultant with McKinsey & Company. Prior to that, he worked in investment banking and corporate finance with Samba Financial Group.

Moreover, Mr. ElKuwaiz has served as a board member in the Public Pension Agency, Al Yamamah Company for Reinforcing Steel Bars, Al Bilad Bank, in addition to his membership in the Securities and Investments Committee in Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Investment Committee in King Faisal Foundation, the Investment Committee in Sulaiman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Rajhi Holding Company, as well as the CMA’s Advisory Committee.

Mr. ElKuwaiz obtained an MBA from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business, specializing in finance and entrepreneurship in 2003. He received a Bachelors of Administrative Sciences with Honors from King Saud University in Saudi Arabia majoring in Law in 1998. 

Rola Abu Manneh is the Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered in the UAE, Middle East, and Pakistan. She is the first Emirati woman to head an international bank in the UAE and the wider region and has successfully managed to transform the UAE business into one of the top three markets for the Standard Chartered Group. In 2023, Rola joined as a Director on the Boards of both Standard Chartered (Pakistan) Limited and Standard Chartered Uganda. Rola is also on the Boards of Global Digital Assets Fund, MyZoi and Appro, digital ventures through the SCB subsidiary, SC Ventures. Over the years, Rola has championed women empowerment and female entrepreneurship through different initiatives and is committed to supporting the wider community.

Mr. Eltayeb Adam is the UNICEF Area Representative for the Gulf, leading UNICEF's work in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. With over 25 years of experience, he has led UNICEF humanitarian and development programs in education, health, nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene, adolescent development, and child protection in countries such as Somalia, Syria, and Yemen. He has also worked with organizations like UNDP, Save the Children UK, and Oxfam GB. Mr. Eltayeb Adam holds an MBA from the University of Durham and a certificate in Development Studies from the University of Birmingham, both in the UK.

Raven Adams leads the Sustainability program at Granite Construction, one of the largest civil infrastructure companies in the United States. The United Nations Global Compact Network USA recognized Adams as the 2023 USA SDG Pioneer (Large and Multi-National Companies) for her work to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. Adams received her BA in Psychology and Neuroscience from Colby College and her JD from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, where she focused on environmental and natural resources law. At Granite, Adams is responsible for sustainability strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and corporate reporting. She also serves as Chair of the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) Sustainability Committee. Adams also serves as Board Chair of the Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley, a nonprofit advancing health equity. In 2022, Adams was recognized by ENR California as a 20-under-40 “Top Young Professional,” and honored by Diligent as a Modern Governance 100 ESG, Diversity & Climate Trailblazer. 

Nomi Ahmad is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Services business at GE Vernova. Nomi is responsible for leading Financial Services’ global development, investment, and financing activities in power and renewable energy projects, helping GE Vernova to deliver comprehensive and innovative solutions to its customers that accelerate the energy transition.

Nomi has 30 years of global energy infrastructure and lifecycle project investment experience, spanning acquisitions, development, financing, construction, operations, and exits. He joined GE Vernova in 2023 from Sandbrook Capital, where he served as Operating Partner and CEO of an Energy Storage platform. Prior to this, he was CFO at Highview Power, a leading long-duration energy storage company and CEO of Sembcorp Energy UK Ltd, which managed over 1 GW of energy generation assets in the UK. Nomi holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Computer Science from Brown University, and is based in the U.S.

Khalid AlAhmadi is a tenured sustainability and technology leader with a proven track record of driving growth and innovation within the phosphate industry. As Vice President of Sustainability, Technology, Research & Development at Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma'aden), he is responsible for developing and implementing strategies that ensure the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of the company's phosphate business unit. With a strong background in corporate strategy and business development, AlAhmadi has played a pivotal role in launching and managing new projects and initiatives that have contributed to Ma'aden's growth. His expertise in chemical engineering, coupled with his extensive leadership training, has equipped him to navigate complex challenges and deliver results.

Abdullah is the General Counsel of Siemens Ltd. Saudi Arabia and a member of the Saudi Bar Association with extensive experience in a wide range of corporate and commercial transactions in the Middle East and internationally. He has experience working with a variety of international companies, local Saudi government and non-government entities on corporate and foreign investment matters.

Abdullah has worked closely with government stakeholders on various initiatives and on Saudi Vision 2030 projects. He also drafted several publications regarding the application of Saudi Arabian law in corporate and commercial transactions including corporate governance, foreign investment and restructuring. Abdullah is a visiting scholar at Al Yamamah University where he teaches corporate law and corporate governance. 

Nayef brings over 13 years of experience to his role, during which he has held several leadership positions. His most recent position was Chief of Listing at Saudi Exchange where he managed the entire listing process across all platforms (Equity, Debt, ETFs and REITs). During his tenure as Chief of Listings, Nayef has led initiatives aimed at increasing IPO awareness among family businesses and private companies, as well as programs that are designed to provide innovative financing platforms to both private and public companies.

In January 2024, Nayef was appointed Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Saudi Tadawul Group.

Nayef holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance & Economics from the King Fahd University of Petroleum.

Dr. Hanaa AlBanna is a specialist in SDGs, Corporate Social Responsibility, and sustainability. She holds the positions of lecturer and module leader at Northumbria University London and CSR Accreditation MENA Region Executive Director.

Dr. Al-Banna has earned a PhD in Marketing, Social Media, and Public Relations from Cardiff Metropolitan University. She also possesses a professional diploma in Public Relations from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and a Master's degree in Marketing.

Hanaa serves as an executive committee member of the United Nations funded program, "the Alliance of NGOs and CSOs for South South Cooperation," where she plays a crucial role in empowering organisations within the Global South. With a vision to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, she fosters the exchange of knowledge, resources, skills, expertise, and innovative ideas among participating entities.

Dr. AlBogami holds a PhD in Management and Social Planning from King Saud University and an MBA from King Abdulaziz University. With over 20 years of experience in HR development, strategy, communication, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and brand management, he has honed his expertise across various sectors.

He has completed numerous executive programs at prestigious institutions, including the University of Cambridge, INSEAD, and Harvard Business School. Dr. Albogami has also held several leadership positions at STC, the Saudi Central Bank, and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

Mariam AlFoudery is Group Chief Marketing Officer at Agility, a supply chain services, infrastructure and innovation company with 54,000+ employees and operations on six continents. Mariam oversees the company’s global sustainability, marketing, and communication functions, supporting Agility’s businesses and growth strategy.

During her nearly twenty-year tenure at Agility, Mariam founded and oversees the company’s sustainability division. Today, the company is a member for FTSE4Good, and a top 3 leader in sustainability in the logistics and transport sector according to Forbes Middle East. Agility has reached more than 2 million people in need with its social impact programs and 74% of the company’s businesses by revenue have committed to net zero.

Mariam is an alumna of Stanford University, the London School of Economics and Harvard Business School.

Faris AlGhannam is currently Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of HSBC Saudi Arabia and a member of HSBC’s Middle East, North Africa and Turkey Executive Committee. Prior to this, Faris was leading the investment banking, capital markets and issuers services business and operations for HSBC in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Before joining HSBC, Faris worked for several years at another banking institution in London, the United Kingdom covering capital markets in the UK and EMEA.

Faris is also an Independent Director of Board and Chairman of the Audit Committee of a leading pharmaceutical manufacturer in MENA region as well as an Independent Director of the Board of a leading consumers company in the Kingdom. Faris is a member of the Finance Program Board for College of Business Administration, Prince Sultan University.

Faris holds an MBA from the Jones School of Business at Rice University and a BSc in Accounting from Prince Sultan University (first honors).

Abdulrahman brings over 15 years of experience in data and digital domains, specializing in data-driven strategies and transformative initiatives. With a strong background in Telecom, Retail, eCommerce, and Banking, he excels at driving organizational change and enhancing operational efficiency through collaboration and innovation. Committed to leveraging data, Abdulrahman focuses on uncovering new opportunities and delivering impactful results for organizations and societies.

H.E. Eng. AlJorais is currently Undersecretary for Social Security and Empowerment within the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, Saudi Arabia. Previously, he held the position of CEO at Saudi Authority for Accredited Valuers in 2017, and was Vice President of Shared Services in 2013. He holds a B.S. In Computer Engineering from King Saud University, and an MBA from Leicester University. 

As Honeywell’s President of KSA and Bahrain, Abdullah AlJuffali’s main objective is aligning Honeywell’s strategy with Vision 2030. He has almost two decades of experience in various management positions at ABB and Honeywell. He holds a bachelor’s degree in EE from KSU, MBA from Willamette University, an executive management certification from MIT, and certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. Abdullah is a board member in the U.S.-Saudi Business Council, the College of Engineering in Al Faisal University, and a member of The Saudi Leadership Society, and Saudi Economic Association, and one of the 2030 Leaders under the MISK Foundation.

H.E. Ahmed AlMajed is Deputy Minister of Society Development within the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, Saudi Arabia. Previously, he was the CEO of Baya Credit Bureau from 2018-2020, and the AGM Head of Personal Banking Products & Segments at Alawwal Bank from 2004-2018.

His roles have involved managing nonprofit organizations in terms of governance and financial control, managing more than 30 branches (500 staff) in the central region in terms of target, control, quality, recruitment, development and branches' expansion plans, and establishing more than 13 new branches in terms of selecting locations, creating the required team and managing the construction process.

With over 28 years of experience in the petrochemical industry, Mr. AlMatrafi began his career at SABIC. Since joining Advanced Petrochemical Company in 2008, he has held various roles, including GM of Operations, GM of Supply Chain & Marketing and VP of Technical. He has been President & CEO since August 2019. In 2023, he received the First Labor Award from the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development as the Best CEO among mid-cap companies in Saudi Arabia. Mr. AlMatrafi holds a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering and an Executive MBA from King Fahd University for Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia.

Hanaa AlMoaibed is a strategic sociocultural consultant, working with governments, non-profit, academic and private sectors to conduct and activate research in Saudi Arabia and Gulf Countries. Her work focuses on education, skills and labour markets as well as youth, gender and sustainability.

She is a Visiting Research Fellow at London School of Economics and a Research Fellow at King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies in Riyadh. She is also a Consulting Fellow at Chatham House in London and a Non-resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council.
Hanaa holds position of Vice President of Research at Arab Institute for Women’s Empowerment and the Education Pillar Chair at Johara Global. She has published widely on political and social economy of Saudi Arabia and speaks publicly about youth and development frequently.

Hanaa has board-level experience in energy sector and education sector: she is a non-executive director of Rawabi Holding in Khobar and United Safety Ltd. in Canada. And she is Vice Chairman of International Advisory Board of ZADK Culinary Academy and a Council Member of British Society for Middle Eastern Studies. She has completed IMD High Performance Boards Program in Geneva, and she holds a PhD from UCL and an Msc from London School of Economics and Political Science.

Mohammed AlMoqbel is a committed professional at the Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia, where he focuses on implementing innovative educational policies and initiatives. With a background in educational administration and policy development, he is dedicated to enhancing the quality of education across the country. Mohammed believes in the power of collaboration among educators, students, and stakeholders to create impactful learning environments. He actively participates in community development projects, aiming to bridge gaps in education and support local initiatives. Outside of work, he enjoys reading and exploring new educational technologies, constantly seeking ways to enrich the educational landscape in Saudi Arabia.

Eng. Talal is the Health and Environment Director of Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON). In this role he leads development and monitoring implementation of the health and environment sustainability policy and procedure across 36 industrial cities in the kingdom.

He supported industrial cities in navigating health and environment risks and engages with all stakeholders to advance health and environment performance through several initiatives such as MODON Green Initiative (MGI) in alignment with National Industrial Strategy (NIS) and Saudi 2030 vision.

Before Eng. Talal joined MODON, he spent more than 15 years of experience in different sectors with different positions in the field of Health, Safety and Environment with leadership and practical process plant experience in the petrochemical companies at SABIC, Maaden Aluminum, National Water Company and Agriculture at ARASCO.

Eng. Talal is a member of the Saudi Council of Engineers and several national and international committees such as the Industrial Sustainability Committee. He holds a BS degree in chemical engineering from Jubail Industrial College.

Dr. Ma’en Murdi AlQatamin is a renowned economist and social activist with a distinguished career in academia, public service, and digital entrepreneurship. Holding a PhD in Investment from Warwick Business School, he served as Jordan's Minister of Labor and Minister of State for Investment Affairs, in addition to chairing the Social Security and Vocational Training Boards. He is the founder of EntreViable, a platform dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs in the digital era. Known for his advocacy in economic reform, governance, and youth empowerment, Dr. AlQatamin has a global following of over 3 million people on various social media platforms, where he shares insights on leadership, investment, fifth Industrial revolution, and change management.

Abdullah AlRashid is the Director of the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra). He is a pioneering figure in the cultural and non-profit sectors in the region, with more than 15 years of experience.
AlRashid has led Ithra to become a global cultural destination with millions of beneficiaries. He oversees a diverse portfolio of initiatives across art, creativity, knowledge and culture. AlRashid has particularly been a champion of local artistic and cultural talent and production, with a focus on Arabic content enrichment, and cross-cultural engagement globally.
He advises on several non-profit and government organizations focused on art and education. AlRashid received his MBA from Duke University and worked at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Washington DC and London as an intern.

Raad AlSaady is the Vice Chairman & MD of ACWA Power. In his current role, he oversees growth and business expansion along with providing guidance on strategy, human capital, stakeholder management and other strategic drivers.

Raad also serves as Co-Chair Trade & Investment Taskforce for B20, an official G20 dialogue forum with the global business community.

Previously, Raad was part of the Abdul Latif Jameel Company (ALJ), the Saudi conglomerate, where he held several key leadership roles across ALJ’s business sectors including his tenure as Vice President of Mobility.
A strategic management veteran, Raad has over 20 years of experience in the financial services and automotives industry, including a stint in the technology venture capital sector in Silicon Valley.

An active board and committee member, Raad has served governance level positions across diverse organizations in Aviation, retail, Trade, and financial services, including Saudi Arabian Airlines, Morgan Stanley, Saudi General Authority of Foreign Trade, and numerous other reputable NGOs/firms.

Raad holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from Menlo College.

H.R.H. Dr. Maha bint Mishari bin Abdulaziz AlSaud is the Vice President of External Relations & Advancement at Alfaisal University and serves on the Board of Trustees and chairs the External Relations Advisory Board. With 25+ years in medicine, research, and education at Alfaisal University and King Faisal Specialist Hospital, she is a key figure in Saudi healthcare policy and education. She holds an MBBS, completed her Internal Medicine residency at George Washington University, and has leadership credentials from Harvard and IMD Business School. A Master of the American College of Physicians (ACP), she serves as President of GWU Medical Alumni for Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, and a founding member of the Saudi Alzheimer’s Disease Association.

Nadia AlShahrani, PhD is a visionary columnist, consultant of strategy and business development of NGOs and an advisor in institutional excellence with an extensive expertise in GRC of institutional practices, cultural awareness, and cultural exchange.

Dr. Abdulaziz Abdulmohsen AlShalhoob earned his Ph.D. in Management with a specialization in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) from Queen's University Belfast, United Kingdom. Currently, he is Vice Dean of the College of Business at Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, and an Assistant Professor of Management in the Business Administration Department. He also works as a consultant for the Social Responsibility Association in Riyadh and as a project manager for various government and private sector entities in the field of social responsibility, contributing to the establishment and development of CSR strategies, guides, and policies for these entities.
Dr. AlShalhoob has participated in numerous academic and administrative committees at the university and has worked as an internal consultant within a research team at the Labor Market Studies Center, contributing to significant research and development projects related to human productivity in collaboration with the Riyadh Economic Forum.

Rabah Mohammed AlShemaisi serves as the Secretary-General of Saudi Banks Media and Awareness Committee, a position she has held since 2021. Under her leadership, the committee has made significant contributions to the banking sector.

Established in late 2006 under the guidance of the Saudi Central Bank, the Saudi Banks Media and Awareness Committee aims to enhance the banking culture within Saudi society.
Rabah is notably the first Saudi woman to occupy this prestigious role. Her primary mission involves promoting financial literacy and banking awareness across various societal sectors. In her capacity as Secretary-General, she manages the committee's operations, organizes awareness campaigns, forges partnerships with governmental and private entities, and engages with the media on important banking topics.

Before her current role, Rabah became the Director of Marketing for Visa International in Saudi Arabia in 2020, breaking new ground as the first Saudi woman in this position. During her tenure, she developed strong relationships with numerous Saudi banks and played a crucial role in executing marketing initiatives that contributed to the brand's growth in the region.

Abdullah is the Senior Director of Data Analytics at Takamol Holding, bringing over 10 years of comprehensive experience in data science, AI applications, and data products. Before joining Takamol, he was the General Manager of Analytics and AI at the Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA). Earlier in his career, he worked as a Systems Engineer at Leonardo Ltd in the UK. Abdullah holds a Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications Engineering from King Saud University and a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Northwestern University.

Sulaiman Alturaiqi currently serves as the Manager of Strategy & Organizational Excellence at the King Abdulaziz and his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity "Mawhiba" in Saudi Arabia. With a rich background in management consulting, he specializes in developing national and corporate strategies. He has successfully guided over 20 entities in strategic and organizational excellence, as well as project management. Sulaiman earned an MBA with a focus on Finance and New Venture Management from the Knauss School of Business at the University of San Diego, demonstrating a commitment to fostering strategic advancements across various organizational dimensions.

Khalid currently serves as Vice President of Public Affairs at Aramco, where he leads efforts to manage the corporation’s global brand, reputation, and influence through external communications channels. He was the Director of Corporate Communication in the lead-up to the IPO and helped craft the strategy to raise Aramco’s profile on the world stage. In support of that work, he has also undertaken a transformation of the Corporate Communications function to ensure that it remains at the forefront of the industry practices and leverages opportunities in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Khalid began his career as an engineer, with a focus on developing and deploying technical solutions to improve safety, reliability, and efficiency. As a project manager, he played a key leadership role in implementing three megaprojects valued at more than $16 billion. He later oversaw operations at some of Aramco’s most complex facilities, helping to maintain the company’s uninterrupted supply of energy to the world.

Amir Amel-Zadeh is Associate Professor at Saïd Business School and Director of the Oxford Rethinking Performance Initiative at the University of Oxford. Amir’s research investigates how companies’ sustainability characteristics affect investors’ asset allocation decisions. Prior to joining Saïd Business School, Amir held a position as Assistant Professor at Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, and prior to that worked at Lehman Brothers in London. He received his PhD in Finance from the University of Cambridge. Amir held visiting positions at Harvard Business School, NYU Stern, and Columbia Business School and consults for the financial services industry globally.

Dr. Bandar is currently the Executive Director of Savola World Foundation. Previously, he served as the Director of Initiatives and Partnerships Unit in Makkah Governorate and Executive Director of Jeddah Season. He has held various positions in CSR at the Jeddah Chamber, Al-Ahly Bank SNB, Disabled Children Association, and Prince Sultan Charitable Foundation. Dr. Arab holds an Executive Doctorate and MBA from the Arab Academy for Science and Technology and a BA in Political Science from King Abdulaziz University.

ROSHN’s Associate Director for Corporate Social Responsibility, Mohammed Ashour is responsible for planning and executing the group's strategy on social investment and the development of ROSHN's award-winning YUHYEEK social responsibility program which covers community development, arts and culture, education, health, and environmental sustainability for projects throughout the Kingdom.

Prior to his role at ROSHN, Ashour has been the leader of strategic planning, a member of the steering committee, and an advisor to the president of the Saudi presidency of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance, Prince Fahad bin Mansour, and brings over 12 years of experience in strategy and execution of sustainable development and social investment programs for public, private, and non-profit sectors.

Neil is the Head of Sustainability & ESG Department at Riyad Bank, a role he has held since July 2023. Neil is a member of the KSA Ministry of Economy and Planning’s Corporate Sustainability Policy Development working group whose current focus is developing a KSA national sustainability reporting standard.

Before joining Riyad Bank, Neil served as the Global Head of Net Zero Strategy at Standard Chartered Bank, based in London.

Carlotta Baumann is the owner and CEO of Finetech GmbH & Co. KG, leading a global team of around 250 employees in the development of high-precision placement and assembly systems for advanced micro- and optoelectronics. She holds a degree in Electrical Engineering with a focus on Microsystems Technology from the Technical University of Berlin. From 2016 to 2021, Carlotta was Managing Director of MARTIN GmbH, a subsidiary of Finetech specializing in rework and dispense technologies. She is very committed to reducing Finetech’s ecological footprint and supports creative cooperatives and social projects.

Dr. CB Bhattacharya is Professor of Marketing, Professor of Organizations and Entrepreneurship, and founder of the Center for Sustainable Business at the Katz Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh. He has published over 100 articles and has over 48,000 citations per Google Scholar, putting him in the top 50 most cited scholars both in sustainability and marketing. He has been named twice to Business Week’s Outstanding Faculty list. 

He received his PhD in Marketing from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, his MBA from the Indian Institute of Management and his BA from St. Stephens College, Delhi.

He is often quoted in publications such as Business Week, BBC, Forbes, Financial Times, Newsweek, the New York Times, The Economist and on TV stations such as Times Now, CBS, and PBS. 

Tim is the co-founder of Allbirds. He helped lead the business from Kickstarter idea to a Nasdaq IPO in 2021 with focus on design thinking, natural material innovation and sustainable product creation. Prior to co-founding Allbirds in 2016, Tim was part of the New Zealand soccer team that reached the 2010 World Cup – a generational achievement for the nation. That journey influenced Tim with unique insights around high performance teams and cultures. Before playing professional soccer, Tim earned a BS in Design from the University of Cincinnati, receiving an honorary degree from the same institution in 2024. Tim also has a Master's in Management from the London School of Economics. Tim is a part owner in Auckland FC, a New Zealand's professional football team and a venture partner actively involved with the NZ's start-up ecosystem from his home in San Francisco.

Heather Buchanan is the Chief Executive Officer of B4NZ and has extensive experience advising Government, trade bodies and civil society on the commercial relationship between banks and their customers. Since COP26, Heather has been tireless in her efforts to focus on the role of finance and banking in supporting the real economy in a just transition. She was thrilled to see this work culminate with B4NZ taking to a global stage as a core partner of the UK Pavilion at COP28. In 2024 Heather was recognised as one of the twenty Trailblazing Women in Climate (Reuters) and shortlisted as Sustainability Leader of the Year (Business Green).

Professor Sir Edward Byrne is a neuroscientist and clinician known for his significant contributions to academia, healthcare, and society. He served as president and principal of King’s College London (KCL) from 2014 to 2021, where he led the university’s Vision 2029, enhancing its role on the national stage and chairing King’s Health Partners.

Before KCL, Professor Byrne was president and vice chancellor of Monash University in Australia from 2009 to 2014, where he elevated Monash’s global rankings into the top 100 universities worldwide.

He earned his medical degree from the University of Tasmania and trained as a neurologist in Adelaide and London. He is a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, the Royal Colleges of Physicians of London and Edinburgh, and the American Academy of Neurology. He is a member of several learned academies including the Academy of Sciences in the UK and the Australian Academy of Science, Technology and Engineering.

Kavi serves as Senior Advisor to mission focused, purpose driven leaders and organizations, helping them accelerate commercial growth, enhance financial performance, and deliver societal impact. His current work includes advising an ag biotech company “feed and fuel the world” by optimizing natural pollination systems; and supporting a healthcare foundation with building a US$60mn health outcomes impact investment fund. Former regional clients include the UAE’s Prime Minister’s Office, and the Government of Turkey. Kavi holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University.

Steve Clutton had an extensive career in the global defence industry, and he has been with BAE Systems for more than 25 years.

Steve joined BAE Systems in 2000 after graduating from UCLAN with a First-Class Honours Degree in Business Studies. He moved to Saudi Arabia in 2006 and held several leadership positions, overseeing BAE Systems Commercial arrangements under the UK/KSA Government-to-Government programmes.

In 2017, he took the position of Chief Operating Officer for OMC, managing BAE Systems shareholding in several joint ventures in Saudi Arabia. He returned to Saudi Arabia in 2021 as the Vice President of Commercial.

In 2023, he was appointed as the Managing Director of BAE Systems Saudi Arabia.

Ahmad G. Darwish has played a vital role in Red Sea Global (RSG) since joining in November 2016, leveraging over 20 years of experience in project management and strategic planning. He has significantly shaped RSG's corporate strategy and spearheads pivotal projects across various departments, including HR and Operations. Ahmad's career began at Saudi Aramco, managing key projects such as the KAUST Research Center. Ahmad's positive energy and dedication drive RSG's commitment to Saudi Vision 2030 and regenerative tourism. He holds a Master’s from the University of Glasgow and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Portland.

Marie-Claire Daveu began her career as a technical advisor to the cabinet of Prime Minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, before becoming Principal Private Secretary to Serge Lepeltier, Minister of Ecology and Sustainability. In 2005, she became Director of Sustainable Development for the Sanofi-Aventis Group. From 2007 to 2012, she served as Chief of Staff to French politician, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, working in various secretaries of state and then at the Ministries of Ecology, Sustainability, Transport and Housing.

In 2012, she was appointed Kering’s Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of International Institutional Affairs. She sets out the strategy and ambitious objectives as well as implementing a set of best practices within the Group and the Houses. Today, Kering is a pioneer and recognized leader in sustainability.

A French national, she is a graduate of the Paris Institute of Technology for Life, Food and Environmental Sciences (ENGREF). She also earned a postgraduate diploma (DESS) in public administration from Dauphine University, Paris.

Andrew Dunnett is SVP – Sustainability at e& Group, leading on ESG and Sustainability. Prior to joining e&, Andrew was Group Sustainability Director at Vodafone Group plc and Director of the Vodafone Foundation. Andrew has extensive experience of External Affairs, Sustainability, Philanthropy, has worked as a Government Advisor, sits on a number of Boards and lectures at the Judge School at Cambridge University.

Dr. Daan Elffers is the visionary Founder of EMG Group, specializing in sustainability, corporate sustainability reporting (CSR), and investor disclosures. His expertise in creating tailored investor disclosures helps companies improve their sustainability ratings. A strategic Partner in tech startups, Daan’s leadership in sustainability is widely recognized. He has served on IEMA's Strategic Advisory Council, contributed to the World Economic Forum's Circular Economy Taskforce, chaired the Middle East’s longest-running sustainability conference, and judged sustainability excellence awards. Daan holds a Master’s in Corporate Communications and is an alumnus of Clingendael's International Relations and Diplomacy program.

Hassan Elhaj is a partner at Oliver Wyman, within the Government and Public Institutions practice.  He has over 14 years of public sector consulting across the GCC.

Hassan is dedicated to helping shape public policy discourse, designing citizen-centric programs, and enhancing service delivery with a focus on fostering socio-economic development that is inclusive, balanced, and sustainable.

Hassan holds a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Middle East Studies from the University of California in Santa Barbara, a Master's Degree in Contemporary Arab Studies from Georgetown University in Washington DC, and an MBA from ESADE Business School in Barcelona.

Mark Gallagher has spent his career working in the international sports business of Formula 1 motor racing. This includes 15 years on the management boards of two well-known teams, Jordan Grand Prix and Red Bull Racing, and later as Managing Director of the Cosworth Formula 1 engineering company, supplying engines, electronics and data analysis software to almost half the teams on the starting grid.

Mark now runs his own Formula 1 consulting business - Performance Insights - and his fourth book - ‘The Future Business Formula’ - was published last May.

Jorge received his MSc. in Chemistry in 2002 and his PhD in Chemical Engineering in 2006, both at the University of Zaragoza (Spain). He was post-doc (2006 to 2009), Assistant Professor (2010 to 2012), Associate Professor (2012 to 2014) and Full Professor (2014 – 2017) of Catalysis Engineering at TUDelft (NL). Since 2017 he is Professor of Chemical Engineering and Director at the KAUST Catalysis Center.

Gascon has co-authored over 400 scientific articles and 20 patents. He is a Clarivate Analytics highly cited researcher (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023) and the founder of ClimateCrete Inc.

Mr. Hammad joined IdealRatings in 2012 and is based in Saudi Arabia. Mr. Hammad has an extensive experience as a Sales Executive severing the financial sector across the Middle East region with a proven track record among top tier institutions. Prior to IdealRatings, Mr. Hammad was a Sales Manager at Advanced Operations Technology, where he was responsible for Identifying and developing new solutions sales and converts them into profitable new business. He also worked for KnowledgeNet as a Sales Manager where he was responsible for setting sales strategies to penetrate the market and introducing the company Order Management System for the financial sector in the GCC Region. Abdulrahman holds a BSc. in Computer Engineering from Applied Science University in Jordan and an MBA from Manchester Business School.

Roland is PwC's Middle East Chief Sustainability Officer, leading the positive impact PwC has on the communities in which we live and work. He is also the partner leading PwC’s Middle East Education practice working on strategy and implementation projects for both government and private sector clients including regulators, operators and investors across the Middle East.

Roland has a background in education strategy across the sector from higher education and vocational training to K-12 and nurseries but is increasingly involved in digital transformation, research and innovation.

Nadir oversees the Sustainability and Social Impact mandate at PureHealth Group, driving the company’s ambitious Net Zero strategy.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, a Master’s in Business Administration, and is a Certified SA8000 Lead Auditor.

With 14 years of experience advising government-backed projects, corporates, civil society, and investors, Nadir has been instrumental in advancing the sustainability agenda. Prior to joining PureHealth, he worked with PwC, positively impacting the lives of over 50,000 migrant workers and elevating social responsibility standards across the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Noha Hefny is a senior leader with 23 years of experience in international development, communications, social impact, public policy, and government affairs. She currently serves as Director of Corporate Affairs, Middle East, North Africa, Turkey and Sub-Saharan Africa at Kellanova and is the owner of People of Impact, an impact-centric media and events company documenting one million inspirational stories of impact. Noha has held senior leadership roles at the United Nations, PepsiCo, ADNOC Distribution, and McKinsey & Company, where she led global and regional social impact and communication programs and campaigns impacting thousands. A co-author, advisor, and speaker, she received numerous awards for her work in advancing youth and women's leadership and for her impactful leadership, including Global Woman of Influence 2024, Asia’s 100 Power Women 2023, and Top 100 Women in Social Enterprise 2021.

Katharina Hesels is the Head of the Business Line Asset Lifecycle Development at Siemens Healthineers AG, responsible for developing circular business for medical imaging devices. With 13 years of international experience in R&D, product definition, and management, she has launched successful diagnostic imaging products and led global teams. Katharina has lived and worked in the USA, China, and Germany. She holds a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Aachen (RWTH).

Gillian Hinde is an executive leader with more than two decades of global strategic consulting and marketing experience in banking, finance and technology – and a passion for addressing inequity and innovating towards a net zero future. Her commercial achievements include launching Africa’s first e-commerce bank.

After a series of strategic, for-profit roles in global companies, including Unilever, the Standard Bank Group, Woolworths Group Limited Australia and EY, for the last four years Gill has channeled her commercial acumen, influence, and vision to advance the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by leading EY’s Global Corporate Responsibility function.

In this global role, Gill is the leader of EY Global Corporate Responsibility - a firm-wide endeavor harnessing EY’s people, partners and clients through our EY Ripples program, with the goal of positively impacting one billion lives by 2030. This also includes leadership of EY’s responsible business agenda – driving a global environment strategy that includes EY’s commitment to reach net zero, delivered through robust ESG reporting.

Mr. Salah Khaled is appointed as the Director of UNESCO Doha Office for Gulf States and Yemen, and UNESCO Representantive to Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen, as of 1 May 2022.

Before joining the UNESCO Doha Office for the Gulf States and Yemen, Mr. Khaled’s latest post was Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for Central Africa based in Yaoundé (Cameroon) and UNESCO Representative to Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea and Sao Tome and Principe. 

Eleni Kitra is a global expert in business transformation, digital innovation, and people & culture, with over 30 years of cross-industry experience. She is the CEO and Founder of KITRA Inclusive, a consultancy dedicated to helping leaders create equitable and high-performing organizations. Eleni also serves as the Executive Director of the Advertising Business Group, representing advertisers, agencies, and tech companies in the Middle East. Her career includes senior roles at Meta, Omnicom, Multichoice, and Sony/Playstation.
A passionate advocate for gender equality and a mentor to startups, Eleni is also a global speaker and international author. She recently launched her leadership book, *FORCE*, which showcases transformational leaders driving positive change. Recognized with multiple awards, she is among Asia’s Top 100 Women Power Leaders.

Manoj is a successful businessman and global thought leader, respected for his insights into a world experiencing remarkable change.

As the Founder and Chair of India Global Forum, Manoj plays a pivotal role in fostering dialogue and impactful partnerships that span across continents. He is best known for known for his deep understanding of India and its growing influence around the world.
His work focuses on geopolitics, global trade and investment, sustainability, and innovation for economies around the globe. His extensive experience in bringing businesses and people together has paved the way for dialogue, collaboration, and significant business impact.
His work champions the world’s green growth and emerging economies, notably through launching the Climate and Business Forum (ClimB) with Bloomberg, which supports innovators and businesses focused on sustainable technologies, and the Emerging Economies Forum in partnership with the government of the United Arab Emirates and the World Governments Summit.

Manoj leverages this platform to advocate for his principles, holding a steadfast belief in the transformative impact of gender equality and inclusivity on societal and economic development. In 2022, he launched the WomenIN Forum, a cornerstone of India Global Forum’s agenda, as a platform for dialogue, idea exchange, and collaborative actions aimed at empowering women to achieve their aspirations.

Most recognised for his expertise on India’s evolving global role and changing relationships, Manoj’s work spans politics, business, entrepreneurship, and research. This includes his role as Communications Director for Narendra Modi’s 2014 election campaign, positioning him as a critical thinker in driving international dialogue, shaping policies and fostering collaborative innovations and solutions for the most complex of problems.

Mikko Lavanti is a distinguished leader in telecommunications, known for fostering inclusive and innovative work environments. With over three decades of experience, he is the Senior Vice President of Mobile Networks for the MEA market and Managing Director of Nokia's Regional Headquarters in Saudi Arabia. His career began at Helsinki University of Technology, earning a Master of Science in Telecommunications, complemented by a minor in International Marketing and Business Strategy. Mikko’s accolades include his recent inclusion in Forbes' Global Meets Local list for 2024. 

Anita Lebiar is the Regional Head for the Middle East, Eastern Europe & Central Asia for the United Nations Global Compact.

Along leading on private-public partnerships, Anita oversees the operationalization of UN Global Compact’s strategy to advance corporate sustainability and Agenda 2030 in the regions.

With a robust academic background, Anita is an expert in advising boards and directors on agile business solutions, change management and strategy development. She has a proven track record in leading multimillion-budget development projects in the Middle East & North Africa and Eastern Europe regions.

Dr. Jenny Leivadarou is an engineer for new technologies and innovation, Member of the BoD at ELLAKTOR SA and Member of the National Authority of Accessibility. She has more than 15 years of experience in development projects, resources management and in the strategic planning for investments in energy transition. She has worked in European and World Bank projects, in collaboration with international organizations such as the United Nations and Groups of companies such as BP and Hellenic Petroleum. Her major is a MEng in Civil Engineering and she holds a MSc in Water Resources Management, both from National Technical University of Athens. During the course of her career, she obtained an MPhil in Economics of Infrastructures and a PhD in Mathematics for Green Technologies, both from the University of Cambridge. Through her career development, she had the privilege to work with exceptional academics and professionals, in a broad range of projects

Monaem is a world-renowned expert in climate tech, ESG, sustainability, sustainable finance, impact investing and social investing, spearheading advanced technologies like AI and blockchain in ESG/sustainability reporting.

With 18 years’ experience, Monaem's leadership in driving strategic business growth, operational excellence and ethical practices is unparalleled. His influence spans across Middle East, Asia, and Africa. He is a guest lecturer at Leeds University Business School, American University of Dubai, École de Management de Normandie, and MIT, USA.

Monaem is Vice-Chairman, FSRA Africa Board of Trustees, Chairman of Sustainability Action Society in Dubai and Board Member, Maghreb Economic Forum and AIESEC International.

Steve Loh is the Executive Director of the Lien Centre for Social Innovation, Singapore Management University. Two decades of senior leadership of international charities found in over 120 countries has only fuelled his passion in seeking out systemic root causes of the most pressing social problems we face today.
The Centre provides Social Impact Consultancy and Philanthropy Advisory to Corporations, Foundations, Governments, Family Offices, Private Banks and Philanthropists. LCSI believes in a research-based, data-driven, evidenced-informed approach to strategy, execution and measuring impact.
He is most happy when he’s pioneering long-term, sustainable solutions to critical needs in a wide range of communities. From Singapore to Papua New Guinea (and several nations in-between and beyond), Steve seeks out evidence-based social issues and solutions to innovate bespoke initiatives that leave a legacy of positive impact.
Before coming to SMU, Steve was the Chief Executive Officer at the YMCA of Singapore, a youth-focused IPC charity that also runs several social enterprises in the hospitality and education sectors. 

Edie Lush is an award-winning journalist, an events MC and a communication trainer. She hosts events virtually and around the world - from the World Economic Forum in Davos to the COP Climate Summits.

Edie is the Executive Editor of Hub Culture and has hosted several podcasts including Global GoalsCast, made in collaboration with the United Nations.

Jeff Macdonald is IBM’s CSR Leader for EMEA, working with local partners to grow IBM’s social impact in the region, focusing on access to opportunities through education, particularly STEM subjects and technology (especially AI) for social impact, creating innovative solutions for a better world.

Prior to joining IBM, Jeff was a partner at two global social impact consultancies, working with organisations such as Unilever, Reckitt, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Aviva and Allianz.

He also brings 30+ years’ senior management experience from marketing leadership positions at Nestle/General Mills, Bacardi, Nokia and IHG.

Jeff holds a Masters degree in Economics from Edinburgh University.

Mr. Manoon is Vice President of Operations at Accor Hotels KSA and is a hotel strategic business leader with more than 20 years of operation & commercial experience in various leadership roles with international hotels’ operators in the Middle East & Africa region. Previously, he was Director of Operations of KSA. Mr. Manoon earned his BSc of Hotels Management and various Exceptive Leadership programs with Cornell Hotel & Ashridge Business School.

Antoine started his career in Trade Marketing in 2006, within Danone's export division, based in Singapore and covering Southeast Asia. He returned to Europe two years later and has been professionally involved with projects linked to Sustainability ever since.

He joined EcoVadis in 2017 with the mission to support large private and public organiations launching and/or scaling their Sustainable Procurement programs. Antoine today leads Business Development for Africa and the Middle East.

Of French and British nationality, Antoine studied International Management at the University of Bath, holds an MSc. in Environmental Technology from Imperial College London and studied Sustainable Finance at Cambridge University’s Institute for Sustainability Leadership.

Benjamin Michel is Policy Analyst at the OECD Centre for Responsible Business Conduct (RBC), where he works with policymakers and financial institutions in promoting the implementation of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance.
His work focuses on promoting due diligence practices different sources of financing for the economy, ranging from financial markets, corporate lending, project and asset financing and development finance.
Previously, Benjamin has been working in sustainable finance as a human rights expert, advising financial institutions - ranging from development banks, commercial banks or private equity funds - in assessing and addressing ESG impacts and opportunities in investment decisions. Benjamin studied human rights and international law at Sciences Po Law School, and is a faculty member to the Sciences Po Law School Clinic. 

Shireen Mistree is responsible for the development and implementation of ESG strategy and initiatives across the company's global operations in her capacity as Head – ESG at VFS Global. Shireen collaborates with top management, internal staff, and stakeholders in this capacity to make sure the business takes advantage of opportunities to strategically advance its ESG mandate.

Previously, Shireen held senior roles with Tata Trusts; one of India’s leading philanthropic institutions leading their work on sustainability and policy and advocacy initiatives. Prior to that, she worked at the Consulate of The Republic of Singapore and with The Royal Bank of Scotland in India. She has also worked with private sector organizations in articulating their social purpose and developing strategies to contribute to global sustainable development goals.

Subhagata Mukherjee (Subho) is the Vice President and Global Head of Sustainability at Nokia and leads the company’s global sustainability strategy, programs, and initiatives, including its overall Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) responsibilities. In his previous roles at Nokia, Subho has led strategic initiatives across corporate strategy, technology strategy, research, partnerships, and venture capital investments, led global communications for group CEO, as well as led communications, marketing and business development across markets and business groups.

Subho’s focus areas include climate, circularity, bridging digital divide, industrial decarbonization, responsible supply chain, human rights, responsible use of technology and new incubations in climate and nature related technologies.

Subho holds MBA from Asian Institute of Management, Philippines and from Nanyang Business School, Singapore. He is trained as a chemical engineer from Jadavpur University, India and has attended Strategic Leadership of Technology & Innovation from Harvard Business School Executive Education program, and Sustainability Leadership course from MIT Sloan school of management.

Dr. Brendan Nelson is president of Boeing Global, leading the company’s global strategy and corporate operations outside the United States. Prior to Boeing, Nelson was director of the Australian War Memorial, and he was the Australian Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, the European Union and NATO. Nelson has also been a member of the Australian parliament, serving as Minister for Education, Science and Training, and Minister for Defence.

A physician by training, earlier in his career Nelson was elected National President of the Australian Medical Association (AMA), becoming the youngest person to hold the position. He was also awarded the AMA’s highest honour, the Gold Medal for “Distinguished Service to Medicine and Humanity.” In recognition of his commitment to public health, he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. In 2016, Nelson was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for his service to the community, the Australian parliament, diplomacy and cultural leadership.

Martin Neureiter is the Chief Executive Office of CSR Company International.

Since 2004, he has been the founder and CEO of “The CSR Company International”, a consultancy specialized on sustainability, with offices in 40+ countries, reaching from Mexico to Korea. He is also Chair of the Implementation Task Group within ISO writing the ISO 26 000 standard.

He is scientific head of the postgraduate education at University of Vienna for Sustainability. He also lectures at the St. Gallen Management Institute (Switzerland).

Martin is the author of several books on CSR, some translated into 7 languages.

He supports several Fortune 1000 companies in navigating sustainability challenges, such as Marks & Spencer, Rockwool, AssaAbloy and Nordea.

Dr. Elena Primikiri is a sustainability strategist and entrepreneur with a rich ESG experience in multiple sectors, including consulting, academia, and banking sectors. She holds two Masters, and a PhD from the University of Michigan, and Harvard University. For more than 21 years, she has been leading projects on sustainability strategies and frameworks, multiple reporting frameworks, external ratings and certifications, as well as RES and energy efficiency projects. Prior to joining Uniqus as an associate partner, she has held multiple senior roles, including Head of ESG worldwide at VFS Global, and Director of Sustainable Banking at Piraeus Bank for 10 years, where she was leading multiple teams. 

Rita Raad is a Senior Principal at FTI Consulting with extensive experience working with government entities across the Middle East. She has vast experience in social development, particularly Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Rita has worked on the development and implementation of the national CSR strategy and has designed government incentives to encourage companies’ participation in CSR. She has also contributed to the design of the national CSR rating scheme, aimed at assessing companies’ contributions and driving stronger engagement in impactful initiatives.

Professor Randa Rizk is an academic professor and a researcher and author of many books and thesis in the fields of literature, education, culture and in the field of universities social responsibility.

Rizk contributed through her humanitarian activity in participating in the program of empowering poor communities through social development, building literacy campaigns to advocate for education for all issues.

Angus Robertson is the Country General Manager at CHEP Middle East, a global leader in sustainable goods movement. With nearly two decades of experience across the GCC and Levant regions, Angus is known for his strategic leadership and ability to drive growth while enhancing operational efficiency. He is passionate about sustainability and optimizing supply chains to reduce environmental impact.

Angus holds an Honours degree in Logistics from Stellenbosch University in South Africa. His leadership style is defined by collaboration, a commitment to results, and inspiring his teams to achieve excellence.

Pierre Shepherd oversees Westminster policy forums on ESG, workplace wellbeing, and future homes. As Interim Chair of the Policy Liaison Group on ESG Pierre works closely with MPs, regulators, and industry leaders to help drive cross-party consensus on key sustainability challenges. He has authored influential ESG reports on impact, the green taxonomy, and DE&I. Pierre also leads the Sustainability Hub at College Green Group, a government affairs agency in the heart of Westminster. His earlier career spans EU policy roles with the European Commission and Hydro as well as communications strategy in the UK, including the Royal Commonwealth Society.

Mohammad Shihab is the Area Managing Director at Maersk Saudi Arabia and GCC/Middle East, since 2016. Shihab has been with Maersk 20+ years in shipping and logistics. He led the expansion of Maersk activities and oversaw the creation of the largest integrated logistics park in the Maersk network, in Jeddah. Maersk Saudi Arabia has achieved the highest customer satisfaction (NPS) globally for six consecutive years.

Yara Faisal Sindi has over +12 years of experience in business development, policy formulation, and sustainability. She currently serves as the General Manager of Sustainability Analytics and Policy Integration & Director of Corporate Sustainability at the Ministry of Economy and Planning in Saudi Arabia. In this role, she oversees key initiatives that ensure the alignment of the Kingdom’s policies with sustainable development goals, as well as the monitoring and reporting of progress. Yara previously led the development of Saudi Arabia’s 2nd Voluntary National Review for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), working with over 150 stakeholders and delivering 200 case studies. She expanded SDG indicator data by 30% through collaboration with 70 national and international entities and developed a Corporate Sustainability Roadmap and governance framework for corporate sustainability in Saudi Arabia. Yara holds a Higher Diploma MSc in International Business Management and a BSc in Business Administration, and her credentials include being a UN Global Compact Board Member, a Global Gender Equality Professional certified by the World Bank, and a member of key committees such as the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on E-commerce and the Digital Economy (UNCTAD) and the Gender Balance Committee (IPA). Her previous roles include CEO of A-to-Z Events, Project Manager at Interstu Company, Consultant at Sparkle PR Company in London, and Board Member of Arabia Business Connection Holding Company.

Anoushka Sinha, a social entrepreneur, human rights activist, and public speaker has been advocating for gender and education equality since the age of 10, collectively reaching 1 million people through her advocacy, radio program, and grassroots initiatives addressing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Starting with local NGO campaigns, she became India's youngest radio jockey at 12 and later served as a regional ambassador for UNEP. An elected member of the Young People Action Team at Generation Unlimited and a UNESCO SDG4 YSN Network advocate, Anoushka collaborates with international charities like the ONE campaign and Plan International to empower women and girls globally. A recipient of the Diana Award, recognized by UN Women, and honored by organizations like GirlUp UN Foundation and KidsRights Changemakers, Ashoka and more. Anoushka's advocacy efforts have garnered global acclaim. She remains dedicated to bridging gender gaps and empowering youth worldwide, recently taking on the role of young justice leader with Pathfinders and NYU CIC.

Carol Sirou is CEO of Ethifinance, an independent provider of credit and ESG ratings, credit research and ESG advisory solutions.

Carol is a highly respected figure in the financial services and credit ratings industry, known for her successful leadership roles at Standard & Poor's, including President of S&P France and Global Head of Risk Solutions. With over two decades of experience, she is an expert in risk management, corporate governance, and credit ratings.

She is also an independent director and Chairwoman of the Risk Committee of the Credit Agricole group. 

A graduate of Sciences Po Paris, she holds a Master's degree in corporate finance from Paris Dauphine University.

Anya Sitaram is a documentary producer, conference host and communications consultant specialising in health, environment and international development. A former BBC World news anchor, Anya is a founding director of Rockhopper Media an award-winning television and film production company. Anya has overseen scores of television documentaries which have run on channels around the world including BBC World News, PBS, Discovery, Nat Geo and Al Jazeera among others. Anya has been moderating high level conferences for the European Commission, UN bodies, international NGO’s and leading corporations for the last 15 years on topics including global health and environment, climate, food security, agriculture, science and technology. Anya began her career as a BBC trainee before becoming ITN Health and Science Correspondent and later a presenter on the BBC’s flagship science programme Tomorrow’s World.

Anton Stepanenko is a Partner and Associate Director in the BCG Dubai Office and global lead of skilling practice. His key focus lies in the Public sector projects in labor and education. He has extensive consulting experience of over 15 years working on education and skilling projects with governments, Universities, top training organizations, EdTech players etc.

Anton has developed BCG's flagship tool - Future Skills Architect - an innovative and "human-centric" approach to transform talent management at the national level that can be adapted to individual countries and clients.

Outside BCG, Anton is a member of Supervisory Board at Charity Aid Foundation (CAF) in the United Kingdom. Also, Anton is a founder of charity projects ToDoGood - national Skilling and Employment platform for the underprivileged; and Ican.Pro – a skilling academy for women, minorities and underprivileged established in a partnership with Google.Org.

Melina is a social entrepreneur who, in 2020, was one of the seven women globally to receive the prestigious “SDGs and Her” award from the United Nations and the World Bank for her work in the implementation of the Agenda 2030 for sustainable development.

She is the founder of Earth & Co, a consulting company that has been leading various projects from conception to implementation, supporting Fortune 1000 companies in the agri-food, renewable energy, technology, media, retail, and consumer goods markets. As an advisor on Corporate Social Responsibility and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, Melina participates in ESG process improvement, evaluates ESG reports, forges strategies on stakeholder engagement, and implements programs on employee attraction and retention. She also works with Companies on change management and creating a corporate culture.

She is a faculty member of various educational institutes, such as the Institute of Sustainability Studies in Dublin, the Economic University in Athens, Kaplan Middle East, Informa in Dubai, the Center for Governance in Saudi Arabia, and others, where she teaches courses on leadership, sustainability, self-development, and entrepreneurship in professional programs. She also organizes workshops on leadership and sustainability for corporate executives in Europe and the Middle East.

Mark Tester is professor of plant science at KAUST, Director of the Center of Excellence for Sustainable Food Security and co-Founder of RedSea LLC. In 2019, he was Head of the Food Sector at NEOM. Prior to joining KAUST in February 2013, he was an ARC Federation Fellow and professor of plant physiology at the University of Adelaide, where he established The Plant Accelerator. Previously, he was a Senior Lecturer at the University of Cambridge, where he also received his PhD in 1988. Mark is now focused on using plant science with other technologies to increase sustainability of food production.

Jignesh Thakkar is the Partner and COO, ESG Advisory (Head Social and CSR) at KPMG in India, with over 15 years of experience in the development sector. He has previously worked with the Tribal Development Department of Gujarat and UNICEF. He holds a Master’s in Social Work from the TISS, a Bachelor’s in Social Work from Sardar Patel University, and a Bachelor of Laws from Gujarat University. Jignesh is an Accredited SROI Practitioner with Social Value International and has led the development of India’s first ‘Impact Balance Sheet’ for SIDBI. He has also contributed to the Working Committee of the ‘Social Stock Exchange’ established by SEBI.

Ben Thompson is a journalist and presenter for BBC News, based in London. He presents Breakfast, the BBC’s flagship morning news programme and anchors the BBC's domestic and global news channels, BBC News and BBC World News. With a specialism in international business and finance, Ben has travelled extensively and reported for the BBC from around the world. Before returning to the studio, Ben was based in New York and Washington as the BBC's North America Business Correspondent. Prior to that, Ben spent three years as the BBC's Middle East Business Correspondent. He reported from Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Lebanon, Tunisia, Egypt, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE, covering breaking news and developing stories. Ben studied International Business and French at the University of Wales in Cardiff followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Broadcast Journalism. In 2003, he was awarded a BBC Scholarship.

Mr. van der Woude is the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Previously, he was Ambassador to Lebanon and held positions such as Deputy Director of the International Trade Policy and Economic Governance Department for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague.

Before this, Mr. Van der Woude filled various posts within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including postings in The Hague (deputy-head of the European integration department; head of the communications department) and with the Dutch Permanent Representation to the European Union in Brussels.

Professor Dr. Wayne Visser is a globally recognized ‘pracademic’ on responsible and sustainable business. He has been listed as one of the world’s Top 10 ESG speakers, a top 100 influencer on CSR and sustainable business, a top 100 thought-leader in trustworthy business, and recipient of the Global CSR Excellence & Leadership Award.

Professor Dr. Visser is the Founder of CSR International, Director of Kaleidoscope Futures Lab, Fellow at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, and former Director of Sustainability Services at KPMG. He is the author of 44 books, including the bestseller Thriving, and his work has taken him to 82 countries.

Wissam Yassine is a leader in Bain & Company’s Sustainability and Public Sector practices.

He has more than 15 years of experience working closely with government and private sector entities across the GCC on a range of topics including sustainability policies and strategies, net zero transition, green technologies and investments and corporate sustainability adoption and disclosures.

Wissam holds a Master’s degree in Sustainable Development from Harvard University in Massachusetts, USA, an MBA from INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France, and a Bachelor in Engineering from the American University of Beirut.

Nanis Yousry is the Community Transformation Director at Aspire International, leading sustainable development programs at both national and global levels. Managing a team of 40 experts, Nanis provides innovative solutions to complex community challenges through sports and arts for development. With a focus on education, gender empowerment, and the social and economic inclusion of refugees and migrants, they oversee complex portfolios with UN agencies, USAID, international donors, and community development organizations. As the director of the Annual Regional Sustainability and Development Forum, Nanis fosters impactful dialogues between the private and public sectors. A fellow of the Youssef Jameel Fellowship Program, Nanis holds a Master of Public Administration from the American University in Cairo, along with various certifications and awards, driving transformative change in communities.

Mr. Hasan Zaini, known for his nonconformist leadership, joined Saudi Signs Media as Deputy CEO in 2019. Throughout his tenure, he has spearheaded transformative initiatives that have boosted the company’s revenue, expanded market share, and enhanced talent development across several departments. With a sharp understanding of market dynamics, Mr. Zaini’s executed projects have reshaped industry practices, introduced product novelty and created lasting value for stakeholders.

His innovative approach is fueled by a personal commitment and pursuit of continuous learning and a diverse corporate career, with leadership roles previously held at Procter & Gamble, Waad Holding, and Dar Al-Thikr School & Bloom Kindergarten.