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Attend

ARAB WOMEN FORUM 2022

Palazzo Versace Dubai | UAE
May 17, 2022

Attend

Arab Women Forum

Launched in Saudi Arabia in 2018, Arab Women Forum (AWF) is a platform to enhance and support the ever-growing contribution of Arab women in the region’s economy and society. Held in parallel with the iconic TOP CEO Conference, the AWF is a high-profile gathering of women executives, decision-makers, and business leaders.

The Forum hosts on-record and off-record conversations to explore regional and global business dynamics with a strong focus on women’s empowerment. The Forum also provides a platform for open discussions on women’s success, challenges, and opportunities at work.

2022 Agenda

Meeting Room 1

14:00

to

14:45

The Management Bottlenecks

With companies and government increased new projects, the centralized decision-making model is reaching its limits. With little bandwidth left at the top, delays and poor follow-up is leading to disaster. How should companies reinvent themselves to create a more decentralized approach, with more delegated authority and accountability?
Read more

14:00

to

14:45

The Management Bottlenecks

Meeting Room 1

With companies and government increased new projects, the centralized decision-making model is reaching its limits. With little bandwidth left at the top, delays and poor follow-up is leading to disaster. How should companies reinvent themselves to create a more decentralized approach, with more delegated authority and accountability?

(Sessions and schedules are subject to change without prior notice)

Dr. Celeste Cecilia Moles Lo Turco

Director G&PS, PwC Middle East

Dr. Celeste Lo Turco is a Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) and Sustainability Expert.

She is currently based in Dubai where she works as Director for PwC in the ESG & Sustainability field.

Dr Celeste Lo Turco started her career working for the SWFs Strategic Committee of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the SWFs Law Centre. She became then the advisor for the Italian Municipalities National Association on the development of the national economy through the relationship with SWFs.

Former United Nations analyst with a specialization in Security and Middle-East Political Affairs, she worked within the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI).

The Middle East has been her house for more than ten years. She started in the United Arab Emirates working as Vice President Strategy for Future Holding, a Middle Eastern family office based in Dubai, moving then to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where she worked as a Director at NEOM. She is currently focusing on ESG and Sustainability practices as a Director for PwC based out of Dubai.

A Georgetown University Fulbright Visiting Researcher, she holds a PhD in Political Theory and

a master’s degree in International Relations, Markets and Institutions of the Global System.

She is an active writer about SWFs, sustainability, and global economics.

Iyad Malas

CEO, Al Ghurair Group

Iyad Malas is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience in various senior roles, spanning many countries and industries, including real estate, retail, leisure & entertainment, financial services, and investments.

Iyad Malas has been based in Dubai, UAE since 2007, and is currently Chief Executive Officer of Al Ghurair Group.  Prior to this he was a Partner for 5 years in Gateway Partners, a private equity firm with offices in Singapore and Dubai. At Gateway Partners he worked on a number of deals, including an investment in Tim Horton’s Middle East and the setup of a real estate company in Africa. Iyad served as CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Trust, the family investment office and took over as Group CEO at Majid Al Futtaim Holding (MAF) in 2009 during the global financial crisis and he led the group through a decentralized business structure. Major strategic decisions included: taking full control of the Carrefour franchise business in the Middle East, while expanding the territory into Africa and Central Asia; buying out the cinema and credit card businesses; and leading the effort to get MAF’s bonds rated with an investment grade rating, leading to accessing the global debt markets. Under Iyad’s leadership, the MAF group increased EBITDA by 2.7x over four years.

Prior to Dubai, Iyad lived in the United States, Egypt and India. In Egypt, Iyad served as CEO of Fleming CIIC and then COO and Head of Asset Management at EFG Hermes, an Egyptian Investment Bank. With 16 years at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), his roles included Regional Director for South Asia, where he led initiatives for long-standing investments that were integral to the region’s development.

Iyad is fluent in Arabic, English and French and is a qualified Chartered Financial Analyst. Iyad holds an MBA from George Washington University, Washington DC and a BA from the American University of Beirut.

Rabih I. Khoury

Managing Partner & Chief Exit Officer, Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP)

Rabih is Managing Partner & Chief Exit Officer with Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP, www.mevp.com), one of the leading Technology VC asset managers in MENA. MEVP is an institutional asset manager regulated by both DFSA and ADGM. Rabih has extensive experience in venture capital, private equity and advisory, having executed more than US$5 billion in transactions and raised more than US$2 billion in capital.

Previously, Rabih was CEO of DIC Emerging Markets, in charge of the investment portfolio in MENA, Turkey, Asia and Latin America. DIC is the international investment arm of the Dubai–based conglomerate Dubai Holding.

In New York, Rabih was a founding member of the Media & Telecom Group with Banc of America Securities, focusing on M&A, where he led broad financial advisory and restructuring services for several major corporations. He also worked for Prudential Securities as an Equity Research Analyst covering the Oilfield Services & Equipment sector.

In San Francisco, Rabih was a Senior Engineering Manager with URS Corporation, the world’s largest engineering design firm, where he developed new service offerings for the Technology, Biotech and Energy sectors.

Rabih received his MBA from Columbia University and his MS in Structural Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. He also received a Bachelor of Engineering with Distinction from the American University of Beirut.

Mike Frayne

CEO, Aviv Clinics Dubai

Mike is the CEO of Aviv Clinics Dubai, and a highly experienced strategic healthcare leader. He is passionate about enhancing people’s lives through healthcare, dedicating the past two decades to leading healthcare organizations in the UK, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Prior to joining the Aviv team, Mike served as Chief Operating Officer of Saudi Medical Care Group, operating a network of hospitals and clinics across the Kingdom. He has held executive positions in public and private healthcare organizations across the GCC, where he specialized in the mobilization and management of operations. Mike holds an MSc in Leadership and Management from the University of Leicester.

Cyba Audi

Founder and CEO, Saba Consultants

Cyba Audi is Anchor of the business morning show “Al Sabah Maa Cyba.” She joined Asharq News Services in August 2020 as Senior Anchor and Editor-at-Large. Cyba is also the founder and CEO of “Saba Consultants” a leading firm in strategic communications, reputation building and investor relations, providing positioning strategies, visualizations and digital communications to government and corporates in the GCC.

Cyba began her career in 1995 in London, United Kingdom where she worked as a private banker with Groupe Banque Indosuez before joining Merrill Lynch in 1999 as a Financial Consultant for HNWIs.

Cyba is a versed moderator at international forums and conferences including the World Economic Forum, Global Humanitarian Forum and the Union for the Mediterranean. She

also provides executive coaching to high-ranking government officials and corporate leaders.

Dr. Yasar Jarrar

Author, Thought Leader and Member Board Of Trustees at Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG)

Yasar is a strategy advisor focused on Emerging Markets, with experience in Public Sector Modernization, Technology for Development, and Education.

Yasar is a former Partner at Bain & Company (head of Public Sector practice in Middle East) and prior to that, a Partner at PwC, leading the Middle East Strategy Group and the PwC Global Education Practice. Before PwC, he served as Strategy Director at the Executive Office of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum in Dubai. He was also the founding Executive Dean of the Dubai School of Government, and a Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University. He also Co-Chaired of Global Agenda Council on the Future of Government (at the World Economic Forum 2012-2019).

In 2009, Yasar was nominated as Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum (WEF), and in 2012 was the founding curator of the Dubai Global Shapers hub (WEF). Dr. Jarrar worked as a Research Fellow at Cranfield School of Management (UK) after obtaining a Ph.D. in Manufacturing and Engineering from Birmingham University (UK). He is a published author, and a speaker at global events.

Attend

Dr. Celeste Cecilia Moles Lo Turco

Director G&PS, PwC Middle East

Dr. Celeste Lo Turco is a Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) and Sustainability Expert.

She is currently based in Dubai where she works as Director for PwC in the ESG & Sustainability field.

Dr Celeste Lo Turco started her career working for the SWFs Strategic Committee of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the SWFs Law Centre. She became then the advisor for the Italian Municipalities National Association on the development of the national economy through the relationship with SWFs.

Former United Nations analyst with a specialization in Security and Middle-East Political Affairs, she worked within the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI).

The Middle East has been her house for more than ten years. She started in the United Arab Emirates working as Vice President Strategy for Future Holding, a Middle Eastern family office based in Dubai, moving then to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where she worked as a Director at NEOM. She is currently focusing on ESG and Sustainability practices as a Director for PwC based out of Dubai.

A Georgetown University Fulbright Visiting Researcher, she holds a PhD in Political Theory and

a master’s degree in International Relations, Markets and Institutions of the Global System.

She is an active writer about SWFs, sustainability, and global economics.

Iyad Malas

CEO, Al Ghurair Group

Iyad Malas is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience in various senior roles, spanning many countries and industries, including real estate, retail, leisure & entertainment, financial services, and investments.

Iyad Malas has been based in Dubai, UAE since 2007, and is currently Chief Executive Officer of Al Ghurair Group.  Prior to this he was a Partner for 5 years in Gateway Partners, a private equity firm with offices in Singapore and Dubai. At Gateway Partners he worked on a number of deals, including an investment in Tim Horton’s Middle East and the setup of a real estate company in Africa. Iyad served as CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Trust, the family investment office and took over as Group CEO at Majid Al Futtaim Holding (MAF) in 2009 during the global financial crisis and he led the group through a decentralized business structure. Major strategic decisions included: taking full control of the Carrefour franchise business in the Middle East, while expanding the territory into Africa and Central Asia; buying out the cinema and credit card businesses; and leading the effort to get MAF’s bonds rated with an investment grade rating, leading to accessing the global debt markets. Under Iyad’s leadership, the MAF group increased EBITDA by 2.7x over four years.

Prior to Dubai, Iyad lived in the United States, Egypt and India. In Egypt, Iyad served as CEO of Fleming CIIC and then COO and Head of Asset Management at EFG Hermes, an Egyptian Investment Bank. With 16 years at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), his roles included Regional Director for South Asia, where he led initiatives for long-standing investments that were integral to the region’s development.

Iyad is fluent in Arabic, English and French and is a qualified Chartered Financial Analyst. Iyad holds an MBA from George Washington University, Washington DC and a BA from the American University of Beirut.

Rabih I. Khoury

Managing Partner & Chief Exit Officer, Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP)

Rabih is Managing Partner & Chief Exit Officer with Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP, www.mevp.com), one of the leading Technology VC asset managers in MENA. MEVP is an institutional asset manager regulated by both DFSA and ADGM. Rabih has extensive experience in venture capital, private equity and advisory, having executed more than US$5 billion in transactions and raised more than US$2 billion in capital.

Previously, Rabih was CEO of DIC Emerging Markets, in charge of the investment portfolio in MENA, Turkey, Asia and Latin America. DIC is the international investment arm of the Dubai–based conglomerate Dubai Holding.

In New York, Rabih was a founding member of the Media & Telecom Group with Banc of America Securities, focusing on M&A, where he led broad financial advisory and restructuring services for several major corporations. He also worked for Prudential Securities as an Equity Research Analyst covering the Oilfield Services & Equipment sector.

In San Francisco, Rabih was a Senior Engineering Manager with URS Corporation, the world’s largest engineering design firm, where he developed new service offerings for the Technology, Biotech and Energy sectors.

Rabih received his MBA from Columbia University and his MS in Structural Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. He also received a Bachelor of Engineering with Distinction from the American University of Beirut.

Mike Frayne

CEO, Aviv Clinics Dubai

Mike is the CEO of Aviv Clinics Dubai, and a highly experienced strategic healthcare leader. He is passionate about enhancing people’s lives through healthcare, dedicating the past two decades to leading healthcare organizations in the UK, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Prior to joining the Aviv team, Mike served as Chief Operating Officer of Saudi Medical Care Group, operating a network of hospitals and clinics across the Kingdom. He has held executive positions in public and private healthcare organizations across the GCC, where he specialized in the mobilization and management of operations. Mike holds an MSc in Leadership and Management from the University of Leicester.

Cyba Audi

Founder and CEO, Saba Consultants

Cyba Audi is Anchor of the business morning show “Al Sabah Maa Cyba.” She joined Asharq News Services in August 2020 as Senior Anchor and Editor-at-Large. Cyba is also the founder and CEO of “Saba Consultants” a leading firm in strategic communications, reputation building and investor relations, providing positioning strategies, visualizations and digital communications to government and corporates in the GCC.

Cyba began her career in 1995 in London, United Kingdom where she worked as a private banker with Groupe Banque Indosuez before joining Merrill Lynch in 1999 as a Financial Consultant for HNWIs.

Cyba is a versed moderator at international forums and conferences including the World Economic Forum, Global Humanitarian Forum and the Union for the Mediterranean. She

also provides executive coaching to high-ranking government officials and corporate leaders.

Dr. Yasar Jarrar

Author, Thought Leader and Member Board Of Trustees at Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG)

Yasar is a strategy advisor focused on Emerging Markets, with experience in Public Sector Modernization, Technology for Development, and Education.

Yasar is a former Partner at Bain & Company (head of Public Sector practice in Middle East) and prior to that, a Partner at PwC, leading the Middle East Strategy Group and the PwC Global Education Practice. Before PwC, he served as Strategy Director at the Executive Office of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum in Dubai. He was also the founding Executive Dean of the Dubai School of Government, and a Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University. He also Co-Chaired of Global Agenda Council on the Future of Government (at the World Economic Forum 2012-2019).

In 2009, Yasar was nominated as Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum (WEF), and in 2012 was the founding curator of the Dubai Global Shapers hub (WEF). Dr. Jarrar worked as a Research Fellow at Cranfield School of Management (UK) after obtaining a Ph.D. in Manufacturing and Engineering from Birmingham University (UK). He is a published author, and a speaker at global events.

Venezia

14:45

to

15:30

The Leaking Pipeline

The pandemic had an unprecedented impact on women and specifically working women. The talent pipeline, which was being slowly built to add more diversity to corporate Arabia, had massive leakage with women leaving the workforce and concentrating on family during the Covid-19 crisis. What solutions do companies need to put...
Read more

14:45

to

15:30

The Leaking Pipeline

Venezia

The pandemic had an unprecedented impact on women and specifically working women. The talent pipeline, which was being slowly built to add more diversity to corporate Arabia, had massive leakage with women leaving the workforce and concentrating on family during the Covid-19 crisis. What solutions do companies need to put in place to help restore a balance and develop their talent pool? How to achieve more representation in the leadership segment?

(Sessions and schedules are subject to change without prior notice)

Sélim Chidiac

Chief Executive Officer, L’azurde Company for Jewelry

Sélim Chidiac has been the Chief Executive Officer of the L’azurde Company since February 2010, when it was acquired by a Private Equity Consortium led by Investcorp. Sélim led the Company through a solid turn-around and strong growth story which helped make the Company a publicly listed entity in June 2016 on the Tadawul stock exchange in Saudi Arabia. It was 9 times over-subscribed with institution investors and 3 times over-subscribed with retail investors. The Group has more than 2,000 employees across the MENA region and focuses on the design, manufacturing, marketing, wholesale and retail distribution of jewelry. In 2018, L’azurde executed the 3rd largest M&A transaction in KSA by acquiring the KSA franchisee of the global jewelry brand TOUS.

Prior to joining L’azurde, Sélim was Chief Executive Officer for Red Bull North America, based in Los Angeles. During his eleven-year career at Red Bull, he managed the business in North America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. Before joining Red Bull, he worked with Procter & Gamble Switzerland and Austria, implementing growth strategies across European markets.

Sélim has a comprehensive background in management and business development and holds several business degrees from prestigious establishments in France and the UK, and has attended executive education courses in several business schools like Insead, Harvard Business School, IMD Lausanne, UCLA Los Angeles and London Business School. Sélim has a solid experience at Board level through his roles at Red Bull, L’azurde and is a Board Director at Theeb Car Rental.

Jean-Pierre Calvez

Founder, Novonda

Jean-Pierre Le Calvez founded Novonda, a consulting and training firm with a conscience, to bring his real-world expertise to organizations and leadership teams.  Recently, he has been working on the African Continent on issues of health, gender, and economic equity.

Jean-Pierre has extensive global management, marketing and communications experience in the business and human development fields.  He has held several senior key marketing positions for major global companies, start-up ventures and large not for profit organizations.  Until June 2019, he held the position of Global Head for Customer Marketing, Alliances and Partnerships for Hewlett Packard, working with partners to drive preference and demand for HP’s products and solutions.

Before this, as Vice President of Marketing for HP’s Printing and Personal Systems Group in Europe, Middle-East and Africa, ($19B) he was responsible for the total marketing investment envelope across all products and business lines, delivering fully integrated and end-to-end customer focused strategic marketing programs.

Prior to coming to HP, he was Global Head of Advocacy and Communications at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, where he was instrumental in launching the International Finance Facility for Immunisation as well as the Advance Market Commitment for pneumonia vaccines. Before that, his previous positions included: Chief Marketing Officer for Philips' Adelante Technologies and Senior Director, WW strategic marketing and analysis at Palm.

At Apple, Jean-Pierre was responsible for marketing communications, entertainment and PR relations as well as government affairs for the entire EMEA region.

Jean-Pierre is on the Board of Directors of Flare, a London based blockchain company and has been an early investor in a number of technology companies. He is also on the Advisory Board of the UK’s Black Business Institute. He has led - and participated in - many trainings and spoken at numerous conferences on issues of management, unconscious bias, gender equity, sustainability, marketing and communications as well as innovative financing for development.

Amr M. Khashoggi

Chairman, Amkest Group

Experienced businessman, environmentalist, and philanthropist with a demonstrated history of working in the executive office industry. Skilled in Public and Motivational Speaking, Strategic Planning, Leadership, and Community Outreach. 

Member of several boards of directors, namely Jeddah Company, Estidama Environmental Services Co, Middle East Health Care Co, Saudi Enaya Cooperative Insurance (Chairman), National Food Industrial Co (LUNA), Oriental Food Industrial Ltd (Nigeria), United Warehouse Logistics, National Committee of Gypsum Manufacturers (Saudi Council of Chambers of Commerce), Advisory Board of Effat University, YPO Gold, Saudi-German Business Group, executive member of Committee of International Trade (CIT - Saudi Federation of Chambers of Commerce), Member of Society of Handicapped Children, Member of Economic Sustainability Committee (Prince Majed Society for Social Development), and Member of the Minaret Business Organization. 

Chairman & CEO of Amkest group, a Saudi holding company, established in 1983, with interests in building materials manufacturing & trading, real estate development and management, and investment in renewable energy 

Chairman and major shareholder of Saudi Global Gypsum Company Ltd (3G), established in 2005, with a state-of-the-art Gypsum Plaster plant in Yanbu Industrial City, Saudi Arabia inaugurated by the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz September in 2005 

Chairman and Co-Founder of Qaderoon Business Disability Network – a Saudi nationwide social services organization – empowering employers to include persons with disability as equal effective members of the workforce – Qaderoon is a guest member of UN ILO Global Business Disability Network 

Formerly served as President of the Khashoggi Foundation, VP-Group Affairs at Zahid Group of Companies, CEO of Omar Kassem Alesayi & Partners (OMACO), Strategic Advisor to Emaar Economic City (KAEC), Advisor to Omar Kassem Alesayi Group (OKAG), member of the International Relations Committee (Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry), Chief Coordinator of Saudi Outreach Program, Member of the International Boards of Young Presidents' Organization, World Presidents' Organization (now YPO Gold), Managing Director of National Gypsum Company, Industrial Advisor to Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA), Chairman of Modern Computers and Communication Company, Member of the Building Materials Committee of Riyadh Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Member of the Board of AMIDEAST (Educational Advisors based in Washington DC) 

Gretchen Moxcey

Head of People, Performance and Culture, KPMG

Gretchen Moxcey is a Partner and Chief Human Resources Officer at KPMG Lower Gulf, where she leads the People, Performance and Culture function in support of over 2000 Partners and employees in the UAE and Oman.

Gretchen is responsible for business growth by leading all aspects of the people strategy to ensure KPMG builds a culture that attracts, develops and retains the best talent. She has three decades of human resources experience, including over twenty years in Big Four professional services.

She has received recognition for building an award-winning Global Mobility and Immigration center of excellence, and HR implementations in digitization, process improvement, offshoring and business process outsourcing.

Before life in professional services, Gretchen was with Fidelity Investments, responsible for leading HR strategy and operations across retail and institutional brokerage businesses in the US and UK.

She started her career with Bank of America where she led learning and development for the consumer bank.

Gretchen is an MBA from Babson College, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Finance from Simmons University, both in the US, and is GPHR certified.

On a personal front, she is a mother of three and enjoys building and restoring residential and commercial properties.

Hassan M. Fattah

Director of communications, Crescent Petroleum

Hassan M. Fattah is director of communications at Crescent Petroleum, overseeing all aspects of reputation, CSR and community engagement at the region's oldest privately owned upstream oil and gas company.

Hassan has been at the center of key public affairs, financial communications and senior advisory efforts across the region for over 2I years. He was a partner with Brunswick Group between 2014-2017, where he led global and institutional accounts including Mubadala, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Emirates Global Aluminium, TDIC and various crisis communications programs.

As director of communications at GEMS education in 2013, he helped reorganise the company's communications and narrative, helping launch new branding and communications for the world's largest private education company, helping launch a preeminent education and skills forum, and setting the foundation for the Global Teacher Prize administered by the Varkey Foundation.

As a renowned journalist, Hassan covered the changing dynamics of the Middle East for some of the world's leading publications. He has focused particular attention on the demographic shifts and youth culture that has fuelled the region's economies and politics in recent years.

Between 2007 and 2013, Fattah helped launch The National, the regional English-language newspaper published in Abu Dhabi, and served as editor-in-chief of the paper between 2008-2013. He served as Middle East correspondent for The New York Times between 2004-2007, breaking key stories and setting the regional coverage agenda.

He was raised between Beirut, Amman and San Francisco and is fluent in Arabic and English. He holds a B.S. in Mineral Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley and a Masters in Science from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Attend

Sélim Chidiac

Chief Executive Officer, L’azurde Company for Jewelry

Sélim Chidiac has been the Chief Executive Officer of the L’azurde Company since February 2010, when it was acquired by a Private Equity Consortium led by Investcorp. Sélim led the Company through a solid turn-around and strong growth story which helped make the Company a publicly listed entity in June 2016 on the Tadawul stock exchange in Saudi Arabia. It was 9 times over-subscribed with institution investors and 3 times over-subscribed with retail investors. The Group has more than 2,000 employees across the MENA region and focuses on the design, manufacturing, marketing, wholesale and retail distribution of jewelry. In 2018, L’azurde executed the 3rd largest M&A transaction in KSA by acquiring the KSA franchisee of the global jewelry brand TOUS.

Prior to joining L’azurde, Sélim was Chief Executive Officer for Red Bull North America, based in Los Angeles. During his eleven-year career at Red Bull, he managed the business in North America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. Before joining Red Bull, he worked with Procter & Gamble Switzerland and Austria, implementing growth strategies across European markets.

Sélim has a comprehensive background in management and business development and holds several business degrees from prestigious establishments in France and the UK, and has attended executive education courses in several business schools like Insead, Harvard Business School, IMD Lausanne, UCLA Los Angeles and London Business School. Sélim has a solid experience at Board level through his roles at Red Bull, L’azurde and is a Board Director at Theeb Car Rental.

Jean-Pierre Calvez

Founder, Novonda

Jean-Pierre Le Calvez founded Novonda, a consulting and training firm with a conscience, to bring his real-world expertise to organizations and leadership teams.  Recently, he has been working on the African Continent on issues of health, gender, and economic equity.

Jean-Pierre has extensive global management, marketing and communications experience in the business and human development fields.  He has held several senior key marketing positions for major global companies, start-up ventures and large not for profit organizations.  Until June 2019, he held the position of Global Head for Customer Marketing, Alliances and Partnerships for Hewlett Packard, working with partners to drive preference and demand for HP’s products and solutions.

Before this, as Vice President of Marketing for HP’s Printing and Personal Systems Group in Europe, Middle-East and Africa, ($19B) he was responsible for the total marketing investment envelope across all products and business lines, delivering fully integrated and end-to-end customer focused strategic marketing programs.

Prior to coming to HP, he was Global Head of Advocacy and Communications at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, where he was instrumental in launching the International Finance Facility for Immunisation as well as the Advance Market Commitment for pneumonia vaccines. Before that, his previous positions included: Chief Marketing Officer for Philips' Adelante Technologies and Senior Director, WW strategic marketing and analysis at Palm.

At Apple, Jean-Pierre was responsible for marketing communications, entertainment and PR relations as well as government affairs for the entire EMEA region.

Jean-Pierre is on the Board of Directors of Flare, a London based blockchain company and has been an early investor in a number of technology companies. He is also on the Advisory Board of the UK’s Black Business Institute. He has led - and participated in - many trainings and spoken at numerous conferences on issues of management, unconscious bias, gender equity, sustainability, marketing and communications as well as innovative financing for development.

Amr M. Khashoggi

Chairman, Amkest Group

Experienced businessman, environmentalist, and philanthropist with a demonstrated history of working in the executive office industry. Skilled in Public and Motivational Speaking, Strategic Planning, Leadership, and Community Outreach. 

Member of several boards of directors, namely Jeddah Company, Estidama Environmental Services Co, Middle East Health Care Co, Saudi Enaya Cooperative Insurance (Chairman), National Food Industrial Co (LUNA), Oriental Food Industrial Ltd (Nigeria), United Warehouse Logistics, National Committee of Gypsum Manufacturers (Saudi Council of Chambers of Commerce), Advisory Board of Effat University, YPO Gold, Saudi-German Business Group, executive member of Committee of International Trade (CIT - Saudi Federation of Chambers of Commerce), Member of Society of Handicapped Children, Member of Economic Sustainability Committee (Prince Majed Society for Social Development), and Member of the Minaret Business Organization. 

Chairman & CEO of Amkest group, a Saudi holding company, established in 1983, with interests in building materials manufacturing & trading, real estate development and management, and investment in renewable energy 

Chairman and major shareholder of Saudi Global Gypsum Company Ltd (3G), established in 2005, with a state-of-the-art Gypsum Plaster plant in Yanbu Industrial City, Saudi Arabia inaugurated by the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz September in 2005 

Chairman and Co-Founder of Qaderoon Business Disability Network – a Saudi nationwide social services organization – empowering employers to include persons with disability as equal effective members of the workforce – Qaderoon is a guest member of UN ILO Global Business Disability Network 

Formerly served as President of the Khashoggi Foundation, VP-Group Affairs at Zahid Group of Companies, CEO of Omar Kassem Alesayi & Partners (OMACO), Strategic Advisor to Emaar Economic City (KAEC), Advisor to Omar Kassem Alesayi Group (OKAG), member of the International Relations Committee (Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry), Chief Coordinator of Saudi Outreach Program, Member of the International Boards of Young Presidents' Organization, World Presidents' Organization (now YPO Gold), Managing Director of National Gypsum Company, Industrial Advisor to Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA), Chairman of Modern Computers and Communication Company, Member of the Building Materials Committee of Riyadh Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Member of the Board of AMIDEAST (Educational Advisors based in Washington DC) 

Gretchen Moxcey

Head of People, Performance and Culture, KPMG

Gretchen Moxcey is a Partner and Chief Human Resources Officer at KPMG Lower Gulf, where she leads the People, Performance and Culture function in support of over 2000 Partners and employees in the UAE and Oman.

Gretchen is responsible for business growth by leading all aspects of the people strategy to ensure KPMG builds a culture that attracts, develops and retains the best talent. She has three decades of human resources experience, including over twenty years in Big Four professional services.

She has received recognition for building an award-winning Global Mobility and Immigration center of excellence, and HR implementations in digitization, process improvement, offshoring and business process outsourcing.

Before life in professional services, Gretchen was with Fidelity Investments, responsible for leading HR strategy and operations across retail and institutional brokerage businesses in the US and UK.

She started her career with Bank of America where she led learning and development for the consumer bank.

Gretchen is an MBA from Babson College, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Finance from Simmons University, both in the US, and is GPHR certified.

On a personal front, she is a mother of three and enjoys building and restoring residential and commercial properties.

Hassan M. Fattah

Director of communications, Crescent Petroleum

Hassan M. Fattah is director of communications at Crescent Petroleum, overseeing all aspects of reputation, CSR and community engagement at the region's oldest privately owned upstream oil and gas company.

Hassan has been at the center of key public affairs, financial communications and senior advisory efforts across the region for over 2I years. He was a partner with Brunswick Group between 2014-2017, where he led global and institutional accounts including Mubadala, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Emirates Global Aluminium, TDIC and various crisis communications programs.

As director of communications at GEMS education in 2013, he helped reorganise the company's communications and narrative, helping launch new branding and communications for the world's largest private education company, helping launch a preeminent education and skills forum, and setting the foundation for the Global Teacher Prize administered by the Varkey Foundation.

As a renowned journalist, Hassan covered the changing dynamics of the Middle East for some of the world's leading publications. He has focused particular attention on the demographic shifts and youth culture that has fuelled the region's economies and politics in recent years.

Between 2007 and 2013, Fattah helped launch The National, the regional English-language newspaper published in Abu Dhabi, and served as editor-in-chief of the paper between 2008-2013. He served as Middle East correspondent for The New York Times between 2004-2007, breaking key stories and setting the regional coverage agenda.

He was raised between Beirut, Amman and San Francisco and is fluent in Arabic and English. He holds a B.S. in Mineral Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley and a Masters in Science from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Meeting Room 1

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The Workplace Of Tomorrow

A new generation of women, who are joining the workforce, are giving more importance to wellness at the workplace and mental health alongside hybrid and flexible work structures. What does the workplace of tomorrow look like? How can companies attract and retain talents? What infrastructure is needed to facilitate and...
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The Workplace Of Tomorrow

Meeting Room 1

A new generation of women, who are joining the workforce, are giving more importance to wellness at the workplace and mental health alongside hybrid and flexible work structures. What does the workplace of tomorrow look like? How can companies attract and retain talents? What infrastructure is needed to facilitate and enhance the contribution of women in organizations?

(Sessions and schedules are subject to change without prior notice)

Christine Harb

Global Brand Council, Visa

Christine Harb serves as the Vice President of Marketing at Visa Inc. and is responsible for building Visa’s brand strategy across Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMEA). In her role, she oversees integrated media and creative campaigns, drives operational efficiencies and fosters Visa’s digital transformation and rollout of innovative products and solutions.

Christine is a highly experienced executive in the marketing and digital industry and brings more than fifteen years of experience to Visa. Before joining the company, she served as Global Luxury Lead and Head of Marketing MENA at Facebook. Earlier, she has held different leadership roles at top-class marketing brands such as Nike and Red Bull. She holds an MBA from IE Business School and a Masters in Marketing from Panthéon-Sorbonne Paris I.

Christine believes in the power of brands to serve people while being a force for good through community impact, diversity and inclusion and environmental sustainability. She is part of a career advisory board and regularly coaches middle management leaders.

Dr. Celeste Cecilia Moles Lo Turco

Director G&PS, PwC Middle East

Dr. Celeste Lo Turco is a Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) and Sustainability Expert.

She is currently based in Dubai where she works as Director for PwC in the ESG & Sustainability field.

Dr Celeste Lo Turco started her career working for the SWFs Strategic Committee of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the SWFs Law Centre. She became then the advisor for the Italian Municipalities National Association on the development of the national economy through the relationship with SWFs.

Former United Nations analyst with a specialization in Security and Middle-East Political Affairs, she worked within the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI).

The Middle East has been her house for more than ten years. She started in the United Arab Emirates working as Vice President Strategy for Future Holding, a Middle Eastern family office based in Dubai, moving then to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where she worked as a Director at NEOM. She is currently focusing on ESG and Sustainability practices as a Director for PwC based out of Dubai.

A Georgetown University Fulbright Visiting Researcher, she holds a PhD in Political Theory and

a master’s degree in International Relations, Markets and Institutions of the Global System.

She is an active writer about SWFs, sustainability, and global economics.

Khaled Almaeena

Chairman – AlBilad, Media and Publishing | Managing Partner - Quartz Communications

He has held a broad range of position in Saudi media for almost thirty years, including CEO of a PR Firm, Saudi Television news anchor, talk show host, radio announcer and journalist. Almaeena also held a series of senior positions in Saudia Airlines.

As the Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, the largest English- language newspaper in the Middle EAST, Almaeena steered the paper through the Gulf Crisis and pioneered bringing the newspapers back to a liberated Kuwait. Under his direction, the paper was first in 2003 to send a Saudi reporter to Iraq to report extensively from the front lines. Arab news was the only Saudi newspaper to have the reporter in Tahrir square during the Arab spring.
As a journalist, Almaeena has represented Saudi Media at Arab summits in Baghdad , Morocco and elsewhere. In 1990, he was one of four journalists to cover historic resumption of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Russia. He also traveled to China as part of this diplomatic mission.

Highly regarded for his views, Almaeena’s political and social columns appear in Gulf News – Dubai, Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Eqtisadiah, Arab News, Times of Oman, Asian Age, Al Arabia , Makkah and the China Post and Saudi Gazette. His interest in sports attracted him to the successful promotion of squash and tennis tournaments in the Kingdom.

In 1982, Almaeena became the Editor-in-Chief of Arab News. He stepped down in 1993 to head the Saudi Public Relations Company (SRPC) a position he held for five years. He returned to the top editor’s post of Arab News in 1998 and continued until October 2011.

In April 2012, He joined as the Editor in Chief of Saudi Gazette, English daily published from Jeddah and continued in the position until the end of April 2014.

Mr. Almaeena was awarded the highest civilian Awards Sitara- e-imtiyaz (Star of Excellence) by the government of Pakistan in January 2009 and Doctorate in Humanities from Mindanao University in the Philippines in 2009 .

He is also a visiting non resident scholar at the University of Central Florida.

Dr. Maliha Hashmi

Public Speaker and Author, WEF Global Future Council Expert, V2O Delegate of G20

Dr. Maliha Hashmi is winner of the prestigious Forbes Health Leadership Award of 2022 and part of the World Leaders Award recipients. She is also one of the Top Seven Most Talented Female Health Leaders of the MENA region. She is well-known as one of the dedicated and esteemed leaders in the region who has committed herself to bringing positive change, wellness and growth to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Dr. Maliha Hashmi served as the Executive Director and Co-Head of the Health, Wellbeing and Biotech Sector at NEOM, where she also served as the Executive Director for all Strategic Partnerships. Dr. Maliha Hashmi also served as the Deputy Chair of the NEOM Covid-19 Leadership Taskforce. She also has Senior Executive Advisory roles in various KSA entities where she advises on healthcare and education. Dr. Maliha Hashmi serves as a Board Member of the prestigious Advisory Board for Arab Health: the largest multi-disciplinary congress in the MENA Region. Dr. Maliha Hashmi is also a Board Member of the Halal Certification Authority part of the Saudi Food Drug Authority. She is also an Advisory Board Member of social impact investing in the Kingdom. Dr. Hashmi also serves as a Leading Expert & Council Member for the Prestigious Global Future Council on Health & Healthcare at the World Economic Forum. Furthermore, Dr. Maliha Hashmi serves as a Leading Expert & Council Member for the Global Future Council on Longevity at the World Economic Forum. Dr. Hashmi is a also a Leading Expert and Council Member for the Emerging Technologies Councils in the MENA Region which is part of the Big Innovation Center, an award winning global innovation technology think tank. Dr. Maliha Hashmi, is also an esteemed delegate of the V20, where V20 is a global platform of value experts and practitioners that has come together on the sidelines of the G20 presidency to actively engage with the process of the Group of Twenty (G20). She is also a regular contributor for Forbes. Dr. Maliha Hashmi has held Senior Executive roles in various sectors and globally renowned organizations and is a well-known name in the region for health & wellbeing. Dr. Maliha Hashmi received her Doctorate and Master’s Degrees from Harvard and MIT. Dr. Maliha Hashmi is listed as one of the top 20 women in the Nation in the United States of America for her achievements making it into the Who’s Who in America List.

Anand Vengurlekar

Strategic Innovation Advisor

Anand is an advisor with a senior career across 4 continents specialising in regional & global brand launches. Combining innovation techniques for leading teams with a cultural branding focus, he has designed & led the following strategic launches for significant business impact:

  • He headed the SONY VAIO division’s team to launch IT products & services to global Fortune 50 clients. Within a year had contributed to a net increase of 12% of the European sales budget.
  • Appointed by the Board of Samsung to conceive & drive the launch of their brand in Scandinavia. Tasked with reaching the No. 1 position within 5 years, his strategy and team approach succeeded in 4 years with sales of $1B annually.
  • Upon successful conclusion of his Global MBA, INSEAD appointed him as their first Global Chief Communications Officer. He became a member of the team that took the school to the No.1 global ranking for the first time in the University’s history, and personally redesigned the student experience in key areas to take social media hits from 16k to over a million.

For 5 years he has been based in Dubai, and today he is retained by the Ministry of Economy to advice on brand & communication strategies for the national launch of Federal policies establishing ESG in the UAE business community. In addition, he is employed by the likes of PWC and business schools such as IE/FT to coach & implement innovation processes & culture change, and has done so for senior management at large national organisations such as ADNOC, G42, Disney, Chalhoub, Richemont Group in UAE, and MISK, Tahakom, STC, in Saudi Arabia.

Attend

Christine Harb

Global Brand Council, Visa

Christine Harb serves as the Vice President of Marketing at Visa Inc. and is responsible for building Visa’s brand strategy across Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMEA). In her role, she oversees integrated media and creative campaigns, drives operational efficiencies and fosters Visa’s digital transformation and rollout of innovative products and solutions.

Christine is a highly experienced executive in the marketing and digital industry and brings more than fifteen years of experience to Visa. Before joining the company, she served as Global Luxury Lead and Head of Marketing MENA at Facebook. Earlier, she has held different leadership roles at top-class marketing brands such as Nike and Red Bull. She holds an MBA from IE Business School and a Masters in Marketing from Panthéon-Sorbonne Paris I.

Christine believes in the power of brands to serve people while being a force for good through community impact, diversity and inclusion and environmental sustainability. She is part of a career advisory board and regularly coaches middle management leaders.

Dr. Celeste Cecilia Moles Lo Turco

Director G&PS, PwC Middle East

Dr. Celeste Lo Turco is a Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) and Sustainability Expert.

She is currently based in Dubai where she works as Director for PwC in the ESG & Sustainability field.

Dr Celeste Lo Turco started her career working for the SWFs Strategic Committee of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the SWFs Law Centre. She became then the advisor for the Italian Municipalities National Association on the development of the national economy through the relationship with SWFs.

Former United Nations analyst with a specialization in Security and Middle-East Political Affairs, she worked within the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI).

The Middle East has been her house for more than ten years. She started in the United Arab Emirates working as Vice President Strategy for Future Holding, a Middle Eastern family office based in Dubai, moving then to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where she worked as a Director at NEOM. She is currently focusing on ESG and Sustainability practices as a Director for PwC based out of Dubai.

A Georgetown University Fulbright Visiting Researcher, she holds a PhD in Political Theory and

a master’s degree in International Relations, Markets and Institutions of the Global System.

She is an active writer about SWFs, sustainability, and global economics.

Khaled Almaeena

Chairman – AlBilad, Media and Publishing | Managing Partner - Quartz Communications

He has held a broad range of position in Saudi media for almost thirty years, including CEO of a PR Firm, Saudi Television news anchor, talk show host, radio announcer and journalist. Almaeena also held a series of senior positions in Saudia Airlines.

As the Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, the largest English- language newspaper in the Middle EAST, Almaeena steered the paper through the Gulf Crisis and pioneered bringing the newspapers back to a liberated Kuwait. Under his direction, the paper was first in 2003 to send a Saudi reporter to Iraq to report extensively from the front lines. Arab news was the only Saudi newspaper to have the reporter in Tahrir square during the Arab spring.
As a journalist, Almaeena has represented Saudi Media at Arab summits in Baghdad , Morocco and elsewhere. In 1990, he was one of four journalists to cover historic resumption of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Russia. He also traveled to China as part of this diplomatic mission.

Highly regarded for his views, Almaeena’s political and social columns appear in Gulf News – Dubai, Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Eqtisadiah, Arab News, Times of Oman, Asian Age, Al Arabia , Makkah and the China Post and Saudi Gazette. His interest in sports attracted him to the successful promotion of squash and tennis tournaments in the Kingdom.

In 1982, Almaeena became the Editor-in-Chief of Arab News. He stepped down in 1993 to head the Saudi Public Relations Company (SRPC) a position he held for five years. He returned to the top editor’s post of Arab News in 1998 and continued until October 2011.

In April 2012, He joined as the Editor in Chief of Saudi Gazette, English daily published from Jeddah and continued in the position until the end of April 2014.

Mr. Almaeena was awarded the highest civilian Awards Sitara- e-imtiyaz (Star of Excellence) by the government of Pakistan in January 2009 and Doctorate in Humanities from Mindanao University in the Philippines in 2009 .

He is also a visiting non resident scholar at the University of Central Florida.

Dr. Maliha Hashmi

Public Speaker and Author, WEF Global Future Council Expert, V2O Delegate of G20

Dr. Maliha Hashmi is winner of the prestigious Forbes Health Leadership Award of 2022 and part of the World Leaders Award recipients. She is also one of the Top Seven Most Talented Female Health Leaders of the MENA region. She is well-known as one of the dedicated and esteemed leaders in the region who has committed herself to bringing positive change, wellness and growth to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Dr. Maliha Hashmi served as the Executive Director and Co-Head of the Health, Wellbeing and Biotech Sector at NEOM, where she also served as the Executive Director for all Strategic Partnerships. Dr. Maliha Hashmi also served as the Deputy Chair of the NEOM Covid-19 Leadership Taskforce. She also has Senior Executive Advisory roles in various KSA entities where she advises on healthcare and education. Dr. Maliha Hashmi serves as a Board Member of the prestigious Advisory Board for Arab Health: the largest multi-disciplinary congress in the MENA Region. Dr. Maliha Hashmi is also a Board Member of the Halal Certification Authority part of the Saudi Food Drug Authority. She is also an Advisory Board Member of social impact investing in the Kingdom. Dr. Hashmi also serves as a Leading Expert & Council Member for the Prestigious Global Future Council on Health & Healthcare at the World Economic Forum. Furthermore, Dr. Maliha Hashmi serves as a Leading Expert & Council Member for the Global Future Council on Longevity at the World Economic Forum. Dr. Hashmi is a also a Leading Expert and Council Member for the Emerging Technologies Councils in the MENA Region which is part of the Big Innovation Center, an award winning global innovation technology think tank. Dr. Maliha Hashmi, is also an esteemed delegate of the V20, where V20 is a global platform of value experts and practitioners that has come together on the sidelines of the G20 presidency to actively engage with the process of the Group of Twenty (G20). She is also a regular contributor for Forbes. Dr. Maliha Hashmi has held Senior Executive roles in various sectors and globally renowned organizations and is a well-known name in the region for health & wellbeing. Dr. Maliha Hashmi received her Doctorate and Master’s Degrees from Harvard and MIT. Dr. Maliha Hashmi is listed as one of the top 20 women in the Nation in the United States of America for her achievements making it into the Who’s Who in America List.

Anand Vengurlekar

Strategic Innovation Advisor

Anand is an advisor with a senior career across 4 continents specialising in regional & global brand launches. Combining innovation techniques for leading teams with a cultural branding focus, he has designed & led the following strategic launches for significant business impact:

  • He headed the SONY VAIO division’s team to launch IT products & services to global Fortune 50 clients. Within a year had contributed to a net increase of 12% of the European sales budget.
  • Appointed by the Board of Samsung to conceive & drive the launch of their brand in Scandinavia. Tasked with reaching the No. 1 position within 5 years, his strategy and team approach succeeded in 4 years with sales of $1B annually.
  • Upon successful conclusion of his Global MBA, INSEAD appointed him as their first Global Chief Communications Officer. He became a member of the team that took the school to the No.1 global ranking for the first time in the University’s history, and personally redesigned the student experience in key areas to take social media hits from 16k to over a million.

For 5 years he has been based in Dubai, and today he is retained by the Ministry of Economy to advice on brand & communication strategies for the national launch of Federal policies establishing ESG in the UAE business community. In addition, he is employed by the likes of PWC and business schools such as IE/FT to coach & implement innovation processes & culture change, and has done so for senior management at large national organisations such as ADNOC, G42, Disney, Chalhoub, Richemont Group in UAE, and MISK, Tahakom, STC, in Saudi Arabia.

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15:45

Coffee Break

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15:45

Coffee Break

(Sessions and schedules are subject to change without prior notice)

Attend

Venezia

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16:30

Women in Tech

With women lacking representation in major tech companies, the Middle East’s quest for diversity in STEM talent seems to be a long reach. With major projects taking place in the region and regional tech projects recruiting a limited number of women, what are the best ways to promote inclusion? Can...
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16:30

Women in Tech

Venezia

With women lacking representation in major tech companies, the Middle East’s quest for diversity in STEM talent seems to be a long reach. With major projects taking place in the region and regional tech projects recruiting a limited number of women, what are the best ways to promote inclusion? Can big businesses that depend on STEM recruits make a profound change? From STEM, tech to AI, what needs to be done to drive the agenda forward?

(Sessions and schedules are subject to change without prior notice)

Dr Nour E. Raouafi

Project Scientist, NASA's Parker Solar Probe mission

Dr. Nour E. Raouafi is a Ph. D. in Astrophysics and the Project Scientist of NASA’s Parker Solar Probe mission. Before joining the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in 2008, Dr. Raouafi worked at the Turin Observatory (Italy, 2001), the Max-Planck Institute for Solar System Research (Göttingen, Germany – 2002-2005), and the National Solar Observatory (Tucson, Arizona – 2005-2008). His research spreads over a wide range of solar and heliospheric areas, emphasizing the dynamic solar corona by analyzing spectral and imaging observations, theory, and modeling. Dr. Raouafi contributed to diverse research areas, e.g., solar magnetic fields, spectroscopy, polarimetry, coronal plumes and jets, coronal mass ejections [CMEs] and shock waves, solar wind, solar energetic particles, and comets. He authored and co-authored tens of peer-reviewed papers and meeting proceedings.

Philippe Blanchard

Founder, Futurous

Former Director of the International Olympic Committee and Senior Advisor for the Dubai Expo Bid and Organising Committees, Philippe Blanchard is a leading expert in Technology and mega-events.

He is the CEO of Futurous, the Games of the future. A new Festival of competitions for teams of male and female, athlete and para-athlete, sports and esports, mankind and robots, in the Metaverse and the physical world.

Philippe also provides his expertise to manage innovative projects and digital transformation: Bid and Organising committees, forward-thinking governments and corporations.

Ambareen Musa

Founder and CEO, Souqalmal.com

Ambareen Musa is the CEO and founder of Souqalmal.com. Before founding Souqalmal.com in 2012, Musa set up the consulting arm of MasterCard Middle East and Africa. Previously Musa held had various roles including marketing, financial literacy, customer advocacy and e- commerce for GE’s financial arm, GE Money. She led the first online financial literacy initiative in the U.K., Moneybasics.co.uk., later relocating to the Middle East in 2008 where she consulted for Bain & Company Middle East, focusing on financial services projects such as growth strategies for banks in the region.

Dr. Selda Konukcu

Sr. Director, Global Strategic Accounts, Honeywell Connected Business

Dr. Selda Konukcu is the Sr. Director, Global Strategic Accounts, Honeywell Connected Business where she leads digital transformation across buildings medium for enterprise customers. She also serves as the Board Member of International Aviation Womens Association and Advisory Board member of the Emirates Aviation Business School. Selda has 18 years of global experience covering various roles in the defense, commercial aerospace, aviation, energy and marine sectors with RR & GE prior to Honeywell.
Dr. Selda holds a PhD and MSc from Loughborough University; BSc & MSc from METU in Aerospace Engineering and MBA from INSEAD.

Attend

Dr Nour E. Raouafi

Project Scientist, NASA's Parker Solar Probe mission

Dr. Nour E. Raouafi is a Ph. D. in Astrophysics and the Project Scientist of NASA’s Parker Solar Probe mission. Before joining the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in 2008, Dr. Raouafi worked at the Turin Observatory (Italy, 2001), the Max-Planck Institute for Solar System Research (Göttingen, Germany – 2002-2005), and the National Solar Observatory (Tucson, Arizona – 2005-2008). His research spreads over a wide range of solar and heliospheric areas, emphasizing the dynamic solar corona by analyzing spectral and imaging observations, theory, and modeling. Dr. Raouafi contributed to diverse research areas, e.g., solar magnetic fields, spectroscopy, polarimetry, coronal plumes and jets, coronal mass ejections [CMEs] and shock waves, solar wind, solar energetic particles, and comets. He authored and co-authored tens of peer-reviewed papers and meeting proceedings.

Philippe Blanchard

Founder, Futurous

Former Director of the International Olympic Committee and Senior Advisor for the Dubai Expo Bid and Organising Committees, Philippe Blanchard is a leading expert in Technology and mega-events.

He is the CEO of Futurous, the Games of the future. A new Festival of competitions for teams of male and female, athlete and para-athlete, sports and esports, mankind and robots, in the Metaverse and the physical world.

Philippe also provides his expertise to manage innovative projects and digital transformation: Bid and Organising committees, forward-thinking governments and corporations.

Ambareen Musa

Founder and CEO, Souqalmal.com

Ambareen Musa is the CEO and founder of Souqalmal.com. Before founding Souqalmal.com in 2012, Musa set up the consulting arm of MasterCard Middle East and Africa. Previously Musa held had various roles including marketing, financial literacy, customer advocacy and e- commerce for GE’s financial arm, GE Money. She led the first online financial literacy initiative in the U.K., Moneybasics.co.uk., later relocating to the Middle East in 2008 where she consulted for Bain & Company Middle East, focusing on financial services projects such as growth strategies for banks in the region.

Dr. Selda Konukcu

Sr. Director, Global Strategic Accounts, Honeywell Connected Business

Dr. Selda Konukcu is the Sr. Director, Global Strategic Accounts, Honeywell Connected Business where she leads digital transformation across buildings medium for enterprise customers. She also serves as the Board Member of International Aviation Womens Association and Advisory Board member of the Emirates Aviation Business School. Selda has 18 years of global experience covering various roles in the defense, commercial aerospace, aviation, energy and marine sectors with RR & GE prior to Honeywell.
Dr. Selda holds a PhD and MSc from Loughborough University; BSc & MSc from METU in Aerospace Engineering and MBA from INSEAD.

Meeting Room 1

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16:30

Saudi Women Pioneers: Change from Within

Saudi Arabia has been undergoing substantial economic, social, and structural reforms for the past few years. The impact of several initiatives is transforming the Saudi economy, workplaces, social life, among others. Women and youth are at the center of this profound change. Women's role is an integral part of this transformation. How...
Read more

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16:30

Saudi Women Pioneers: Change from Within

Meeting Room 1

Saudi Arabia has been undergoing substantial economic, social, and structural reforms for the past few years. The impact of several initiatives is transforming the Saudi economy, workplaces, social life, among others. Women and youth are at the center of this profound change. Women's role is an integral part of this transformation. How women's position is evolving in Saudi Arabia? What is the foundation for future women leaders in the Kingdom? What are the opportunities and challenges? What is beyond the euphoria?

(Sessions and schedules are subject to change without prior notice)

Sarah Al Tamimi

Vice Chair of the National Committee to combat Human Trafficking & Deputy President of the Human Rights Commission

Ms. Al Tamimi has always been driven to be a catalyst for positive impact and is committed to bringing new solutions and an entrepreneurial mindset to her work. With a rich academic and professional background, spanning both public and private sectors, her work centers at the intersection of strategy, policy, and communication, and focuses on enhancing sustainable socio-economic development.

She currently serves as Deputy for the Saudi Human Rights Commission in charge of International Cooperation and Partnerships, and concurrently serves as Vice-Chair of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, where her work in crafting the Kingdom’s national anti-trafficking strategy, and overseeing its implementation, was recognized by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for its contribution to the fight against trafficking in Saudi Arabia and beyond.

In her previous capacity as Advisor to the Minister of Media, she established, incubated and headed the Center for International Communications, establishing the country's first international engagement platform of its kind. Prior to that, Ms. Al Tamimi served as Advisor to the Saudi Ambassador to Berlin, where her portfolio covered public affairs, strategic communications, and bilateral engagement across various fields including G20 engagement groups.

Ms. Al Tamimi served as an executive team member at the  Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), where she instituted and led International Operations, responsible for increasing the Authority’s global footprint through the establishment of 10 global offices. As the Strategy Officer of SAGIA’s National Competitiveness Centre, she championed and oversaw various public- and private-sector initiatives to increase competitiveness in the country. She also co-created the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils with U.S.A. Council on Competitiveness, establishing SAGIA as one of the founding organizational members. In addition, she served as part of the SAGIA- founded Global Competitiveness Forum's leadership team, which CNN declared as the global stop before Davos in 2010.

Ms. Al Tamimi holds an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and an MBA from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she is a Sloan Fellow in Global Leadership and Innovation. She has an MSc in International Management for Middle East North Africa from SOAS University of London, and a BA in International Relations from Tufts University. She has frequently represented her country as part of government delegations and at various international and intercultural fora.

Noor Nugali

Assistant Editor-in-Chief, Arab News

Noor Nugali is the Assistant Editor-in-Chief at Arab News, the Middle East’s leading English-language daily. She has successfully covered foreign policy, the diplomatic community, and has obtained several high-level interviews and exclusives for Arab News.

During the Saudi held presidency of the G20, she moderated  two panels: “G20: To reconnect the world” with HE Saudi minister of state, Adel Al-Aljubair and HE UAE minister of state, Reem Al-Hashimi. As well as, “Nordic Perspective: women’s empowerment.”

Nugali joined Arab News in October 2017. Prior to that, she had worked for three years at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She has also been a reporter and freelance feature writer for both the Saudi Gazette and The National, a UAE-based English daily. Nugali has also covered, moderated and participated as a panelist at several major events and forums in the Kingdom.

Nora Aldabal

Executive Director of Arts and Creative Industries at Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU)

With over 10 years of experience in the art industry ranging from acquisition to exhibition and museum design to experience innovation, Nora works on developing and expanding creative industries, developing cultural assets and establishing global partnerships to further RCU’s cultural strategy. Nora has led the planning, design, and development of Desert X AlUla—a curated art in the landscape exhibition in partnership with Desert X—and pioneered the first AlUla Design Award to enhance product design and development within AlUla. Currently, Nora is overseeing the implementation of RCU’s museum development strategy and large-scale permanent art installations.

Nora began her career in the art auction business then joined Ithra, the Dhahran-based international cultural hub, where she served as Head of Museums, managing the development of various galleries. She was part of the pilot team that launched a cultural diplomacy program to create an international platform to support Saudi talent globally. Her other initiatives included a creative solutions programme and international art exhibitions. In 2018 Nora joined the Saudi General Entertainment Authority as part of the sector development team with a focus on local content where she worked on key cultural diplomacy programs.

She holds a Master of Science in Arts Management from Boston University and a Bachelor of Science in Visual Communication from the American University of Sharjah.

Lama AlShethry

Editor-in-Chief, Sayidaty Magazine and AlJamila

Lama AlShethry is the Editor-in-Chief of Sayidaty Magazine and AlJamila, she holds a master's degree in marketing communications from Middlesex University in Dubai and a bachelor's degree in translation from King Saud University in Riyadh.

Prior to joining Sayidaty, Alshethry was the digital content manager at Hia magazine for 5 years. AlShethry’s experience in media includes print, electronic and digital platforms. She is an advocate of quality of content, and believes that media must be versatile in executing and delivering via various means.

Attend

Sarah Al Tamimi

Vice Chair of the National Committee to combat Human Trafficking & Deputy President of the Human Rights Commission

Ms. Al Tamimi has always been driven to be a catalyst for positive impact and is committed to bringing new solutions and an entrepreneurial mindset to her work. With a rich academic and professional background, spanning both public and private sectors, her work centers at the intersection of strategy, policy, and communication, and focuses on enhancing sustainable socio-economic development.

She currently serves as Deputy for the Saudi Human Rights Commission in charge of International Cooperation and Partnerships, and concurrently serves as Vice-Chair of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, where her work in crafting the Kingdom’s national anti-trafficking strategy, and overseeing its implementation, was recognized by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for its contribution to the fight against trafficking in Saudi Arabia and beyond.

In her previous capacity as Advisor to the Minister of Media, she established, incubated and headed the Center for International Communications, establishing the country's first international engagement platform of its kind. Prior to that, Ms. Al Tamimi served as Advisor to the Saudi Ambassador to Berlin, where her portfolio covered public affairs, strategic communications, and bilateral engagement across various fields including G20 engagement groups.

Ms. Al Tamimi served as an executive team member at the  Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), where she instituted and led International Operations, responsible for increasing the Authority’s global footprint through the establishment of 10 global offices. As the Strategy Officer of SAGIA’s National Competitiveness Centre, she championed and oversaw various public- and private-sector initiatives to increase competitiveness in the country. She also co-created the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils with U.S.A. Council on Competitiveness, establishing SAGIA as one of the founding organizational members. In addition, she served as part of the SAGIA- founded Global Competitiveness Forum's leadership team, which CNN declared as the global stop before Davos in 2010.

Ms. Al Tamimi holds an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and an MBA from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she is a Sloan Fellow in Global Leadership and Innovation. She has an MSc in International Management for Middle East North Africa from SOAS University of London, and a BA in International Relations from Tufts University. She has frequently represented her country as part of government delegations and at various international and intercultural fora.

Noor Nugali

Assistant Editor-in-Chief, Arab News

Noor Nugali is the Assistant Editor-in-Chief at Arab News, the Middle East’s leading English-language daily. She has successfully covered foreign policy, the diplomatic community, and has obtained several high-level interviews and exclusives for Arab News.

During the Saudi held presidency of the G20, she moderated  two panels: “G20: To reconnect the world” with HE Saudi minister of state, Adel Al-Aljubair and HE UAE minister of state, Reem Al-Hashimi. As well as, “Nordic Perspective: women’s empowerment.”

Nugali joined Arab News in October 2017. Prior to that, she had worked for three years at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She has also been a reporter and freelance feature writer for both the Saudi Gazette and The National, a UAE-based English daily. Nugali has also covered, moderated and participated as a panelist at several major events and forums in the Kingdom.

Nora Aldabal

Executive Director of Arts and Creative Industries at Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU)

With over 10 years of experience in the art industry ranging from acquisition to exhibition and museum design to experience innovation, Nora works on developing and expanding creative industries, developing cultural assets and establishing global partnerships to further RCU’s cultural strategy. Nora has led the planning, design, and development of Desert X AlUla—a curated art in the landscape exhibition in partnership with Desert X—and pioneered the first AlUla Design Award to enhance product design and development within AlUla. Currently, Nora is overseeing the implementation of RCU’s museum development strategy and large-scale permanent art installations.

Nora began her career in the art auction business then joined Ithra, the Dhahran-based international cultural hub, where she served as Head of Museums, managing the development of various galleries. She was part of the pilot team that launched a cultural diplomacy program to create an international platform to support Saudi talent globally. Her other initiatives included a creative solutions programme and international art exhibitions. In 2018 Nora joined the Saudi General Entertainment Authority as part of the sector development team with a focus on local content where she worked on key cultural diplomacy programs.

She holds a Master of Science in Arts Management from Boston University and a Bachelor of Science in Visual Communication from the American University of Sharjah.

Lama AlShethry

Editor-in-Chief, Sayidaty Magazine and AlJamila

Lama AlShethry is the Editor-in-Chief of Sayidaty Magazine and AlJamila, she holds a master's degree in marketing communications from Middlesex University in Dubai and a bachelor's degree in translation from King Saud University in Riyadh.

Prior to joining Sayidaty, Alshethry was the digital content manager at Hia magazine for 5 years. AlShethry’s experience in media includes print, electronic and digital platforms. She is an advocate of quality of content, and believes that media must be versatile in executing and delivering via various means.

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