Faisal J. Abbas is the Editor-in-Chief of the Riyadh-based leading Middle East English language daily, Arab News. 

Under his leadership, Arab News (established 1975) relaunched with a more global, more digital direction. It has expanded its international presence through a large network of correspondents and a number of regional bureaus across the world. 

Prior to joining the newspaper in 2016, Abbas has been the Editor-in-Chief of the Dubai-based English language service of Al Arabiya News Channel. 

Abbas is a renowned columnist on Arab-international affairs and has also conducted interviews with a number of world leaders. He appears regularly on international media to comment on regional affairs. 

Abbas has previously written for The Huffington Post and worked with both Asharq Al Awsat and Al Hayat pan-Arab dailies, Future Television of Lebanon and the International Resource Journal in London. 

He has been the recipient of many media awards, including the Next Century Foundation’s Cutting-Edge Award (2009) for efforts in bridging the communication gap between the West and the Arab World and British Council’s UK alumni “Social Impact” award in Saudi Arabia (2017). 

He holds a master’s degree from the University of Westminster and a bachelor degree from the Lebanese American University. He is also a graduate of the Executive Education Program of the Harvard Kennedy School, where he studied Global Leadership and Public Policy. 

Abbas is a member of the editorial board of Al Arabiya News Channel, an associate fellow of the Cambridge Union Society and a member of the British Society of Authors. 

In 2017, he published his first Arabic book called ‘Arabi/Englizi’ which describes London through Arab eyes. 

Julien is also the Founder & CEO of Special Edition, a Content Creation company that operates across the GCC on content creation and events. Special Edition manages content creation and event for prestigious brands like the French edition of Arab News, Top CEO, TRENDS and other prestigious regional clients.

Born in Beirut, Julien spent most of his life in Paris, France. He completed his early studies in Paris and holds an Economics degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois (USA). Julien launched the publishing and media company Mediaquest in 1997 with his brother, Alexandre Hawari. Currently, Julien is a Board of Director for Mediaquest.

Julien site on the board of Wemind, a technology platform that combines loyalty, big data, and A.I. Wemind leverages consumption to fuel the impact economy. It aims at expending the financial system through repurposing electronic payments toward social initiatives.

Julien’s professional achievements include launching multiple brands in the region, north Africa and Europe. Among them TRENDS, the leading English-language international magazine on Arab affairs, Saneou al Hadath, redesigning Arabies… transforming the company into a powerful player in the Middle East and North Africa. Mediaquest quickly expanded to a powerhouse with the launch of Haya MBC, Marie Claire Arabia, Communicate in association with Advertising Age, and many other media brands. Mediaquest acquired brands as well like GMR, AMEinfo, Raceweek, F1, Policy and many other brands. He has played a key role in the expansion of Mediaquest and the opening of the media company’s offices in Dubai, Beirut, Riyadh, Algiers, Tunis and Paris.

With strong experience in building and growing startups in the Middle East and North Africa region, he managed the launch and growth of Mediaquest across the region and across digital and traditional platforms along with event management.

He played a crucial role in establishing iconic business events such as annual conference on the business of luxury – arab luxury world. He has also steered the efforts to institute annual TOP CEO conference & awards – a transparent and audited rankings of the chief executives of the GCC-listed companies – with the aim of celebrating Arab business leadership and promoting corporate governance in cooperation with INSEAD Business School.

Through his unique management style, Julien has nurtured and mentored several people in the organization who have now become the pillars of strength and leaders in their own right.

A regular attendee of World Economic Forum Davos Conference, Julien is well versed in the global business and technology trends along with having thought provoking insights on the world around us.

Experienced in building and federating stakeholders to create value is associated with a strong focus on execution and results.

Julien is passionate about digital media, social innovation, Arab youth issues and world developments.

Dr. Christiane Schloderer serves as Board member and CFO to NEXSYS-ONE, a SaaS company based in Dubai. NEXSYS-ONE provides software solutions (SaaS) for the Telecom's and other related industries globally. She is contributing to the company’s scalable and international growth with financial, strategic and governance experience.

She is Chairwomen of the Board of Trustees of the German International School in Abu Dhabi and Board Member and interim CFO for an international SaaS company.

Christiane has founded Growth Partners, a niche consulting company, focusing on strategy, governance, and financial performance. Growth Partners works with Owners, Boards and Management, particularly of family businesses and owner led businesses. Projects covered include trading, e-commerce, software, manufacturing, and project management companies in various industries from telecom, food and beverage, digital marketing, fashion and cleantech. This included a transformation project at a family business in KSA.

Christiane was a board member of Rolaco Group, a Saudi based family company. Christiane worked closely with the family in bridging between family mission and company’s needs. She was involved in major restructurings of the governance structure.

Prior, she was the CFO at Nokia Al Saudia, a Riyadh based Joint Venture of Nokia and a Saudi family. Part of her role was to align strategy and governance between the two partners. During her tenure the company grew from 500 to 1000 employees. She held further positions as turnaround manager and senior advisor structured finance in Nokia Siemens Networks.

Christiane is the UAE ambassador of INSEAD’s global International Director Network (IDN), a network of around 30 qualified directors locally and 1000+ globally. She is a certified INSEAD International Director (IDP-C) with INSEAD Alumna status, received a doctoral degree from the University of Federal Armed Forces Munich in Germany (thesis on innovation management), and holds a master-equivalent degree in business administration with specialization in corporate finance and tax from the European Business School in Germany.

Vanessa Eastham Fisk is a full time Independent Non-Executive, currently sitting on boards at ABC International Bank plc, UK; ila Bank, Bahrain; Almarai Company, KSA; Banque Saudi Fransi, KSA; Special Advisor to the AlOmran family KSA and Independent supervisory board member of the family office, Narmo Capital and most recently she has joined the board of TPL REIT Management Co Ltd, Pakistan.

Vanessa focuses on companies which have a strong innovation and/or transformation agenda, with her current portfolio spanning both traditional and new digital enterprises. In particular she has a keen interest in those businesses deploying newer technologies to gain competitive advantage and is an active Board Advisor and Mentor to a number of the Middle East’s emerging Fintech and Regtech start-ups.

Prior to pursuing a non-executive career, Vanessa spent over 20 years in a wide variety of Senior Executive Director positions across multiple geographies.  During 18 years at Barclays Bank PLC, Vanessa undertook roles of Chief Operating Officer & Chief Risk Officer for the Middle East; Director of Strategy & Transformation at Gerrard Investment Management Ltd; Chief Risk Officer for the Corporate Bank and Head of the Regional UK Leveraged Finance businesses. More recently Vanessa spent 5 years as Wholesale Banking Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer for Standard Chartered Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan.

Vanessa graduated with a BA Hons in Accountancy and Finance from Huddersfield University, undertook her post grad in Leadership Studies at Exeter University and after leaving Standard Chartered completed the International Executive Programme in Global Corporate Governance at Insead Business School, Fontainebleau, Paris. For the last 3 years, Vanessa has also been a visiting guest speaker on the Insead Executive MBA program, Corporate Governance module.

Michael is a growth and innovation focused senior executive with global executive board expertise, who combines the agility and spirit of startups with proven corporate governance & best practices to amplify business growth and to guide public & private healthcare entities towards a consumer-centric healthcare provision, enabled by technology. Bridging the worlds of technology and healthcare, Michael worked over a decade for Cerner Corp. in leadership roles in EMEA and is currently leading the healthcare advisory & investment firm Anvano. He holds an MBA from INSEAD, and a B.Sc. from the University of Applied Sciences Karlsruhe. He sits on several advisory boards, is a thought after keynote speaker and active in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, as he firmly believes that digital partnerships and ecosystems are imperative to transform healthcare in the most impactful way.

Paritosh is our Head of Blockchain/Cryptocurrency services.  His role includes overseeing all functions at the firm, including risk and management consulting, audit and tax, with respect to the impact the technology has on our clients.  He is also an Audit Partner in KPMG’s Financial Services Practice and the Audit Innovation Leader for the Lower Gulf, and specializes in banking and asset management, serving a wide range of clients.  He was previously a Partner with KPMG in Canada, where he held similar roles, including National Leader for Blockchain.   He specialized in banking and asset management, serving a wide range of clients from a large Schedule 1 bank in Canada to trust companies, fintech companies, hedge and mutual funds. Paritosh joined KPMG in Canada in 2004 and was previously with KPMG in Zambia.

Paritosh is the lead partner at KPMG Lower Gulf for any offerings relating to Blockchain/Cryptocurrency technology solutions to clients in the Lower Gulf.   Since he joined the Lower Gulf, he has been involved in assisting many cryptocurrency exchanges register with the regulators, with internal audit, technology governance reviews, cyber.  He is also in the middle of starting up a crypto community in the UAE, with key stakeholders as members.

Prior to this, he held a similar role with KPMG in Canada where he was involved in discussions and provision of services to clients on how blockchain technology could impact them, positioning applicable use cases for major clients including consortiums, providing overview of governance structures.  He ws also responsible for liaising with our key alliances, such as IBM, Microsoft and other technology firms to assess potential collaboration for blockchain projects with clients.   Paritosh also used to sit on the Ontario Securities Commission’s FinTech Advisory Committee.

Paritosh was also instrumental in driving acceptance of crypto related activities in the Canadian firm.  Paritosh was the lead partner on one of the public listed crypto engagements, one of the first to be accepted by any big four in Canada.  He was also key in KPMG being appointed as a technical advisor by one of the Canadian regulators in the industry.  He also sat on the CPA Canada Task force for crypto related activities.

Paritosh has experience in servicing large financial institutions globally. He is also an audit partner in Financial Services and is spearheading audits of some large banks in the UAE.   He was also one of the engagement partners on Canada’s five largest financial institutions and has been very involved in some of the challenges and issues facing the financial services industry.  Paritosh’ s clients include large Banks, including Schedule 1, 2 and 3 banks in Canada and Banks abroad.  His experience includes personal and commercial banking, credit risk and wealth management.  He has also been involved with the Bank’s securities offerings.  Paritosh has also been previously involved with the audit of Canadian-based custodian, CIBC Mellon Trust Company, and also with the audit of Canada’s primary securities clearing agency, Canadian Depository for Securities Limited.

Paritosh has years of experience with investment funds, including Canadian reporting issuer funds, in particular exchange traded funds, pooled funds, hedge funds, U.S. and offshore hedge funds and private equity funds.

Paritosh is also the Audit Innovation Leader.  The role includes keeping abreast of new technologies, understanding the impacts they are having on our clients, including regulatory, and the impact they would have on the audit and accounting profession.

Saqr Mashhor Ereiqat is a consultant focusing on fintech, blockchain solutions, healthcare, and innovation management. A thirteen-year veteran of IBM in Middle East and Africa, he is the former Head of Public Sector Consultancy in Dubai, where is recognized as a pioneer in enterprise blockchain, being a co-author of the first IBM blockchain for government methodology and helped define the official government blockchain strategy of Dubai. While at IBM, Saqr led projects in 23 countries across Europe, Middle East & Africa where he worked with both public and private sector entities to define, create, and implement their blockchain strategies.

Former clients include DHL, Shell, Airtel, Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA), Smart Dubai Government and The Prime Minister's Office. In the field of healthcare, Saqr has advised several large hospital conglomerates on their technology strategy and set up the National Health Lab for Emerging Technology for the Saudi Arabian Government.

Since 2021 Saqr serves on the Advisory Board of the Global Innovation Institute. He is currently working with the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC), the Arab Youth Center, and the Founder Institute as a mentor supporting start-ups in the region. As of 2022 he is part of founding Crypto Oasis Team, defining the largest blockchain ecosystem in the region.

Franck Mandon is an emerging technologies consultant specialized in brand development. Over his over 25 years experience in digital media and innovating industries, across UK, Lebanon, France and Belgium, he’s always been eager to build and share the next brand experience; one that makes sense, that shapes the way we engage and communicate with society.

Franck has been an early believer in the potential of blockchain technology and NFTs to better serve the creator economy. He provides today his expertise to develop, and evaluate strategic opportunities for companies willing to join the Web3.0 bandwagon.

Prakash is a serial Entrepreneur from Singapore who has built and sold companies.

He is currently the CEO and cofounder of Enjinstarter. A launchpad focused on Blockchain Gaming, Entertainment and the Metaverse. They have invested into more than 50 companies and have helped 40 of them to raise capital via their launchpad. They have raised more than USD$ 10.5M since inception in April 2021.

Prakash is a passionate ecosystem builder who believes in the value of establishing solid relationships in mutually beneficial partnerships.

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.

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.

Fady Kassatly is a Partner with KPMG in the Middle East and leader of the firm’s Digital and Innovation Solution Group in the Lower Gulf.

Mr. Kassatly has more than 26 years of strategy, business and technology experience, gained through various consulting engagements in North America, Europe, and the Middle East. Today, he draws upon this vast experience to advise top government leaders and senior business executives on a variety of topics.

In his advisory capacity Mr. Kassatly has led major engagements focused on business strategy, new operating models, governance,

and organization restructuring. Over the last 12 years, his focus has been mostly on digital transformation, innovation, e-government, smart government, as well as ICT. He also led projects focusing on the design and implementation of Enterprise Solutions such as ERP and CRM, with a focus on Cloud and shared services.

Further adding to this skill set, Mr. Kassatly is highly experienced in performance management, HR transformation, and PMO institutionalization and management. In the customer management context, customer strategy, customer engagement and relationship management also feature amongst his areas of expertise, along with social media, change management across various sectors, with a particular focus on the public sector.

Prior to joining KPMG in 2020, key highlights of Mr. Kassatly’s career comprised of senior leadership positions including Senior Vice President and Partner at Booz Allen Hamilton, senior principal at Booz & Company and prior to that senior management consultant with Deloitte Consulting from 1999 to 2006 in Montreal. Since 2011, he has been a member of the Young Arab Leaders organization.

an MSc. in management science from HEC Montréal and a BComm. in

management from McGill University.

Director of Sorbonne Centre for Artificial Intelligence Abu Dhabi, and founder of DataXchange, Valerie Hawley brings over 12 years’ experience in disruptive innovation based on technology adoption. Working in the UAE for 10 years, she generates practical solutions to complex issues, utilising her knowledge of AI, digitalisation and innovation. She is founding partner Middle East of True Global Ventures, and sits on the Academic Board of the Masters of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at HEC Paris. As Head of Innovation at Daman, she successfully implemented architect-productive partnerships with Plug&Play, DOH and ADGM. As part of The Change Initiative, she received the LEED Platinum Prestigious Award for Most Sustainable Building in the World, with the design and implementation of a “living laboratory” retail space for sustainable building solutions and eco-friendly products. Hawley is a multi-faceted entrepreneur, lecturer and advisor with experience across emerging and established markets.

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.

Noah Raford is currently the Futurist-in-Chief and Chief of Global Affairs for the Dubai Future Foundation. He is responsible for identifying emerging opportunities, strategic partnerships, and future initiatives for the Government of Dubai, as well as leading the Foundation’s thought leadership and partnerships activities.

Previously, Noah was the Chief Operating Officer of the Dubai Future Foundation and Acting Executive Director of the Museum of the Future. He was also an advisor on futures, foresight, and innovation in the UAE Prime Minister’s Office, a senior strategy consultant at Monitor / GBN, Co-founder of the technology foresight company Futurescaper, the North American Director for Space Syntax Limited, and the Senior Research Advisor to Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment.

Some the work-related projects he has lead recently include:

The Museum of the Future
The Dubai Global Blockchain Council
The Dubai Future Accelerators
The “Office of the Future”; the world’s first fully functional 3D printed building
The Dubai 3D Printing Strategy
The Dubai Autonomous Transportation Strategy
The Dubai Future Academy
The UAE Drones for Good Award
The UAE Robotics for Good Award
Noah completed his PhD at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), his masters at the Bartlett School of Architecture, and his undergraduate degree at Brown University. He has served as a member World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Agenda Council on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, a Senior Research Fellow at the London School of Economics, a fellow at the Bartlett School of Architecture, and as a member of the International Futures Forum.