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Step Dubai 2026 Speakers

More will be announced soon!

Timothy Draper

Draper Associates

Timothy Draper

Draper Associates

Tim Draper founded Draper Associates, DFJ and the Draper Venture Network, a global network of venture capital funds. Funded Coinbase, Baidu, Tesla, Skype, SpaceX, Twitch, Hotmail, Focus Media, Robinhood, Athenahealth, Box, Cruise Automation, Carta, Planet, PTC and 15 other unicorns from early/first rounds.

Fadi Ghandour

Wamda Capital

Fadi Ghandour

Wamda Capital

Fadi Ghandour is the Executive Chairman of Wamda Group, a platform that invests, nurtures and builds entrepreneurship eco-systems across the Middle East and North Africa. Mr. Ghandour is also the Founder of Aramex, one of the leading global logistics companies. Mr. Ghandour spent the first 30 years of his work life as CEO of Aramex, building the company, making it the leading emerging market logistics company, employing over 15,000 people working in over 250 offices in 90 countries. He took the company public twice, first on Nasdaq making it the first company from the Arab world to do so, then on Dubai Financial market. He continues to be active on the Aramex board. Mr. Ghandour is a serial entrepreneur. In his career, he was involved with founding, investing and launching tens of companies and non-profits, ranging from digital tech, hospitality, fitness & wellness. Passionate about impact and social entrepreneurship, Mr. Ghandour founded and chairs Ruwwad for Development, a private sector led community empowerment platform that helps marginalized communities, across several countries in the MENA region, overcome marginalization through activism, civic engagement, education and financial inclusion. Mr. Ghandour also served and continues to serve on several global and regional boards of companies, education institutions and non-profits.

HE. Mothanna Gharaibeh

The Fifth

HE. Mothanna Gharaibeh

The Fifth

“H.E. Mothanna Gharaibeh is CEO of the Fifth, a semiconductor IP design company focused on edge AI enablement. Gharaibeh served as Jordan’s Minister of Investment (2024–2025), playing a key role in executing the Economic Modernization Vision. During his tenure, FDI inflows grew by 36.4% in H1 2025; nearly 20 factories per month were built or expanded; and Amman Stock Exchange trading volumes nearly tripled, with the ASE ranked 13th globally by Bloomberg. Earlier, as Minister of ICT (2018–2020), he led the creation of Jordan’s first Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, doubled the BPO sector, increased digital government transactions by 580% YoY, enacted landmark policies including the Cybersecurity Law and Open APIs Policy, and launched the $200 million Youth, Technology and Jobs program. During COVID-19, he mobilized the ICT ecosystem to deliver nationwide online education, telemedicine, blockchain permits, and digital delivery services. He is currently Non-Executive Chairman of Valu, the publicly listed fintech company in Egypt, as it expands into Jordan.”

Ronaldo Muchawar

Amazon

Ronaldo Muchawar

Amazon

Ronaldo Mouchawar is an entrepreneur and a pioneer of ecommerce in the Middle East and Africa. He is best known as the co-founder and former CEO of Souq.com, which he scaled into the region’s largest ecommerce retailer in the Arab world – leading to its $580M acquisition by Amazon in 2017, marking a historic moment for the region’s world’s tech ecosystem. He now serves as Vice President of Amazon Middle East, Africa, and Turkey, leading Amazon’s business across the region, guided by principles of customer obsession, innovation, operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Mouchawar led the launch of Amazon.ae (2019), Amazon.sa (2020), and Amazon.eg (2021), followed by the rollout of Amazon Prime in the UAE (2019), Saudi Arabia (2021), and Egypt (2022). A champion for localized innovation, he ensured Arabic became a cornerstone of the customer experience, setting a new standard for tech localization in the region. Building on this commitment to Arabic language and culture, Mouchawar spearheaded the establishment of the Digital Arabic Library in 2025, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism. He also introduced Amazon Now in the UAE, the company’s fastest delivery service globally, delivering in 15 minutes. He serves on advisory bodies including: Dubai Future Council on Artificial Intelligence, Dubai Future Academy Board of Trustees, Board of Directors of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, and Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park.

Noor Sweid

Global Ventures

Noor Sweid

Global Ventures

“Noor is the Founder and Managing Partner of Global Ventures, a leading venture capital firm based in the UAE, investing across the Middle East and Africa (currently deploying from Fund III). Prior to launching Global Ventures in 2018, Noor was the Chief Investment Officer at The Dubai Future Foundation. Before her tenure at DFF, she successfully scaled two companies. The first was Depa, initially her family business and ultimately the world’s largest interior company, which she listed on the LSE and NASDAQ in April 2008 in a billion-dollar IPO. The second company was ZenYoga, the region’s first yoga studio, which became the largest yoga and wellness chain, and which she exited to a PE firm in 2014. Noor is frequently featured as an authoritative voice on venture capital in the region by Bloomberg, CNN, and Forbes. She has appeared on the covers of Entrepreneur ME and Womenpreneur ME and has been cited by Forbes as one of the “”World’s Top 50 Women in Tech”” and “The Middle East’s Top Venture Capitalists.” She has also been recognized by Arabian Business as one of the “”Top 100 Most Influential Arab Women”” and is a judge on Shark Tank Dubai. She is an MIT Sloan 2005 alumni, Aspen Fellow, Kauffman Fellow and YGL. Noor is the author of the book, ‘Coming of Age: How Technology and Entrepreneurship are Changing the Face of MENA’, and is a strong advocate for founders in the region, helping them scale their businesses into global success stories.”

Prashant K. (PK) Gulati

The Smart Start Fund | TiE Dubai

Prashant K. (PK) Gulati

The Smart Start Fund | TiE Dubai

Prashant K. Gulati (PK), Entrepreneur | Technology Evangelist Founder, The Assembly; Founder, SmartStart Fund Prashant K. Gulati (popularly known as PK) is an entrepreneur, idea accelerator, angel investor, mentor and writer with interests in innovation, startups, entrepreneurship, technology, mobility, wireless, intelligent buildings, online media and more. In addition to serving on boards of several startups and community initiatives, PK is an active Angel and early stage investor with a nose for fresh ideas. He is a mentor, providing guidance and advice to founders at various levels. He has been associated with a large number of successful startups and has an active portfolio in the US, Middle East, and India. PK has also been an influencer in the technology community in the Middle East, Silicon Valley, as well as the Indian subcontinent. He is well-connected with technology leaders and influencers of the region and is a respected voice and a trend spotter for leading-edge technological innovation. A postgraduate with Honours in Computer Science and Management, PK has been residing in Dubai for more than 20 years.

Walid Mansour

MEVP

Walid Mansour

MEVP

Walid is the co-founder and co-CEO of MEVP, with deep roots in the MENA VC and technology ecosystem dating back to 2006. He has played a hands-on role in building, scaling, and exiting multiple VC funds and tech companies, and actively serves as a board member and advisor across regional and global technology businesses. His background spans public policy, strategy consulting, and industrial and software engineering. Walid holds a Master’s in Industrial Engineering from INSA Lyon and an MBA from Wharton.

Dr. Marwan Alzarouni

Department of Economy & Tourism

Dr. Marwan Alzarouni

Department of Economy & Tourism

Dr. Marwan Al Zarouni is a leading figure in emerging technologies, serving as CEO of AI for Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and the CEO of Dubai Blockchain Center (DBCC). His appointment is part of Dubai’s ambitious ‘Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence’, which aims to position the city as a global leader in AI innovation and implementation. In his role at DET, Dr. Al Zarouni works closely with both the public and private sector to roll out policies and initiatives to harness AI to enhance the quality of life for Dubai’s residents and enrich visitor experiences. As the CEO of Dubai Blockchain Center (DBCC), he has been instrumental in driving blockchain adoption in the region. With over two decades of experience in technology, information security, digital forensics, and AI, he has driven significant advancements in blockchain adoption and AI innovation. As a founding member of the Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC) and the Artificial Intelligence Ethical Committee (AIEC), Dr. Al Zarouni is recognized globally, including being named one of the top 100 influential figures in blockchain and cryptocurrencies by CoinTelegraph in 2022. His contributions to the field have also earned him a place as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Cryptocurrencies from 2020 to 2021.

Janet George

Mastercard

Janet George

Mastercard

Janet George is the Executive Vice President of Artificial Intelligence at Mastercard, where she leads the company’s AI Center of Excellence. She develops hybrid AI platforms and foundational capabilities that enable teams across the organization to embed advanced AI into products, services, and operations, driving innovation and measurable impact at scale. A recognized leader in generative and agentic AI, Janet has spent her career building enterprise AI platforms, model serving systems, and data infrastructures that accelerate digital transformation across industries. Her work centers on simplifying complex technology and translating breakthrough AI advances into practical, scalable solutions. Before joining Mastercard, she held senior executive roles at Intel as Corporate Vice President of Datacenter & AI, as well as leadership positions at Oracle, Western Digital, Yahoo, eBay, Apple, and Accenture Technology Labs. Janet serves on the board of Mara and the Scientific Advisory Board of Gandeeva Therapeutics and previously served on the board of NanoString Technologies.

Adeo Ressi

Decile Group

Adeo Ressi

Decile Group

Adeo Ressi is CEO of Decile Group, powering the next generation of venture capital firms worldwide with an integrated offering of training, tools, support, and funding. Decile Group is the parent of the VC Lab venture capital accelerator, which helped to launch over 50% of all new manager firms in the last couple of years. Adeo is also Chairman at the Founder Institute, a pre-seed accelerator with chapters in over 250 cities worldwide and over 8,000 portfolio companies.

FARIHA ANSARI

STRIDE VENTURES

FARIHA ANSARI

STRIDE VENTURES

Fariha is the Partner for the GCC region and the Global Head of Capital Formation at Stride Ventures, leveraging 24 years of extensive experience in finance, insurance, and government across the US, Europe, and APAC. In her current role, she leads capital formation efforts and manages global investor relations for INR and USD funds, playing a critical role in driving Stride’s growth and strategic funding initiatives. Her career was shaped by a decade of intensive experience on Wall Street in the early 2000s, where she developed strong financial discipline and expertise working as an underwriter at AIG and Zurich Insurance. During this period, she managed multi-billion-dollar portfolios for US clients, specializing in complex international property and large-scale reinsurance placements, demonstrating exceptional analytical skills and risk management capabilities. Beyond Wall Street, Fariha has contributed as an Advisor to the Turkish Prime Minister’s Investment Agency and was a Founding Director at Lightspeed’s The Common Room. Before joining Stride, she held the position of Chief Strategy Officer at Toffee Insurance, leading strategic initiatives in the insurtech space. Fariha holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Quantitative Economics from Mount Holyoke College and is an alumnus of Harvard Business School, where she remains actively engaged on the Alumni Board and the HBS Club of India Board.

Alain Bejjani

Business Leader & Investor

Alain Bejjani

Business Leader & Investor

Alain Bejjani is a globally recognized business leader, investor, and strategic advisor focused on building high-impact ventures across the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. Formerly the CEO of Majid Al Futtaim, where he led the group to USD 9.4 billion in revenues and pioneered the region’s first green sukuk, he now leads thought leadership initiatives that elevate entrepreneurship and modern leadership. Based in Dubai, Alain serves on the Atlantic Council’s International Board and remains an influential voice in global economic dialogue, sustainable finance, and cross-border collaboration. Through his work, he continues to connect capital, talent, and opportunity to drive long-term, inclusive growth across emerging markets.

Osman Sultan

Convrz AI

Osman Sultan

Convrz AI

-What you see: – Independant Board Member – Serial Investor – Restructuring Architect – Transformation Advisor The other Side of the moon – Storyteller – Knowledge seeker – Author: The future is young, Learning in the times of AI The Journey in Milestones – 2020 to date: Founder & Chairman, Fikratech (AI Everywhere) – 2006 to 2019: Founding CEO du, (Add life to Life) – 1998 to 2005: Founding CEO Mobinil, (A Mobile in the Hand of Everyone) – 1994 to 1997: President Questel Orbit Inc, (The birth of the Internet) – 1984 to 1994: Questel (Subsidiary of France Telecom), The Minitel, (The Ancestor of the Internet)

MAGNUS OLSSON

Careem Deliveries

MAGNUS OLSSON

Careem Deliveries

Magnus is Careem’s Chief AI Officer, responsible for overseeing the organisation’s artificial intelligence strategy and the AI-driven productivity and efficiency initiatives. Magnus co-founded Careem in 2012 with a vision to build something big and meaningful in the region. At Careem he has held several leadership roles overseeing product and technology strategy, including Chief Product Architect and Chief Experience Officer. Prior to founding Careem, Magnus spent five years as an engagement manager and strategy consultant at McKinsey & Company, focusing on high-tech, IT, and telecom clients. He launched his first IT consulting company at just 15 years old, providing a comprehensive range of products and services to SMEs. This early start laid the foundation for his future success, even before earning a Master of Science in Computer Science and Engineering from Lund University in Sweden. Magnus is a board member of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry where he chairs the Transformation Committee, a member of the Advisory Council of Dubai Chamber Digital, and a board member at Abu Dhabi School of Management. When not at Careem, Magnus spends significant time mentoring start-ups and supporting the tech ecosystem.

Rania Masri

The Giving Movement

Rania Masri

The Giving Movement

I am a strategic advisor and senior executive with 20+ years of experience leading transformation, growth, and brand innovation across media, retail, and luxury in MENA and emerging markets. My career has been devoted to building brands and experiences that shape culture, drive performance, and inspire people. Today, as CEO of The Giving Movement, I am focused on scaling a homegrown UAE brand to global relevance, strengthening its foundations, deepening its creative and community impact, and showcasing what Middle Eastern excellence can look like on the world stage. Alongside my executive work, I partner with boards, investors, family offices, and CEOs to unlock new opportunities, refine strategy, and deliver measurable, sustained value. My advisory experience includes market positioning, brand and product strategy, governance, transformation, and capital structuring. Over the years, I have launched and scaled flagship ventures such as Level Shoes, led transformation agendas inside major organizations, and guided leaders navigating growth, change, and investment decisions. My work blends creativity with commercial rigor, backed by two decades at the intersection of culture, consumers, and business.

Justin Liu

Genspark AI

Justin Liu

Genspark AI

Justin Liu is Co-Founder and Chief Architect at Genspark, the all-in-one AI Workspace set on helping 1B+ knowledge workers automate their busywork. A visionary builder and technology architect, Justin has designed the foundational systems that enable Genspark to scale from zero to tens of millions of users in weeks. His rare combination of deep expertise in distributed systems, software architecture, and scalable infrastructure has been instrumental in Genspark’s meteoric rise, as it achieved a $1.25 billion valuation and raised $435 million in funding from top-tier investors including Emergence Capital, LG Technology Ventures, and SBI Investment; making it one of the fastest-growing AI companies in history.

Armineh Baghoomian

Partners for Growth

Armineh Baghoomian

Partners for Growth

“Armineh is a Managing Director at Partners for Growth, serving as Head of Europe, Middle East, and Africa and Co-Head of Global Fintech. She leads the firm’s efforts in sourcing and structuring new transactions and working closely with portfolio companies across EMEA. Armineh launched PFG’s strategy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and, under her leadership, PFG closed its first deal in the region in 2020 and has since become one of the most active structured credit lenders to leading technology and fintech companies in the region. Armineh joined PFG in 2017, bringing more than two decades of experience across technology operations and investment. Prior to PFG, she spent 12 years as a CEO, COO, and Co-Founder of several global technology companies headquartered in the Bay Area. These include Solinea, a consulting firm serving Fortune 1000 enterprises; Treq Labs, which she helped lead through a successful acquisition by Sonus Networks; and Vello Systems, where she managed global finance and operations. She also has prior investment experience from her earlier career in growth equity. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University and is a board member of Lamsa, a leading EdTech company in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. She also serves as an advisor to funds, startups, and women in technology.”

Faisal Hammoud

Dubai Internet City & Dubai Outsource City

Faisal Hammoud

Dubai Internet City & Dubai Outsource City

Faisal Hammoud Director of Business Development Dubai Internet City Faisal Hammoud is Director of Business Development at Dubai Internet City and Dubai Outsource City, which together comprise the Tech Cluster of TECOM Group PJSC. Faisal is responsible for the growth and development of Dubai Internet City and plays an instrumental role in nurturing relationships with the district’s community to strengthen Dubai’s digital economy. As part of his mandate, he has supported global tech giants such as Microsoft, Huawei, Samsung, and Google in expanding their operations from Dubai Internet City, while attracting firms such as Meta, Salesforce, China Telecom, AXA Insurance, and Teleperformance to the district. Faisal plays a key role in nurturing the region’s entrepreneurial landscape through TECOM Group’s start-up incubator, in5 Tech, which has a dedicated innovation centre at Dubai Internet City and provides access to advisory, mentorship, creative facilities, and opportunities for growth.

Rana Nawas

Global Ventures

Rana Nawas

Global Ventures

Rana Nawas helps organisations sell, lead and communicate confidently in the AI era. A strategist, sales leader and storyteller, she turns complex ideas into simple, practical frameworks. Over 25 years on four continents, Rana led a US$1bn GE Capital business in the Middle East, advised CEOs at McKinsey’s London office and as a Partner at Oliver Wyman Dubai, and scaled a Houston logistics SaaS as Chief Revenue Officer of Velostics. She created When Women Win, the chart-topping podcast where global female leaders share the tactics behind their success, and hosted Bloomberg’s The Abu Dhabi Advantage. Rana is a Change Maker, Investor, Growth Leader, and her keynotes deliver tools grounded in data, brought to life with stories, and designed for immediate use.

Luca Barbi

STV

Luca Barbi

STV

Luca Barbi is General Partner and COO at STV, the largest technology venture capital fund in the MENA region with over $1.5B AUM. He leads the firm’s development, market research, and publication of the STV Insight Reports, and is a member of the investment committee, contributing to 40+ investment decisions and serving on several boards. Luca is deeply embedded in the Saudi and GCC tech ecosystem, engaging government entities, sovereign funds, global LPs, and top founders. Before STV, he was a Partner at BCG in the Middle East. Earlier, he worked in Transaction Services at PwC Milan. Luca holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Philip W. Braddock

Atlassian

Philip W. Braddock

Atlassian

Whether inside or outside the office, Philip is passionate about connecting with people in ways that are truly meaningful (not just tactical). He never hesitates to get up in front of a crowd, which his wife finds both admirable and embarrassing. When not at work, you can find him spending time with his family, traveling to new places or swimming, biking, running, or skiing — his own personal “quad-athalon”.

Zuhair Shamma

Zest Equity

Zuhair Shamma

Zest Equity

Zuhair is the Co-Founder and CEO of Zest Equity, a platform digitizing and streamlining private market transactions across Emerging Markets. He has over a decade of experience in investment banking and private equity, with exposure to over US$16 billion in transactions across diverse sectors. Prior to founding Zest, he held roles at UBS, Delta Partners, Dubai Holding, and Certares. Zuhair is committed to building best practice infrastructure that is automated, brings trust and transparency to private markets ecosystems across emerging markets.

Saeed Alnofeli

In5 Fz LLC

Saeed Alnofeli

In5 Fz LLC

Saeed Alnofeli is the Vice President of in5, incubating the regions largest startup community. Since 2020, he has played a pivotal role in driving innovation across Dubai’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. His leadership focuses on nurturing startups and supporting in5 members, transforming early-stage ideas into commercially viable ventures. Saeed’s extensive 15-year career spans commercial, telecommunications, technology, and command and control systems, positioning him as an expert in guiding startups from concept through to market success. Prior to joining in5, Saeed was a Programs Manager at the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), where he mentored and graduated over 100 startups at the pre-seed and seed stage. His entrepreneurial experience also includes being the Co-Founder and CEO of Jamalytic, a tech startup that introduced cutting-edge data analytics to the billion-dollar camel racing industry, further underscoring his commitment to advancing local innovation. Saeed holds a Master’s in Engineering Systems and Management with a specialization in technology management, innovation, and entrepreneurship from the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology. He also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Security and Network Technologies from Zayed University.

Paul Boots

Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA)

Paul Boots

Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA)

Head of Sector Development at the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), Paul Boots is a senior executive and entrepreneur recognised for his extensive experience in innovation, leadership, and market development. With a career spanning financial services, strategy, and technology, he has played a defining role in shaping the Middle East’s peer-to-peer financing sector. As the founding Group COO of Beehive, he helped pioneer one of the region’s first peer-to-peer lending platforms. His entrepreneurial work also includes co-founding a boutique advisory firm dedicated to leadership development and strategic transformation for major UAE-based organisations, with a particular focus on AI-driven technologies. A graduate of Babson College, he is deeply committed to leadership, entrepreneurship, and developing high-performance teams. His role at VARA reflects Dubai’s strategic ambitions under the D33 agenda, with his leadership in sector development positioned to help cement the Emirate as a global leader in the virtual assets domain. His blend of strategic vision and operational acumen continues to play a pivotal role as VARA shapes the future of virtual asset regulation and innovation.

Richard Fitzgerald

Augustus Media

Richard Fitzgerald

Augustus Media

Richard Fitzgerald, CEO and Founder of Augustus Media is a media advertising leader with over a decade of experience across Ireland, England, and the UAE. After leading the Social Media department at Mindshare MENA, he ventured into a creative technology start-up, highlighting his versatility and entrepreneurial spirit. In 2015, he founded Augustus Media, a pioneering ‘new media’ company behind platforms like Lovin’ and Smashi. Starting with Lovin Dubai, the local news and entertainment channel is now live in 35+ cities across the Middle East and North Africa. In addition, Smashi TV, telling inspiring stories for the driver, the dreamers and the doers, covers 13 verticals including Smashi Sports, Smashi Business and Smashi Entertainment. Augustus Media received the 2022 Fast Company Most Innovative Companies award for AI in media. Richard continues to redefine storytelling in the UAE and KSA, solidifying his status as a modern media trendsetter. He manages media investments through Fitzy Fund.

Ahmad AlZaini

Foodics

Ahmad AlZaini

Foodics

Ahmad AlZaini is the Co-Founder and CEO of Foodics, a leading Restaurant Operations and Fintech platform in Saudi Arabia. He co-founded the company in 2014 with a mission to reshape the F&B industry, expanding its reach to the UAE in 2017 to address the region’s operational challenges. Under his guidance, Foodics has become a catalyst for innovation in the MENA region, empowering businesses to thrive with cutting-edge technology. Ahmad is actively engaged in the tech startup ecosystem as both an advisor and an investor. His vision and achievements have earned him recognition, including the Forbes Award for Entrepreneurs Shaping Saudi Arabia’s Future and the Endeavor Global high-impact entrepreneur distinction.

Eamon Sallam

Elevision

Eamon Sallam

Elevision

Eamon is Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Elevision, where he leads the operational, data, and media strategy behind one of the region’s most established Digital Out-of-Home networks. With a background in finance and video production, he brings a cross-disciplinary perspective to how attention is earned, measured, and scaled in real-world environments. Over the past 15 years, Elevision has partnered with landmark developments including Emaar, DIFC, JBR and Nakheel, delivering context-rich media experiences across urban and in-venue screens. Eamon has been closely involved in Elevision’s evolution toward data-led planning, measurement, and programmatic DOOH, including the delivery of the first programmatic DOOH campaign in the MENA region. His work focuses on connecting creative, technology, and human insight to drive meaningful brand impact in an increasingly fragmented attention economy.

Cathy Hackl

Future Dynamics

Cathy Hackl

Future Dynamics

Cathy Hackl is a globally recognized tech & gaming exec, futurist, & speaker focused on spatial computing, virtual worlds, augmented reality, AI, & gaming platforms strategy. She’s the co-CEO of Future Dynamics, a spatial computing and AI solutions company & a top tech voice on LinkedIn. She’s the creator of the Tech Intimacy Scale and is currently conducting research and experiments on AI and the future of love and relationships.Hackl has worked at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Magic Leap, and HTC VIVE and has worked with companies like Nike, Ralph Lauren, Walmart, Louis Vuitton, & Clinique on their emerging tech & gaming journeys. As a sought-after keynote speaker, she’s spoken at Harvard Business School, MIT, SXSW, Comic-Con, WEF, CES, MWC, & more. She’s one of Ad Age’s Leading Women of 2023, was featured on the cover of Forbes Latam’s 100 Most Powerful Women 2023 issue, and is on the Vogue Business 100 Innovators inaugural list. She hosts Adweek’s highly successful TechMagic podcast and is popularly known in tech circles as the Godmother of the Metaverse. Cathy has been a fixture in the world of immersive technology for almost a decade with many media appearances in CNBC’s Squawk Box, 60 Minutes, CNN, Good Morning America, GQ, Time, The Economist, Bloomberg, and is a guest editor for Vogue Singapore. In 2022, she became the first human to ring NASDAQ’s opening bell and open the financial markets both in physical and avatar form while doing so on live television.

Ayush Pateria

RocketSDR

Ayush Pateria

RocketSDR

Ayush Pateria is the Founder and CEO of RocketSDR, a YC-backed AI-native outbound platform helping B2B teams run highly personalized sales outreach at scale. Previously, Ayush worked in Silicon Valley and has built and scaled multiple startups across AI, SaaS, and healthcare. At RocketSDR, he focuses on rethinking outbound sales from first principles—combining real-time prospecting, deep research, intent signals, and deliverability-first infrastructure to enable autonomous AI SDRs. His work sits at the intersection of applied AI, growth engineering, and modern go-to-market strategy. Ayush is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and regularly works with fast-growing startups and enterprises on building scalable, high-signal outbound engines.

Daniel Shepherd

Omnicom Media

Daniel Shepherd

Omnicom Media

When we do our work well, we mirror culture. Done brilliantly, our work shapes culture”. This encapsulates what drives Dan Shepherd, Omnicom Media Group’s Chief Strategy Officer for MENA. In this role, he capitalises on his decade of strategic thinking, planning creative and effective campaigns and integrating tech and AI in the way agencies work in the region. His mission is to ensure the group’s agencies produce work with a meaningful impact on society and consumers. One of his proudest achievements is the successful launch of Saudi Tourism, most of it during the COVID crisis. Much of his work on other major local and international brands, such as Unilever, HSBC or VW Group, has also been recognised with trophies at industry festivals. Dan has become a trusted source of local, regional and international thought leadership, contributing numerous content pieces, speaking at conferences or sharing his views in the press. Dan is widely regarded as an expert on the future of the agency and the impact of tech on consumers, brands and the media. After studying Politics at university in London, he joined the marketing industry in a digital role where the analytical and critical thinking skills he developed during his studies proved invaluable and have remained so since. This foundational experience paved the way for his deep understanding of the evolving consumer behaviour. After honing his digital skills for five years in the UK, he moved to PHD in Dubai to lead the Unilever digital business across the region and, later, the regional strategic agenda for the agency and its clients. He then became co-managing director of PHD in MENA before being promoted again to Chief Strategic Officer at Omnicom Media Group.

Moe Abeidat

Future Tech Advisory

Moe Abeidat

Future Tech Advisory

Moe Abeidat is a technology and AI advisor and former Group CTO at Aramex, with experience spanning large enterprises, startups, and government. He has worked with senior leadership in Jordan and the UAE, including the Prime Ministry, the Crown Prince’s Office, and UAE government entities, on large-scale digital and AI transformation initiatives. Moe focuses on practical AI strategy, operating models, and execution that deliver measurable outcomes

Sam Huber

Napster

Sam Huber

Napster

Sam Huber is the Global President of Enterprise and CEO of MENA at Napster. Previously, Sam was the CEO of Landvault, a metaverse infrastructure company acquired by Infinite Reality for $450m. Sam founded the company in 2018 under the name Admix, a gaming company pioneering product placement technology in games, which raised $40m and rebranded to Landvault in 2022. An early Bitcoin investor since 2013 and one of the first land owners in the metaverse in 2017, he has since invested in over 20 companies, mainly in Web3. Before this, Sam’s first venture was an indie game studio. In a previous life, he was an engine strategy engineer for Mercedes Formula One, responsible for Lewis Hamilton engine strategy following a degree in Physics and Engineering.

Hisham Alsaleh

AAJIL

Hisham Alsaleh

AAJIL

Cofounder of Aajil. Treasury specialist with 7 years of experience in fixed income at leading Saudi financial institutions, including a Saudi investment bank and Saudi British Bank. Previously, management consultant at BCG (2015) and Goldman Sachs (2014).

Omar Almajdouie

Raed Ventures

Omar Almajdouie

Raed Ventures

Omar Almajdouie is the Founding Partner of Raed Ventures, a leading early-stage venture capital firm that partners with exceptional founders building transformative companies in the MENA region. Raed has grown to manage AUM exceeds SAR 1.5 billion and backed by top investors in the region including PIF’s Jada, SVC, Mubadala, Almajdouie Holding, among others. As an investor and entrepreneur, Omar founded Raed Ventures in 2016 as part of Almajdouie Holding diversification strategy, which has invested in over 60 innovative startups to-date. Omar previously served as CEO of Almajdouie Manufacturing Co. and was Vice Chairman and Founding Member of the Saudi Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, as well as a chairman and board member of several leading tech startups and companies. Omar has more than 20 years of enriched experience in various managerial and executive positions.

Parthi Duraisamy

Alaan

Parthi Duraisamy

Alaan

Parthi Duraisamy, Co-Founder and CEO at Alaan, brings 16 years of experience in banking and payments. With an engineering background, an MBA from Dartmouth, and lead roles at McKinsey, Barclays, and Airbus, he has global expertise in large scale transformation, mergers and banking.

Ronit Ghose

Citi Institute

Ronit Ghose

Citi Institute

Ronit runs Future of Finance team in Citi Institute, Citi’s thought leadership unit. He’s also an Advisory Board member at tech firms/early stage VCs. Ronit’s book “Future Money” published in 2024.

Miku Jha

ServiceNow

Miku Jha

ServiceNow

Miku Jha is a distinguished AI technologist and executive leader known for translating breakthrough innovations into enterprise-scale outcomes. At ServiceNow, she founded and leads the Applied AI Forward-Deployed Engineering (FDE) organization — where AI meets execution. Her team bridges the gap from proof-of-concept to production, driving co-innovation on Agentic AI solutions that deliver measurable business impact and shape ServiceNow’s AI-native product flywheel. Previously at Google Cloud, Miku led Global AI/ML Partner Engineering, pioneering the Agent2Agent (A2A) interoperability protocol and launching an AI Agent Marketplace with 1,000+ solutions. A serial entrepreneur and Forbes honoree, she has led three successful startup exits and continues to mentor emerging AI talent and women in STEM.

Tambi Jalouqa

Maza Ventures

Tambi Jalouqa

Maza Ventures

Investor and technology builder. Having invested in over 55 companies over the last 10 years and co-founded multiple startups, some successful and some not so much.

Peji Kanani

Carta

Peji Kanani

Carta

Peji Kanani is the Regional Lead for Startups at Carta, driving the company’s Middle East & Africa expansion and helping founders, investors, and employees unlock growth through better equity management. A former Salesforce executive and serial founder – including Dubai’s leading wellness venture, Energy Camp – Peji is passionate about scaling startups and building the infrastructure for private markets across MENA.

Jaïr Halevi

Miro & Pygma

Jaïr Halevi

Miro & Pygma

Jaïr Halevi leads Miro’s global Startup Program, working closely with founders from Seed to Series C on scaling teams, decision-making, and using culture as a competitive advantage. He is also Head of Culture at Pygma VC, where he supports early-stage founders in building high-performance teams and intentional company cultures from day one. Jaïr is the author of Advantage: Culture, a book on building startup culture early and on purpose, featuring insights from founders across Europe and the US. Previously, he led strategic partnerships at Airbnb and has mentored dozens of founders through accelerators, VC programs, and global startup events. His work focuses on one core belief: culture is not a soft topic — it’s an operating system.

Sara Rona

Silicon Valley Bank

Sara Rona

Silicon Valley Bank

Sara Rona is a managing director of Global Gateway for Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and is the head of UK/Europe and Middle East North Africa for the bank. Sara manages an expansive global portfolio of tech startups and venture capital firms who are expanding stateside and need cross-border banking services as they scale. Additionally, Sara brings 17 years of global experience and strives to provide value beyond banking by helping clients with their international strategy and being a bridge into the US. Sara joined SVB in 2018 and has been in finance for the last 15 years at a variety of different financial institutions including HSBC, IFC-World Bank and Deutsche Bank. She is half French and half Afghan, has an MBA in international business and has spent time living in Dubai, Bangkok, Paris, London, and the US with volunteer work in Afghanistan and Kenya.

Murat Can Demir

Turkish Airlines

Murat Can Demir

Turkish Airlines

Murat is a seasoned professional specializing in open innovation programs and startup ecosystem development. With a background in engineering, an MBA in Strategic Marketing & Brand Management, and expertise in Experiential Design Strategy, he brings a unique combination of technical depth and strategic insight to both startups and corporates. Beyond his corporate role, Murat is an active community builder and trainer, focusing on behavioral science, communication strategy, and innovation methods. His mission is to bridge startups and corporates through meaningful programs that create real-world impact in the aviation industry and beyond.””

MP Oliveira

NeoVentures – Mashreq

MP Oliveira

NeoVentures – Mashreq

MP Oliveira is the SVP, Venture Investments at NeoVentures, Mashreq’s corporate venture capital fund, and Chairwoman of AI Salon, a global community of AI professionals. She has held senior roles at Mastercard, EY, and Experian, securing large clients, launching products, and expanding into new markets. MP established innovation hubs in LATAM, APAC, and MENA, and managed M&A deals worth over $1B. As an entrepreneur, she co-founded two Silicon Valley startups and graduated from 500 Startups and Plug & Play accelerators. Her expertise spans financial services, professional services, and payments, with a global reach across Latin America, US, APAC, and MENA.

Khaled Talhouni

Nuwa Capital

Khaled Talhouni

Nuwa Capital

Khaled Talhouni is the Managing Partner and co-founder of Nuwa Capital, a VC firm investing in early-stage startups across the MENAPT region, based in Dubai and Riyadh. He has managed over 150 early-stage deals with a total AUM exceeding $300M and has successfully exited 15+. With deep expertise in venture investing and portfolio management, he plays a key role in shaping the region’s startup ecosystem.

Richard Addington

MBC Media Solutions

Richard Addington

MBC Media Solutions

Richard is a senior marketing and media leader with over 18 years of experience across the MENA region. Based in Dubai, he is part of the management team at MBC Group’s commercial arm, MMS, where he leads agency partnerships & revenue and works at the intersection of media, marketing, technology, and culture. Richard advises brands and agencies on navigating audience fragmentation, attention economics, and the evolving role of content in driving business growth. His work focuses on building scalable partnerships, unlocking value across platforms, and helping organizations adapt to fast-changing consumer behavior. He is a frequent speaker on media transformation, strategic growth, and the future of brand storytelling in a data-driven world.

Dr. Abdul Malik Al Jaber

Balsillie School of International Affairs

Dr. Abdul Malik Al Jaber

Balsillie School of International Affairs

Dr. Abdul Malik Al Jaber is a Palestinian-Jordanian business leader and investor known for leading Paltel, Zain Jordan, and founding MENA Apps and MEPS while driving digital growth in the region.”

Natasha Hannoun

Tenami Capital Ltd

Natasha Hannoun

Tenami Capital Ltd

Natasha Hannoun is a Founding Partner at Tenami Capital, an innovative alternative asset manager backing entrepreneurs and SMEs in the GCC. She was formerly Head of Debt and Venture Debt at Shuaa Capital in Abu Dhabi, where she structured one of the region’s earliest venture debt deals and sat on the Board of Pure Harvest Smart Farms. With over a decade of experience in private equity and debt, Natasha has led $7B+ in financings across asset classes, including last mile and mezzanine transactions. She began her career in Corporate Finance and Debt Advisory at Deloitte in Dubai and holds an MSc in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Bristol.

Nabeel Alkharabsheh

ZAJEL LOGISTICS SERVICES

Nabeel Alkharabsheh

ZAJEL LOGISTICS SERVICES

Nabeel AlKharabsheh is a seasoned logistics leader with over a decade of experience driving innovation, operational excellence, and growth across the supply chain sector. He holds a degree in industrial engineering from Hashemite University and has built his expertise through senior roles at global logistics leaders including Aramex, FedEx, and AJEX. As General Manager of Zajel Courier Services, he has expanded the company’s footprint, strengthened its integrated logistics offering, and enhanced customer experience. He is also a recognized industry speaker, sharing forward-looking insights that inspire innovation.

Nikhil Nainani

Palantir Technologies

Nikhil Nainani

Palantir Technologies

I bridge the gap between data science and decision-making, drawing on my experience in finance and tech. Now at Palantir, I engineer AI solutions that help companies operate at their absolute best—delivering automation and hard outcomes instead of just buzzwords.

Mathieu Yarak

MBC Media Solutions

Mathieu Yarak

MBC Media Solutions

Mathieu Yarak is an experienced data executive with a strong background in data, measurement, and research across both media agencies and publishers. As the Head of Data at MMS, he drives strategic initiatives that elevate audience activation, precision targeting, and measurement solutions, enabling data-driven marketing excellence. His career spans top media companies and publishers across MENA, where he has shaped high-impact data strategies that fuel business growth and industry evolution

Mazen Hayek

The CONSVLTIVM

Mazen Hayek

The CONSVLTIVM

EMEA advisor in TMT. Former MBC GROUP spokesperson. 20+ years in Media & StratComm. Known for strategic insight and quiet, discreet, under-the-radar counsel.

Rawan Baddour

Zest Equity

Rawan Baddour

Zest Equity

“Rawan Baddour is the Co-Founder of Zest, a digital transactional infrastructure company streamlining private market execution through integrated SPV, escrow, and licensed distribution modules. She oversees Zest’s compliance, governance, and risk frameworks. These are central to Zest’s differentiation and ensure that every transaction on the platform meets global regulatory standards and regional best practice. Rawan brings more than 12 years of experience in strategic advisory, banking, and finance. She previously led a Dubai based investment banking subsidiary and invested across both public and private markets, building deep expertise in regulatory structuring, operational oversight, and investor governance. At Zest, Rawan is focused on creating trusted and transparent transactional infrastructure that removes friction, increases confidence, and ensures institutional-grade integrity across alternative asset classes in emerging markets.”

Tamara Pupic

Entrepreneur Middle East – BNC Publishing

Tamara Pupic

Entrepreneur Middle East – BNC Publishing

Tamara Pupic holds the position of Managing Editor of Entrepreneur Middle East magazine, a division of Dubai-based BNC Publishing officially licensed by the US-based publication Entrepreneur. She is a seasoned journalist and legal expert with a deep passion for exploring the intersection between law, technology, and finance. With a master’s degree in international law and economics (M.I.L.E.) from the World Trade Institute in Bern (Switzerland) and more than a decade’s long experience in business journalism in the UAE, Tamara Pupic focuses on incisive analysis and engaging storytelling around complex regulatory issues, business growth, and emerging technologies.

Gurunathan Gunaseelan

Sniffr.Ai ( Qdex Consulting)

Gurunathan Gunaseelan

Sniffr.Ai ( Qdex Consulting)

Gurunathan Gunaseelan is the Founder & CEO of QDEX Consulting and Sniffr.ai, two innovation-driven companies transforming how modern engineering teams deliver software with speed, precision, and quality. With deep expertise in Quality Engineering, DevOps, AI safety, and large-scale delivery, he has led engineering uplift initiatives for global clients including BitTitan. He drives QDEX’s enterprise-grade quality engineering, AI-augmented SDLC acceleration, and delivery excellence services. As the creator of Sniffr.ai, he has helped teams achieve 60% faster UAT cycles and significantly reduce production defects. Gurunathan is passionate about building high-performing teams and enabling safe, scalable adoption of AI in engineering.

Michel Joumaa

MMS

Michel Joumaa

MMS

I’m Michel Joumaa, a media and advertising professional based in Dubai. I currently work as Associate Director Agency Partnership at MBC Media Solutions (MMS), where I focus on building strategic partnerships and delivering impactful advertising solutions across TV and digital platforms. With over a decade of experience in media sales and marketing across the region.

Anil Joshi

Unicorn India Ventures

Anil Joshi

Unicorn India Ventures

Anil Joshi is the Founder and Managing Partner at Unicorn India Ventures, a leading Venture Capital Fund focusing on early-stage investments in tech companies. With over two decades of experience in the field, Anil pioneered angel investments in India as the head of operations and President at Mumbai Angels, one of the most reputable and prolific Angel Investment forums in India. As an early mover in early 2000 in this segment, Anil was investing in budding companies even before venture investment had taken any formal shape in India. Within the start-up ecosystem, Anil has been at the helm of over 100 venture-financing deals. He serves on the board of several companies in the field of Fintech, Robotic, Meditech, IOT, Bigdata, SaaS and is involved with multiple incubation centres as a board member and mentor in India as well as internationally. Additionally, he also advices the government and industry bodies on start-ups regarding policy. Young entrepreneurs draw upon his vast experience for guidance and strategic direction for their own start-ups.

Ray Dargham

Step

Ray Dargham

Step

“Ray Dargham is the Co-Founder and CEO of Step. Born in Lebanon, Ray moved to Dubai after graduating to create a platform fostering connections and business growth, establishing Step in 2012. Under Ray's visionary leadership, Step continues to be a beacon for entrepreneurs, providing a platform that not only connects like-minded individuals but also catalyses the growth of businesses that, in turn, contribute to job creation and the provision of products and services in the region and beyond. Ray and his team have played a part in the initial stories of hundreds of entrepreneurs, and he has earned recognition on Forbes' Arab 30 Under 30 list.”

Paul Dawalibi

Innovation City

Paul Dawalibi

Innovation City

Paul Dawalibi is a technology entrepreneur, investor, unicorn founder, futurist and gamer, with over 25 years of venture capital and startup experience. He is currently the CEO of Innovation City, the leading technology and innovation-focused free zone in the UAE, where he is building the Silicon Valley of the Middle East in Ras Al Khaimah. Previously, he was CEO of Holodeck – the leading global media and technology company focused on gaming, esports and web3. His ability to communicate the business opportunity around innovation has made him the largest industry influencer and expert in the MENA region. Paul is the host and creator of Game Changers – a groundbreaking business show on CNBC Arabia reaching 50M homes in the Middle East. He is a frequently requested speaker at tech, startup, web3, and gaming conferences all around the world. He consults family offices, governments, investors, and global companies on startups and building innovation ecosystems. Paul is also the creator of the world’s 1st esports NFT and founder of the 2020 fastest growing company in Canada. He believes that the future is fun™

Kate King

The Team Coach

Kate King

The Team Coach

Kate King is an International Executive Coach, Author, and Founder of The Team Coach. With over 20,000 hours of coaching experience, she has worked with CEOs and leadership teams across the globe to elevate performance, culture, and consciousness. Her clients include LVMH, Aldar, Al Tayer, Jumeirah, Kempinski and Hugo Boss. Her upcoming book, Highest You: A Coaching Playbook for Leading with Soul in the Age of AI, explores how leaders can upgrade their humanity in an artificially intelligent world. Known for her blend of strategic insight and spiritual depth, Kate guides leaders to connect with their authentic power and lead from purpose, presence, and intuition – what she calls soul-led leadership.

Basil Moftah

Key Capital Ltd

Basil Moftah

Key Capital Ltd

Basil Moftah, Key Capital MP, invests in 70+ ventures ($200M+) across MENA, Europe, and Asia. Formerly co-founder of Reuters VC and President of $1B IP & Science unit. Harvard MBA

Hany Soliman

PAYTABS GROUP

Hany Soliman

PAYTABS GROUP

Hany Soliman is a dynamic fintech leader with over 20 years of cross-sector experience spanning business development, investment banking, strategic management, and digital transformation. Currently serving as Chief Growth and Development Officer (CGDO) at PayTabs, Hany is spearheading the company’s international expansion, investor relations, strategic alliances, and entry into new markets across MENA, Africa, and Asia. His mission is to scale PayTabs’ footprint through joint ventures, pre-M&A initiatives, and innovative market-entry strategies.

Maya Bou Ajram

UM UAE

Maya Bou Ajram

UM UAE

“Maya brings 22 years of experience in media and marketing, with a strong passion for mentorship, innovation, and driving client growth. As General Manager of UM Dubai, she focuses on developing top-tier talent, advancing product excellence, and building strong cross-functional partnerships. A firm believer that great work is rooted in collaboration, adaptability, and proactive leadership, Maya is committed to fostering a culture where people take pride in their craft, push boundaries, and deliver meaningful impact. Through mentorship and a dedication to continuous learning, she actively contributes to shaping the future of media and nurturing the next generation of industry leaders.”

Manar Alkassar

Kaso

Manar Alkassar

Kaso

Manar Alkassar is a German-Syrian serial entrepreneur with a strong track record of building and scaling ventures across Europe and the broader MENA region. He is the Co-Founder of multiple companies including Kaso AI, Helpling, and qlub – each addressing unique challenges in B2B Supply Chain, F&B, and home services. An alum of Y Combinator, Manar is also a former Managing Director at Rocket Internet, where he helped launch and expand ventures across global markets. He is passionate about digitizing traditional industries, scaling sustainable business models, and investing in early-stage startups. Top 3 awards/achievements: Y Combinator Founder. Ex-Rocket Internet MD. Co-founder Kaso, Helpling, qlub.

Grace Gong

Smart Venture Media

Grace Gong

Smart Venture Media

Grace Gong is the founder of Smart Venture Media and the host of two well-known VC podcasts: Smart Venture Podcast (SVPpro.com) and Venture with Grace, a daily show. She is an angel investor in the AI sector, a super angel & venture scout for Alumni Ventures, Advisor at Berkeley SkyDeck.

Amit Grover

Grover Impact Ventures

Amit Grover

Grover Impact Ventures

Amit Grover is the Founder and Managing Partner of Grover & Company and CEO at Grover Impact Ventures, where he actively backs intangible asset classes, particularly intellectual property (IP), with over 27 years of corporate and entrepreneurial experience spanning marketing, management consulting, and venture capital, including senior positions at ITC Ltd, Lavazza Coffee, and Pernod Ricard. Amit offers deep industry expertise and holds a full-time MBA from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. Amit’s leadership extends to serving as a board member for C3 Companies Creating Change, a steering committee member for in5 Tech in the UAE, a mentor at the Founder Institute in the UAE, and as the former Chairman of ANZIBC (Australia, New Zealand, India Business Chambers) in New Zealand.

Paula Tavangar

Injaz Capital

Paula Tavangar

Injaz Capital

Paula Tavangar is a seasoned entrepreneur, who currently serves as Chief Investment Officer at Injaz Capital. Prior to that, Paula was focused on venture capital as Principal at SwissBorg Ventures. With a strong background in quantitative strategies, Paula co-founded Genesis Capital LATAM, overseeing the Quant Arbitrage Fund delivering consistent alpha. She also co-founded Wethaq, an Islamic Fintech startup. Paula’s diverse expertise led her to serve on the World Business Angels Forum (WBAF) Global Startup Committee and as a commissioner representing WBAF in the UAE. She holds a B.A. in International Finance and an MSc in Financial Engineering with a focus on Automated Trading Systems

Sonia Gokhale

VentureSouq

Sonia Gokhale

VentureSouq

Previously, Sonia was an Investment Professional in the Global Special Situations Group of Abu Dhabi Investment Council (ADIC), a large sovereign wealth fund based in the UAE, focusing on venture capital and tech deals. Prior to this role, Sonia was an Actuarial Consultant at Mercer Human Resource Consulting in its Dubai and Toronto offices. Sonia is a qualified Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries and the Society of Actuaries (USA). Sonia obtained a BSc from the University of Toronto (with distinction) and majored in Actuarial Science and Statistics.

Nuha Hashem

Cozmo AI

Nuha Hashem

Cozmo AI

Nuha Hashem is the co-founder of Cozmo AI, a VC- and YC–backed startup building AI workforces for regulated sectors like banking and insurance. She leads product and engineering, helping enterprises automate complex voice operations with real-time, compliant AI agents. After two years of pursuing her PhD in the US, she dropped out to build her startup full time.

Christos Solomi

Publicis Groupe

Christos Solomi

Publicis Groupe

Christos leads the scaling of Publicis Groupe Middle East’s identity and data proposition, enhancing its ability to deliver greater value for clients through person-first intelligence. This includes expanding the Groupe’s end-to-end retail media offering and strengthening the rollout of Epsilon’s capabilities across the region – all underpinned by its proprietary first-party identity solutions. With more than 20 years of experience across agency, supplier, and client-side leadership roles, Chris brings deep expertise in performance marketing, ad tech, programmatic, data, analytics, and commerce. He has spent 14 years in the MENA region, including a decade at Omnicom Media Group, where he most recently served as Chief Digital Officer, overseeing digital media, analytics, technology, and commerce practices. He also contributed to regional industry development as Acting Vice Chairman of IAB MENA.

Issa Aghabi

Access Bridge Ventures

Issa Aghabi

Access Bridge Ventures

Issa Aghabi has been focused on finance and venture capital since 2004. He began his career in investment banking and entered the MENA VC ecosystem in 2006 as a founding member of Accelerator Technologies, one of the region’s first venture funds. He has since held senior investment roles at Yahoo!, N2V, twofour54, and led IFC’s venture investments across MENA, Pakistan, and Europe. Issa has invested in over 95 deals, managed more than $150M in venture funds, and exited multiple leading regional companies. He is the Founder and Managing Partner of Access Bridge Ventures, an early-stage UAE-based fund backing high-growth technology companies across MENA and Pakistan.

Bogdan Dinu

Visa

Bogdan Dinu

Visa

Bogdan is Heading the Product Innovation team at Visa CEMEA, helping to build new profitable revenue streams in the region. For the previous 5 years, Bogdan was the Chief Product Officer at Thunes, a global leader in cross-border payments. Bogdan is a seasoned FinTech enthusiast with over 20 years of experience and he has a proven record in building and scaling successful business and consumer products across emerging markets. With a career spanning Amsterdam, Dubai and Singapore, he has held leadership roles at prominent companies including Nike, PayU and Ingenico. Holding an MBA from Amsterdam Business School, Bogdan brings a strategic and analytical mindset, driving innovation and growth in the payments industry.

Sherif Foda

NESR

Sherif Foda

NESR

Sherif Foda has served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NESR since inception. He started the company in 2017 as a SPAC to create the first and largest energy services company from the MENA region publicly listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. He has more than 25 years of professional experience in the energy industry working primarily in his earlier career for Schlumberger Limited (NYSE: SLB) around the world, particularly in the Middle East, Europe and the US. He served as Senior Advisor to the Chairman of SLB, an officer and President of the Production Group, the President of Europe and Africa, Vice President, and Managing Director of the Arabian market, President of Well Intervention worldwide, Vice President of Europe, Caspian and Africa, and Managing Director of Oman among other roles. He started his career in 1993 with SLB, working on the offshore fields in the Red Sea, then transferred to Germany and Eastern Europe before getting to multiple senior level positions. Prior to working in the oil and natural gas industry, he worked in the information technology and computer industry for two years after graduating from Ain Shams University in Cairo with double majors in Electronics Engineering and Automatic Control. He attended various executive courses at Harvard Business School, Oxford and IMD Business School and is a usual speaker in multiple forums. Mr. Foda used to serve as a board member of Energy Recovery, Inc. (Nasdaq: ERII), a technology company based in California and on the Board of Trustees of Awty International School in Houston. He currently serves as the Chairman of the board of directors of WDVG Engineering based in Houston, GLC Energy Company in London and is a member of the Oxford Energy Policy Club in the UK. He is also a board member for Al Fanar Venture philanthropy in London.

Jad Saab

Mbc Media Solutions

Jad Saab

Mbc Media Solutions

Jad brings over 18 years of experience driving digital transformation across a wide range of industries in MENA, from destination marketing and tourism to telco, automotive, FMCG, retail, and government entities. His expertise spans across strategic planning, performance marketing, data analytics, and leveraging consumer insights. His leadership has been instrumental in the exponential growth of MBC Shahid over the past two years, achieved through identifying key product and commercial opportunities and expanding its advertising portfolio. He also plays a key role in enhancing efficiencies and maximizing commercial returns with MBC Media Solutions’ partners, including Google, Snap, and X. Jad’s focus on strategic partnerships has also resulted in significant wins, including securing our position as the official representative of Samsung Ads in the region.

Sultan Alkhayal

Drahim

Sultan Alkhayal

Drahim

Serial entrepreneur who’s passion about building amazing products, founded Drahim, Saudi’s first YC Company, which now is top growing robo-advisory in the region.

Asad ur Rehman

So&So Partnerships

Asad ur Rehman

So&So Partnerships

Asad ur Rehman is a versatile board qualified global business and transformation leader with a career spanning multinational corporations, advertising agencies, and listed media networks across the Middle East, South Asia, and Europe. He brings a distinctive blend of enterprise discipline, digital and data fluency, commercial acumen, and organisational transformation capability, accumulated over two decades. Most recently, Asad served as CEO-Designate of HUM Network Ltd, one of South Asia’s largest publicly listed media groups. In this role, he led a full leadership agenda to reposition the organisation for long-term growth. His mandate encompassed corporate governance, operating model redesign, P&L management whilst driving digital revenue diversification, digital transformation and modernisation of IP/Content frameworks. He drove strategic changes across the backbone such as cloud migration, AI-enabled production workflows, and agentic AI led transformation. His leadership spanned entertainment, news, sports, events and international distribution operations. Prior to HUM Network, Asad founded So&So Partnerships, a Dubai-based advisory working with start-ups, government entities, and corporates on digital product strategy, organisational transformation, emerging technology adoption, and AI governance. Asad’s majority of the career includes 20 years of senior global and regional leadership roles at Unilever and WPP’s GroupM. At Unilever, he served as a regional board member for MENA, Turkey, and Russia, where he led digital and media transformation across 23 markets, strengthened e-commerce and analytics capabilities, and built fully integrated digital operating models that were later adopted globally. His work accelerated growth, delivered operational efficiencies, and reshaped how brands engaged consumers across a diverse set of markets. At GroupM, he held leadership roles in Pakistan, Vietnam, and the global London headquarters, where he helped establish and scale agency operations, manage complex multinational portfolios, and contributed to GroupM’s work across a plethora of markets on client relationships and business growth. These roles grounded him in market-building, operational leadership, commercial growth, and client-side strategic transformation. Asad has consistently been recognised for his industry leadership. He served as Founding Chair of The Marketing Society Middle East and was awarded its UK Fellowship, in addition to being named Effie MENA Marketer of the Year. He is a qualified Non-Executive Director (Financial Times Diploma) and a qualified AI Governance Practitioner. Beyond the corporate arena, Asad serves on the Board of the GEMS Jumeirah School System and advises multiple start-ups in communication technology and AI.

Roman Axelrod

XPANCEO

Roman Axelrod

XPANCEO

Founder of XPANCEO, a deep tech company developing the next generation of computing via an invisible and weightless smart contact lens that reinvents the whole concept of human-technology interaction and merges all your gadgets into one.

Jeremy Hodara

Jumia

Jeremy Hodara

Jumia

Jeremy has over 20 years of experience scaling and operating businesses in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Jeremy is also a professional Board member, supporting organisations in their journey. As a co-founder of Jumia, he helped grow Jumia across Africa and achieve an IPO on the NYSE. Jeremy now serves as Board Member as well as Investment Committee member of some incredible organizations, as well as helping McKinsey as a Senior Advisor. He is also running a family business, bringing change to a traditional industry in the Middle East.

Alison McMurtrie

Equisscore

Alison McMurtrie

Equisscore

Alison brings over two decades of experience in global operations, transformation, and technology portfolio management within a major FT100 international organization. With a track record of leadership up to executive levels, Alison has navigated complex corporate landscapes, driving innovation and efficiency across diverse sectors. Alison is a respected serial entrepreneur, who is an active contributor in the start up eco system. She has founded tech startups leveraging blockchain, and AI in cyber security and financial services, received VC funding and an exit. She is a mentor to FINTECHs and advisor to a number of other startups. Alison is an active angel investor and GP of Equisscore.

Emad Doughan

Mohtawa

Emad Doughan

Mohtawa

Emad is the Founder and CEO of Mohtawa, a creative operating system designed to revolutionize how businesses approach content. Mohtawa empowers brands to generate comprehensive social media calendars and creative assets from a single prompt, seamlessly blending AI generation, freelancer matching, and stock content remixing. With over 13 years of experience in the advertising trenches, Emad has led content, social, and digital teams across top-tier global and regional agencies, serving some of the Middle East’s biggest brands. He founded Mohtawa to solve the inefficiencies he witnessed firsthand in the industry.

Omar Kassim

Nomod

Omar Kassim

Nomod

Omar Kassim is a fintech-focused technology entrepreneur, who specialises in conceiving, building, and scaling interesting technology ventures. Omar is the Founder and CEO of Nomod, the UAE’s leading small business payments platform. Nomod is backed by leading global investors including Y-Combinator, Global Founders Capital, and Goodwater Capital. Omar is also Co-Founded Esanjo, a family office to manage investments in technology and alternative assets. Omar previously founded and scaled JadoPado into a prominent e-commerce marketplace, and engineered a strategic acquisition by Noon.com in May 2017. The technology developed at JadoPado became the foundational core of Noon’s platform, a dominant player in the MENA region’s digital economy.

Avinash Babur

InsuranceMarket.ae

Avinash Babur

InsuranceMarket.ae

Avinash Babur is the CEO and Founder of InsuranceMarket.ae, the UAE’s largest and highest-rated insurance platform. Avinash is known for leading the company as a technology-led, customer-first brand that has become a household name in the region. Under his leadership, InsuranceMarket.ae has grown to serve over 200,000 policyholders, earned 26,000+ Google reviews with a 4.8-star rating, and has been awarded naming rights to the InsuranceMarket Metro Station in Dubai. The brand’s mascot, Alfred, has become a symbol of trust and simplicity in a sector long associated with complexity. Avinash is a TEDx speaker, and is increasingly recognized as a thought leader shaping the region’s financial services future. Avinash is known to be the creator of the UAE’s beloved brand mascot Alfred and simplifying complex insurance ideas for a broader audience. His perspectives have appeared in major publications, cementing his position as a respected voice in fintech, insurance innovation, and value-led leadership.

Mohamad Itani

Collective Intelligence

Mohamad Itani

Collective Intelligence

With over 15 years of experience launching and scaling digital practices across leading global media networks, including GroupM and IPG, Mohamad has built a career at the intersection of media, technology, and strategic partnerships. He has led media buying, planning, and digital transformation initiatives across MENAT and Europe, helping organizations modernize operating models and drive sustainable growth. Mohamad spent six years at Amazon Ads, where he was part of the MENAT launch team and later led IX EMEA partnerships, working closely with agencies, platforms, and advertisers to accelerate digital adoption and performance at scale. His role as Head of Partnerships at Amazon Ads, combined with his tenure as former Vice Chair of IAB MENA, gave him a deep, hands-on understanding of the region’s digital ecosystem, spanning market dynamics, regulation, talent development, and innovation. As an Amazon Bar Raiser and mentor, he has been closely involved in building high-performing teams and leadership pipelines. Today, Mohamad operates in the AI consulting space and serves as a strategic advisor to startups and growth-stage companies, helping leadership teams translate emerging technology into clear strategy, scalable execution, and durable competitive advantage. Shaped by a competitive team-sports mindset, his leadership style emphasizes ownership, resilience, and collective success, with a strong belief that empowered talent is the ultimate multiplier of long-term impact.

Dan Hu

Tencent

Dan Hu

Tencent

Dan Hu is a global cloud computing pioneer and transformative technology leader, with over 17 years shaping the future of digital infrastructure across Asia, the Middle East and Africa. As Vice President for the Middle East and Africa at Tencent Cloud International, Dan is driving the Middle East’s Cloud evolution, enabling governments, enterprises and startups to accelerate digital transformation through secure and efficient, AI-ready infrastructure. Before joining Tencent, Dan served as the CEO of G42 Cloud, the UAE’s leading AI and cloud provider, where he spearheaded Artemis, the supercomputer project- ranked 26th on the world’s TOP 50 supercomputers and the first time a UAE initiative entered the list. Previously Dan launched Alibaba’s Cloud operations in the Middle East and Africa, building its presence from the ground up across the Gulf, Levant, Turkey and Africa while delivering exponential growth. His earlier career includes leadership roles at Huawei and 3M China. As a renowned technology leader, Dan Hu is a seasoned and engaging speaker who has spoken at many leading industry events and in interviews with leading media outlets. Dan holds a Master of Science Degree from the Tongji University in China.

Birce Arslan

Mastercard

Birce Arslan

Mastercard

In her current role, Birce spearheads the regional Fintech Partnerships strategy for Mastercard EEMEA, fostering strong relationships with digital finance providers, lenders, and gaming & paytech partners in 80+ countries. With over a decade of experience in the financial technology sector, Birce has built a reputation for driving growth, scaling digital financial services, and delivering results across diverse and complex markets. Birce started her journey with Mastercard in the New York headquarters 10 years ago as part of the Global Processing team. Upon relocating to Dubai, Birce was managing the Credit & Debit products for the region, focusing on portfolio optimization, customer value propositions, and loyalty. Most recently, before taking up the role as head of Fintech Partnerships, Birce was managing BNPL relationships across the region. She is passionate about the growing fintech ecosystem in the region, financial inclusion, and youth in the workforce. Birce holds a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University in Boston.

Bart Pietruszka

Refocus AI

Bart Pietruszka

Refocus AI

Bart Pietruszka is a senior AI, data, and analytics leader with over 19 years of experience across global Tier-1 financial institutions, government, and technology-driven organizations. He is the CEO of Refocus AI, advising enterprises and public-sector entities on AI strategy, responsible adoption, and value-driven implementation. Formerly Chief Data & Analytics Officer at HSBC, Bart has led large-scale transformations spanning AI, data platforms, governance, and advanced analytics. His work today focuses on applied AI, smart systems, and the intersection of technology, sustainability, and long-term societal impact. Refocus AI is a boutique advisory and consulting firm specializing in data, analytics, and artificial intelligence. The firm helps organizations move beyond AI hype by identifying high-value use cases, designing pragmatic AI strategies, and supporting responsible implementation with clear ROI. Refocus AI works with enterprises, governments, and startups to translate advanced AI capabilities into measurable business, operational, and sustainability outcomes.

Sonali Goila

Aditum IM

Sonali Goila

Aditum IM

She heads Venture Capital at Aditum Investment Management. Sonali has been an investor across multiple alternative asset classes over the past 20 years – Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Derivatives of Fixed Income, Currencies, Commodities and Credit for high-alpha. Her experience has spanned all stages of investing from early-stage VC to late-stage PE buyouts. She has also directly managed portfolios of a few family offices, out of which two have been of UAE Royal Family investors. Sonali has an MBA (triple-major) from The Wharton School (UPenn), and a Bachelor’s in Computer Engineering from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore.

Kushaal Devanahalli

Proximity Works

Kushaal Devanahalli

Proximity Works

Serial tech entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Proximity Works, where I lead AI Innovation and Platforms. We partner with global brands like JioStar, Nasdaq, Disney+, and ESPN to deploy AI at scale — impacting 650mn+ daily users. An aerospace engineer turned entrepreneur, I bring a decade of global experience building strategic, production-grade AI systems that deliver real business outcomes. At Proximity Works, we design AI/ AI-Agent powered solutions for complex performance challenges across intelligent AI automation, AI-driven content creation, real-time analytics, and responsible AI deployment. I regularly lead closed-door executive strategy discussions, including CXO-level paid workshops for enterprises and government bodies. My focus: practical AI adoption beyond the hype — scalable, high-impact systems that work.

Christos Mastoras

Iliad Partners

Christos Mastoras

Iliad Partners

Christos is the Founder & Managing Partner of Iliad Partners, a venture capital firm based in the UAE. Iliad Partners invests in early-stage B2B tech companies in MENA and European startups expanding into the region. He has over 25 years of investment and operating experience across VC, tech startups, tech corporate and management consulting. He has spent the past 18 years in the UAE, after living in Boston, New York, Washington D.C., and Athens, Greece earlier in his career. Previously, he was Head of Business Development at Yahoo! in Dubai and an Engagement Manager with the Telecom, Media & Technology (TMT) practice at Booz & Company (now Strategy&). As a tech entrepreneur, Christos has co-founded and exited multiple startups, including GlamBox (Dubai), SloanGear (Boston) and previously held operating roles at Upstream (Athens) and govWorks (New York). Christos holds an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

Ankit Shah

Silkhaus

Ankit Shah

Silkhaus

Ankit Shah is the CFO and Co-Founder of Silkhaus, a cutting-edge proptech startup transforming short-term rentals across Asia. At Silkhaus, he leads the company’s strategic vision and plays a pivotal role in securing financing through successful collaborations with investors and venture capitalists. Before Silkhaus, Ankit was the Senior Director of Corporate Development at Careem, one of the Middle East’s most successful startups, where he drove strategic initiatives and expansion efforts. In India, he served as Director of Finance at Snapdeal, a leading e-commerce platform. Ankit began his career in consulting with Deloitte and later KPMG, gaining a strong foundation in finance and strategy. Ankit holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Arizona and an MBA from IESE Business School in Barcelona. As an Indian citizen with a global perspective, Ankit has lived, studied, and worked across continents, making Silkhaus’s mission particularly personal. He is passionate about creating a new asset class for real estate owners while providing high-quality living spaces for digital nomads like himself, redefining the future of work and travel.

Azam Pasha

maalexi

Azam Pasha

maalexi

Azam brings more than 25 years of cross-industry leadership across global supply chains, market infrastructure, finance, technology, and strategic advisory. He has founded, scaled, and managed complex businesses across emerging and developed markets, operating at the intersection of physical trade, financial markets, and digital platforms. His work bridges traditional and next-generation economic systems. Azam has designed sovereign-level economic and trade clusters for governments and built new business lines for private enterprises, re-engineering supply chains through innovative commercial models, exchange-based mechanisms, and disruptive digital architectures. His approach integrates real-world asset flows with financial rails, data intelligence, and institutional market design. With a strong focus on trust, liquidity, and risk in global trade, Azam has contributed to advanced risk-management technologies, electronic trading ecosystems, and decentralized financial infrastructures. His interests include Web3-enabled exchange models, tokenized asset frameworks, and decentralized trading and settlement systems aimed at improving capital efficiency, transparency, and resilience in global trade and agri-supply chains. He has been actively involved in commodity trading across global public exchanges and in the conceptualization of both public and proprietary commodity trading platforms, supporting hybrid CeFi-DeFi market infrastructures. Azam’s work is rooted in translating academic research into scalable, real-world market solutions that unlock commercial, financial, and social value. His background includes advanced studies at Stanford, Wharton, and Harvard, doctoral research in applied management sciences at SDA Bocconi, and professional training in Digital Assets and Blockchain through DEC, in collaboration with leading global research institutions like Polytechnico Milano, NUS and IIIT. His applied research and product-building interests center on financially inclusive, data-driven digital trade ecosystems—where tokenization, decentralized market infrastructure, and intelligent risk systems converge to enable transparent, efficient, and globally accessible exchange platforms.

Ahmad Coucha

FlapKap

Ahmad Coucha

FlapKap

Ahmad Coucha is the co-founder and CEO of FlapKap, the first and leading Revenue Based & Embedded Financing Platform in the MENA region. Prior to founding FlapKap, Coucha was the co-founder and Chief Strategy & Finance Officer of Kijamii, one of MENA’s largest and most awarded independent advertising agencies. On the academic side, Coucha finished his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering then pursued two masters, one in Business at ie business school in Madrid and a second in Economics & Public Finance at Harvard university in Bosto

Ajinkya Tanpure

CrossVal

Ajinkya Tanpure

CrossVal

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BVe6Ba3LXvYUoThbqJOgufccRnK4yT_95wuE3HYDArI/edit?usp=sharing

Daif Alrajhi

500 Global

Daif Alrajhi

500 Global

ad of Accelerator at 500 Global, overseeing innovative investment programs supporting startups across the MENA region. Holding a decade of experience in finance and the startup ecosystem as a former founder. Passionate about venture capital, innovation, and social impact, serving as a founding board member of SHIFA Health Organization, dedicated to supporting individuals in-need in Saudi Arabia while driving impact for startups, investors, and communities.

Yana Dirani

Endeavor

Yana Dirani

Endeavor

Yana El Dirani is the Managing Director of the Endeavor Global Hub in UAE as well the Head of MENA at Endeavor Catalyst, where she leads efforts across five key markets in the region: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan. With 19 years of experience in the investment space, Yana was previously leading a $200M single-family office, Vivium Holding, based in the UAE as well as being a partner at a venture platform, Modus Capital, where she was instrumental in driving business growth and operational excellence. She also worked at Credit Suisse and Delta Partners prior to that and holds an MBA degree.

Ghada Elkeissi

Amazon Web Services

Ghada Elkeissi

Amazon Web Services

Ghada is a technology leader with 25 years of experience driving large-scale digital transformation across consulting, sales, and global delivery. She is currently Head of Business Development & Strategic Partnerships for AWS Digital Sovereignty in the Middle East and Africa, where she helps governments and enterprises adopt Cloud and AI with a strong focus on data sovereignty, security, and regional innovation. Since joining AWS in 2019, Ghada has held senior leadership roles across AWS Public Sector Professional Services and AWS Global Services Partnerships & Strategic Initiatives. Previously, she held executive technology roles at IBM and GE Power. Ghada is an Open Group Distinguished Architect, patented innovator, certified Amazon speaker, and an active mentor and career coach.

Eman Saeed

Hub71

Eman Saeed

Hub71

Eman leads growth and scale initiatives at Hub71 for high-growth, AI-enabled scaleups expanding into Abu Dhabi and the region. Her work focuses on attracting companies with strong commercial scalability and defensible business models. Previously, Eman was an Investment Specialist at Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), working across end-to-end deal evaluation and execution, including transaction structuring, on complex, technology-driven projects.

George Maktabi

Webedia Group

George Maktabi

Webedia Group

George Maktabi is the Group Chief Executive Officer of Webedia Group MENA. He was appointed in 2020 to lead the group to an exponential business growth, with breakthrough creative work, exceptional brand building activities, initiatives and innovative business models for the multitude of companies and publications under the group. Maktabi brings over 20 years of experience in GCC, having led the operations of Publicis Communications and taken the Publicis Group into new heights in Saudi, through working with blue chip multinational clients, local brands as well as governmental entities. He played a key role in helping multinational brands become more relevant in the Saudi market and engage with the Saudi people. He has a passion for marketing, strategic brand building and creative communication that resonates with people and helps build brands that grow from local origins. During his free time, George is an aspiring artist with a solid collection of his own illustrations that have been attracting a big following on social media.

Nicky Verd

Digitally Fit Global

Nicky Verd

Digitally Fit Global

Nicky Verd is a digital futurist, international keynote speaker, human-centric AI consultant and a leading voice on driving innovation and digital transformation through culture. After being laid off and rebuilding her life from scratch, she has become a global advocate for redefining relevance and how humans contribute value in an AI-driven world. Through her keynotes, masterclasses, executive sessions and consulting work, Nicky empowers individuals, organisations and governments to adapt, reinvent and thrive. Recognised by Thinkers360 as one of the Top 50 Global Thought Leaders on Digital Disruption and the Future of Work, Nicky Verd is passionate about unlocking human potential in an age of exponential change.

Philip Bahoshy

MAGNiTT

Philip Bahoshy

MAGNiTT

CEO and Founder of MAGNiTT the leading Private Capital Data platform for Emerging Markets with a focus on the GCC for Venture Capital, Private Equity and Private Credit.

Andreas Mueller

Bloofusion

Andreas Mueller

Bloofusion

Managing Director at Bloofusion. 20+ yrs in GTM strategy and client acquisition. Investor/partner connecting founders + funders. I scale startups with smart marketing that drives growth and funding.

Arvind Ravishunkar

Lenz AI Innovation Studio

Arvind Ravishunkar

Lenz AI Innovation Studio

Arvind Ravishunkar is the Founder and CEO of Lenz AI Innovation Studio, a Silicon Valley–based venture studio pioneering Agentic AI systems for strategy and innovation. Through its flagship platform ASTRA, Lenz is building intelligent “strategy twins” that help enterprises move from insight to execution with unprecedented speed and clarity. Before founding Lenz, Arvind spent over 15 years driving innovation and growth strategies for global enterprises. At Wipro, he built and led the Emerging Technologies Think Tank, the GenAI Startup Accelerator, and multiple innovation programs that bridged frontier technologies with real-world business impact. Educated at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, Arvind combines human-centered design, systems thinking, and data-driven strategy in his work. His current focus is on bridging innovation ecosystems across Silicon Valley, Dubai, and Bangalore—creating a global corridor where AI, design, and entrepreneurship intersect to shape the next generation of business and technology.

Ziad Mabsout

Vennre

Ziad Mabsout

Vennre

Co-Founder and CEO at Vennre. A CFA charter holder with 15+ years in investment management across multiple asset classes, he leads Vennre’s vision and growth—combining commercial leadership with a strong focus on building trusted, investor-first products and experiences.

Alex Gadalin

Halo AI

Alex Gadalin

Halo AI

Alexey Gadalin, known as Alex, is a technology executive and innovator with over two decades of experience in global cloud infrastructure. Currently, he is the Co-Founder and CTO of Halo AI, an AI-powered platform designed to empower the creator economy by bridging the gap between brands and influencers. Under his leadership, Halo AI won the “1 Billion Pitches” competition at the 2025 1 Billion Followers Summit in Dubai. The company secured AED 22 million in investment. Alex is now establishing Halo AI’s global R&D headquarters in Dubai to scale engineering and applied AI research. Previously, he spent a decade at AWS, where he spearheaded cost-saving technologies and secured over twenty patents

Muhammad Babar

HODL CONSULTING

Muhammad Babar

HODL CONSULTING

As Managing Director at Hodl Consulting FZCO, Babar brings over 24 year of experience supporting traditional financial institutions in navigating the evolving landscape of FinTech and digital assets. My expertise lies in balancing innovation with robust governance through a practical, risk-first approach. His specialize in business growth, digital assets compliance, and training teams to confidently address AML, KYC, and cross-border compliance challenges. With experience at leading global financial institutions, including Visa, MoneyGram, and First Abu Dhabi Bank, he collaborate with leadership teams to craft scalable, regulator-aligned strategies that drive sustainable growth in the digital finance space. My mission is to enable organizations to explore new opportunities while ensuring operational safety and compliance in an ever-changing industry landscape.

Joanna Aoun

Publicis Groupe

Joanna Aoun

Publicis Groupe

I lead the data strategy vertical within the data sciences team at Publicis Groupe MENA. With a strong technical and data background, I help clients build end-to-end measurement frameworks that connect first-party data, advanced analytics, and media effectiveness, translating complex data infrastructure into clear, actionable business impact across industries.

Racha Ghamlouch

Digital Digest

Racha Ghamlouch

Digital Digest

Racha Ghamlouch is co-founder and GM of Digital Digest (DD), a strategic communications agency serving technology companies and innovation-focused organizations across the MENA/GCC region. With 16 years of experience in market research, program development, and innovation consulting, Racha specializes in brand positioning, media relations, and integrated communication strategy. She previously held senior roles at ArabNet and BECO Capital, where she developed deep expertise in the regional digital economy landscape. The Digital Digest combines agency services with a curated news aggregator and newsletter covering the region’s digital economy.

Jamie Lane

FWDstart

Jamie Lane

FWDstart

Jamie Lane is the co-founder of FWDstart, one of the Gulf and MENA region’s most widely read technology and venture publications, reaching thousands of founders, GPs, and LPs each week. Based in Abu Dhabi, he reports on AI, fintech, deeptech, and capital formation across the region, with an emphasis on clarity and data-driven insight. Jamie also hosts the FWDstart Podcast and co-hosts VC React, two weekly series that explore how the region’s leading founders and investors build and scale companies.

Dana Alhanbali

Bark & Berg

Dana Alhanbali

Bark & Berg

Based in Dubai, Dana Alhanbali is a strategist, storyteller, and speaker whose work lives at the intersection of business, culture, and creativity. She is the founder of Bark & Berg, a story-led studio developing strategy and original IP for film, television, and podcasts. A serial entrepreneur and award-winning creative, Dana’s career spans global brand building, media, and storytelling—earning recognition from Cannes Lions and shaping some of the region’s most resonant narratives. As the host of Something to Consider, winner of the Best Podcast for Social Change, she continues to explore the ideas, people, and conversations shaping our time.

Saleha Al Azri

Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority

Saleha Al Azri

Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority

Saleha Al Azri is the Director of Research and Cognitive Solutions at the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority. She brings over a decade+ of experience in working in government entities involving collaborations with both the UAE Federal government and the Abu Dhabi Government. Her expertise spans across diverse domains including data integration, data governance, analytics, and the strategic development of cross sectoral data systems. Saleha’s educational background includes a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Engineering and Information Security and has continued to enrich her knowledge through executive education programs in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and NYU. Throughout her distinguished service to the nation, she has also contributed as a technical committee member to several significant federal and Abu Dhabi government projects.

Paul Papadimitriou

Intelligencr

Paul Papadimitriou

Intelligencr

Paul Papadimitriou — aka Paul Papa — explores how humans experience the world in the age of intelligent technology. A sought-after speaker, show host, and emcee, he examines how AI and emerging tech are reshaping the way we travel, shop, and live, blending cultural insight with practical, future-facing thinking. An award-winning photographer and show producer, Paul brings a visual storyteller’s eye to complex ideas, making them engaging and accessible. He has been a startup entrepreneur for over 30 years and has advised global companies for more than two decades, sitting at the intersection of innovation, human behavior, and technology’s real-world impact.

Luca Allam

Luca’s Insight Track & MasterPitch

Luca Allam

Luca’s Insight Track & MasterPitch

The former CEO of PHD MENA, Luca is now a top 10 MENA podcaster, hosting the hit podcast Luca’s Insight Track. Luca has also launched a communication training program called MasterPitch, that helps executives deliver authentic and communication impact – from boardroom to event stage.

Aida Takyrbasheva

Break the Ice

Aida Takyrbasheva

Break the Ice

Aida is an entrepreneur, advisor, founder, and author-to-be operating at the crossroads of technology, capital, and culture. Her career began in fashion and brand building before evolving into fintech, mobility, and venture growth, giving her fluency in both storytelling and scale. She brings an operator’s discipline to her advisory work, shaped by building across Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. She serves in an advisory capacity to technology founders and is a judge at Monaco Tech, where she evaluates early-stage companies navigating growth, fundraising, and international expansion. Aida is the founder of Break The Ice, a growth agency working with founders and investors to turn early momentum into durable businesses, including collaborations with companies like BLADE Mobility. She is also a poet with a debut collection scheduled for publication this year. Beyond tech and poetry, her pursuits include sailing, tennis, French lessons, and the occasional Taylor Swift sing-along with her niece, which she considers equally formative.

Hisham Kassim

Kassim Legal, PLLC

Hisham Kassim

Kassim Legal, PLLC

Hisham has close to twenty (20) years of experience representing companies and individuals in the venture capital and private equity space. Hisham has worked on hundreds of transactions over the years representing a wide range of venture and private equity clients from North America, Europe, and the MENA region. His expertise includes cross-border transactions, international M&A, fund and SPV formation as well as international tax planning and structuring. He is fluent in English and Arabic and is a published scholar in U.S. law reviews. Hisham is also a frequent speaker and contributor in the startup ecosystem. He regularly leads workshops, masterclasses, and mentorship sessions for founders and investors.

Aman Ghose

Aquanow

Aman Ghose

Aquanow

Aman Ghose is Head of Partnerships at Aquanow, a global digital assets platform that unlocks crypto for financial institutions. Aquanow operates technology infrastructure and underwrites billions of dollars in monthly digital asset brokerage and stablecoin settlement transactions. At Aquanow his mandate includes strategic partnerships and growth, especially in the Middle East, where he has contributed to scaling the regional business from inception into one of the most impactful digital asset market participants today. Aman works closely with ecosystem partners including the leading banks, fintechs, enterprises, and payment technology companies. Prior to Aquanow, he held various enterprise strategy and product advancement roles at Fortune 500 companies. He completed his MBA from The Fletcher School at Tufts University and a BA from Claremont McKenna College.

Meenah Tariq

Metric

Meenah Tariq

Metric

CEO and Chief Growth Officer at Metric, a financial intelligence platform built for business owners across the GCC, with a core focus on the UAE and KSA. I lead a high-performing, 40-person international team and drive overall growth strategy, funding, and market expansion. Metric is used in 190 countries. Currently also hosting MENA’s first podcast, MENA Means Business, dedicated to giving a voice to business owners and founders across the region. Over the last decade, I’ve worked closely with thousands of entrepreneurs. I’ve experienced VC investing as a Partner at Karavan.vc, led strategy and acceleration at Invest2Innovate Pakistan, and designed financing programs at the World Bank for women entrepreneurs in Pakistan and Iraq. I’m also a trainer, former TV host, entrepreneurship lecturer, and content creator with a 30K audience.

Lalitha Wemel

Hub71

Lalitha Wemel

Hub71

Lalitha Wemel is an experienced ecosystem builder and program director leading programs at Hub71 in Abu Dhabi. She oversees multi-vertical initiatives supporting early-stage to growth-stage startups, with a focus on market entry, scaling in the GCC, investor readiness, corporate partnerships, and founder experience. With over 15 years of experience across entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems, Lalitha has worked with founders, investors, corporates, and governments across more than 110 countries. Her work centres on designing high-impact founder journeys, building scalable ecosystem infrastructure, and activating partnerships that drive long-term value.

Nedda Akhonbay

MDLBEAST

Nedda Akhonbay

MDLBEAST

Nedda Akhonbay is an experienced marketing and communications professional with over a decade of international and local experience in public affairs, media relations, and brand marketing. Recently appointed as Senior Director of Marketing at MDLBEAST, she oversees the growth and marketing direction of the company’s expanding portfolio of music events and IPs, building platforms that connect and inspire. Before stepping into this role, Nedda served as Director of Communications at MDLBEAST, where she built and led PR, socials, and influencers strategies for some of the region’s largest cultural and entertainment events, elevating the brand’s global recognition. Earlier in her career, she also held senior roles at Bupa Arabia and APCO Worldwide, working across health, entertainment, and tourism projects.

Shadab Khan

ADIA Lab

Shadab Khan

ADIA Lab

Dr. Shadab Khan is a Senior Scientist at ADIA Lab, where he leads the computational sciences and AI research in Health Science. Previously, he was the SVP of AI and Applied Sciences at M42, where his team of scientists and engineers developed AI models such as Med42 (LLM), Gene42 (Genomics LLM), AIRIS-TB (Imaging AI), amonth others. Before M42, he was a Healthcare AI researcher at Inception (G42) in UAE. At Inception, Dr. Khan was a founding faculty member at the Mohamed Bin Zayed University of AI. Prior to moving to UAE, Dr. Khan was a Fellow in Radiology at Harvard Med and Boston Children’s Hospital. He holds a PhD in Engineering Sciences from Dartmouth College, and Master’s in Public Health (MPH) from Harvard University.

Christina Craver

Salesforce

Christina Craver

Salesforce

Christina Craver is Slack’s founding representative in the Middle East, pioneering how organizations across MENA work, collaborate, and innovate with AI. With over 12 years driving digital transformation across three continents, Christina brings a founder’s mindset to helping startups and scale-ups unlock their potential. As former Head of Product building Dubai’s startup ecosystem infrastructure, she led teams connecting founders with customers, capital, and talent—understanding firsthand the challenges early-stage companies face. Today, Christina partners with ambitious teams across the region to harness Slack and AI as their operating system for growth—transforming how they collaborate, make decisions, and scale. Beyond her work at Slack, Christina is an active mentor for university students, women in tech, and emerging talent across MENA, passionate about building the region’s next generation of innovators.

Sanjiv Purushotham

Bridge Solutions

Sanjiv Purushotham

Bridge Solutions

Founder & CEO, Bridge Solutions | Advisory Council Member, Fintech Tuesdays | Executive Council Member, Singapore Business Council (UAE) | Ambassador, Singapore Fintech Festival Sanjiv Purushotham is a global fintech leader with over 30 years of experience at the intersection of financial services, technology, and policy. Having held senior leadership roles at Mastercard, American Express, Citibank, and Uber, he has created multi-million-dollar business streams, managed portfolios exceeding USD 500 million, and advanced financial inclusion for more than 500 million people worldwide. As Founder & CEO of Bridge Solutions, Sanjiv drives market entry, innovation, and regulatory alignment for fintechs and financial institutions across the Middle East, India, and Singapore. He has led groundbreaking initiatives including digital payments, BNPL solutions, digital wallets, and stablecoin-based settlement protocols, while also spearheading the MAS-backed APIX platform connecting fintech ecosystems in over 30 countries. A Advisory Council Member of Fintech Tuesdays and an Executive Council member of the Singapore Business Council (UAE), Sanjiv is recognized for building trusted dialogue between governments, regulators, and innovators.

Rahul Kumar

Capital.com

Rahul Kumar

Capital.com

Rahul Kumar is the Head of Digital Assets, MENA at Capital.com, where he leads the firm’s crypto strategy and regional expansion. With over a decade of experience across financial services, he has built and scaled wealth and trading propositions for leading digital banks and fintechs, blending innovation with regulatory discipline. Before joining Capital.com, Rahul played a key role in developing Emirates NBD’s landmark crypto offering for retail customers via Liv Digital Bank, the first initiative of its kind by a legacy bank in the GCC. Previously, at Revolut, he was involved in establishing the firm’s regulated crypto entity in Cyprus, which now serves as Revolut’s EU crypto hub.

Zaid Derbi

Posta.ai

Zaid Derbi

Posta.ai

Zaid is the Founder and CEO of Posta.ai/ partner GRWNET; technology and growth leader with 17+ years of experience driving product innovation, digital transformation,scaling high-impact digital ventures. Previously, Zaid led growth initiatives at MATIC, Staq.io, and HotelsCombined (Kayak.com) across MENA, helping scale platforms to over 2 million users and contributing to more than $50M in annual recurring revenue in Saudi Arabia. He holds a BSc in Computer Science from Concordia University.

Anupa Kurian Murshed

Micro1

Anupa Kurian Murshed

Micro1

Anupa Kurian-Murshed is a pioneering journalist, AI Editor Trainer and media strategist at the forefront of human-AI synergy. As an expert, she was part of the deployment of top AI developments, architecting an evolving model for human professionals in specialised editorial segments. With a 28-year legacy in the UAE media landscape, Anupa previously transformed Gulf News, scaling social reach to 7+ million and driving 60% of total web traffic through innovative content ecosystems. An expert in crisis management and digital transformation, she advises media startups on AI-integrated workflows and institutional policy. She bridges the gap between traditional journalistic ethics and the frontier of Large Language Models, making her a definitive voice on the future of intuitive technology and entrepreneurial evolution.

Mustafa Darwich

Latham & Watkins

Mustafa Darwich

Latham & Watkins

“Mustafa Darwich is an associate in the Dubai office and a member of the Finance Department, with expertise in private capital, venture and growth debt, and asset-backed lending and structured finance products in the GCC. He also possesses extensive experience in cross-border syndicated and secured financings. Mustafa advises leading international investment and commercial banks, financial sponsors, and large corporates on a variety of conventional and Islamic banking and finance transactions worldwide. Additionally, he has significant experience in advising CoComs and large corporates/government entities on restructurings in the Middle East.”

Mamta Varerkar

Yellow branding and consultancy

Mamta Varerkar

Yellow branding and consultancy

I’ve always believed that the best brands aren’t just seen, they’re felt. That belief has shaped everything I do as a brand builder, leader, mentor, and creative thinker. With nearly 20+ years of experience in branding, content, and marketing in the UAE, I’ve had the privilege of partnering with some of the region’s most ambitious brands from launching innovative brands like Cafu and Oli Oli, to working with Mitsubishi Motors, to reimagining legacy giants like Barakat and Pan Emirates (now Pan Home). Today, I lead as General Manager and Partner at Yellow, an award-winning branding and marketing agency I co-founded. Alongside an incredible team, I’ve helped craft iconic brands and breakthrough campaigns that don’t just look good, they solve real business problems and drive measurable impact. Beyond agency life, I co-hosted Startup Hustle Middle East, a podcast I launched with my husband that has garnered over 90K listens and featured leading voices in venture capital, entrepreneurship, and innovation. I also mentor startups and SMEs, and speak on topics close to my heart: branding, content, creative leadership, and the evolving role of AI in marketing.

Nayla Tueni

Annahar Media Group

Nayla Tueni

Annahar Media Group

Nayla Tueni is a Lebanese media leader and CEO of Annahar, one of Lebanon’s most influential media institutions. Since assuming leadership in 2011, she has driven Annahar’s transformation from a traditional print newspaper into a digital-first, multimedia platform often described as a “viewspaper.” Under her direction, Annahar expanded its reach through video content, live streaming, and innovative digital storytelling, strengthening its relevance locally and globally. Widely recognized for her resilience and forward-thinking leadership, Nayla Tueni continues to shape the future of media in the region amid ongoing political and economic challenges.

Sameer Sortur

Founder Institute

Sameer Sortur

Founder Institute

Sameer is the Founding Partner at SquareCircle Ventures and Managing Director for GCC & India at Founder Institute. He coaches startups, scaleups, and corporates grow in emerging markets through partnerships, market entry, and digital modernization. With 20+ years of experience in strategy, venture building, and investment across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, he advises companies expanding globally.

Suraya Turk

Legal Circle

Suraya Turk

Legal Circle

Suraya is an Australian-qualified lawyer with nearly two decades of experience at the intersection of law, business, and innovation. As Managing Partner of Legal Circle, Suraya leads the Private Equity, Capital Fundraising, and Corporate Commercial practice, advising startups, multinationals, governments, and funds on complex corporate, regulatory, and governance matters. Over the years, Suraya has advised more than 600 startups across MENA on multimillion-dollar fundraisings, shareholder negotiations, ESOPs, and cross-border deals. Suraya has been shortlisted for Lexis Nexis Law awards for the practice work she has been involved in.

Sumit Ranjan

Emvo

Sumit Ranjan

Emvo

Sumit Ranjan is the Co-founder and CTO of Emvo, where he builds enterprise-grade voice and agentic AI systems focused on reliability, security, and real-world deployment. He has over a decade of experience designing and deploying AI across healthcare, finance, retail, and enterprise platforms. Sumit is the author of book “Agentic AI in Enterprise”, and a contributor to the “OWASP Top 10 for Agentic AI Systems”. His work focuses on sovereign AI, bounded autonomy, and production-ready agentic architectures.

Eyad Kassar

Qlub.io

Eyad Kassar

Qlub.io

“Eyad grew up in Germany, where he earned a Ph.D. Summa Cum Laude in Computer Science from Saarland University. During his studies he was a fellow of the German National Academic Foundation which is granted to the best 0.1% of Germany’s students. Eyad is one of the most accomplished entrepreneurs of the Middle East, he founded and ran some of MENAs largest tech companies which raised hundreds of millions of dollars in funding, employing tens of thousands of employees and fulfilling daily millions of orders. Many top entrepreneurs of the region started their career with Eyad. Some of the companies Eyad built: *Snapp Group. MENAs largest tech company. It employs 10,000 people and 5 million freelancers and transacts 7 million orders / daily. Snapp is one of the largest Superapps globally (Ridehailing, food delivery, grocery delivery, flight tickets, hotels, lending, and many more). Its subsidiary Snapp Cab is the 4th largest ride hailing company globally. *Rocket Internet MENA / Namshi. Eyad founded and ran Rocket Internet in MENA. Under his tenure Rocket acquired among others Talabat and Hungerstation (IPOed as Deliveryhero which became a DAX company) and he co-founded the #1 fashion retailer of the region Namshi.com (which was sold to UAE’s Emaar). *Qlub: Global payment company Qlub which operates in 7 countries, from Australia, to Singapore, UAE, KSA to India and Brazil. Qlub raised the largest seed globally in 2022 and the largest seed investment ever in MENA from some of the top global investors. Eyad is co- founder and co-CEO of Qlub. *Baly. Baly is the super app of Iraq, it raised Iraq’s largest tech investment and is now the largest techcompany in the country. Eyad is co-founder and Chairman of Baly “

Maya Tayara

iprospect

Maya Tayara

iprospect

Maya Tayara is the Managing Director of iProspect, where she leads a bold vision to redefine digital media for the Middle East and North Africa through a performance-driven, audience-centric approach. With over 20+ years of media, strategy and growth experience, Maya has played a pivotal role in shaping integrated solutions that blend creativity, data, and business outcomes for global brands such as P&G, Microsoft, Mondelez, Kering group and Philips. Before stepping into her current role, Maya served as Head of Client Engagement and Growth at dentsu MENA, where she was responsible for setting the growth strategy across media offering, driving sales development, scaling new capabilities and strengthening strategic client partnerships across the region. This expansion mindset helped accelerate dentsu’s transformation into a more unified, performance-oriented partner for clients facing complex business challenges.

Ted Kemp

Khaleej Times

Ted Kemp

Khaleej Times

Ted Kemp is Chief Content Officer at Khaleej Times, the No. 1 English-language news organization in the UAE. In 2025 he began introducing a new editorial strategy and organizational structure there. He formerly was International Managing Editor of CNBC Digital and has led newsrooms in East Asia, India, the Middle East, Europe and the USA. He is a podcast producer, multimedia manager, digital editor, documentarian and the author of The Ragged Edge, a 2017 book about the Iraq War that was named “Best History” by Amazon.com.

Cyba Audi

Saba Consultants

Cyba Audi

Saba Consultants

Cyba Audi is a three-time award-winning journalist, executive coach, and one of the most recognized faces in Arab business media. Her career bridges global finance and high-impact journalism. She began in London as a private banker advising high-net-worth clients before transitioning into broadcasting. Over the past two decades, she has led and produced high-profile interviews for CNBC Arabia, Al Arabiya, and Asharq Business with Bloomberg. She anchored the two-time award-winning Mornings with Cyba for four years and currently hosts Hadith Ma’ Cyba, known for thoughtful conversations with decision-makers and regional changemakers. Cyba is also the creator and host of Ta7t El Hawa, a bold podcast exploring leadership, purpose, and voice, including its Legend Woman series spotlighting influential women. A strong advocate for women’s leadership, she founded Saba Consultants in 2010 and is regarded as a “warm but sharp” interviewer.

Abdul Majid Awan

Smashi Business (Augustus Media)

Abdul Majid Awan

Smashi Business (Augustus Media)

11 years in digital and print journalism, a two-year detour into Marketing and PR, and now back since 2 years where it all began: journalism, but make it fully digital. I focus on sharp storytelling, audience-first reporting, and making complex stories easy to digest. Currently building Smashi Business.

Waseem Hashem

Microsoft

Waseem Hashem

Microsoft

Waseem is the Go-To-Market Lead for Microsoft EMEA, helping customers through their AI Transformation journey. With a career predominantly in Product Engineering, he led teams in developing cloud software and platform solutions at Microsoft North America. Such as Microsoft Teams and Azure Cloud. Waseem hold two registered patents in AI and UX, along with numerous global awards.

Ward Badawi

Augustus Media

Ward Badawi

Augustus Media

Raised in Dubai with roots in Sudan, Ward is the host and content writer for Smashi Business, telling the stories behind the startups, founders, and trends shaping the Middle East.

Abdulla Almehsin

Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority

Abdulla Almehsin

Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority

Abdulla is a Trends & Innovations Specialist at the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority with over six years of experience at the intersection of technology, policy, and social impact. He leads innovation initiatives that translate data and evidence into scalable solutions for children and families, with a strong focus on responsible AI and human-centered design. Abdulla plays a key role in Anjal Z, the Authority’s startup accelerator delivered with Hub71, enabling founders to pilot and scale early childhood technologies through funding, mentorship, and market access. He also contributes to Athar, a design-thinking platform for public sector innovation, and Amntk Bladk, a national newborn program. His work centers on building ecosystems where startups, government, and communities collaborate to create measurable, long-term wellbeing impact.

Ghida Batal

Arla Foods

Ghida Batal

Arla Foods

I am leading the strategy and execution across all media touchpoints. I oversees creative and media agency partnerships, ensuring connected, consistent consumer experiences that drive both brand equity and business impact across the region.

Dua Al Toobi

Future Proof Advisory

Dua Al Toobi

Future Proof Advisory

I’m the Founder of The Futureproof Advisory and Author of Futureproof Your Workforce: Bridging the Divide Between Nationalisation Goals and the Digital Skills Gap in the GCC – A Leader’s Playbook. With executive leadership roles in both Digital Transformation and Human Capital, I bring a dual-lens perspective to the future of work — combining tech acumen with deep understanding of people, policy, and culture. I’ve led mergers, turnarounds, and large-scale transformations across banking and public sectors, helping institutions move from disruption to leadership. Through my advisory firm, I help governments and enterprises design time-bound, ROI-driven frameworks that align digital ambition with workforce execution — grounded in strategic empathy and measurable outcomes. I’m also a trusted voice and speaker, shaping high-impact conversations on AI, nationalisation, and inclusion across TV screens, public platforms, and executive rooms. One of the first GCC nationals to earn an Executive Master in Digital Transformation, I’m now pursuing a Doctorate exploring how human connection and AI can coexist in future-ready organizations.

Warda Malik

FTI Consulting

Warda Malik

FTI Consulting

Warda Malik is a Senior Director in Strategic Communications at FTI Consulting, based in Dubai. She advises fintech, digital banking, AI, and public sector clients across the Middle East on positioning, thought leadership, media strategy, and reputation management, particularly at moments of growth, regulation, or market entry. Warda has worked with financial institutions, regulators, and technology companies across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and broader international markets, and holds a background in public policy and international financial regulation.

Natalia Sycheva

Integra Seven LLC FZ

Natalia Sycheva

Integra Seven LLC FZ

Natalia Sycheva is an international strategy advisor specializing in economic diversification, trade, and public–private partnerships, with over 15-years of experience advising governments, international organizations, and business communities across the Middle East, Africa, and the European Union. She is the Managing Director of Integra Seven, where she leads advisory work on FDI attraction strategies, intergovernmental economic agreements, and institutional reforms, with engagements spanning the UAE Ministry of Economy, Dubai DET, the ICC / WCF, UAE CSR Fund Majra. Previously, Natalia served as Director of Strategy at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, where she led its strategic restructuring and global trade promotion initiatives across more than 30 countries. She is an Expert Council Member at the Dubai New Economy Academy and has been recognized by the UAE Ministry of Economy (2024) and as “UAE Woman of the Year” (2019).

Radu-Casian Mihailescu

Heriot-Watt University

Radu-Casian Mihailescu

Heriot-Watt University

Dr Radu-Casian Mihailescu is an Associate Professor at Heriot-Watt University Dubai, Director of the MSc Artificial Intelligence programme, and Founder of the Human-Centric AI Research Group. He holds a PhD in Artificial Intelligence from King Juan Carlos University (Madrid) and previously served as Assoc. Professor at Malmö University, Sweden. His work sits at the intersection of cutting-edge AI research and real-world deployment, focusing on scalable machine learning, explainable and responsible AI, and adaptive intelligence for industry use. He collaborates closely with startups, corporates, and public-sector partners on applied AI solutions across healthtech, smart cities, computer vision, and large language models, with a strong emphasis on translating research into deployable, impact-driven products.

Moustafa Hamwi

The FutureProof Advisory

Moustafa Hamwi

The FutureProof Advisory

“ADVISOR TO BOARDS & C-SUITES STRATEGIC FORESIGHT | PRACTICAL INNOVATION | LEADERSHIP TRANSFORMATION Moustafa is an advisor to Boards and C-Suites, helping organisations prepare for what’s around the corner so they can turn unpredictable market shifts into market share gains. His experience spans senior corporate leadership, serial entrepreneurship, and board-level advisory, supporting growth and transformation mandates with measurable outcomes. Instead of trading in concepts, he works with practical realities to build boardroom-approved solutions with a clear impact on P&Ls, balance sheets, and execution cadence. Combining strategic foresight, practical innovation, and leadership transformation, Moustafa helps organisations act decisively to outrun their competition Outside the boardroom, Moustafa’s disciplined pursuit of high-stakes aerial, motor, and mountaineering sports sharpens his instincts for split-second decisions requiring clarity under pressure. Find out more on www.Moustafa.com”

Anna Tutova

AI Crypto Minds/Family office

Anna Tutova

AI Crypto Minds/Family office

Anna Tutova is a public speaker, Founder AI Crypto Minds(PR-advisory agency https://aicryptominds.com/), Fortune media contributor and family office advisor. Anna holds a degree of Master in International Law. She is an expert in public relations and business development, featured on CNBC Arabia TV, Forbes Middle East, Nasdaq, Finance Yahoo, Gulf News, Cointelegraph. Additionally Anna is partner at https://bankstore.ai/, a marketplace of direct matching business with banks & financial providers. Furthermore Anna is a co-producer of the documentary film “Decentralized – no Matter What” on the new era of the digital economy(featuring El Salvador’s government officials, Vitalik Buterin(creator Ethereum), CZ(Founder Binance), Justin Sun(Founder Tron), Paolo Ardoino(CEO Tether) etc. Anna interviewed before Jenny Johnson(Franklin Templeton CEO – $1.6 trillion AUM), Noel Quinn(former HSBC CEO), Vitalik Buterin(creator Ethereum), Marc Randolph(co-Founder Netflix), CZ(Founder Binance), Paolo Ardoino(CEO Tether), Anthony Scaramucci(Founder SkyBridge, ex-Trump advisor), Surrangel Whipps. Jr.(President of Palau), Cathie Wood(Founder ARK Invest), Pierre Gasly(F1 driver), Keith Grossman(ex-TIME President, President Enterprise Moonpay), Kristin Johnson(US CFTC Commissioner), Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz(daughter of Charles Schwab, Board Chair and President Charles Schwab Foundation), President Mastercard Europe, UK Members of Parliament, Lightspeed Ventures(12B$ AUM), Pantera Capital, Dragonfly Capital partners, Dr. Daniel Risch(Prime Minister of Liechtenstein) etc. Anna’s YouTube podcast – https://youtube.com/@aicryptominds

Will Hutson

LMTD

Will Hutson

LMTD

Will Hutson, is the founder and CEO of LMTD, a leading full stack social creative agency based in the UAE. He’s also an active angel investor as a founding member of UAE based AngelSpark, and a board member for FamilieSCN2a Foundation in the US.

Juliette Nicholls

Pineapple Audio Production

Juliette Nicholls

Pineapple Audio Production

“Juliette is the Founder and Director of Pineapple Audio Production, which specialises in the production of podcasts. Our expertise in podcast production has been instrumental in crafting over 1800 episodes for top-tier clients, including global brands and media powerhouses. Clients have included Heart, Grazia, CNBC, Marie Claire, Aramco, The Telegraph, Metro.co.uk and the chart-topping ‘Love Island: The Morning After’ podcast for ITV. Previously, as an award-winning, high-achieving audio producer, I created station sound, imaging and trails for the Heart network’s biggest national campaigns for a weekly audience of 9 million. Clients included Sky (the biggest UK commercial radio partnership at the time), Netflix, Disney, Santander, Sony and Sainsbury’s. AWARDS AND HONOURS: >Radio Academy’s 30-Under-30 Award in 2016, and 2018 >Honorary Life Member of the Student Radio Association 2019 >Rising Star Award by The Times and We Are The City 2019 >Non-exec Advisor on the board of the Student Radio Association 2020-present >Business UK Music and Entertainment Company of the Year for Wiltshire 2023 >Corporate Livewire Innovation and Excellence Audio Production Company of the Year 2024 >Corporate Livewire Global Audio Production Company of the Year 2024”

Triska Hamid

Triska Hamid

​Triska Hamid is a journalist and editor specialising in MENA’s technology and startup ecosystem. Her insightful analysis and reporting have been featured in prominent publications including The FT, The National, and MEED as well as Arabian Gulf Business Insight (AGBI). She is also the former Editorial Director at Wamda, a leading MENA-focused entrepreneurship platform, where she drove the content agenda, including features, research, and events.

Ash Kumra

MindfulxHustle

Ash Kumra

MindfulxHustle

Ash Kumra is a community builder, AI strategist, and entrepreneur intersecting technology and human connection. He currently leads community for Lightfield, a CRM reimagined for AI-native companies. Learn more at www.lightfield.app. Ash also serves as an advisor to The AI Collective, the world’s largest AI movement with 150,000+ members across 80+ global chapters. Previously, he co-created AI for Leaders with MIT Sloan Management, a LinkedIn community connecting over 10,000 executives, academics, and practitioners exploring strategic applications of artificial intelligence.

Achasah Weinreb

Steps I Took

Achasah Weinreb

Steps I Took

A dynamic host and presenter, she is known for asking the kind of questions that spark insight, authenticity, and memorable conversations. With a natural ability to read the room and draw out depth from her guests, she creates spaces where speakers feel supported, energised, and at their best. She is the co-host of the Steps I Took podcast, where she interviews founders, leaders, and creatives from diverse backgrounds and co-founder of Women Who Thrive, a fast-growing female community hosting multiple wellbeing events each month. Whether on stage or behind the mic, she brings warmth, curiosity, and infectious energy, balancing sharp facilitation with genuine connection to elevate every conversation she leads.

Rony Hage

Founder Connects

Rony Hage

Founder Connects

Rony Hage is the founder of Founder Connects, a UAE-based community dedicated to humanizing the entrepreneurial journey. Recognizing that too many founders build in isolation, Rony moved beyond stiff networking to create a vibrant ecosystem focused on genuine collaboration and support. Through curated touchpoints ranging from virtual speed rooms to in-person founder experiences, he bridges strategy and community experience to ensure every member feels seen and heard. Rony’s mission is to make collaboration effortless by prioritizing depth over metrics. He is building a space where founders in the UAE and the wider MENA region can trade surface-level interactions for real conversations, shared growth, and meaningful impact.

Menna El Husseiny

Menna El Husseiny

With over 8 years of experience driving impact across diverse industries, Menna El Husseiny is a seasoned marketing and communication expert specializing in Brand Narrative & Storytelling, Omnichannel Strategy, and AI-Driven Communication. Having navigated the evolving landscapes of innovative startups, Menna brings a sharp, cross-industry perspective. Known for bridging the gap between emerging tech and human-centric strategy, she has consistently delivered high-stakes campaigns that resonate.

Anton Reshetov

AI Salon Dubai

Anton Reshetov

AI Salon Dubai

Anton Reshetov is a co-founder of GardenAI, working on building personalised lifelong learning for professionals with AI tutors and co-chair of AI Salon Dubai, a chapter of global AI Salon Organisation, connecting AI startups to investors worldwide.

Dr. Marwan Alzarouni

Department of Economy & Tourism

Dr. Marwan Alzarouni

Department of Economy & Tourism

Dr. Marwan Al Zarouni is a leading figure in emerging technologies, serving as CEO of AI for Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and the CEO of Dubai Blockchain Center (DBCC). His appointment is part of Dubai’s ambitious ‘Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence’, which aims to position the city as a global leader in AI innovation and implementation. In his role at DET, Dr. Al Zarouni works closely with both the public and private sector to roll out policies and initiatives to harness AI to enhance the quality of life for Dubai’s residents and enrich visitor experiences. As the CEO of Dubai Blockchain Center (DBCC), he has been instrumental in driving blockchain adoption in the region. With over two decades of experience in technology, information security, digital forensics, and AI, he has driven significant advancements in blockchain adoption and AI innovation. As a founding member of the Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC) and the Artificial Intelligence Ethical Committee (AIEC), Dr. Al Zarouni is recognized globally, including being named one of the top 100 influential figures in blockchain and cryptocurrencies by CoinTelegraph in 2022. His contributions to the field have also earned him a place as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Cryptocurrencies from 2020 to 2021.

Dr. Salim Al-Shuaili

Global Council for Responsible AI

Dr. Salim Al-Shuaili

Global Council for Responsible AI

Phd in ICT (AI & 4IR) with more than 22 years of experience Certified chief ai officer Certified AI auditor Leading ai and dx projects Member in differnt academic advisory councils Board of trustees Member AI judge Global and GCC award Participating in international events as a speaker Having media broadcasting and sessions

Sharif Eid

Amwal Capital Partners

Sharif Eid

Amwal Capital Partners

Sharif Eid joined Amwal Capital Partners in January 2024 as a Partner, based in Dubai and Riyadh, where he leads the firm’s private credit practice. He co-manages the ACP Shariah Financing Fund, a closed-end vehicle, and the ACP Shariah Hybrid Income Fund, an open-ended semi-liquid fund.

Imane El Majdoubi

Microsoft

Imane El Majdoubi

Microsoft

Imane El Majdoubi, Executive Director – Enterprise Commercial, Microsoft UAE Imane El Majdoubi is an accomplished technology leader with over 18 years of experience in enterprise strategy, digital transformation, and strategic partnerships. Her career spans multinational consulting, regional system integration, and a 14-year tenure at Microsoft, where she has consistently driven innovation and customer success. In her current role, Imane leads Microsoft’s Enterprise Commercial business in the UAE, empowering major industries—including Financial Services, Energy, Manufacturing, Retail, Telecommunications & Media, and Travel & Entertainment—to harness AI and advanced digital technologies for growth and resilience. A recipient of the prestigious Microsoft Pinnacle Award in 2023, Imane holds an Industrial Engineering degree and is deeply committed to youth empowerment, women’s advancement, and socio-economic inclusion through global and local initiatives.

Andrew Vranjes

Blockdaemon

Andrew Vranjes

Blockdaemon

Andrew is driving Blockdaemon’s global growth strategy as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). In this role, he is responsible for driving and aligning all revenue generating processes across the organization. Previously, Andrew was VP and GM at APAC, where he has successfully led regional growth, forged strategic partnerships, and expanded market presence in the Asia Pacific Region. Prior to joining Blockdaemon, Andrew has held leadership roles in Amazon Web Services (AWS), Cisco Systems and Singtel/Optus. In AWS, Andrew built out the teams focussed on Startups, Digital Natives, Crypto/Fintech and AWS’s partnerships with the Venture Capital and Private Equity community. In Cisco, Andrew led sales and Business Development for several acquisitions and internally built software solutions, most notably the GTM in APAC for an acquisition, tail-f systems. In Optus Business, Andrew led and owned the P&L for the Data Centre and Cloud Practice.

Bogdan Dinu

Visa

Bogdan Dinu

Visa

Bogdan is Heading the Product Innovation team at Visa CEMEA, helping to build new profitable revenue streams in the region. For the previous 5 years, Bogdan was the Chief Product Officer at Thunes, a global leader in cross-border payments. Bogdan is a seasoned FinTech enthusiast with over 20 years of experience and he has a proven record in building and scaling successful business and consumer products across emerging markets. With a career spanning Amsterdam, Dubai and Singapore, he has held leadership roles at prominent companies including Nike, PayU and Ingenico. Holding an MBA from Amsterdam Business School, Bogdan brings a strategic and analytical mindset, driving innovation and growth in the payments industry.

Mamoun Hmidan

Wego

Mamoun Hmidan

Wego

Mamoun serves as Wego’s Chief Business Officer. Prior to this, he occupied the positions of Chief Commercial Officer and Managing Director for Wego, the largest online travel marketplace in the MENA region and one of the fastest growing tech companies in Dubai. Wego is dual-headquartered in Singapore and Dubai and Mamoun runs the business from the Dubai office where he is responsible for managing operations across the region. He is a significant shareholder in the company. Mamoun helped launch Wego’s Middle East operations in 2013 and expanded the company’s footprint across MENA and into India. Prior to that, he established the Advertising & Media sales unit and was Acting GM for MENA before being promoted to Managing Director. It’s Mamoun’s ability to move effortlessly between the high-tech world of Silicon Valley and the high-touch world of the Middle Eastern travel and tourism industry that makes him a particularly effective senior executive. Mamoun is a member of EMIR Corporate Intelligence Network, MEA business group and German Emirati Joint Council for Industry & Commerce (AHK). He was named by Arabian Business as one of the “Young Achievers 2021”. Prior to joining Wego, Mamoun held senior roles in some of the region’s best known digital media start-ups including iKoo (first and largest online advertising network in the Middle East acquired by Yahoo!) and Diwanee (largest premium lifestyle content publisher acquired by Webedia). Mamoun has lived in Dubai since 2005 and was a sales exec for Audi before joining the tech industry.

Aslan Sultanov

White Hill Capital

Aslan Sultanov

White Hill Capital

Aslan Sultanov is the Managing Partner at White Hill Capital & Tumar Venture fund, and a leading figure in Central Asia’s venture capital landscape with 20+ years of experience in banking, FinTech, investments, etc. He is the Founder and Chairman of the Kazakhstan Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, and the visionary behind the Al-Farabi Innovation Hub in Riyadh and Dubai, platforms dedicated to assisting entrepreneurs from Central Asia and the Caucasus in expanding into the MENA region. Under his management, Tumar Venture Fund has a 2.5x growth per year and 17 portfolio startups from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Saudi Arabia, etc. Aslan has deep expertise in: – Scaling technology companies in emerging markets – FinTech, Banks, Cryptocurrency, Investments – AI implementation cases in Finance and Governance – EdTech, etc.

Melissa Guzy

Arbor Ventures

Melissa Guzy

Arbor Ventures

Melissa C. Guzy is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Arbor Ventures. Melissa is a member of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong and the Singapore Venture Capital Associations and a former member of the advisory counsel to the Hong Kong SFC on Innovation. She serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of Jackson Labs. Melissa’s expertise in Fintech has earned her recognition as a Top 100 Influencer in Fintech (NxBnk), AlwaysOn Fintech Power Player, as well as One of the Most Influential Women in Tech in Asia. Her current board seats include Paidy, TrueAccord, InCountry, Fundbox, Tabby, EverC and Planck Re.

Ramez Shehadi

Accenture

Ramez Shehadi

Accenture

Ramez T. Shehadi is Accenture’s Global Lead – Public Sector Strategy and plays a pivotal role in expanding Accenture’s Global Strategy Practice, aiming to accelerate profitable growth as well as expand business capabilities and technology adoption through a powerful ecosystem to deliver 360° value to clients. Ramez brings a wealth of experience as a transformative leader, industry and technology strategist, thought leader, venture capitalist, and community builder. His career spans across diverse sectors, having started, scaled, and led regional and global lines of business and cross-industry portfolios for strategy consulting and technology companies such as Kearney, Strategy& (formerly Booz & Company), Booz Allen Hamilton, Meta (formerly Facebook), and REEF (a global proximity- and quick-commerce platform). He has also held numerous board roles at publicly traded and private firms and global NGOs, demonstrating his broad understanding of business and social issues. Beyond his professional achievements, Ramez is deeply committed to regional and global social responsibility and diversity programs. His active involvement in community leadership initiatives reflects his dedication to driving positive change on crucial issues, including DEI, sustainability, and social entrepreneurship. Ramez’s influence extends to international media platforms, where he is recognized as an authority on digital strategy-led transformation, technology-driven socio-economic growth, and the digital economy at large.

Mahmoud Ward

Dubai Future District Fund Investments Limited

Mahmoud Ward

Dubai Future District Fund Investments Limited

Mahmoud is the Director of Investment and Ecosystem at the Dubai Future District Fund (DFDF), where he leads Fund of Funds investments and co-investments with leading General Partners, supporting innovation and entrepreneurship aligned with Dubai’s strategic economic priorities. His focus spans key sectors including Health & Life Sciences, PropTech, Mobility & Logistics, the Circular Economy, and DeepTech & AI. Prior to DFDF, Mahmoud served as Head of Community & Operations at Hub71, where he helped build a thriving startup ecosystem in Abu Dhabi by connecting founders with capital, mentorship, and global opportunities. Earlier, as Chief Operating Officer at BECO Capital, he played a critical role in scaling technology startups across the MENA region. His career also includes senior growth leadership roles in multiple startups, alongside experience in corporate leadership, consultancy, and audit, giving him a well-rounded perspective on building and scaling high-growth ventures.

Mohammad Sammour

AB Xelerate

Mohammad Sammour

AB Xelerate

Mohammad is a Corporate Venture Capitalist and innovation strategist specializing in open innovation. He drives organizational growth by connecting direct venture investments with structured startup–corporate partnerships, enabling institutions to validate, co-build, and scale solutions with early-stage founders. His experience as a former founder gives him a practical lens on what it takes to build from zero, shaping his approach to value creation inside large organizations. Mohammad holds a master’s degree in Global Strategy and Innovation Management from the University of Leeds and is an alumnus of the Kelley School of Business. He has also contributed to regional and global ecosystems and has been recognized by the World Economic Forum, Stanford University, Dubai Expo and other leading platforms.

John Woodward

Heriot Watt University

John Woodward

Heriot Watt University

John R. Woodward is head of the School of Mathematics and Computer Science at Heriot Watt University, Dubai. His expertise in AI and machine learning and optimization techniques. He holds a BSc in Theoretical Physics, MSc in Cognitive Science, and a PhD in Artificial Intelligence. He has worked on application domains including combinatorial optimization problems, airport scheduling, and automatically fixing software bugs. He regularly contributes to The Conversation, BBC, podcasts & other public engagement activities. He has 100+ peer-reviewed publications and has given over 100 presentations at international conferences and as an invited speaker at international universities. He has worked on four continents and has been employed in industrial, military, educational and academic settings, by organizations as diverse as EDS, CERN and RAF and 5 UK Universities.

Leila Serhan

Visa

Leila Serhan

Visa

Leila Serhan currently serves as Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for the North Africa, Levant and Pakistan (NALP) region – a region which serves 15 countries from five regional offices. In this role, Leila and her team are focused on driving Visa’s business growth in the region with key clients and partners from financial institutions, partners, and government in support of Visa’s mission to help individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive. In support of national digitization agendas, Leila and her team are committed to making Visa a partner of choice, while unlocking growth opportunities for new and existing clients and partners across the NALP region. Leila brings more than two decades experience of leadership positions, including 20 years gained at Microsoft prior to joining Visa

Hussein Attar

Tech Invest Com

Hussein Attar

Tech Invest Com

Hussein Attar is the CEO of Tech Invest Com, a 1Bn SAR saudi investment firm that invests in MENA-based growth-stage tech startups and private equity investments in technology companies. He founded a tech startup that was selected as one of the top 50 Arab startups by Forbes. He sits on the board of several tech companies and a member of Oqal and Falak angel investment groups. He is also a board member of the Saudi Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, and a member of the National Entrepreneurship Committee under the Council of Saudi Chambers.

Zubair Naeem Paracha

Termsheet

Zubair Naeem Paracha

Termsheet

Zubair writes about technology and internet trends in emerging markets. He runs Termsheet, a leading newsletter on startups and venture capital in the Middle East and North Africa. Before this, he built MENAbytes, one of the region’s most widely read platforms on tech and startups, and founded Flare, a video-first ecommerce platform for Pakistan.