John Pagano is the Group Chief Executive Officer of Red Sea Global (RSG), the multi-project developer behind the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism destinations, The Red Sea and Amaala, set along the western coast of Saudi Arabia, and a growing portfolio of projects and subsidiaries.

Since joining RSG in January 2018, he has successfully ensured that The Red Sea destination became the first of Saudi Arabia’s original giga-projects under Vision 2030 to welcome guests. The destination now boasts an operational airport, hotels that are taking bookings, and a robust infrastructure – all built on the pillars of sustainability and effective management.

At RSG, John is leveraging his nearly 40 years of international experience in delivering large-scale multi-billion-dollar developments. John’s experience covers every facet of the real estate value chain including site acquisition, master planning, planning, project structuring, financing, construction and asset management.

He holds a BSc degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toronto.

Hon. Gaspard Twagirayezu currently serves as the Minister of Education. Previously, he held the position of Minister of State in charge of Primary and Secondary Education. Prior to his ministerial roles, he contributed to national strategy and policy formulation at the Office of the President. With a background as a STEM educator, he has also served in leadership roles at the National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) and Agahozo Shalom Youth Village. Hon. Twagirayezu holds a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Oklahoma Christian University. 

Manal Quota is the Executive Director for Strategy and Performance at the Human Capability Development Program (HCDP). She is a seasoned public policy professional with over 15 years of work experience supporting policy reforms for enhanced human capabilities. She has led large-scale reforms and worked with governments and stakeholders in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa, designing and implementing education policies that are contextually relevant. Ms. Quota has published several papers covering issues of education quality and labor markets.

Prior to joining HCDP, Ms. Quota was an Advisor to the Minister of Education in Saudi Arabia. Previously she had a 10-year career at the World Bank as well as working for the OECD and UNDP.

Ms. Quota holds an M.A. in International Education Policy from Harvard University, an M.A. in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School, Tufts University and a B.A. in Political Science from UCLA. 

Pedro Moura is a Partnerships Director overseeing Coursera collaborations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. With a background spanning over 18 years in education, he brings experience in fostering international partnerships within Higher Education and governmental spheres. Prior to his role at Coursera, Pedro Moura spent over 12 years in the publishing industry, where he played a pivotal role in leading Macmillan Education’s international partnerships. He studied at the London School of Economics and holds a Master’s degree from the University of London. He is completing a new Master’s degree in Intellectual and Visual History from the Warburg Institute. 

Richard has been leading vocational training and development for over 20 years.

At NEOM he leads our work to create the future of workforce development.

Prior to this, he was responsible for running one of the most successful apprenticeship programmes in the UK Financial Services sector.

He has also worked for the UK Government as a director of educational policy as well as for leading international companies including Volkswagen and Vodafone.

Richard has spoken about Apprenticeships and workforce development around the world and has had many articles and essays published on this subject. 

Professor Khan is Instructional Assistant Professor or Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Science and Engineering Division at KAUST.

Professor Khan’s research interests include continual learning and robustness in deep neural networks, where models are trained from continual streams of data and the target is to learn from new data without forgetting the pervious knowledge, along with this, the networks are designed to be robust to [bounded] input perturbations. 

Jason Box is Director of Engagement & Wellbeing in SABIC’s headquarters based in Riyadh. He is an Industry executive with 28yrs experience, a strategic HR advisor in Oil, Energy & Chemicals, specializing in Organization Development, Culture shaping, enterprise-wide transformation and developing both leaders and teams.

During his short 2 years with SABIC, Jason has worked in Corp Human Resources architecting the company survey and is leading companywide interventions, playing a key role in the recent company re-organization and culture change journey. He is launching an executive wellbeing programme and framework for SABIC.

Previously, he has served as a global HR & OD advisor at Shell, delivered global transformation at Exxon Mobil/BP/Chevron, a director of Transformation in EDF in UK and operated as a trusted advisor in Consulting with Accenture, PWC, IBM, whilst running his own consulting business in UK for 5 years.

He has written many publications on mindset and behavioural change. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business/Accounting from Cardiff University in UK and is a professional FCCA Accountant. He is accredited in many leader and team effectiveness diagnostic tools.

Becky Anderson is one of CNN International’s highest profile anchors. Based at CNN’s Abu Dhabi bureau, she hosts Connect the World with Becky Anderson and serves as Managing Editor. She provides CNN’s global audience with a regional perspective on the emerging politico-economic trends in the Gulf, the key geo-political rivalries shaping the region, and the increasingly influential role it plays in global affairs. Anderson is a skilled interviewer, adept at close questioning, she has interviewed many of the world’s leading politicians, decision-makers, thought-leaders and cultural icons. Among these are many high profile figures, including: Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan; former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan; Queen Rania of Jordan; UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan; UAE Minister of Culture and Youth Noura Al Kaabi; Managing Director and Group CEO Khaldoon Al Mubarak; UAE Minister for Climate Change and Environment Mariam Almheiri; UAE Minister of State Reem Al Hashimy; UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres; and Qatar Energy Minister, Saad Sherida al-Kaabi; sports stars Diego Maradona, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Shaquille O’Neal, Mohammed Salah, and Kylian Mbappe, actress Golshifteh Farahani, and singer Alicia Keys. 

Mohammed holds more than 15 years of executive experience, mainly in human resources strategy, national talents development, leadership development, diversity and inclusion, organizational structure, and learning programs design. Mohammed has been the CEO of the Saudi Digital Academy (SDA), one of Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) initiatives since 2020. Also, he is an expert in Tech-Talents development with deep understanding in translating the organizational goals into a tangible growth via the development and engagements of the talents. Mohammed has major contributions in the role – he opened an important dialogue with the most known international houses of human capital development expertise. Throughout his career, Mohammed focuses on the convergence of digital transformation, training, and development to raise the efficiency of cultural initiatives, leadership and change management. He leverages modern technical concepts and practices to develop human capital and raise the economic value of institutions and organizations. Mohammed AlSuhaim graduated with a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management from AlYamamah University in 2015. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Imam Muhammad bin Saud.

Majid AlShehry is a distinguished technology executive and strategic leader, currently serving as the General Manager of the Studies Department and spokesperson for the Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). With over two decades of executive and technological leadership experience, Majid has made significant contributions at several Fortune 500 companies, including Saudi Aramco and SABIC.

His extensive career is marked by leading transformative mega projects in technology and business, establishing SDAIA as a global thought leader in Data and AI, and pioneering enterprise architecture at the National Information Center (NIC). Majid is also recognized for his academic contributions, co-authoring six technical publications, and delivering numerous presentations and panel discussions globally.

Majid holds an MS in Software Engineering Development Management from Carnegie Mellon University and a BS in Computer Science from KFUPM. His academic portfolio is further enhanced by executive education at prestigious institutions such as MIT and George Washington University. Majid’s leadership is further demonstrated by his active participation in various professional organizations and his commitment to fostering innovation and excellence in the field of technology and artificial intelligence. 

H.E. Dr. Khaled AlSabti was appointed Advisor of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers (minister rank) and chairman of the Board of Directors of the Education and Training Evaluation Commission. He has held several governmental leadership positions, including the Minister of Higher Education, Governor of the National Cybersecurity Authority, and President of the Education and Training Evaluation Commission. Prior to that, he was the Vice Minister of Education, a member at the Shura Council, Secretary General of King Abdulaziz & his Companions foundation for Giftedness and Creativity “Mawhiba”, and Director General of the E-Government Program. 

At the outset of his professional career, he worked as a faculty member at King Saud University in the Department of Computer Science. H.E. Dr. AlSabti is highly experienced in multiple fields, most prominently in education, innovation, creativity, scientific research, IT, and cybersecurity. He played a significant role in establishing number of sectors in Saudia Arabia including the cybersecurity sector, the giftedness and creativity sector, the eGovernment sector, the information technology sector, as well as reforming the education sector. 

Currently, he is a member of the Universities Affairs Council, Vision 2030 Human Capability Development Program Committee, the Board of Directors of NEOM T, the Board Of Trustees Of King Abdullah University Of Science And Technology (KAUST), the Board Of Directors of Misk Schools, Board Of Trustees At Naif Arab University For Security Sciences, and King Faisal International Prize Commission. Additionally, he was a chairman and member of several councils and committees in the public sector, private companies, and non-profit sector.

He holds the King Abdulaziz Sash of Second Class in 2021 and the King Abdulaziz Order of First Class in 2004 for his contributions in scientific research. He co-invented two patents in Information Technology (Artificial Intelligence) granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in 1999. He gained robust experiences in scientific research while working at international companies such as IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center in New York, US, in 1996; and Hitachi at the Silicon Valley, US, in 1997. 

H.E. Dr. AlSabti earned his Ph.D. and MSc. degrees in computer science from Syracuse university in US in 1994 and 1998, respectively. He received his bachelor’s degree in computer science from King Saud University with First Class Honors in 1991. He was also awarded a Medal of Excellence from King Saud University in 1428 AH. He has attended many training courses at leading business colleges including London business college, INSEAD university, and IMD university.

Dr. Bedour AlRayes is the Deputy CEO of the Human Capability Development Program (HCDP), one of Saudi Arabia’s Vison 2030 realization programs. She holds a Bachelors and Masters in Computer Science from King Saud University, and received her PhD in Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence) from Royal Holloway, University of London.

Previously she held many positions at King Saud University, including as Co-Director of the Entrepreneurship Institute and Assistant Professor of AI, as well as acting as an expert consultant for various organizations at the senior committee level.

Dr. Bedour’s AI expertise spans multi-agent systems, automated negotiation, e-markets, fintech and decision-making in the domain of trading and economics. Her deep interest in the field of human capability development has put her at the forefront of this field in the Kingdom.

As well as publishing multiple research papers and receiving awards, her AI agent CONAN won the second place at the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Prize for Saudi Students in the UK. Her fintech product ‘Saudi Money Investigator’ that uses AI for anti-money laundering won first place for the best promising fintech project from the Mohammed Ibrahim AlSubeaei (MASIC) Award for Entrepreneurs. 

 

Dr. Maimoonah AlKhalil is the Secretary-General of the Family Affairs Council in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since 2023. She was the Director of the National Observatory for Women at King Saud University and Princess Noura bint Abdulrahman University since its establishment in 2018 to 2022. She was an assistant professor of applied linguistics at King Saud University from 2011 to 2024.

Abdullah is the Abdullah AlJamea General Manager of the Future Skills Initiative at the Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, Saudi Arabia.

Before joining the Ministry, Abdullah worked as the VP of Business Development & Partnerships at Saudi Digital Academy, and before that, at the Misk Foundation as part of the Misk Fellowship and Training team as a manager of strategic partnerships, as well as the Korn Ferry group as a consultant and senior account manager. Also, he worked in the Elm Company for Information Security in the Department of Consulting.

Abdullah worked on many transformation and development projects in various ministries in the Kingdom during his tenure at Elm Partner Company in the national transformation, with a focus on the restructuring of ministries, the transformation of ministries into ministries without papers, change management, and restructuring.

Abdullah holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Montana in the United States.

Dr. Abeer Atallah AlAmri is the Executive Director of Quality and Evaluation in Tourism Capability Development at the Ministry of Tourism. In this role, she leads tourism quality assurance activities for education and training providers, ensuring alignment with the ambitious tourism strategy aimed at creating one million jobs by 2030.

Additionally, Dr. AlAmri contributes her expertise to various educational boards in Saudi universities, where she helps shape education plans and facilitates connections between students and the private sector workforce.

Before joining the Ministry of Tourism, she held positions at the Education and Training Evaluation Commission, including General Manager of Program Accreditation, Head of Standardized Tests Development, and Consultant to His Excellency the President.

Dr. Alamri holds Master’s and PhD degrees in measurement, statistics, and evaluation from the University of South Florida, and she is a graduate of the London Business School and INSEAD Executive Programs.

Faisal Baltyuor is a film Producer since 2004 and is one of the pioneers in Saudi film industry. He is the founder and CEO of CineWaves Films, one of the fastest growing distribution companies in Saudi Arabia. CineWaves films has the biggest Saudi film library in the world, and lately, became a preferred partner aggregator for Netflix in MENA region. Faisal also is a board member of Muvi cinemas, the biggest cinema chains in Saudi Arabia and board member of Manga production under Misk Foundation.

Baltyuor was the CEO of the Saudi Film Council which was the first Saudi governmental entity founded to support the film industry in Saudi Arabia. Faisal headed the film industry development initiatives at the Ministry of Culture. He is an advisor for 3 Saudi universities and several film foundations and is a board member of Manga production. 

Faisal is a producer and executive producer of more than 40 films; some been selected in the official competition of A list film festivals such as Venice International film festival, Toronto international film festival and London international film festival. He recently won the Freedom prize at Cannes film festival official competition (uncertain regard) with the film he co-produced, “ Goodbye Julia “.

Fueled by a deep passion for travel, Thawab has visited 110 countries and is inspired to discover,  engage, and share with other nations and cultures. With motivation from his academic and professional experiences, Thawab published videos of his trips around the world in his social media platforms. In his free time, Thawab loves reading about diversity and other cultures, which motivates him to travel to discover other countries. Thawab believes travel is the most important task for applying OD practices because it involves all aspects of OD.
Thawab is currently working in Riyadh Municipality as Cultural advisor beside that he is presenting sessions in cultural communication across nations in local and international summits, conferences, and forums.
Thawab studied English through a program in New Zealand; received his Bachelor’s degree in Saudi Arabia; and completed his Master’s degree in Operations and Project Management at Southern New Hampshire University.

Ayman Bin Fahad AlSanad is a Saudi Entrepreneur Businessman and the Co-Founder and CEO of MRSOOL Inc. since 2015. Currently he is a Board Member of several leading companies in Saudi Arabia. He earned an MS in Information Systems from Stevens Institute of Technology New Jersey USA, and a Bachelor of Computer Science from King Saud University.

Saud started his craft in the field of pottery art amongst the students of the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, starting with plastic arts and simple drawings, then moving on to designing popular figures, and ending up in the world of pottery, where he combined his hobbies in the art of drawing and design into the art of pottery, which led him to his current career.

He enrolled at the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, where he learned the basics of pottery, such as working with clay. From here, he launched his project, Darmak.

He participated in several field activities accompanied by more than one governmental and private entity. This was an opportunity to express his love for his country in producing a video of his work for the 93rd National Day. This project featured candles, of which approximately 130 pieces were made, to be purchased by one of the largest brands, Bvlgari, as gifts for its employees. Additionally, approximately 370 pieces of cups with the popular engraving were made, and they were distributed at the launch ceremony of the Kingdom’s exhibition design which will be part of Expo Tokyo 2025.

Faisal AlMuhaysh, a motivated high school senior at Alkifah Academy in Ahsaa, has distinguished himself as an aspiring researcher. With three research projects under his belt, Faisal has represented Saudi Arabia at various international competitions, earning accolades such as a gold medal and best innovator at ITEX 2022 and first place in the chemistry category at the most prestigious high school competition—ISEF 2023. He’s currently working on publishing his research projects in scientific journals. Faisal was also a physics olympiad student and has achieved multiple national medals in the competition.

Inspired by his success, Faisal is dedicated to nurturing Saudi Arabia’s future talent. He holds leadership positions in Mashorah for Research and Innovation, aiming to support and enrich young high school researchers in their endeavors.

Rima AlMedaires is a Strategic Communications Advisor at the Ministry of Economy & Planning who has moderated various conferences and sessions in the Kingdom. AlMedaires has worked at KSA governmental entities including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the G20 Saudi Presidency as well as the Ministry of Finance. AlMedaires holds a Master’s degree in Communications and a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from King Saud University.

Abdulmohsen AlBabtain, Co-Founder of Tamara, is a pivotal figure in the fintech industry of Saudi Arabia and the GCC. His visionary leadership has propelled Tamara to unprecedented heights, achieving a $1 billion valuation through a substantial $340 million Series C funding round. This round was notably led by SNB Capital and Sanabil Investments, marking Tamara as the first Saudi fintech unicorn startup. Since its establishment in late 2020, Tamara has impressively raised a total of $500 million in equity funding and secured over $400 million in debt financing, underscoring the confidence and support from the global investment community.

Abdulmohsen’s strategic acumen has steered Tamara beyond its initial Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) offerings to a comprehensive suite of shopping, payments, and banking services, catering to the evolving needs of over 10 million users and 30,000 partner merchants. His commitment to ethical finance is evident in Tamara’s adherence to Sharia principles and its customer-first approach, such as the elimination of late payment fees to enhance transparency and trust.

Through Abdulmohsen’s leadership, Tamara is not only transforming the fintech landscape but also significantly contributing to the realization of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by fostering a robust fintech ecosystem.

Faisal Nawab is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of California, Irvine. He leads EdgeLab which focuses on building next-generation data, Internet of Things, and machine learning technologies. Faisal’s research is influenced by practical industry problems through his involvement with the startup ‘AnyLog’ where he acts as the lead architect of designing an edge-cloud database. Faisal has received recognition for his work, winning the “Next-Generation Data Infrastructure” award from Facebook, being named the runner-up for the IEEE TEMS Blockchain Early-Career Award, and being awarded several NSF grants, and industry funding from Meta and Roblox.

Majoring in political science from UCLA, Bakur works in strategy and management consulting with a focus on public sector. In addition, Bakur serves as a board member in several nonprofit organizations. Most notable of those nonprofits is Nuqsh which enables Saudi youth to attain the most globally prestigious opportunities, building a generation of ambitious Saudis capable of leading sustainable growth and prosperity within the Kingdom and broader region. As a Misk Fellow, Bakur is a member of the Saudi Leadership Society.

Ghaida AlTuwijri is a space application researcher and the co-founder and CEO of Falak for Space Science and Research. She has contributed to several research projects within the space sector, such as developing a green propellant, and nanomaterials in microgravity environment research. She has three years of experience in developing programs and events in the space sector. Ghaida is a former scientific programs and planetarium instructor at King Salman Science Oasis, a member of Mawhiba Alumni, and the Misk Foundation Youth Impact Council. She is interested in space exploration and inspiring the next generation.

A strategic, inspiring coach with extensive knowledge of Overwatch gameplay, Waleed is a demonstrated talent for improving players’ mental toughness and skill development to achieve peak performance.

Dr. Abdulaziz AlSaeed (PhD in Computer Science, 2015) co-founded the social learning platform Noon, a platform that allows students to study with friends in groups, compete with one another and learn from top tutors in their live classes. Launched in 2013 with just two tutors and less than 30 students, Noon has served more than 12 million students Saudi, Egypt, Pakistan, Iraq and Yemen.

Abdulaziz AlMuanna is a Saudi singer and a composer, with an ambition to become the next Middle Eastern musical icon. He has a Bachelor’s degree in music.

Dr. Hanaa Almoaibed is an academic and sociocultural strategist who leverages research across sectors to drive progress in the Arab Gulf States. She focuses on education, skills and work for youth and women in the region, informing effective solutions. Affiliated with LSE, KFCRIS and Chatham House, she champions impactful research activation. Her leadership transcends sectors – she is VP, Research at the Arab Institute for Women’s Empowerment (NUSF) and Education Chair at Johara Global. She sits on the board of Rawabi Holding and the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies and is the Vice Chair of the International Advisory Board, ZADK Culinary Academy. 

Dr. Iman AlMansour received her Ph.D. degree in Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology from University of Massachusetts, USA. She is currently an Assistant Professor at IRMC at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, where she established Nucleic Acid Vaccines Lab. By applying interdisciplinary-focused research of synthetic biology, immunology, and bioinformatics, Dr. AlMansour has developed novel pDNA and mRNA vaccine candidates of global significance, including SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, and Influenza. She is also leading the clinical development of the next generation pDNA vaccine candidates.

Dr. AlMansour is a scientist and an inventor. Throughout her academic careers, Dr. Almansour has published her research in top-tier journals, conferences, and patents. She is also an academic member at European Virus Bioinformatic Center (EVBC) at Fredrich Schiller University, Germany and clinical trial consultant for biopharma and biotech.

Modhi AlKanhal is the game leader and pro player for team Falcons and represents the Saudi National team in the game VALORANT. She has been in this position for 2 years, in an industry where female representation is limited. Modhi is also a student of Electrical Engineering.

Some of her local and global achievements include: Valorant Saudi women Eleague 1^st place (season 1 and 2 ) with MVP, Valorant Gamers8 Almajd 1^st place, best Saudi female player 2022 and 2023 and Afro Arab Eleague 1^st place (in 2022 and 2023) with MVP.

Nora worked as a relationship manager for small to medium business owners at the Emirates Islamic Bank for a year and a half, after which she went to work as a fitness trainer to spread the culture of sports among women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. After that, Nora regained her passion for riding Arabian horses, as well as learning skills and using weapons of various types from the back, and then owning them. A collection of Arabian horses and their breeding, being close to them and caring for them has become an integral part of Nora’s daily life.

Nora was baptized as a trainer for horse shooting and peg picking by the Saudi Equestrian Federation, and she represented the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the major women’s championship as the first Saudi women’s team in the city of Petra in Jordan. Nora also participated in local championships for horse shooting and peg picking in the Kingdom.

After that, Nora worked to create different content on social media platforms by highlighting the beauty of the Arabian horse and the Arab Muslim horsewoman who adheres to traditional fashions, which revived the lost skills in a beautiful way, which was admired by many viewers from different countries of the world.

Nora graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Financial Management and Economics from the University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.

Faisal AlBizioui is the Founder & CEO of EDAD, a company specialized in building current and future leaders of Saudi Arabia. EDAD holds invite-only programs that provide a guaranteed acceptance into the world’s best undergraduate universities and focuses on youth aged 15-18.

Faisal graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Economics in December 2023. Prior to his enrollment at Berkeley, Faisal co-founded Saudi Arabia’s first Model United Nations Program, and received letters from The United Nations Secretary General, 8 Saudi Ministers, and 35 ambassadors to and from The Kingdom.

Dr. Margaret Jones Williams is UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Saudi Arabia and has also been UNDP Deputy Resident Representative and Head of Office in Suriname; Officer-In-Charge of UNDP Guyana; Head of Natural Resources Management, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Unit at UNDP in Lao Peoples Democratic Republic and Manager of the Environment Unit Manager at UNDP Jamaica.  Dr. Jones Williams has been with UNDP for over 15 years serving across the regions of Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia Pacific and the Arab States.  Prior to joining UNDP, Dr. Jones Williams was a Director at Environmental Solutions Ltd., a private sector Caribbean environmental management company specializing in environmental assessments for infrastructure projects, and she has also lectured at the University of the West Indies, in Jamaica.

Dr. Jones Williams is an experienced development and environment professional and has extensive and proven experience in policy preparation and advisory services, project management and implementation, project monitoring and evaluation, environmental impact assessments, strategic environmental assessments, construction monitoring, lecturing and teaching, report writing and publication, and resource mobilization, while effectively leading multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural teams. 

Salman Gasim is the President of the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) in Saudi Arabia, and a pioneering leader in the Tourism and Hospitality industry in Saudi Arabia. With a visionary approach, he is dedicated to redefining the future of the Saudi hospitality landscape and has played a pivotal role in optimizing Saudi talent across various service segments in the Kingdom.

As the president of AHLEI Saudi Arabia, Mr. Gasim is driving force behind the implementation of global hospitality standards in Saudi Arabia. His leadership has led to the successful execution of several key hospitality development projects and commissions, both at the local and international levels.

Recognized for his outstanding contributions, Mr. Gasim was awarded the prestigious title of Hospitality Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 and has been acknowledged as one of the 30 most influential hospitality leaders in Saudi Arabia. He is widely regarded as an industry figure who enables and promotes a strong hospitality and service culture across all sub-sectors of tourism.

H.E. Ambassador AlJedea is an international relations expert with significant experience in international strategy and policy, international stakeholder management, multilateralism, public diplomacy, strategic communications, and international negotiations.

Prior to her appointment as Ambassador and Permanent representative to the European Union, Ambassador Haifa AlJedea was the Managing Director of SRMG Think where she led the development of two new businesses under SRMG’s new strategy- Think Research and Advisory and Raff Publishing.

Her robust career in the public sector includes serving as International Affairs Advisor to the Minister of Tourism and as the General-Supervisor of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Tourism. Ambassador AlJedea also worked as an advisor in the office of the Foreign Minister, H.H Prince Faisal bin Farhan AlSaud, and was Director of Public Diplomacy at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington D.C. Prior to that, she was Head of International Relation in the Executive Office of H.E. Ahmed Alkhateeb. She also spent several years working at the UN headquarters in New York where she worked on political issues related to the Middle East. The Ambassador holds a Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution and Negotiations from Columbia University, as well as a Master’s degree in International Relations and a Bachelors degree in Broadcast Journalism from Syracuse University.

With an exceptional academic and public career, Dr. AlAnsari specializes in youth education, development, training, and youth issues locally and globally. He is passionate about youth future preparedness, empowerment, employment, and entrepreneurial ventures.

Dr. AlAnsari is the Founding President of PMU, an institution known mostly for building youth capabilities through a learner-centered philosophy. PMU graduates have built a strong reputation in leadership and global competencies.

Author of articles and books in this field, he has also guided youth projects, encouraged scientific distinction, volunteerism, creativity, and innovation.

Dr. Tahani I. AlDosemani is the Program Manager for Skills and Lifelong Learning at the Education and Training Commission. She is also a Professor of Educational Technology at Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University. Her previous roles include Vice Dean of Information Technology and Distance Education at the same university and a consultancy position for the Saudi Arabian Minister of Education, focusing on e-learning and international cooperation. She also served as a co-chair for the G20 2020 Education Group.

Dr. Tahani earned her Ph.D. in Educational Technology from the University of Wyoming, USA. She is a Certified Professional in Talent Development from ATD and an alumnus of the MIT Digital Transformation program. She also holds a certificate in Online Learning Global Leadership from the OLC. She received several international awards and recognitions in research, development, and innovation and has many publications in Educational Technology, Skills Development, Digital Transformation, and Lifelong Learning.

Hani W. AlAhdal is a seasoned human resources (HR) executive with over 18 years of experience in the petrochemicals, aviation, telecommunications, and health industries. He is a recognized expert in organizational transformation, capability building, and HR strategy.

Hani began his career at SABIC in 2006 as a succession planning specialist. He quickly rose through the ranks, and in 2009 he was nominated to work on the HR work stream for the acquisition of GE plastics. In this role, he was responsible for onboarding GE’s HR practices and systems into SABIC.

In 2021, Hani was nominated to the Executive Committee of Specialized by stc company. In this role, he managed the succession planning of the CEO and led it. He also helped the company to restructure itself for profitability reasons, which resulted in positive performance after many years of losses.

Hani is currently the vice president of stc HR Center of Excellence sector. He is responsible for the whole group in a wide spectrum of HR aspects. He is accountable for 14 subsidiaries in Saudi Arabia and GCC in terms of HR product design such as the executive’s succession planning and leadership development, board’s and committee member’s compensations, and other strategic HR systems.

Luis Nicolás Barrios Medina-Montoya is the Innovation, Education and Investments Regional Manager for the UN Tourism Regional Office in Riyadh.

Luis Nicolás is an expert in technology and innovation applied to the tourism sector. From February 2003 until June 2020, he developed his professional career in Tourism in SEGITTUR, a state-owned company integrated into the Spanish Ministry of Industry Trade and Tourism and attached to the State Secretariat for Tourism, responsible for promoting innovation (R&D) in the Spanish tourism sector, both in the public sector. Since 2012 he was involved, in different capacities, in the development and management of the Smart Tourist Destinations program. From 2019 to 2022 he was responsible for the direction and coordination of all the Smart Tourism Destination Projects in Latin America, coordinating projects in Tequila, Medellín and Bogotá.

In 2018 he coordinated the Extremadura Smart Territory project, the first adaptation to an Autonomous Community of the Smart Tourism Destinations methodology.

Hanan is a Partner in the Public and Government sector and leads a number of the strategic account focusing on the Human and Social Development sub sector. During her career she worked with a number of government and Simi-Government entities within the sector including private universities, SAGIA and MHRSD.

Driven by her passion and desire to create positive impact, she worked in the human and social development sector in Saudi Arabia, which gave her tremendous opportunities to influence national policies and initiatives focusing on women and youth empowerment. It has since turned her attention to an effective working style in partnership with the decision-makers. Where she led a range of transformation projects through strategic planning, concept design, and project management.

With an exceptional academic and public career, Dr. AlAnsari specializes in youth education, development, training, and youth issues locally and globally. He is passionate about youth future preparedness, empowerment, employment, and entrepreneurial ventures.

Dr. AlAnsari is the Founding President of PMU, an institution known mostly for building youth capabilities through a learner-centered philosophy. PMU graduates have built a strong reputation in leadership and global competencies.

Author of articles and books in this field, he has also guided youth projects, encouraged scientific distinction, volunteerism, creativity, and innovation.

Dr. Andrey Kunov, as the esteemed Founder and President of the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, brings forth a wealth of experience garnered from numerous years dedicated to overseeing corporate innovation and executive programs both within the Silicon Valley sphere and on a global scale. His expertise is deeply rooted in his extensive academic background and tenure at Stanford University.

A fervent advocate for innovation, Dr. Kunov’s multifaceted roles as an economist, philosopher, and innovation evangelist underscore his commitment to driving strategic innovation initiatives across government and industry sectors. Renowned for his insights, he is a sought-after keynote speaker at prestigious technology and innovation forums nationwide and worldwide, where he expounds on the transformative potential of disruptive innovations and Silicon Valley’s pivotal role in catalyzing groundbreaking technological advancements.

Dr. Kunov’s academic achievements are underscored by his attainment of a Ph.D. in Political Science from Stanford University, complemented by his contributions as a published author.

Dr. Gabriel Demombynes is the Manager of the Human Capital Project at the World Bank.

Gabriel previously held positions with the World Bank based in Bogota, Manila, Hanoi, and Nairobi. He led preparation of Systematic Country Diagnostics for Colombia, the Philippines, and Vietnam as well as the Philippines COVID-19 Emergency Response Health Project. His analytical work includes studies on nutrition in the Philippines, child survival in Kenya, learning poverty in Colombia, global COVID-19 mortality patterns, Vietnam’s household registration system, the Millennium Villages Project, and crime and violence in Central America and the Caribbean. He also developed innovative approaches to surveys in South Sudan. His work has been published in academic journals and cited in the Financial Times, the Washington Post, and the Economist magazine. His recent writings include a piece published by China Daily on “Will AI Change the Course for Human Development?”

He has taught economic development at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and was Economic Policy Advisor to Howard Dean during his 2003-04 U.S. presidential campaign. Gabriel holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of California-Berkeley and bachelor’s degrees in both civil engineering and humanities from the University of Texas at Austin.

Marwan El Nemr is an acclaimed digital expert who leads Business Development & Client Relationship Management efforts for the fast-growing LinkedIn business within the Government & Academic sector in MENA.

He has extensive experience leading teams to develop game changing, digitally-led brand strategies and campaigns that deliver strong commercial returns for clients across a broad mix of industry sectors. At the same time, he is committed to challenging the status quo and consistently brings a truly creative lens to business challenges.

Marwan and his team work closely with clients to develop customized solutions that leverage up-to-the-minute technologies and industry best practices, to ensure that they remain ahead of their competitors in the race to win brand preference and market share.

He is an exceptional relationship manager and commits himself to building deep and lasting connections, which mean that his recommendations are always underpinned by an in-depth understanding of his clients and their unique business needs.

He has over 10 years’ experience working with UAE government organizations and private sector brands –revolutionizing and re-imagining internal and external communication efforts and brand programs.

Yara Chamaa currently leads LinkedIn’s MENA Customer Success team, partnering with LinkedIn strategic clients to serve as trusted advisors for their talent strategy across Talent Acquisition, Talent Retention and Talent Development.

With an Engineering degree and a Masters’ degree in Management, her professional work spans across 15 years of experience as a Business Consultant and Customer Success Manager partnering with clients in the MENA region supporting businesses and public sector entities in overcoming different operational challenges and driving business value.

In her current role at LinkedIn, with her team she supports the broader community in driving economic and social success by connecting career opportunities with the right talent and upskilling the workforce to be ready for the future. Striving to make a positive impact in our society while also driving LinkedIn’s vision and mission.

As the Managing Director of NEOM Tourism, the world’s most ambitious tourism project, Niall Gibbons has a mandate to ensure that all necessary elements are in place to deliver the best possible experience for local, regional, and international visitors to NEOM’s ancient and spectacular land.

Reporting directly to the CEO, Gibbons is at the head of a team of tourism professionals that work in close collaboration with the wider NEOM community to create a vibrant and dynamic tourist sector with sustainability at its heart. Leading the integration of world-leading design, immersive digital engagements, and seamless travel, he is instrumental in the plans to redefine the experience of global travel and hospitality.

Prior to joining NEOM, Gibbons was Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Ireland, the government agency established to market the island of Ireland as a destination for overseas tourists.

Gibbons obtained a Bachelor of Business Studies from Trinity College, University of Dublin and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Talal Nabil Kensara is the Chief Strategic Management Officer at the Diriyah Gate Company Limited (DGCL) a $20 billion-plus giga-project aimed at restoring and reimagining the ancestral home of the original Saudi State; with the objective of developing one of the largest heritage and culture destinations in the world. Upon completion, it will attract 27 million visitors which will contribute to diversifying the economy and enhancing the cultural landscape in the Kingdom.

In this role, Kensara is charged with supporting DGCL in defining its objectives, directions, and priorities, while assisting various functions in creating and maintaining their strategies. Kensara is also carrying out different business planning activities such as setting and monitoring KPIs, developing strategic partnerships and managing international relations, leading on different strategic activities including conceptualizing cultural assets and verifying narratives to ensure it is associated with the overall development and operation of DGCL. Kensara is also proactively looking into the future trends in tourism sustainability and quality of life as well as socio-economic development to ensure an overall sustainability in DGCL’s projects.

Mohammed AlKhuraisi is the EVP of Strategy & Business Intelligence at the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation. In this role, he spearheads the development and execution of the national aviation sector strategy. Mohammed has had prior roles advising H.E. Assistant Minister of Transport and leading the decision support unit.

Mohammed has honed his expertise in formulating national and corporate strategies, particularly in transportation and logistics. His leadership has been pivotal in orchestrating successful organizational turnarounds and ensuring long-term resilience.

Mohammed has a MS in Engineering Business Management from the University of Warwick in the U.K. He has also recently completed his REAP from MIT’s Sloan of Management and is currently enrolled in the Executive MBA at London Business School.

Ray has over 40 years of experience in global executive leadership roles in both the public and private sectors, across multiple industries and regions including Europe, the Middle East, the Indian sub-continent, North America, Australia, and China.

As Chief Corporate Development & Enablement Officer, Ray will be responsible for strategy alignment and execution, ESG and sustainability, enterprise risk, organizational excellence, and innovation. Ray is also Interim Chief People and Culture Officer, leading the people strategy, the development of a world-class HR team, recruitment drive, and Riyadh Air’s unique performance culture.

Prior to joining Riyadh Air, Ray held several leadership positions at Etihad Aviation Group, with roles including Chief People & Performance Officer, Interim Group CEO and Group Equity Partners Strategy Lead. During his time at Etihad, Ray was responsible for driving the award-winning “Emiratization” strategy, supporting the development of UAE nationals across the business.

Ray has a strong track record of building organizations from the ground up, creating winning cultures, and leading change from the front, focusing on business performance and delivery. He specializes in complex cultural challenges linked to business transformation, organizational change, and ambitious growth plans, while managing the diverse needs of multiple shareholders and stakeholders, including governments.

Before entering aviation, Ray spent four years in the banking industry, as Human Resources Director of Ulster Bank Group & RBS European Consumer Finance, and subsequently Royal Bank of Scotland – Europe & Middle East.

Ramia is the Senior Producer and Presenter at Forbes Middle East, as well as a Moderator at various public and private sector events.
From its launch in 2007 until 2021, Ramia led the Emirates News broadcast on Dubai One TV as the Presenter and News Bulletin Editor.
From 2002 to 2007, Ramia presented and produced the program Business Arabia, which aired internationally on CNBC.
Ramia holds a MA in Global Diplomacy-International Relations from the University of London, SOAS, as well as a BA in Communications from the University of Winnipeg and an Associate’s Degree in Journalism from Red River College.

Alberto Carvalho Neto is President of JEUNE (Young Entrepreneurs Organization of the European Union), Founder and President of the of AJEPC – Young Entrepreneurs Association Portugal-China, and member of the Advisory Board of EUCham (European Chamber of Commerce).

He is also ongoing President of Business Rail’s Advisory Board, President of BusinessTrip’s Advisory Board and BusinessCruise.

Alberto has 19 years’ experience in international business, specializing in trade and investment, with a great focus on China, Middle East and Africa.

In 2017 he conceived FIN, a networking event promoted on a global scale that connects Europe, Middle East, China and the Portuguese-Speaking Countries.

Professionally, Alberto is the CEO of BEWG PT, BeWater and Bewater for Water. (Water, energy and environmental projects).

On a personal level, he is interested in investments in the agricultural and circular economy projects.

Anas AlMudaifer is the Chief Executive Officer of the Human Capability Development Program (HCDP), one of the Saudi Vision 2030 Programs. Anas has extensive experience in public transformation, e-transformation, and strategy and management consulting in local and international organizations. Prior to joining HCDP, he was the Strategy and Planning Vice President at the National Transformation Program (NTP). Previously, Anas led the establishment of Elm Company Corporate Venture Capital as the Emerging Business Executive Manager and previously managed the building of the Strategy and Transformation Consulting practice as the Consulting Executive Manager. He also led major transformation programs in various public sector entities. Anas has diverse areas of expertise, including strategy formulation and execution, organizational design and change, business process reengineering, policy design, human resources development, and business and technology alignment.

Regarded as one of the world’s great hospitality visionaries, Jerry Inzerillo is Group Chief Executive Officer of Diriyah Company, responsible for all the work undertaken by the Company and its management in transforming Diriyah into one of the world’s foremost historic tourism destinations, featuring retail, hospitality and residential.

Prior to joining Diriyah Company, Jerry was the CEO of Forbes Travel Guide, was one of the key figures behind organizations such as One&Only Resorts, Ian Schrager Hotels, Four Seasons and Hilton Hotels, and served as President of Kerzner Entertainment Group Artists.

In 2021, Jerry was awarded Corporate Hotelier of the World – by HOTELS magazine. In 2023, President Joe Biden awarded Jerry the Presidential Volunteer Service Award, was the recipient of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund Lifetime Achievement Award and was inducted into the Global Travel Hall of Fame.

Dr. Hanan Balkhy took office as WHO Regional Director for the Eastern  Mediterranean on 1 February 2024. She was previously Assistant Director-General for Antimicrobial Resistance at WHO headquarters. Prior to this, she was Executive Director for Infection Prevention and Control, Ministry of National Guard, Saudi Arabia. She led the Gulf Cooperation Council Centre for Infection Control and the WHO Collaborating Centre for Infection Prevention and Control and Antimicrobial Resistance, Saudi Arabia.

A graduate of King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia, Dr. Balkhy completed her paediatric residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, USA. She later completed a paediatric infectious diseases fellowship with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Case Western Reserve University, USA.

Fahad AlAjlan was appointed as the President of King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) in August 2021. 

Prior to joining KAPSARC, Fahad held many senior roles across both government and the corporate world.
In 2020, Fahad was also appointed as head of the Circular Carbon Economy National Program, which aims to manage Saudi Arabia’s emissions while creating economic value.

In 2019, he held the position of Director of the Hydrocarbon Sustainability Program at the Ministry of Energy, where he was responsible for looking at the long-term energy trends plus their impact on global energy markets, with special emphasis on the demand for oil and gas.

Before this, Fahad worked at the Ministry of Economy and Planning, where he advised on energy markets, policy, industry trends, and the petrochemical sector. In addition to the above responsibilities, his experience spans several senior roles in operations, corporate strategy, and investment planning, as well as mergers and acquisitions at Saudi Aramco, where he served for 15 years.

Fahad holds a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University and an MBA from Stanford University in California.

Nik founded the ongoing “Thinking the Unthinkable” project in 2014 on the new frailties for leadership.

Nik was a main news presenter for BBC World News, having spent 18 years at ITN as bureau chief in Rome and Warsaw, and Diplomatic Editor for Channel Four News.

He is currently on the council of the Royal United Services Institute and has been a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Geo-Economics.

He has been a Visiting Professor at Kings College, London and Nanyang University (NTU), Singapore.  

Dr. AlJamea currently is the VP/Dean at the Academy from stc as the first Saudi women who occupies an executive position in the company and has a vast experience in cyber and information security. Prior to joining stc, she was the president of the entrepreneurship unit and business incubator and an assistant Professor in cyber security at Imam Abdurrahman Bin Faisal University and considered as one of the Saudis experts in the computer security field. Her main field of interest is Cyber Security attacks in the Cyber war and the use of (AI) Artificial Intelligence in Cyber security. She also takes an interest in the field of on-line digital identity in social media. Additionally, she has developed many security algorithms, published several papers on them, and participated in many conferences around the world giving talks about her areas of expertise. Dr. AlJamea received one of the top professional certifications in computer Security (Certified Ethical Hacker V10) CEH which is an international well recognized certification in the cyber security field.

Dr. Moudhi AlJamea has a PhD in Computer Security Algorithms Design from King’s College London.

Dr. Sonia Ben Jaafar serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation (AGF), a major educational philanthropic initiative in the Arab region.

Before her tenure at the foundation, Dr. Ben Jaafar was the Managing Director of EduEval. There, she established partnerships and collaborations with governments, international agencies, non-profit organizations, and multinational companies, promoting evidence-based approaches to enhance educational impact and outcomes.

In addition to her role at AGF, Dr. Ben Jaafar is the Chairperson for the Global Councils on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), established by the World Government Summit. The council focuses on projects that support the international implementation of the SDGs.

Holding a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and an MA in Curriculum Studies from the University of Toronto, Dr. Ben Jaafar combines her academic expertise with her professional journey, advocating for the importance of education and knowledge sharing in society for good.

Eng. AlMadani is a serial entrepreneur who is sincere about creating technologies that impact millions of people around the world. He is very passionate to revolutionize learning & education and empower its members by innovating the best technologies that can impact them. Eng. AlMadani has a Bachelor of industrial engineering.

His Highness Prince Dr. Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf is the Mayor of the Riyadh Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His Highness currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Riyadh Holding Company, Riyadh Infrastructure Projects Center, Remat Al-Riyadh Company, Riyadh Development Company and is the President of Arab Urban Development Institute

His Highness received his Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning from the Universityof California and has an M.S. in Urban Planning from Harvard University and M.S. in Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University and a B.A. in Architecture and Building Science with Honors from King Saud University.

Faisal Ibrahim AlSuwailem served as the Executive Vice President of SABIC Shared Services before his appointment as the Executive Vice President of SABIC Corporate Human Resources.

During his career with SABIC, AlSuwailem has held several positions in key roles, including VP, Internal Audit, and General Manager, Board Affairs and Corporate Governance, where he played a significant role in establishing and enhancing Corporate Governance standards.

Earlier, he served as the General Manager, Enterprise Risk Management, where he demonstrated an effective leadership in formalizing and enhancing the company-wide Risk Management and Business Continuity Management (BCM) framework and practices, including insurance and credit. He also supported the formalization of the relevant roles and oversight structures on risk management at various levels in the organization.

AlSuwailem sits on several boards and committees. He is the Board Chairman of the Jubail United Petrochemical and Ibn Rushd Arabian Industrial Fibers companies.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Western Illinois University and a Master’s in Business Administration (Executive MBA) from Thunderbird School of Global Management (Arizona State University). He has completed many leadership and executive development programs from IMD and Harvard.

Mansour AlSanooni, a visionary entrepreneur with a master’s degree in International Business Management and a background in urban tourism, has significantly shaped various sectors. He is notable for his achievements in the events industry through Maak Agency and the establishment of co-working spaces like Diom, Mansour is also committed to cultural district development, as evident in the “Al-Samhania Neighborhood” project.

In addition to his impactful ventures, Mansour founded Exponeur.com, an initiative aimed at supporting entrepreneurs to showcase their projects in expos every five years. This reflects his dedication to empowering entrepreneurs globally and contributing to the advancement of innovative projects on a broader scale.

Fahad in 2016 embarked on a transformative journey, founding 1886, a pioneering streetwear brand in Saudi Arabia. Driven by his shared passion for music, art, design, and street-style, they aimed to seamlessly merge these elements into a captivating label. His vision was to resonate with the youth, capturing the essence of a rapidly evolving world. Through innovation, he crafted a brand embodying the spirit and energy of the new generation, setting new standards in Saudi Arabia’s fashion scene.

Jood Wasel AlHarthi is an  international lawyer and peacebuilding advisor. She was the first Saudi woman to work in the United Nations Executive Office of the Secretary-General in New York as a Political Affairs Officer. Prior, AlHarthi worked in the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. She sat in the Policy and Mediation Division supporting cross-pillar policies and enhancing peace processes. Previously, she was in the UN Peacebuilding Fund managing peacebuilding projects in South Asia and Europe. Before joining the UN, AlHarthi worked in top-tier international law firms in London and Dubai. Additionally, Jood contributed to Lawyers Without Borders and worked in criminal law at the California Central District Federal Court.

AlHarthi’s international experience gives her exceptional insight into what it entails to resolve and prevent conflict, collaborate on political solutions, and the strategic role that the international community have in facing interlinked global challenges.

Jood obtained a Bachelors’ of Laws from Swansea University, a Masters of Law from SOAS University of London, and a Pre-Law Foundation from University College London.

Honayda Serafi is a Saudi Arabian fashion designer, educator, spokesperson and philanthropist. She is the first-ever female fashion designer to have launched a Saudi Arabian ready-to-wear clothing brand, ushering her luxury, eponymous fashion house, HONAYDA, into the international market in 2016. Serafi has since become a pioneering creative and entrepreneurial ambassador for the Middle East, championing the leadership of women in the international fashion industry, and expanding contemporary definitions of feminist empowerment globally. Serafi is a long-standing mentor to women in fashion and the arts, occupying both emissarial and education roles. She has been recognised within the global fashion industry through numerous awards, press coverage, and A list celebrity reach.

Hanady Hassan Oraif is a PreMed student at King Abdulaziz University, in the College of Medicine. She is part of Mawhiba Alumni. She won the fourth place nationwide and a special award from the American Psychological Association and was part of the Saudi team that represented the kingdom at ISEF 2023, who secured fourth place in the field of behavioural and social sciences. Hanady worked in 3D printing technology to develop personalized chewable tablets that aid the elderly in taking their medications, enhancing their overall quality of life.

Malik is passionate about storytelling. He wanted to pursue a career in filmmaking, but it was difficult to do so in Saudi Arabia at the time. So, he worked in advertising, which gave him exposure to the process of creating and maintaining local and international brands. In the meantime, he learned how to make animation, which allowed him to make short films without the logistical hassle.

By 2010, broadband internet penetration in Saudi Arabia had reached a level that made it viable for Malik to publish his work online and work as a freelance animator. His big break came with Masameer, an adult animated show that was published on YouTube. The show was a huge success, with over 750 million views in five years. It spawned an animation studio and an adaptation that became Saudi Arabia’s first box office hit and Netflix’s most successful original show in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

As a dedicated researcher in the fields of Archaeology and Tourism, Hassa’s primary focus is on preserving and promoting the rich cultural and archaeological heritage of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Through her work, she aims to deepen the understanding of Saudi Arabia’s vast historical contributions, ensuring that these treasures are both protected and celebrated.

With over 10 years of experience in real estate and property management, Dr. AlSubaie has developed a deep understanding of the industry and a broad range of skills that enable her to excel in her role.

Dr. Hanin AlSubaie has a diverse background in biology, real estate, and sales. She holds a Ph.D. in Biology with first-class honors from King Saud University, one of the top universities in Saudi Arabia.

In addition to her real estate experience, Dr. AlSubaie has also worked for at Nestle for several years, a global food and beverage company, where she gained valuable experience in a corporate environment. She also worked as a sales professional at Alshaya Group, a leading international retail franchise operator, where she honed her skills in sales. After that, she Founded Darent – a prop-tech in Dailey rental for vacation homes and was one of the first licensed platforms from the Ministry of Tourism in Saudi.

 

Abdulrahman AlShabanat is the Founder and CEO of The Chefz app since 2016. He previously founded other tech start-ups and has working experience in Consultancy and Strategy positions in private and semi-private sectors. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Computers & Systems Engineering.

Abdullah is Research Assistant Professor at Umm Al-Qura University and is also Founder and Owner of Ovo4visa tourism company.

He is an Award Winner of the Princess Sita Bint Abdulaziz Award for Excellence in Social Work and is a blind para-karate Gold Medallist in Asia, ranked 4th in the world. Additionally, he is the Holman prize holder for creating a global consultation app for blind people to find information on learning, mobility, fitness, and e-commerce.

Abdullah authored ‘Journey of a Blind Man to America’, a story of perseverance and triumph that inspired many people around the world.

Faysal, an Industrial Engineering graduate from Alfaisal University, initiated his entrepreneurial journey in 2017 by developing a board game business selling +1200 copies, showcasing his creativity and entrepreneurial flair.

Transitioning into the professional sphere, Faysal joined KPMG as a consultant, where he gained extensive experience in advising businesses and implementing strategic solutions.

His career trajectory then led him to a role as a project manager in a governmental transformation program, where he gained experience in managing large-scale projects and driving organizational change.

In 2020, Faysal co-founded Scalers, an HR tech company, assuming the role of COO and overseeing its operational aspects. In this capacity, he leads day-to-day operations, streamlines processes, and contributes to the company’s overall success.

Faysal’s diverse background in entrepreneurship, consulting, project management, and his current leadership role in the HR tech industry showcase his adaptability, strategic thinking, and proficiency in navigating different facets of the business world.

Dr. Alhanoof AlDegheishem is an accomplished Associate Professor and Prosthodontics consultant with a distinguished career in academia and clinical practice. She served as the Program Director of the Saudi Board of Prosthodontics from 2021 to 2023 and held the position of Chairwoman of the Department of Clinical Dental Science, Prosthodontics Division, at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University from 2017 to 2021. Dr. AlDegheishem obtained her Clinical Training and PhD from Freiburg University, Germany, between 2011 and 2016. She was awarded the first prize in the European Academy of Esthetic Dentistry Scientific Award Competition in 2014. Dr. AlDegheishem is not only a skilled practitioner but also a writer and author. She has a keen interest in cross-cultural communication.

Aljazzy AlAhmadi is a Thermal Controls Engineer at Tesla and a founding board member of Nuqsh. Aljazzy earned her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2023. During her time at MIT, Aljazzy published her first co-authored paper, raced an autonomous Indy Car across the US, served as Vice President of the MIT Arab Student Organization, and worked as a teaching assistant for thermal fluids. Outside of technical work, Aljazzy works at Nuqsh to help students unlock their potential to enroll in internationally competitive educational opportunities.

Hon. Minister Dato’ Seri  DiRaja Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir’s thought leadership runs parallel with his achievement as the Chief Minister of Perak (2008 – 2018) who fostered bottom-up and inclusive policies that prioritized the middle-income group for opportunities in employment and social improvement. Dr. Zambry was frequently invited to share his experience and insights through public and academic lectures. He was the Adjunct Professor at IIUM Malaysia and the Professor in Practice at Putra Business School, UPM. During his tenure, the State was named “The Most Promising State for International Investment” during the 6th Middle East Business Leaders Awards in Dubai in recognition of the State’s achievements in the commerce and investment sectors in the region. Dr. Zambry has also been awarded the Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration from the University of East London for his contribution in prospering and transforming the State of Perak. Holding a PhD in Political Thoughts from Temple University with expertise in the fields of political economy, contemporary Southeast Asian politics and contemporary Malaysian politics, Dr. Zambry is certainly a man who walks his thoughts. Dr. Zambry is currently a member of the Dewan Negara (Senate) and serves in the UMNO Supreme Council.

Lucien Zeigler is a venture capitalist, strategic advisor, podcast host, and public speaker with over 15 years of experience working with and living in Saudi Arabia. Lucien is Principal and Director for MENA at Pilatus Capital, a Silicon Valley-based deeptech venture capital fund, Managing Director at RedSalt Advisory Company, a boutique business development and strategic advisory firm with clients in the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East, co-host of The 966 Podcast and host of The 966 Live, the leading podcast on Saudi Arabia in English, and Vice President at the Saudi-US Trade Group, a not-for-profit trade association. Previously, Lucien was co-founder and CEO of the startup social publishing network and micropayments platform, Outlit. Lucien holds a B.A. in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia and a M.A. from George Mason University in International Commerce and Policy. 

Tim Williams is the Group Head of People Strategy and Culture at Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer behind The Red Sea and AMAALA, two exceptional, regenerative tourism destinations. RSG’s portfolio extends to a third destination, Thuwal Private Retreat, an own-brand resort Shebara, and the refurbishment of Al Wajh Airport. RSG’s projects aim to set new standards in sustainable development and put Saudi Arabia on the global tourism map.

With over three decades of international experience in the field of Human Resources, hospitality industry veteran Tim Williams joined Red Sea Global’s leadership team in November 2020 to oversee the ambitious people and culture agenda for the Group. Tim’s main focus is to help the business succeed through the skills and abilities of their people. In addition, he oversees the development of programs that equip young Saudis for different careers need in the field of tourism.

Tim holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and Politics from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). 

Dr. Rolf Strietholt leads the Research and Analysis Unit at IEA, focusing on international large-scale studies in education such as ICCS, ICILS, PIRLS, and TIMSS. He plays a key role in designing international assessments and utilizing their data for educational monitoring and policy evaluation. Strietholt has extensively published on the institutional determinants of student achievement and educational inequality. He actively engages in international educational research communities, offering courses and workshops on data analysis and educational measurement. 

Asif Saleh, Executive Director of BRAC, leads one of the world’s largest and most impactful NGOs, which reaches over 100 million people in Asia and Africa. Before BRAC, he expanded affordable broadband with the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office and held fintech roles at Goldman Sachs in New York and London, concluding as an Executive Director. His experience includes GlaxoWellcome, IBM, and Nortel. He contributes as a Center for Global Development fellow and holds several global advisory roles. He has been recognised by the Bangladeshi American Foundation, Asia Society’s Asia 21 Fellowship, and the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders.

Carmen Rando Béjar is chief people officer, a position she assumed in April 2022. Prior to this role she held various headquarter and senior management positions in drilling and measurements across North and South America, and the Middle East. These roles spanned line management, operations integrity, and global operations resource planning. Most recently, Carmen was vice president of Global Business Services for SLB. The early years of Carmen’s career were spent in engineering and manufacturing before moving into operations support in 2007 in India. Following this she was appointed Asset Manager for the Middle East and Asia, based in Dubai. Carmen holds master’s degrees in electrical engineering from the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas in Spain, and in Business Management from Heriot-Watt University in UK, and a ‘Diplome de Specialization’ in Energy Systems from Supélec-Paris.

Andrea Masini is a professor of the Information Systems and Operations Management department at HEC Paris, and he is currently serving as Dean of Faculty and Research. He was the Associate Dean of the MBA program from 2016 to 2022. His research focuses on technological innovation and sustainable operations. His work was published in flagship journals including M&SOM, Production and Operations Management, and the Journal of Operations Management. He was the recipient of several teaching awards and has advised private and public organizations. He holds a Ph.D. in Management from INSEAD and an MSc in mechanical engineering.

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

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

Kevin Lee, Vice President of Samsung Engineering has been heading the Middle East business operations of Samsung Engineering as Managing Director of GCC Region since November 2020.

He has been significantly contributing to the growth of Samsung Engineering for more than two and a half decades through his profound experience in overseas Project Management, Strategic Planning, Sales & Marketing, and Risk Management in the Middle East, Asia, and Southeast Asia regions.

Mr. Kevin Lee has the vision to develop Samsung Engineering to be a world-top engineering company and effectively contribute to GCC region’s economy through new projects with innovative project execution strategies and economies of scale. 

Ana Kreacic is a Partner and Chief Knowledge Officer of Oliver Wyman and COO of the Oliver Wyman Forum – a think tank focused on research and engaging business, public policy, and societal leaders to act on shared challenges. With over 20 years of consulting and operating experience, Ana is known for her ability to blend customer insight with business strategy and leadership effectiveness.

A frequent speaker and author, Ana’s work has been featured in the World Economic Forum, Wall Street Journal, and MIT Sloan, to name a few. Ana is passionate about empowering women and youth. 

Anuradha, a seasoned HR leader, has dedicated three decades to the field, with nearly 19 years at HCLTech. Her passion for people-centric strategies has shaped organizations for success and transformed her from an HR fundamentalist to a trusted advisor in workforce management. She firmly believes in lifelong learning, a principle that is evident in her professional journey.

Currently, as the Senior Vice President – Human Capital Management, Market Principal for APAC & ME, she plays a crucial role in guiding clients through their HRTech strategy, implementation & change management.

Her past work experience spans across multiple facets of HR, including Diversity & Inclusion, Talent Development, Employee Experience & Engagement. She advocates for workplace inclusion, believing that diverse teams and inclusive cultures are a source of strength for organizations. 

H.E. Khaled Khalifa is a professional humanitarian worker with more than 25 years of experience in relief and development. He led humanitarian operations in various settings of natural disasters and complex emergencies.

Khaled Khalifa worked in several senior managerial positions with major international organizations in many countries, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Management Leadership and Organizational Strategy. He holds an MA degree in English Literature & Humanities, an MSc in Sustainable Development, and a Project Management Diploma. He is a well-known international trainer in disaster management and an expert speaker on humanitarian affairs and the Middle East.

In addition to his role as a representative to the Gulf Cooperation Council, Mr. Khaled leads UNHCR’s Islamic philanthropy activities globally and has been instrumental in the success of the Refugee Zakat Fund, which supported over 5 million beneficiaries in 27 countries since 2017. This success was made possible thanks to Khaled Khalifa’s role in building key partnerships with diverse Islamic philanthropy stakeholders. 

Alistair Gosling is the founder and CEO of EXTREME International, a purpose-driven adventure tourism, events and entertainment company. Formerly, he created The Extreme Sports Channel and managed its global ascent across 60+ countries in 100million homes. Backed by Kleinwort Hambros and Soc Gen banks, he oversees Extreme as Architects of Adventure across the development of adventure experiences, hospitality, events, and media. He was on the International Board of Qiddiya for 6 years and as Chairman of Ultimate Ninja Enterprises and founding advisor of Medshr, he drives innovation for societal good. A fervent environmentalist and active supporter of marine conservation, Alistair epitomizes a dynamic leader committed to transformative change. 

Josep Franch has been the Dean of Esade Executive Education since January 2023. Prior to that, he served as Dean of Esade Business School between 2014 and 2022. Dean Franch has been involved in all the relevant international networks of higher management education (EFMD, AACSB, AMBA, Unicon, CLADEA, PRME, IAJBS, IAJU, Eduniversal…), where he has often been a featured speaker. He is a board member of AMBA & BGA, and also sits in International or Advisory Boards for different schools. As faculty member, Dean Franch is an expert in global marketing and has an extensive teaching experience in more than fifteen countries across three continents. 

Mahmoud ElSayed is a Senior Economist in the World Bank’s Education Global Practice. His work includes supporting education projects in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Yemen, Egypt, and elsewhere on issues related to student assessment, learning poverty, research and data analytics, and education finance. Mahmoud’s research has been published in multiple peer-reviewed journals such as Economics of Education Review, Education Finance and Policy, and Health Economics. Mahmoud holds a master’s in public finance policy and a Ph.D. in Public Policy from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. 

Rachel is Global Managing Director at the Behavioural Insights Team, an international research consultancy that designs, implements, and evaluates solutions to social challenges. In addition to leading the work of the team internationally, Rachel has a strong personal interest in BIT’s projects on evidence-based government, effective organisations, security, and anti-corruption. Rachel started her career at the UK Ministry of Defence, and in 2013 was appointed a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for Services to Defence. She is an alumna of the University of Cambridge, with an MPhil in International Relations and an MA in Chinese Studies. 

Hon. Florence Bore holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education Arts from Moi University besides a Diploma in Education from Kagumo Teachers College and boasts a career marked by dedicated public service and transformative leadership.

With a profound commitment to education and social welfare, Hon. Florence Bore has made significant contributions across various sectors:

Her current role as the Cabinet Secretary (Minister), Ministry of Labour and Social Protection in the Republic of Kenya showcases her visionary leadership and policy-making prowess.

Previously, as the County MP (Woman Representative) in the Kenya National Assembly (Parliament) representing Kericho County, she championed initiatives for gender equality and socioeconomic development.

Within the County Government of Bomet, she served as the Education Director, focusing on vocational training to empower individuals with practical skills.

Her twenty-three-year journey within the Teachers Service Commission, from teaching positions to leadership roles, underscores her unwavering dedication to education and academic excellence.

Hon Florence Bore’s leadership roles, including her advocacy as the Kericho Woman Representative for KUPPET, further exemplify her commitment to advancing educational rights and empowering communities. 

His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Bin Mubarak Juma is the Minister of Education for the Kingdom of Bahrain. His Excellency was the Director General of Schools Affairs before taking over as Minister of Education. He also served as Bahrain Teachers College (BTC) Chairman and Chair of the Undersecretaries’ Committee, an offshoot of the Ministry of Education.

He also held the following positions previously: Undersecretary for Resources and Services, Assistant Undersecretary for Human Resources, Research and Teaching Assistant, University of Bahrain and was a Government Teacher, Ministry of Education.

His Excellency has a PhD in Applied Linguistics and Teacher Training from the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom, a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Bahrain, Second Class Honors and a Bachelor’s degree, Applied English Language Studies from the University of Bahrain.

His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz was appointed Minister of Energy in September 2019. In his capacity as Minister of Energy of Saudi Arabia, Prince Abdulaziz is responsible for coordinating the Kingdom’s domestic and international energy policies in line with the goals of Vision 2030. This includes overseeing energy activities within the Kingdom; regulating the oil, gas, electricity, nuclear and renewables sectors in the interests of the Kingdom in the short and long term and directing Saudi international policy with regard to relations with producers (including through OPEC and OPEC+) and with consumers. He has been an active participant in shaping energy policy, both nationally and internationally for more than thirty years and he is the chairman of many energy related organizations.

Prior to his appointment as the Minister of Energy, Prince Abdulaziz served in numerous capacities in the Ministry over the past three decades, including as Minister of State for Energy Affairs, Vice Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Assistant Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Deputy Minister for Petroleum Affairs and Adviser to the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.

H.R.H. holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) (1985) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Management (1982), both from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. After graduation, he served from 1985-87 as Director of the Economic and Industrial Research Division of the Research Institute at King Fahd University of Petroleum​.

H.H. Princess Nouf is the CEO of the King Khalid Foundation. She has been a member of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees since 1996. She serves as the Chairperson of the Saudi ADHD Society, and is a member of the board of “Alnahda Society for Women”, “The Family Council”, and “Ezoah Society for Family Protection”. She was a member of the Board of the “National Center for Mental Health Promotion” for two years, and in 2020, she chaired the Civil 20 Engagement Group, one of the G20 engagement groups.

H.H. Princess Nouf graduated from the University of Phoenix with a degree in Business Management. 

Her Highness Princess Haifa Bint Mohammed AlSaud serves as the Vice Minister of Tourism for Saudi Arabia, where she has been a pivotal figure in transforming the tourism ecosystem. Responsible for building the sector from the ground up, Princess Haifa’s leadership has been instrumental in steering high-impact, sustainable growth across the industry.

Princess Haifa’s dedication to Saudi Arabia’s tourism transformation is longstanding, first serving as Vice President of Strategy at the Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, then moving to the newly founded Ministry of Tourism in 2020 to take on the position of Assistant Minister for Executive and Strategic Affairs, before being appointed Vice Minister in 2022. Her leadership has guided the development and execution of the National Tourism Strategy, culminating in a multi-faceted ecosystem that now includes the Ministry of Tourism, Saudi Tourism Authority, Tourism Development Fund, Tourism Development Council, Air Connectivity Program, and Saudi Red Sea Authority.

Additionally, Princess Haifa holds board positions in various organizations such as the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Qiddiya Investment Company, Riyadh Air, Tourism Development Fund, Taif Development Authority, AlAhsa Development Authority, and the Saudi Red Sea Authority. She is also a member of the Quality of Life Program Committee, the Tourism Development Council, the Duyuf Al Rahman Program and Saudi Arabia’s participation at Expo, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program, and the National Employment Program’s Oversight and Monitoring Committee.

Princess Haifa’s tenure at the Ministry has been marked by her commitment to sustainability, youth, and local community empowerment, in addition to sector recovery, investment, and innovation. She began her professional career in equity sales at HSBC and has since held several impactful roles, including the Secretary General of Formula E Diriyah ePrix, Chair of the Saudi-Emirati Youth Council, and Chair and Vice Chair of the Arab Fencing Federation Women’s Committee and the Saudi Fencing Federation respectively. Notably, during her leadership, the number of women on the official team saw an exponential rise from zero to over 200.

Princess Haifa is a proud alumnus of the University of New Haven, USA, where she obtained her Bachelor of Business Administration, and London Business School, where she pursued her Master of Business Administration. 

Abdullah AlRashid is the Director of the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra). He is a pioneering figure in the cultural and non-profit sectors in the region, with more than 15 years of experience.

AlRashid has led Ithra to become a global cultural destination with millions of beneficiaries. He oversees a diverse portfolio of initiatives across art, creativity, knowledge, and culture. AlRashid has particularly been a champion of local artistic and cultural talent and production, with a focus on Arabic content enrichment, and cross-cultural engagement globally.

He advises on several non-profit and government organizations focused on art and education. AlRashid received his MBA from Duke University and worked at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Washington DC and London as an intern. 

Ohood AlNayel is a professional with over 15 years of diverse industry experience. She is recognized for her expertise in technology and the non-profit sectors. Currently serving as the Director of Apple Developer Academy, she collaborates closely with Apple to deliver exceptional educational experiences for learners from the MENA region. Additionally, as the CEO of PNU Endowment Company, she champions the significance of Vision 2030 initiatives in bolstering the non-profit sector’s contribution to the nation’s GDP. Ohood holds a Master of Science Degree in Non-profit Management from Columbia University and a Master of Science Degree in Management of Technology from NYU. She spearheaded the female leadership program at KSU and contributed to organizations such as the United Nations and Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. Ohood’s commitment to empowering women in tech is further exemplified through her board memberships in multiple non-profits, and participation at prestigious events like Misk, Social Impact Summit and CSW.

Dr. Mody AlKhalaf is currently Senior Learning and Development Manager at Riyadh Air.

AlKhalaf holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from Princess Nourah University and an executive degree from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. She started her career as professor of linguistics for over 12 years.

Between 2008 to 2015 she was Assistant Attaché for Cultural and Social Affairs at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington DC.

In 2016, Dr. AlKhalaf was appointed to the Saudi Shura Council, mainly in the foreign affairs committee.

Throughout her career, AlKhalaf has been dedicated to mentoring talented young men and women through initiatives like “Salam for Cultural Communication” and “Project 1932”. 

Abir AlHarbi is a professor of computational mathematics – specifically, artificial intelligence and artificial neural networks at King Saud University

She has published many research articles in well-known journals, and she is the author of three books in the area of computational and applied mathematics. Professor AlHarbi also invested in managerial skills, achieving executive certificates in Management and Leadership and Strategic Planning from the Adda national center.

Professor AlHarbi has been working in academia for over twenty years, during which she took on various responsibilities and leadership roles in the university. She is supervising several projects at KSU involving the transformation of the university to a non-profit foundation. Professor AlHarbi is also very active in designing KPIs and constructing indicators that measure the development of women in Saudi Arabia, and this is her major role in the National Observatory for Women as head of the Saudi Women participation in the Development Index Committee. 

Dr. Ghadah AlArifi is the founding dean of KAPSARC school of public policy, leading a team tasked to create an institution that provides accredited graduate degrees and executive education in public policy – addressing current needs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia related to energy and sustainability policy analysis and development. 

Prior to this, she held leadership roles at PNU, including Dean of the College of Business Administration and establishing the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center. Recognized for her contributions to human capital development, Dr. Alarifi holds a PhD in Management from University of London and actively researches entrepreneurship & sustainability.

Ismail leads the Government and Public Sector in KPMG Saudi and Levant as well as Middle East, South Asia and Caspian (MESAC) and serves as a board member. During his +21 years of experience in program management, business consulting and transformation in Saudi Arabia, he gained the trust of many senior government and private sector officials as an advisor. Several influential projects have been designed and led by him within the framework of Vision 2030 and its approved programs. He worked as part of the leadership team for Organizational Patterns project and SWFP, designing of the governance guidelines and the architypes of those patterns in governmental entities.

Rami is the Senior Advisor to the President of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), advising on strategic, organizational, and global advocacy matters. He was a Special Envoy on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Sherpa for G20, WEF, and the Heads of MDBs Forum. He is a seasoned development practitioner who served in several managerial positions. He was involved in policy dialogue, country partnership strategies & programing, public & private human development & infrastructure projects. Rami holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering, a Master’s degree in Systems Science, a PhD in Business Administration from LSU, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

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

Guy Standing is a labour economist with a PhD from the University of Cambridge. He is currently Professorial Research Associate at SOAS University of London, after holding chairs at SOAS and the universities of Bath (UK) and Monash (Australia). These followed a long career at the International Labour Organization where he was Director of its Socio-Economic Security Programme. Dr. Standing is a founder and honorary co-president of the Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN), an international NGO promoting basic income as a right, and has written widely on labour issues, social protection and reviving the commons.

Rupert joined KPMG Saudi Arabia in February 2024. He served as the UK Government’s first Chief People Officer between 2016 and 2022, responsible for all aspects of workforce strategy at Civil Service level. He delivered the UK Government’s first Workforce Plan and lead the people aspects of Civil Service reform and transformation. He designed and led workforce aspects of the UK government’s EU Exit activity and COVID pandemic response, set up the Government Automation Taskforce and the Government Consulting initiative. He is sits on the University of Oxford’s People Committee and CIMA’s Business of Government Working Group.

Francis has nearly four decades of international experience in business and government.

As Minister for the Cabinet Office (2010-15), he led an efficiency programme that delivered cash savings of $75 billion. His civil service reforms saw dramatic capability improvements, especially in procurement, project management and digital transformation. In 2016, the UK was ranked number 1 in the world by the UN e-Government Development Index.

Francis now chairs FMA, a practitioner-led venture helping governments implement reform, save money, and improve public services. He recently completed for the UK government a review of civil service governance and accountability.

Teresa is the Executive President of IE University Lifelong Learning where she leads the Lifelong Learning School of IE University. This includes open programs, both on-line and face to face, and traditional Executive Education. She is also responsible for supporting IE University´s Corporate Partners, from talent development to innovation and applied research. Prior to that, she was senior vice president of Strategy and Business Development for McGraw-Hill Education out of NYC. Prior to MHE, Teresa was a partner with Bain & Company where she worked for circa 20 years, mostly in its Private Equity practice. She is currently a NED at several companies (listed and private). She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a degree in finance and accounting from CUNEF (Madrid). 

Laura Frigenti is a senior executive with 30 years of experience in global development gained through her service in multilateral organizations, government, nonprofit, and more recently the private sector.

Her senior roles at the World Bank, where she worked extensively in the human development sector, as head of the Italian development agency, and more recently as head of a large practice in a global consulting firm, give her a deep familiarity with the issues that GPE is trying to address, and the global development space where its work is situated.

An AI and global future of work pioneer, Sean is Founder/CEO of SkyHive, an ethical AI company with a mission to deploy Skill Passports to every person on the planet. Recognized as a top AI innovation by Forbes and Fast Company, SkyHive invented Quantum Labor Analysis, the application of Artificial Intelligence to analyze a workforce at its most granular and real-time level. It applies this technology to helping companies and communities around the world transition from job-based to skill-based at-pace and at-scale. He’s a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer and a Henry Crown Fellow, based in Silicon Valley in California. 

As both an entrepreneur and an executive, Kevin has spent his career at the nexus of the private and public sectors, spanning the education, technology, human capital and international development spheres.

Prior to joining Generation Unlimited as CEO in 2021, Kevin served as the CEO of Right To Play — an international development organization to protect, educate, and empower children and youth.

Kevin founded his first company, TeachAway, a job-matching and professional development platform for teachers.

Before Right To Play, Kevin spent 15 years in the international and higher education sectors, most recently leading Canada’s top-ranked MBA program at the University of Toronto as the Managing Director. 

Dr. Muhammad AlSaggaf is the 6th President of KFUPM, and the first since the University became independent. He is an alum of KFUPM, MIT, and Harvard Business School. He started his career at KFUPM then spent 30 years in the industry at Saudi Aramco, before re-joining the University in January 2020.

He holds a B.S. degree in mathematics from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) with Highest Honors, M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in geophysics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and an MBA from KFUPM. He is also a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Program for Management Development.

Dr. AlSaggaf received several international awards, including the J. Clarence Karcher Award from the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG); the Lester C. Uren Technical Excellence Award and the Distinguished Member Award from the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE); and the Eisenhower Fellowship. He is one of the very few worldwide who has achieved international recognition in both geoscience and petroleum engineering. Dr. AlSaggaf has authored several refereed technical papers and founded and edited a new technical journal.

His priorities at KFUPM are to revamp the academic and research programs such that it can lead technology development, and prepare the talent required for the future local and global economies. Under his leadership, KFUPM overhauled all its academic curricula to be based on an AI+X platform; introduced new degrees such as materials science and engineering, bioengineering, integrated design, and smart and sustainable cities; added 40 concentrations (subdisciplines) in exciting topics such as AI, cybersecurity and blockchains, hydrogen mobility, and others; introduced 35 industry-linked master’s degrees in topics such as data science, robotics, quantum computing, and others. During his tenure, the research program has been overhauled to focus on the goal of social impact and improving the human condition, and to strongly focus on inter-disciplinary work.

Under his leadership, the university introduced female students for the first time, comprising 40% of the intake in engineering disciplines. KFUPM also saw a significant rise in its global standing over this period, moving into #160 in the QS global ranking and #228 in the Times Higher Education ranking (from #578 three years ago). Moreover, KFUPM has become #6 worldwide in petroleum engineering, #16 in mining engineering, #54 in chemical engineering, #70 in electrical engineering, #59 in civil engineering, and #81 in mechanical engineering – all from a modest start. 

Since January 2019, Pedro Conceição is the Director of the Human Development Report Office, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Prior to that, from October 2014, he was Director, Strategic Policy, at the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support of UNDP, where he co-led the UN’s participation in the G20 Finance and Central Bank Governors Meetings, managed UNDP’s engagement in the Financing for Development processes, and contributed to articulate UNDP’s support to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. Before that, he was Chief-Economist and Head of the Strategic Advisory Unit at the Regional Bureau for Africa (from 1 December 2009).

Prior to this, he was Director of the Office of Development Studies (ODS) from March 2007 to November 2009, and Deputy Director of ODS, from October 2001 to February 2007. His work on financing for development and on global public goods was published by Oxford University Press in books he co-edited (The New Public Finance: Responding to Global Challenges, 2006; Providing Global Public Goods: Managing Globalization, 2003).

Professor Stefano Caselli is the Dean of SDA Bocconi School of Management, Full Professor of Banking & Finance at the Department of Finance (since 2007) and Algebris Chair in “Long-Term Investment and Absolute Return” (since 2019) at Bocconi University.

He has been Vice-Rector for International Affairs of Bocconi University from 2012 to 2022 and he covers several roles into the main academic international networks. His research activities are devoted to the interaction between banks, investment, and the corporate system, with a specific focus on strategy and governance of banks, private equity, and finance for growth.

Nabeel A. AlJama’ is the Executive Vice President of Human Resources & Corporate Services service line, effective July 1, 2020. Al-Jama’ was appointed in different roles as follows: Vice President for Corporate Affairs in 2018, Vice President for Human Resources in 2017, Led the Office of the Minister of Energy, Industry, and Mineral Resources in 2016, Vice President for Pipelines, Distribution & Terminals in 2015, Executive Director for Industrial Services in 2012, Executive Director for Community Services in 2009 and General Manager of Training & Career Development in 2006. AlJama’ earned his Bachelor and Master degrees of Science in Community & Regional Planning, from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.

Saadia Zahidi is a Managing Director at the World Economic Forum, leading the Forum’s Centre for the New Economy and Society as well as Global Communications. She was named in BBC’s ‘100 Women’, served on the UN Secretary General’s panel for Women’s Economic Empowerment and the European Space Agency’s high-level advisory group. She is the author of ‘Fifty Million Rising’, a book about the rise of working women in the Muslim world. She holds a BA in Economics from Smith College, an MPhil in International Economics from the Graduate Institute of Geneva and an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Marco is a Partner with the Government Practice at Kearney and has dedicated his career and passion to serving public and private sector clients, with focus on education and employment. His work ranges from helping governments craft their national human capital strategies to advising education institutions on their business plans, from designing policies to reduce unemployment and fuel economic growth to elevating the impact of private foundations and investment groups. Marco holds an MBA from INSEAD, a BA and MA from the University of Cologne, and an MA in International Relations from the American University in Cairo.

Anita Tiessen is Chief Executive Officer of Youth Business International, which leads a growing global network of 50 enterprise support organisations with a passion for empowering underserved young people (18-35) to start, scale and sustain their businesses. Anita has extensive experience in international development, human rights and leading global networks. Before joining Youth Business International, Anita was CEO of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, a global movement of 150 country members, where she grew the organisation’s reach and impact; Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF UK; and Head of Communications at Amnesty International’s global headquarters.

Professor Sir Steve Smith was appointed as the UK International Education Champion in June 2020, a new Government role aimed at boosting global education partnerships.

Sir Steve was also appointed as the Prime Ministers Special Representative for Education to Saudi Arabia in October 2020 and is responsible for overseeing the UK-Saudi Education Partnership alongside Education Minister H.E. AlBenyan. Since his appointment, Sir Steve has visited the Kingdom five times, with his last visit in December 2023.

Sir Steve was the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Exeter from October 2002 to August 2020. He was previously Professor of International Politics and the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, as well as Head of the Department of International Politics, and Director of the Centre for Public Choice Studies at the University of East Anglia.

Sir Steve holds a BSc in Politics and International Studies, an MSc in International Studies, and a PhD in International Relations, all from Southampton University.

James Root is a Senior Partner at Bain & Company and co-chair of Bain Futures, Bain’s proprietary global think tank, which tackles the client implications of coming trends. He focuses on corporate transformations involving strategy, cost management, operational improvement, and organizational effectiveness.

James has been published extensively on branding, international expansion, growth strategy and the Firm of the Future across the business press, including the Harvard Business Review and The Wall Street Journal. He has also been featured on international media platforms including CNN, CNBC and Bloomberg.

Nic Newman is the General Partner at Emerge (the European edtech seed fund), a mentor on the London Major’s International Business program, and Digital Ambassador for the United Nations WFP. Nic is also a member of the UK Department for Education’s Edtech board and is an ex-school governor of 3 schools. He is ‘the product guy’ – a technologist with a deep understanding of how to use design to build trust and engagement around digital experiences. This experience was built leading fast-growth tech start-ups and large multinationals. He is a 1st generation university student from a working-class background, with a degree and 2 master’s, who believes in the fundamental right of access to a great education at any age (all through life) for all of humankind. 

Pavel Luksha is an international researcher, advisor, change catalyst, and facilitator. He is the Founder of Global Education Futures think-do-tank, co-founder of The Weaving Lab and Living Cities Earth, and the fellow of World Academy of Art & Science. He is the Board member of several EdTech start-ups and research institutions, including Laszlo Institute of New Paradigm Research and AltTerra. Pavel authored several influential international reports on the future of education and skills and advised more than 20 states on future skilling & educational policies. His most recent book published in late 2023 is “The Next 100 Years: A Bridgeway Across the Decisive Century”.

Dr. Mehmood Khan’s distinguished career has included several senior corporate roles, including Vice Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer of Global Research and Development at PepsiCo, and President of Global R&D at Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

Before moving into the private sector, Dr. Khan was a faculty member in endocrinology at the Mayo Clinic and Mayo Medical School where he served as Director of the Diabetes, Endocrine and Nutritional Trials Unit. He also led programs in diabetes, endocrinology, metabolism, and nutrition in Minneapolis.

Dr. Khan is a member of the Board of Directors of Reckitt Benckiser and of the Saudi Research, Development, and Innovation Authority (RDIA), Executive Chairman of Life Biosciences, a member of the Saudi National Biotechnology Strategy Steering Committee, and Chairman of the Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology of the United States’ National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Dr. Khan earned his medical degree from the University of Liverpool School of Medicine, England, and completed a fellowship in clinical endocrinology and nutrition in the Department of Medicine and Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in London, a Fellow of the American College of Endocrinology, and an Elected Fellow in the Department of Pharmacology at University of Oxford.

Nadia Hadad is a mechanical conception and water-resourcing-projects developer at IITA and a human right defender. Previously, she worked as engineer from water related projects to training of craftsmen and young people excluded from education, to emancipating local women-groups technically in many countries. She then worked as Disability Inclusion Policy Officer in the development cooperation for PHOS.  

She gives lectures and trainings on inclusive cooperation, the UN CRPD and SDGs, inclusive Climate Justice & Disaster Risk Reduction.  

Nadia is a member of the Belgian Supervising Commission of the independent monitoring mechanism of the UN CRPD in Belgium.  

As Co-chair of the European Network on Independent Living, she’s a member of the Executive Committee of EDF, the European Commission’s Disability Platform, Co-chair off the IDDC OPD Taskgroup and previously, also of the Advisory Panel of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency’s Fundamental Rights Platform. 

Nadia has a degree in Electromechanical Engineering: “Mechanical conception”, Water Resources, Human Ecology, Environment Coordination, and Philosophy. 

John Hazan is a Partner at Bain & Company, based in the Paris office. He leads the Talents solution in Europe. With over 25 years of consulting experience, John is an expert in managing transformational projects, focusing on human resources aspects like purpose, culture redesign, operating models, employee experience, and social engineering. He leads Bain’s CHRO Forum engagements across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Nicholas Haber (MBA Babson College) and his brother Jonathan created SkillCheck, Inc., an online skill assessment company with a library of over 800 valid pre-employment assessments. In 2003, they established the Global Digital Literacy Council to create the IC3 Digital Literacy certification which has since been implemented in over 120 countries. In his role of Director of STEM & CTE for Certiport, A Pearson VUE company, Nicholas oversaw the launch of the Entrepreneurship and Small Business Certification (ESB) as well as enabling companies such as Meta, Intuit, and Apple to launch new official industry recognized global certifications.

Sallyann is the CEO of GLEAC, a blended learning platform powered by 500+ of the world’s leading experts and MentorGPT. Clients include the UAE and Saudi Government and some of the world’s most high performing companies. In 2016, she served as the only female at a C-suite level Chief Curator of People and Culture at Careem.

She is one of the 4% of women globally who has a patent-pending method and algorithm to signal and preserve human identity and behaviors against elimination by agents including A.I.

GLEAC is also very impact driven and upskills African youth on the YOMA the UNICEF Platform, and also empowers learners on the JIO platform across India. Sallyann’s Foundation, Growing Leaders upskills over 25,000 youth annually in job readiness skills on the ground.

Ulrik Juul Christensen, CEO of Area9 Lyceum, a globally leading company in learning infrastructure, has led teams in the development of learning technologies for over a quarter of a century. These technologies, which include competence-based learning and individualized learning methods, have been leading in markets where the consequences of insufficient competence acquisition can be severe. Area9’s technologies have also grown in use within general educational environments for both children and adults. Ulrik, who holds a medical degree from the University of Copenhagen, also serves on the board of the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and have served as an advisory board member to the Saudi Electronic University

Marc Badia is Deputy Dean of IESE Business School and professor in the department of Accounting and Control. He oversees the MBA and MiM programs. He earned his Ph.D. in Financial Accounting with distinction from Columbia University (New York).

His research interests focus on fair value accounting and the use of financial statement analysis for equity valuation. His research work has been published in top-tier academic journals such as the Journal of Accounting and Economics, Journal of Accounting Research, The Accounting Review and Contemporary Accounting Research. Outside academia, he has carried out consulting projects related to business valuation and quantitative trading strategies based on fundamentals. Currently, he supervises his family business.

H.E. Dr. Abdullah AlRabeeah was appointed by the Custodian of the  Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, as Supervisor  General of KSrelief in May 2015. KSrelief is the humanitarian arm of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for delivering aid and relief outside the Kingdom.

Since its founding, KSrelief has delivered aid to 95 countries and initiated more than 2,700 projects directly and bi-laterally with UN agencies, international and national NGOs, totalling USD 6.4 billion in aid.
The main sectors of the projects are Food Security, Nutrition, Health, Water and Sanitation, Education, Women and Children, and Shelter.

Throughout H.E. Dr. AlRabeeah’s distinguished career, he has held many significant positions, including the former Saudi Minister of Health from 2009 – 2014. H.E. Dr. AlRabeeah is a well-known international paediatric surgeon who heads the Saudi surgical specializing in separating conjoined twins. This programme has reviewed 135 cases referred from 24 countries and has successfully separated 59 sets of twins.

Her Excellency Ms. Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi assumed the position of Minister of Education and Higher Education in October of 2021 and holds the position of President of the National Committee for Education, Culture and Science. Throughout her career spanning over 20 years, H.E. Ms. Buthaina was able to amass several achievements and attain invaluable experience in various fields of education.

Prior to being appointed to this position, H.E. Ms. Buthaina has held several important positions, including President of Pre-University Education at Qatar Foundation from 2016 to 2021. Earlier in her career and before joining Qatar Foundation in 2006, H.E. Ms. Buthaina was a teacher, then a head of department, and later, a vice principal at several Ministry of Education and Higher Education schools.

During her time at Qatar Foundation, Her Excellency had held several leadership positions, including Founding President of Pre-University Education. During her tenure in this position, she developed many existing programs and established specialized schools and new centers.

Her Excellency has served on many national education committees and school boards of trustees, including the Franco-Qatarien Voltaire school and the Joint Advisory Board of Texas A&M University in Qatar.

Her Excellency holds an EMBA from HEC Paris and a bachelor’s degree in Arts and Education, majoring in English from Qatar University.

Polyglot and High-Performance Learning expert, Dr. Sommer has over 25 years’ school leadership experience across Europe and the Middle East. He joined Misk Schools in 2022 from Doha College where he was Principal for seven years. Prior to this, he led international schools in The Hague, Paris and Lausanne, and was Head of Languages at Rugby School, one of the UK’s top boarding schools.

Dr. Sommer is Vice Chair of COBIS, a board member of Outstanding Schools of the Middle East, a co-founder of the international division of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference and a Fellow of High Performance Learning.

Olivier Sabella is Vice President of SaaS business across EMEA & LATAM. He advises senior executives at the world’s largest organisations about how LinkedIn’s data and insights can help them to power their workforce strategy and fuel business growth. He is passionate about developing diverse, high-performing teams that have a deep understanding of their customers’ challenges, and delivering impactful solutions that help businesses to hire, develop and engage talent.

Olivier joined LinkedIn in 2015 where he led LinkedIn’s SaaS business across Mid-market and SMB customers. Prior to LinkedIn, he held VP roles at companies including SAP, ServiceSource and BusinessObjects. He has 25 years of experience in Sales and Customer Management, across all customer segments.

Olivier is passionate about building diverse teams, coaching, energy management, and social impact. Olivier lived in five countries before settling in Dublin where he has spent the last decade.

Alaina Percival is the co-founder of Women Who Code. Under Alaina’s leadership, the organization has served nearly half a million members in 147 countries. Alaina has been published by Forbes, Huffington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. An accomplished tech speaker, Alaina has appeared at WSJ.d Live, Grace Hopper, Columbia University’s Social Enterprise, MIT’s Venture Capital and Innovation Conference, Harvard’s WECode, the United Nations Information Management Unit (un)data seminar series, and more. She has also been featured in interviews by Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, Wired, and other global publications.

Alaina is also an Angel Investor, a Venture Partner at Valor Ventures, a Scout for Picus Capital, and in 2022, she taught WomenLead in Technology at Georgia State University.

Based in Dubai, Renée McGowan is Chief Executive Officer of Marsh McLennan – India, Middle East & Africa. Renée leads the  business in the region, driving growth and innovation for greater client impact through Marsh McLennan’s market-leading brands – Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer, and Oliver Wyman.

In her two-decade-long journey with Mercer, she also served as President of Asia, Middle East & Africa and held key leadership roles, including Global Leader for Individual Wealth in New York as well as Chief Customer & Marketing Officer for the Pacific region. A global executive, Renée has led businesses in Hong Kong, London, Melbourne, New York, Singapore, and Sydney.

Renée is passionate about financial inclusion, girls’ education and advancing women in society, and she is an experienced Board Member and media spokesperson. Her first book – The Friday Email – 88 Tips for Aspiring Leaders was published in December 2023.

Dr. Shannon May is President and Co-Founder of NewGlobe. NewGlobe has unequalled experience in transforming educational outcomes at speed and at scale, at the state and national level. Core to NewGlobe’s approach is a holistic approach to school and school system support, providing integrated teacher support, school management practices, capacity building for ministerial leadership, and scientifically-tested digital and print learning materials. Custom software applications and digital publishing enable digital transparency for ministerial leaders, empowering data-driven decision making at both the school and national level. NewGlobe’s government programs serve 2 million children each school day in six countries. 

 

Greg Mauro is a Founding Partner at Learn Capital and oversees the investing practice of the firm. Greg has helped lead Learn investments in companies such as Coursera, Udemy, General Assembly, Higher Ground, and NewGlobe. Prior to Learn, Greg managed an affiliate of Founders Fund. Greg co-founded several venture-backed start-ups used by millions across the education, wireless, and media sectors, raising over $500M across his ventures. Greg is the co-owner of Powder Mountain, the largest ski resort in the United States. Greg’s exploits — visiting over 100 countries, surfing on six continents, buying his local ski mountain — have been covered in The New York Times, Financial Times, The Atlantic, Surfer Magazine, and Ski Magazine.

Jo Johnson is a Member of the House of Lords in the UK Parliament and a Member of the Privy Council, a body of advisers to the sovereign. He served in the UK  Government under three Prime Ministers as Head of the No10 Downing Street Policy Unit and Minister of State, attending Cabinet, for Universities, Science & Innovation. Outside of his Parliamentary responsibilities, he is Executive Chairman of FutureLearn, the global digital learning platform, and Chairman of Access Creative, the largest independent provider of further education and specialist training for the creative industries in the UK. He is also a Visiting Professor at King’s College, London, a Member of the Council of the Dyson Institute for Engineering and Technology, a Fellow of Birkbeck College, University of London, and a former Senior Fellow at the Mossavar-Rahmani Centre for Business and Government at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Alex is the Chief Operating Officer at Camali Group – an Australian consulting firm specialising in government relations, defence, economic and social policy. Alex also serves as a director at two community health organisations. Alex’s experience spans across the Australian Government, private and not for profit sector, including roles at the Prime Minister and Cabinet Office, Foreign Affairs and Trade and The Treasury. Alex co-authored Australia’s first National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security and has lived and worked in remote Aboriginal communities. Alex is a Graduate of AICD, ANU and UOW with a master’s in applied Anthropology and Participatory Development and a BA (Economics and Politics) with Distinction.

Born and raised in Argentina, Ulises has been a champion for education, sustainability, and youth engagement since his youth. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found a landscape design studio. Currently, he is shaping the future of learning as a Learning Experience Designer at Eidos Global, leading global initiatives in 21st-century skills, the future of work, and sustainable entrepreneurship. His influence extends to international platforms where he has served as a youth advisor, such as at Generation Unlimited of UNICEF Global, UNICEF Argentina, the III World Forum on Human Rights (CIPDH UNESCO), and the Transforming Education Summit 2022’s advisory committee.

Ilias is an executive and serial entrepreneur in the Artificial Intelligence space, with a focus on helping people accelerate their potential via meaningful careers and impactful education. Ilias is a co-founder of ClassHour and Celential.ai, an AI-powered recruiting company acquired by AngelList. Ilias built Celential’s Talent Graph of 15 million engineers worldwide. Prior to this, Ilias was VP of Product at Good&Co, which StepStone acquired for its world’s largest quantitative enterprise culture graph. In the past, Ilias also launched highly successful gaming and mobile products at Scopely (acquired by Savvy for $5B) and Zynga. Ilias received his bachelor’s from Harvard University.

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

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

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

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

Robert Simonds, a prominent American media entrepreneur and film producer, graduated summa cum laude from Yale University in 1985 and quickly rose to become one of Hollywood’s youngest and most profitable creative producers. His individual productions have generated over $6 billion in global revenue, earning him recognition in industry publications like The Hollywood Reporter’s “100 Most Powerful People in Entertainment,” Variety500: Entertainment Leaders and Icons, and Variety’s “Dealmakers Impact Report.”

Simonds’ successful approach involved developing star-driven films, with collaborators like Adam Sandler, Steve Martin, and Dave Chappelle.

He founded STX, a fully integrated studio, enabling greater control over content. Through innovative financing partnerships, he’s distributed films in 150+ countries, producing over 70 star-driven films in recent years, amassing a career production gross exceeding $11 billion.

His focus now extends into forward-thinking venture opportunities around talent.

Eszter Salamon is the Director of Parents International. Originally trained and practiced as a teacher, she later became an economist and obtained a PhD in education leadership specialising in parental engagement. She started handling children’s rights issues in 1989 and has specialized in students’ rights and parents’ rights, with focus on education in the past 22 years. She has been involved in international education and social topics and projects for over a decade. She is also an education consultant for the European School Heads Association and is a visiting professor at Vytautas Magnus University. 

Kai’s mission is to deliver impactful and cutting-edge tech and AI education that enables individuals and organizations to unlock their potential.

Before joining Udacity, Kai was part of the founding team of the Bertelsmann Education Group, a division of the German conglomerate. Kai also had a leading role in the merger and subsequent integration of the two largest publishing firms, Penguin and Random House. 

Kai is an entrepreneur, investor, and board member. He currently serves on the boards of the Riyadh Academy of Tourism and Hospitality as well as Tomorrow University.

Professor Bairbre Redmond is Full Professor Emeritus for Higher Education at University College Dublin, where she was Dean of Undergraduate Studies (2008 – 2016). She was Provost of Universitas 21 – U21 (2016 to 2021), leading a network of 27 international, world-class, research-intensive universities, collectively enrolling over 1 million students. During her tenure she significantly increased the network’s membership, with 90% of the membership ranked in the World’s Top 200 universities (QS & Times Higher).

She now works as a consultant in international higher education, continuing to publish on approaches to teaching and learning that produce critical thought and intellectual maturity in students. 

Manuel Rabaté has been Director of Louvre Abu Dhabi since 2016 and oversees all aspects of its operations and activity. Rabaté has worked on the museum since its  inception, joining Agence France-Muséums a year after the signature of the intergovernmental agreement between France and Abu Dhabi, first as CFO, then Secretary General and CEO (2008-2016). Rabaté was Deputy Director of Cultural Development (2005-2008) of Musée du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac for its opening, managing the launch of the museum’s first touring exhibitions. He is a graduate of Sciences Po (1998) and HEC Business School (2001), and a Knight of France’s National Order of Merit.

Jennifer Moss is an internationally acclaimed writer, global speaker, and strategist, advising government, academic institutions, and Fortune 500 firms on workplace policy.

Her books, translated into over 20 languages, have received a number of awards including; the IPA 2018 Best Business Book of the Year Award, shortlisted for the 2021 Outstanding Works of Literature Award and named Thinkers50’s 10 Best New Management Books in 2022. ‘Why Are We Here’ (Harvard Business Press) launches Fall 2024. 

Jennifer is a nationally syndicated radio columnist and freelance journalist. She writes for HBR, Fast Company, and Fortune. She’s been featured in over 100 global media outlets including, BBC, CNNi, WSJ and TIME.

Dominic McVey, an entrepreneur recognized by the Queen with an MBE, is a leader in business, philanthropy, and diplomacy. Starting with importing micro scooters at the age of 13 becoming the UK’s youngest self-made millionaire, McVey now chairs Computer Aid International and serves on the ODI board. Promoting ethical practices, he’s on Ethical Apparel Africa’s board, supporting sustainable jobs in West Africa. His global development efforts include roles with the Coalition for Global Prosperity and as a Global Ambassador for the Halo Trust. An honorary consul for Namibia and a Professor of Practice at UWTSD, he engages in education and public speaking. His strategic roles, including on Trademark Africa’s board, underscore his influence in fostering international trade and development. 

Michael D. Lepech is a Professor and Associate Department Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the School of Engineering and Doerr School of Sustainability at Stanford University. In addition to his research and teaching responsibilities, he serves as Director for the Stanford Center for Sustainable Development and Global Competitiveness and Acting Director of the Stanford Technology Ventures Program, the Stanford engineering entrepreneurship center. Professor Lepech received his PhD in Civil Engineering (Materials) from the University of Michigan, and his MBA from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. 

Jerry is a Venture Partner at Antler. Antler partners with exceptional founders across six continents to launch and scale startups that address meaningful opportunities and challenges. Antler has offices in 27 cities, across six continents and a global community of builders, investors, operators, experts, and partner organizations backs people from the very start of their founder journey – pre-team or even pre-idea. Since 2018, Antler have helped create and have invested in more than 1,000+ start-ups across a wide range of industries and technologies, with the goal of backing more than 6,000 by 2030. Recently, Jerry supported Antler’s launching of the first cohort where they funded 15 start-ups in 8 different sectors in Riyadh. 

Previously, Jerry was the CEO of VOV, a company that forms part of Savvy Games Group, a Public Investment Fund (PIF) portfolio company focused on esports and gaming (entertainment) infrastructure and related technology services to advance the industry’s long-term growth, both in Saudi Arabia and on a worldwide scale. Jerry joined VOV in 2021, bringing over 20 years of senior executive, entrepreneurial, and direct investment experience.  

Jerry has worked with global B2B and B2C brands such as Walmart and Restaurant Brands International, Global Group CEO of Le Pain Quotidien for both the restaurant brand and manufacturing company, as well as various Consumer/Restaurant Technology companies across North America, Europe, and the Middle East. Jerry has also served as a Non-Executive Director in several companies across multiple sectors. 

David Edwards, PhD in Educational Policy and Leadership, is General Secretary of Education International. David became General Secretary in 2018 after seven years as El’s deputy general secretary directing education policy, advocacy, research, and communications. Prior to joining El, David was an Associate Director at the National Education Association of the United States. He has worked as an Education Specialist at the Organization of American States and began his career as a public high school teacher. 

Lourdes Casanova is a Senior Lecturer at the Johnson College of Business, Cornell University and Director of the Emerging Markets Institute. She is one of the 50 most influential Iberoamerican intellectuals.

Ms. Casanova is.a published author, having been co-editor with Cahen Miroux of ‘Innovation from Emerging Markets’, Cambridge University Press and a co-author of ‘The Era of Chinese Multinationals’, Academic Press. She has also co-authored the Emerging Market Multinationals Report from 2016 to 2022, amongst other books and reports such as ‘Entrepreneurship and the Finance of Innovation in Emerging Markets’, Elsevier, and ‘The Political Economy of an Emerging Global Power’, Palgrave Macmillan (2014). 

Ms. Casanova is a board member of the Boyce Tompson Institute, and a contributor to Latin Trade, CNN en español, El País and Voice of America.

Neil Butcher is passionate about helping governments, development partners, and educational institutions to reform education systems to enable people and societies to achieve their full human potential. He is based in South Africa and has travelled extensively through the developing world conducting research on educational policy, higher education, TVET, distance education, EMIS, and educational technology for a range of organizations, governments, and donors. He works with OER Africa as the project’s OER Strategist and is also currently consulting to the World Bank and the inter-American Development Bank on a range of project activities across Africa, Asia the Pacific, the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe. 

Roger Brindley is Vice Provost for Global at The Pennsylvania State University. He oversees a staff of nearly 100 professionals who manage education abroad programs, advise international students and scholars, and facilitate Penn State’s international partnerships around the world while supporting faculty on the University’s 24 campuses across the Commonwealth who do globally engaged work. As Vice Provost, Brindley works with senior administrators to promote Penn State’s comprehensive plan to “enhance global engagement” and guides the University’s international agenda. He recently concluded a six-year term on the APLU Commission for International Initiatives and is currently a Senior Advisor for AIEA.

H.E. Ahmed bin Sulaiman bin Abdulaziz AlRajhi, the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development in Saudi Arabia, brings vast  experience and expertise to his role. With a Bachelor’s in Systems Engineering from King Fahd University, his career spans pivotal positions in Saudi Arabia’s economic and social sectors.

Previously, AlRajhi chaired the Council of Saudi Chambers, served as Vice President of the Federation of GCC Chambers, and contributed to Modon and the Riyadh Chamber. His private sector involvement includes board positions in companies like AlArd Holding, Enjaz Real Estate, Gulf Packaging Industries Ltd., Al Rajhi Invest Holding, Al-Rajhi Takaful, and ACWA Power, showcasing diverse expertise.

Demonstrating a commitment to social development, he chaired entities like Hadaf, the Social Development Bank, and humanitarian institutions like Ekhaa. He played key roles in disability care, social studies, and occupational safety, affiliating with esteemed organizations like the Institute of Public Administration and the National Center for Non-Profit Sector.

AlRajhi’s contributions expanded to awards in social work and occupational safety, highlighting his multifaceted dedication. His extensive cross-sector experience and steadfast commitment to societal well-being underline his influential role in shaping Saudi Arabia’s landscape.

H.E. AlKhorayef has 27 years’ experience in leadership positions in industrial, commercial and investment fields.

He is a Chairman of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, a Chairman of the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (Modon), a Chairman of the Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF), a Chairman of the Saudi Exports Development Authority, a Chairman of the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP), Chairman of the National Industrial Clusters Developing Program (NICDP), a Chairman of The Saudi Geological Survey, a Chairman of Local Content & Government Procurement Authority, and a Chairman of the Saudi Export-Import Bank (EXIM)

He is also Member of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, a Member of the Strategic Committee, a Member of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, a Member of the Saudi Arabian Military Industries Company, (SAMI), a Member of the General Authority for Military Industries, a Member of the Economic Cities and Special Zones Authority, and Chairman of the Executive Committee, a Member of the General Authority for Statistics, and a Member of the Executive Committee of the Saudi – Emirati Coordination Council.

A top executive at Alkhorayef Group, He has been CEO of Abdullah Ibrahim Alkhorayef Sons Company (2013-2019), a CEO of Alkhorayef Printing Solutions Company (2010-2019), a Director of Alkhorayef Group of Companies (2002-2019), and a Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Arabian Agricultural Services Company (ARASCO) (2018-2019).

His Excellency Khalid A. AlFalih has been Minister of Investment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since 25 February 2020. He    previously served as Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources from May 2016 to September 2019, as Minister of Health from April 2015 to May 2016, and as Chairman of the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) Board of Directors from April 2015 to September 2019. Prior to his appointment as Chairman, H.E. AlFalih also held key leadership positions across the company, including President and Chief Executive Officer from January 2009 to May 2015.

H.E. AlFalih has been consistently recognized for his leadership in spearheading the strategic transformation of leading sectors and organizations across Saudi Arabia. His achievements include driving large-scale business initiatives and industrial projects, building organizational capacity for the benefit of Saudi citizens through economic and social programs, and enhancing the performance and impact of complex organizations. For many years, he has taken a particular interest in leveraging business activities to fuel social development and economic diversification; fostering strong collaboration between Saudi Arabia’s public, private and academic/research sectors; and promoting the importance of the fields of science and digital technology among young people.

H.E. AlFalih remains committed to enriching society through the nurturing of entrepreneurship and innovation; the creation of a knowledge-based society equipped to meet the challenges of the future; the creation of new business and human resource development opportunities; and the protection of the environment. His appointment as Minister of Investment is in line with H.E. AlFalih’s exceptional achievements in advancing private sector growth in the Kingdom, which is a central driver of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s ongoing economic diversification plan.

In 2009, H.E. AlFalih received the prestigious King Abdulaziz Medal (First Class), which is Saudi Arabia’s highest civilian honor for service to the country. H.E. AlFalih has received many notable awards and recognitions throughout his career. In 2018, the Japanese government awarded him its national decoration, The Order of the Rising Sun. In 2016, he was recognized as Energy Intelligence Petroleum Executive of the Year.

H.E. AlFalih earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1982 and completed his MBA at KFUPM in 1991. In 2009, he received an honorary doctorate from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.

Prof. Einas AlEisa holds a PhD degree in Anatomy and Neurobiology from Dalhousie University, Canada.  Throughout her career, she has published over 50 refereed articles in academia.

As the president of the university, she actively promotes women empowerment, which is one of the four strategic goals of PNU. This direction is highly supported by Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

She leads a number of initiatives supporting women’s empowerment, such as the establishment of the National Observatory for Women. This Observatory is an entity that measures the performance of Saudi women in the economy and the development of the country.

Prof. AlEisa is a member of many national boards and committees, including the Education and Training Evaluation Commission, Saudi Universities Council, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology – King Salman International Award for Disability Research Committee, National Committee for Narcotics Control, Board of the Saudi Universities Sports Federation and is a Member of the Steering Committee at the National Labor Observatory, Human Resources Development Fund, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

H.E. Yousef Abdullah AlBenyan has been the minister of education since September 2022. H.E.  AlBenyan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and a Master’s degree in Industrial Management. In addition, he has received several specialized courses in Executive Management. Furthermore, he chairs more than 20 boards including but not limited to: Universities Affairs, Tatweer Education Holding, Takaful Charity Foundation, Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, the National Institute for Professional Educational Development, the National Center for E-Learning, the Saudi School Sports Federation, the Saudi Universities Sports Federation, the Supervisory Council for Foreign Schools, the University Higher Education Fund, King Saud University, the Regional Center for Quality and Excellence in Education, and the Small and Medium Enterprises Bank. He also holds the Chair position on some national committees, such as the Supervisory Committee for Privatization in the Education Sector, and the Supervisory Committee of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Foreign Scholarship Program. Additionally, H.E. AlBenyan is a member of several national committees and boards, including the Board of Directors of the Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE), the Supreme National Committee for Industry, the Human Capacity Development Program Committee, the Supreme Committee for Research, Development and Innovation, the Board of Directors of the National Center for Privatization, the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Statistics and the Saudi National Committee for Education, Culture and Science.

Prior to being named the Minister of Education, H.E. AlBenyan led the B20 during Saudi’s presidency of the G20 in 2020 and served as the Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SABIC, Executive Vice President, Corporate Finance and CFO. Before that, in 2013, H.E. AlBenyan was elected to head SABIC’s Chemicals business, the company’s largest sector, aiming to help SABIC achieves its goal of becoming the preferred global leader in chemicals by 2025.

Ralph Tabberer was Director General of Schools in England, responsible to PM Tony Blair for 23,000 government schools. Labelled by the Financial Times as a dynamic leader, Ralph’s contribution to schools and teacher recruitment is recognised in reports into the world’s best school systems. Since 2009, Ralph has worked and lived in the Middle East, initially as CEO at GEMS. He founded BBD Education, which has started over 30 schools. His consultancy is sought by governments and private school operators. BBD is now part of Global Schools Management, a US multinational running nurseries, charter schools, academies and private schools worldwide.

Daniel Yu is the founder and CEO of Wasoko, a B2B e-commerce platform providing free same-day delivery and financing for goods to restock over 50,000 informal retail stores across 6 African countries.

Wasoko has been recognized as the fastest growing company in Africa by the Financial Times and has raised over $120M in venture financing, including a $100M round led by Tiger Global in February 2022.

Through his work with Wasoko, Daniel has received international recognition as the winner of the Prince of Wales Young Entrepreneur Prize, designation by the White House as an Emerging Global Entrepreneur, and as one of Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneurs.

Dino Varkey serves as the Group CEO of GEMS Education. He represents the third generation of an education family, driven by providing access to quality education for almost 60 years.

In his 17 years with the company, he has undertaken multiple leadership roles, serving as the Senior Director of Business Development, Group Chief Operating Officer, Group Executive Director and MD until he was named Group Chief Executive Officer by the Board in February 2017. 

He attended Winchester College, and is an Honours graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Studies from the University of Sheffield, UK.

Sobhi Tawil (PhD) is Director of the Future of Learning and Innovation team at UNESCO where he currently leads the Futures of Education initiative, as well as work on technology and innovation in education. He has some 30 years of experience in teaching, education policy analysis, research and program management with diverse institutions and organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Graduate Institute for International and Development Studies (Geneva), as well as the Network for International Policies and Cooperation in Education and Training (NORRAG). He has also worked on issues of education policy in relation to identity-based conflict, social cohesion, and citizenship. Sobhi Tawil holds a PhD in Education and Development from the Graduate Institute for Development Studies in Geneva.

Hanada Taha Thomure is the Director of Zai Arabic Language Research Center and the Endowed Professor of Arabic Language education at Zayed University, UAE. She previously was the associate dean and later acting dean of Bahrain Teachers’ College. Professor Taha Thomure designed the first system for leveling Arabic texts currently used by regional and international publishers to level their Arabic children’s books. She developed the Arabic language arts standards currently used by more than 200,000 students. She is the senior author for Pearson’s Arabic language Arts K-9, curriculum BilArabi. She reviewed the national Arabic curricula for Morocco, KSA, Jordan, UAE, and Bahrain and has been an adviser for Arab Thought Foundation, Queen Rania Foundation, Scholastic, USAID, UNICEF, UAE prime minister’s office and World Bank. Professor Taha Thomure’s research is in the field of Arabic language teaching and learning, oral reading fluency, Arabic children’s literature and Arabic teacher preparation and curriculum design.

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

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

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

Rod Smith has been Group Managing Director of International Education at Cambridge University Press & Assessment since it was formed in 2022 and was previously Global Managing Director for Education at Cambridge University Press.

After a childhood growing up in and around schools (his mother was a headteacher), and a brief period as a primary school teacher, Rod has worked in education publishing and qualifications for over 30 years in marketing and management roles.

He believes education is the key to driving sustainable change for good in society and creating the opportunity for more young people to be active beneficiaries of that change.

Mihir founded Automation Anywhere in 2003 with a mission to unleash human potential by helping every company transform their business and succeed with intelligent process automation. With specialized AI and generative AI powering its software, the company is transforming enterprise automation. Under Mihir’s leadership, Automation Anywhere has become a global leader in intelligent automation and continues to create groundbreaking technologies to accelerate business transformation for some of the world’s largest organizations. Prior to founding the company, Mihir held leadership roles at technology companies including E2Open, Kiva, Netscape, Infoseek and Omnisky.

As CEO of ETS, Amit Sevak leads the world’s largest private educational assessment organization.
Sevak has been a driving force in education, learning and workforce development around the globe. Throughout his career his transformational leadership consistently led to innovation, better learning, and improved job prospects for hundreds of thousands of students and workers.

Sevak has been a coach for edtech CEOs, served on nonprofit boards, and in 2017, he founded Mindset Global, an education investment firm. 

Sevak earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Chicago and earned his master’s in business administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School.

John Schwartz is a global e-Learning strategist and entrepreneur, wielding extensive expertise in crafting compelling digital training and educational solutions for governments and enterprises worldwide; notably focusing on the Middle East. Drawing from a rich background in online education, including spending the last seven-years at edX, where he ardently championed the merits of digital transformation. His advocacy extends to diverse learner groups, particularly those underserved in accessing quality education. John’s commitment to advancing educational equity and digital empowerment is exemplified through his current role on the HLAC (High Level Advisory Council) within the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, a global initiative aligned with the United Nations.  

Dr. Fadia Saadah is currently the Regional Director for Human Development in the Middle East and North Africa Region. Throughout a more than 30-year career at the World Bank, she has held various leadership positions, including Regional Director for Human Development in Europe and Central Asia Region; Director of the Global Practice for Health, Nutrition, and Population; and Manager at Operational Policy and Country Services.

Dr. Saadah holds a Master’s degree in Biostatistics and a PhD in Population Studies from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA, and a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health and a Master’s degree in Epidemiology from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon.

Laurence Moroney is the AI Advocacy lead at Google, responsible for informing and inspiring the world about the possibilities with AI. A best-selling author and award-winning researcher, he’s also the educator of millions of developers around the world through online courses, YouTube videos, and his blog at laurencemoroney.com. 

Anthony is a graduate of LSE and Balliol College Oxford. He is a Headmaster of two leading schools in the UK and was elected Chairman of the Boarding Schools Association. Before devoting himself full-time to Anthony Millard Consulting Ltd., he was Managing Director of Nord Anglia plc’s schools’ division and opened international schools in both Shanghai and Moscow.

One of the first stagiaires to train with the European Commission on Britain’s accession, in addition to his work with AMC Anthony was until recently Chairman of International British Schools which owns the highly successful British International School of New York which he helped to establish. Anthony was also a Governor of Geneva English School and Greensteds School in Kenya’s Rift Valley. He is currently a governor of Roedean School, a member of a UK multi-academy trust and is also a trustee of the Samaritans Organization who support people suffering extreme mental health situations.

Carl focuses on enabling community impact with local, regional, and global partners, co-creating partnerships that support Small and Medium Businesses, individuals, and households to thrive in the CEMEA region. Prior to Visa, Carl served as the Chief Operating Officer at Ecobank Foundation where he led the bank’s social impact work in 33 markets in Africa. Before Ecobank Foundation, Carl held various leadership roles at the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), Economic Commission for Africa, The Global Fund and UNDP.

Carl holds an undergraduate degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Cape Town and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School. He is a Mo Ibrahim Foundation Fellow and an Aspen Institute New Voices Senior Fellow.

Rudolph Lohmeyer leads Kearney’s National Transformations Institute – an internal think tank dedicated to helping business and government leaders anticipate, navigate, and shape the future. He also leads the International Affairs platform of the firm’s Government and Economic Development Practice. An expert in strategic foresight, international policy, and innovation, his work focuses on the intersection of international policy, corporate strategy, and the cross-border digital economy including cybersecurity. Previously, Mr. Lohmeyer served in government for five years in a non-political role as the Senior Advisor for Long-Term Strategic Planning at the U.S. State Department. He received his BA from Stanford University, and both his MBA and MPP in International Policy from the University of Chicago.

Carnegie Mellon math professor Po-Shen Loh is a social entrepreneur and inventor, focusing on achieving scale through game-theoretic incentive alignment. He also served a decade-long term as the national coach of the USA International Mathematical Olympiad team, during which the USA ranked #1 in the world 4 times. He is an IMO silver medallist and received the United States Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. His public lectures and events take him all over the world, reaching over 10,000 people in person each year. Online, he has featured in or co-created videos totalling over 20 million YouTube views.

Dr. J.D. LaRock is the President & CEO of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), a global nonprofit organization that provides high-quality entrepreneurship education to middle school, high school, and young adult students from under-resourced communities. Previously, Dr. LaRock served in the administration of Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, as President of the Commonwealth Corporation, the state’s workforce development authority. He was also education policy director for Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and senior education advisor to Senator Ted Kennedy. Dr. LaRock is a Professor of the Practice of Law and Policy at  Northeastern University. He earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Harvard University and a law degree from Georgetown University.

Jean-Marc is a member of Korn Ferry Global Leadership Team and leads the Korn Ferry Institute that conducts advanced research, IP development, and analytics on people and organizations. He sits on three boards of directors: Velocity Network Foundation, Americares, and Trace TV. He also co-founded Leadership U for Humanity to develop leaders from underrepresented populations. Prior to these roles, Jean-Marc worked at Hay Group, Axialent (Brazil CEO), McKinsey, and Banque Indosuez.

Sally is based in Dubai and leads PwC’s global education and skills practice. She has a broad range of strategic and operations consulting experience across all the sectors of education. Sally joined PwC’s ME advisory practice in early 2007. Prior to PwC, Sally worked for over 15 years as a strategy consultant and has worked extensively across the US, Europe, and the Middle East. Sally is now driving the development of PwC’s education service offering including transformational services for higher education, capacity expansion and quality improvement services for primary and secondary education that address employability and future skills. Sally has a keen interest in helping to bridge the gap between the competencies CEOs are looking for in the future, and the approach being adopted by today’s educators and has contributed to a number of reports and articles linked to PwC’s work on workforce of the future.

Santiago Iñiguez, PhD in Moral Philosophy, MBA, is the President of IE University and a recognized influencer in global higher education. He holds the Founders Award by  Thinkers50, the prestigious global ranking of thoughtful leaders in Management. He is a member on the Board of the Aramco Foundation.

His books include: “The Learning Curve: How Business Schools Are Reinventing Education” (2011), “Cosmopolitan Managers: Executive Education That Works” (2016), “Philosophy Inc.: Applying Wisdom to Everyday Management” (2023), “Business Despite Borders: Companies in the Age of Populist Anti-Globalization” (2018), and “Executive Education After The Pandemic. A Vision For The Future” (2021).

Soumitra Dutta has been Dean of Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford since June 2022. Previously he was the founding Dean of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business at Cornell University. He is the   President of Portulans Institute, Chair of the Board of the Global Business School Network and member of the Global Board of Dassault Systemes.

Professor Dutta is an authority on innovation in the global knowledge economy. He is the co-editor and founder of the Network Readiness Index, published by Portulans Institute and the Global Innovation Index, published by the WIPO.
Professor Dutta received a B. Tech. in electrical engineering and computer science from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi a MS in both business administration and computer science, and a PhD in computer science from the University of California at Berkeley. In 2017 he was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus from his alma mater IIT Delhi.

Paris runs the Venture Lab, Europe’s largest Business School Accelerator, at IE University. He has accelerated over 2,500 startups in the last 12 years and is presently Chairman of the Applied Innovation Institute in Silicon Valley and Singapore, Board member of Nesma NIT in KSA as well as Board member of QSTP in Qatar, part of the Qatar Foundation.  

His PhD for his work in organizational behavior focusing on the relationship of professionals with uncertainty. Paris has 3 patents, one in business networking. Today, he teaches entrepreneurship to MBAs, MIMs and BBAs. Previously, he was a serial entrepreneur after spending 21 years in investment banking.

Professor Andreas Cangellaris is Founding President of NEOM University, NEOM, Saudi Arabia. Before joining NEOM, Andreas served as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. During his 25-year tenure with Illinois, he served in several leadership roles, including Dean of the Grainger College of Engineering. A renowned expert in applied electromagnetism and computational science, Prof. Cangellaris’ research has contributed to the advancement of modeling methodologies and computer-aided design tools for state-of-the-art computing and communication systems. Professor Cangellaris is a Life Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Abdullah AlJuffali is the President of Honeywell Saudi Arabia & Bahrain. His main objective is aligning Honeywell’s strategy with Vision 2030. He has almost two decades of experience in various management positions in ABB & Honeywell, and holds a bachelor’s degree in EE from KSU, MBA from Willamette University, an executive management certification from MIT, and certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. Abdullah is advisory board member of the college of engineering in Al Faisal University, a board member of US-Saudi Business Council, a member of The Saudi Leadership Society, and one of the selected 2030 Leaders under MISK Foundation.

Christina is a metaverse pioneer and award-winning business leader with 17 years’ experience.

She was China Director, QS World University Rankings 2013-2020. In 2016, China’s Vice Premier highlighted the use of QS rankings in a speech, impacting £750bn-5 years funding allocations to 3005 universities with 48 million students.

She has sat on 20+ committees for UNESCO, World Bank, Commonwealth, EU, and UK Governments. She is Vice-Chairman of UN ITU Metaverse Working Group and Co-chairman on CitiVerse TaskGroup. She sits on the Advisory Council of Centre for Science Futures at the International Science Council, advising how AI will impact the global innovation ecosystem.

Andreas Schleicher is Director for Education and Skills at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). He initiated and oversees the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and other international instruments that have created a global platform for policy-makers, researchers and educators across nations and cultures to innovate and transform educational policies and practices.

He has worked for over 20 years with ministers and education leaders around the world to improve quality and equity in education.

Andreas is the recipient of numerous honours and awards, including the “Theodor Heuss” prize, awarded in the name of the first president of the Federal Republic of Germany for “exemplary democratic engagement”. He holds an honorary Professorship at the University of Heidelberg.

Diane Ty is the Managing Director of the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging, advancing change at the intersection of healthy longevity and financial security. She is a senior advisor at Georgetown University’s Business for Impact at the McDonough School of Business. Ty has held executive-level positions at AARP, AARP Services, Inc., Save the Children, and American Express Company. Ty earned her undergraduate degree from Duke University and a joint MBA (Wharton School)/MA from the University of Pennsylvania. She is on the board of Capital Caring Health and a gubernatorial appointee to the Maryland State Commission on Aging.

Natasha Ridge is the founding Executive Director of the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research. Prior to this appointment, she was the Acting Director of Research at the Dubai School of Government. Natasha has over 20 years of experience working in the international education sector including in Singapore and Australia. She holds a Doctorate of Education in International Education Policy from Columbia University, a Master’s in International and Community Development from Deakin University.

Natasha has more than 30 publications, including a book entitled Education and the Reverse Gender Divide in the Gulf States: Embracing the Global, Ignoring the Local and another entitled Philanthropy in Education: Diverse Perspectives and Global Trends.

In addition to being a founding Executive Board member and former President of the Gulf Comparative Education Society Natasha is also serves on several boards including the NORRAG Advisory Board, EduAlliance and the RAKEZ Academic Zone Board.

Professor Dr. Wendy M. Purcell is a global thought leader, a frequent keynote speaker at universities on sustainability and global change. Professor Dr. Wendy Purcell’s purpose is transforming lives through education and research.

She is currently a Professor at Rutgers University (2022-date), a Harvard University Academic Research Scholar (2016-date) and a Visiting Professor at University College London. Previously, Professor Dr. Purcell was the President of Plymouth university (2007-2015), one of the top 1% of the world’s universities, and the #1 ‘green’ university.

Professor Dr. Purcell is a governing Board Member of EELISA European University, and a Member of the American Association of Universities and Colleges. Professor Dr. Purcell was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Medal for Excellence in Higher Education by Her Majesty the Queen. Professor Dr. Purcell is also an author, with her latest book being ‘The Bloomsbury Handbook of Sustainability in Higher Education’; and having been the series editor of 17-books on ‘Higher Education and the Sustainable Development Goals’. She has also published 100+ scholarly research papers.

Assoc. Prof. Yeo Li Pheow helms the Institute for Adult Learning as its Executive Director since March 2023. Prior to that, Assoc Prof Yeo’s illustrious career with the Polytechnics in Singapore dated back to 1990 and he was the Principal & Chief Executive Officer of Republic Polytechnic for close to 15 years before joining IAL.

Assoc Prof Yeo is a Fellow of the Australian Society of CPAs and an Associate of The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (UK). Assoc. Prof. Yeo has a Bachelor of Economics from Macquarie University and a Masters in Business Administration from Institut Superieur de Gestion. He was conferred the award of Honorary Doctor [Dr. (h.c.)] of the James Cook University in 2018 in recognition of his exceptional services.

Edward Paice is Director of Africa Research Institute, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a member of the World Economic Forum’s Expert Network. A former History Scholar and Visiting Fellow at Cambridge University, he is the author of a number of critically acclaimed books including ‘Youthquake – Why African Demography Matters’ and ‘’Tip & Run’ – The Untold Tragedy of the First World War in Africa’.

Justina Nixon-Saintil drives the initiatives that enables IBM and its employees to transform their altruism into reality. Under Justina’s leadership, IBM is committed to skill 30 million people worldwide by 2030, creating opportunities for underrepresented communities through IBM SkillsBuild. Justina also serves as IBM’s Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) focal point and launched IBM’s Sustainability Accelerator to support communities especially vulnerable to climate change.

Dr. Muhammad is recognized as one of the field’s leading experts in the areas of school culture and Professional Learning Communities at Work (PLC). Dr. Muhammad was recognized by the Global Gurus organization as one of the 30 Most Influential Educational Thought Leaders in the world in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Dr. Muhammad is a best-selling author. He is the author of the books The Way Forward: PLC at Work and the Bright Future of Education (2024), Learning By Doing: A Handbook for Professional Learning Communities at Work, 4^th Edition (2024), Revisiting Professional Learning Communities at Work, 2^nd Edition (2021) and several others.

Anthony Muhammad is an author and international thought leader. He currently serves as the CEO of New Frontier 21 Consulting. He served as a public school practitioner for nearly twenty years. He also serves as an Associate Professor of School Culture and Leadership at Academica University of Applied Sciences in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Dr. Muhammad is recognized as one of the field’s leading experts in the areas of school culture and Professional Learning Communities at Work (PLC). Dr. Muhammad was recognized by the Global Gurus organization as one of the 30 Most Influential Educational Thought Leaders in the world in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Dr. Muhammad is a best-selling author. He is the author of the books The Way Forward: PLC at Work and the Bright Future of Education (2024), Learning By Doing: A Handbook for Professional Learning Communities at Work, 4^th Edition (2024), Revisiting Professional Learning Communities at Work, 2^nd Edition (2021) and several others.

Dr. Laura Luelsdorf leads Egon Zehnder’s Middle East Public & Social Sector Practice and is an active member of its Healthcare Practice. She globally co-leads the Education topic for the firm. Her experience covers executive search, leadership assessments, individual and team development or culture change.

Before joining Egon Zehnder, Laura worked for 11 years for the Boston Consulting Group in the Middle East. Earlier, Laura gained experience working for international organizations, such as NATO and the United Nations. Laura earned a PhD and MA in International Cultural & Business Studies from Passau University and attended Harvard University as an undergraduate.

Dr. Sangheon Lee is the Director of the Employment, Job Creation and Livelihoods Department (EMPLOYMENT), which leads the ILO’s action for promoting full and productive employment by developing integrated employment, development, and skills policies. He is currently leading the ILO’s work in monitoring the labour market impacts of multiple crises (ILO Monitor on the World of Work).

Prior to becoming the Director of Employment, he was the Special Adviser to the Deputy Director-General for Policy on Economic and Social Issues (2014-18), and an acting director for Research Department (2017-18).

Dr. Lee has written extensively on economic, employment and labour issues, including articles in academic journals, as well as editing volumes under the global research project of Regulating for Decent Work (Palgrave Macmillan) and other research projects. He is also one of the main authors of ILO flagship reports such as the Global Wage Report and the World Employment and Social Outlook. He co-authored Working Time around the World (2007 Routledge).

Elaine has over 25 years’ experience in strategic human resources; leading people and culture solutions in global, FTSE100 and entrepreneurial scale-up businesses in Europe and the US. She has held Executive HR roles at British Airways, IHG and The Collective. As Chief People Officer EMEA at Ogilvy she leads a people first strategy to make Ogilvy the employer of choice in the marketing industry and the best place for creatively driven people to grow their careers.

She holds an MBA, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personal Development (CIPD) and a Mentor for the CIPD Aspiring HR Director Mentoring programme.

Born in Morocco and now an immigrant in the USA, Soulaima Gourani has transformed challenging early experiences, including dropping out in 7th grade and living in foster care, into a remarkable journey of success. Her path has led her through significant roles in technology at corporations such as Maersk Data and Hewlett-Packard. She holds an MBA from Copenhagen Business School and has completed executive training at prestigious institutions including Harvard, Yale, Cambridge, Wharton, ISB, INCAE, and NTU, among others. As a bestselling author, international speaker, and VC-backed entrepreneur in Silicon Valley, Soulaima is inspiring many with her resilience and determination.

Dr. Allan E. Goodman is the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of International Education. Previously, he was Executive Dean of the School of Foreign Service and Professor at Georgetown University. He is the author of books on international affairs published by Harvard, Princeton and Yale University presses. Dr. Goodman served as Presidential Briefing Coordinator for the Director of Central Intelligence in the Carter Administration. He has a Ph.D. in Government from Harvard, an M.P.A. from the John F. Kennedy School of Government and a B.S. from Northwestern University.

Luis García de Brigard is Founder and Managing Partner of Appian Education Ventures, an international investment firm that specializes in education. He previously was the founding CEO for the Americas at Inspired Education, a leading global K-12 group. He also served as Deputy Minister of Education of Colombia where he led a widely recognized educational reform effort. 

He serves as board member and advisor for international organizations including Harvard University’s Global Education Innovation Initiative, Teach For All, and the Harvard School of Education’s Dean’s Leadership Council. He sits at the Judging Academy for the Global Teacher Prize and the World’s Best School Prizes. Mr. García de Brigard holds a Master of Education Policy from Harvard University, and an MBA from MIT.

With over 15 years of experience in the consulting and corporate sectors, Olivier has led and supported several HR transformations, digital transformations, workplace transformations and employee experience initiatives at global companies such as Novartis, BP, Shell and Rolls-Royce, where he developed and implemented hybrid working models, fostered communities of practice, and enabled breakthrough thinking.

He is also a sought-after keynote speaker, panellist, and facilitator on topics such as HR innovation, artificial intelligence, and metaverse. In addition, he is an entrepreneur and philanthropist who enjoys building teams and transformational programs from non-profit to Fortune 500 enterprises.

Recognised as the UK’s most influential disabled person and the BBC’s 100 Women Laureate of 2020, Dr Shani Dhanda sparks transformative change as a consultant, collaborating with businesses and brands to embrace inclusion and accessibility. Her expertise in disability inclusion has had a profound global impact, collectively reaching over 1.5 million employees worldwide.

Her intersectional activism serves as a catalyst for challenging social inequality worldwide through entrepreneurial ventures and founding initiatives like Diversability, the Asian Woman Festival, and the Asian Disability Network.

Beyond her TV presence and eight executive and five ambassadorial roles, Shani’s impact extends to over 250 conferences worldwide, sharing stages with luminaries such as Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton. Her work as a changemaker has earned her over twenty-five honours and awards.

Peter is the CEO of the CIPD, the professional body for HR and People Development. Since January 2019, he has been co-chair of The Flexible Working Task Force, a partnership across government departments, business groups, trade unions and charities, to increase the uptake of flexible working. He is also Chair of Engage for Success and the What Works Centre for Wellbeing.

He is a Fellow of the CIPD, a Fellow of AHRI (the Australian HR Institute), the Royal Society of Arts, and the Academy of Social Sciences. He’s also a Companion of the Institute of Leadership and Management, the Chartered Management Institute, and the British Academy of Management. He holds honorary doctorates from Bath University, Kingston University and Birmingham City University, and is a Visiting Professor at Aston University.

Gregory Case is Chief Executive Officer of Aon plc, a leading global professional services firm providing a broad range of risk, retirement, and health solutions. He is also a member of the company’s Board of Directors.

Before joining Aon, he served on the governing Shareholders’ Council at McKinsey & Company and led their Global Insurance and Financial Services Practice. Prior to McKinsey, he worked for the investment banking firm of Piper, Jaffray and Hopwood. 

Case holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and graduated summa cum laude from Kansas State University. Case was named by the Harvard Business Review as one of the top 100 best performing CEOs in the world in 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2014.

Anderson Tan is a financing facilitator focusing on green and sustainable industrialisation in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Philippines. Anderson is also a serial entrepreneur, serial angel, and corporate investor, as well as a Practising Management Consultant equipped with a Master of Arts in Lifelong Learning, and Master of Engineering. Owning several SkillsFuture Singapore Registered Training Organisations, Anderson has been the key driver in the internationalisation of the Singapore skills system, being the Lead Consultant in developing the Philippine Skills Framework (PSF). He is also supporting the development of the start-up ecosystem in Vietnam.

Vivek Sharma helps build profitable businesses through AI & Data, with executive experience spanning CEO & Co-Founder of InStride, SVP of eCommerce & Digital Guest Experience at Disney, GM of Yahoo Mail & Search, and Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company. He serves on the Board of Directors of Kaiser Permanente and JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ: JBLU), is the author of two books – “C-SPARK” and “WIREFRAMED”, and is an Adjunct Professor of Data Science at University of Southern California. Currently based in Los Angeles, Vivek has a Bachelor of Technology from IIT Delhi and an MBA from INSEAD, France.

Jonathan Ortmans is the founder and president of the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), an organization with programs reaching 200 nations to support entrepreneurs and foster healthier entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Prior to GEN, Ortmans trained as an economist, worked on Capitol Hill in Washington, and served as CEO of a healthcare and trade policy thinktank. His career also includes two successful startup exits.

Ortmans oversees GEN’s grantmaking and has developed operations in research, policy, ecosystem building, and programs directly supporting entrepreneurs and investors. Ortmans also chairs the Global Entrepreneurship Congress and serves on the boards of dozens of entrepreneurial support organizations worldwide.

Ben founded Minerva in 2011 with the goal of nurturing critical wisdom for the sake of the world through a systematic and evidence-based approach to learning. He built Minerva University, ranked as the most innovative university in the world, and started Minerva Project to help launch new universities or assist existing ones in transforming their education.

Prior to Minerva, Nelson spent 10 years at Snapfish, where he helped build the company from startup to the world’s largest personal publishing service. Serving as CEO from 2005 through 2010, Nelson began his tenure at Snapfish by leading the company’s sale to Hewlett Packard for $300 million.

Nelson holds a B.S. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

Jeff Maggioncalda joined Coursera as CEO in June 2017 and since then helped the company grow to over 136 million learners and 7,000+ institutions, served by high-quality learning content from 300+ of the world’s top universities and industry educators. He previously served for 18 years as the founding CEO at Financial Engines Inc, a company co-founded by economist and Nobel Prize winner William Sharpe. Financial Engines grew rapidly under Jeff’s leadership, providing high-quality online investment advice that has helped millions of people save and prepare for retirement. Jeff has also worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company and Cornerstone Research and serves as a director of SVB Financial Group. He holds an M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and English from Stanford University.

Wing On LEE is Professor, Senior Consultant and former Executive Director of the Institute for Adult Learning, Singapore University of Social Sciences. He was formerly Professor and Dean of Education Research at National Institute of Education, Singapore. He past appointments included Vice President of Open University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) respectively; Dean of Foundations in Education and Head of three Departments at HKIEd; Associate Dean of Education at University of Hong Kong; and full Professor in Education at the University of Sydney. He was former President of the World Council of Comparative Education Societies (WCCES). In 2022, he was conferred membership of the Hall of Fame by the US International Association of Adult and Continuing Education hosted by Oklahoma University and Education Award by Beijing Normal University. His earlier awards included Medal of Honours by the Hong Kong Government and Soka Gakkai International Award in Hong Kong, and Education Innovation Award in China. Lee is a renowned scholar and prolific writer, having published 38 books and 200 articles/book chapters. His recent publications in 2023 include Springer Third International Handbook of Lifelong Learning (Co-Editor), Springer International Handbook on Educational Development in the Asia-Pacific (Lead Editor), and Making Employee-driven Innovation Achievable (Routledge, co-author).

Wendy Kopp is CEO and Co-founder of Teach For All, a global network of organizations in 62 countries working to develop collective leadership to ensure all children can fulfil their potential. Prior to launching Teach For All in 2007, Wendy founded and led Teach For America – which has proven to be an unparalleled source of long-term leadership for expanding opportunity for children in the United States – for 24 years. Wendy led the development of Teach For All to be responsive to the initiative of social entrepreneurs around the world who were determined to adapt this approach in their own countries.

 

Dr. Naoko Ishii joined the University of Tokyo in 2020 as a professor and executive vice president. She is the founding director of the Center for Global Commons, aiming to catalyze systems change for sustainable development within planetary boundaries. Before joining UTokyo, she was CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) from 2012 to 2020, developing the GEF2020 strategy focused on transforming key economic systems. Her earlier roles include Deputy Vice Minister of Finance in Japan’s Ministry of Finance, World Bank country director for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, and IMF economist for Kenya, Uganda, and Kyrgyz Republic.