Category: Invited guests

Independent researcher specialized in the geopolitics and international markets of hydrogen. After creating the world’s first postgraduate course dedicated to the geopolitics of hydrogen back in 2019, he is currently an adjunct lecturer at Sciences Po Paris, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), IFP School, and part of the faculty of S&P Global Commodity Insights’ World Hydrogen Leaders network. Concurrently, Mikaa also coordinates the Hydrogen Task Force of MEDEF International (France’s leading private international business network), serves as special advisor to Hy24 (the world’s leading pure-player hydrogen investment fund), senior advisor to Hyvolution (the world’s largest hydrogen B2B/B2C trade show and exhibition), and chairs the Steering Committee of CertifHy (Europe’s first RFNBO certification mechanism). Formerly a political risk analyst, chamber of commerce administrator, expert-evaluator to the European Commission, and secretary-general of a university chair, Mikaa has spent over a decade working on hydrogen-energy-climate challenges, at the intersection of economic diplomacy, space, security, regulation, innovation, industrial policy, electoral discourse, and critical gender studies, with a neo-institutionalist and comparative approach. Named “Green Hydrogen Ambassador” by the International Association for Hydrogen Energy (IAHE) and lead researcher of the “Hydrogen Policy Radar” program, Mikaa has conducted nearly 80 fieldtrips since 2021 across five continents to evaluate the implementation and promotion of national hydrogen strategies. In 2024, he has launched a new educational hydrogen awareness workshop called « The Hydrogen Mosaic » already deployed in France, Belgium, Morocco and Canada. His forthcoming book, « Quo Vadis, Clean Hydrogen? », is set for release in 12 languages starting January 30, 2025.

Senior AI Advisor for the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Lee Tiedrich is a widely recognized leader in artificial intelligence, data, and emerging technologies. She is also a member of both the OECD and Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) AI expert groups and co-chairs both the GPAI Responsible AI Strategy for the Environment (RAISE) committee and the GPAI Intellectual Property Advisory Committee. She’s also a member of the OECD Expert Group on AI, Data, and Privacy, and a Senior Adviser for the International Scientific Report on Advanced AI Safety, funded by the UK government following the Bletchley Park Summit and led by Yoshua Bengio. The European Union’s newly established AI Office has selected her to serve in the working group developing AI Codes of Practice.
With a degree in electrical engineering and over 30 years of legal experience, Lee has a long career helping organizations navigate uncertainty to achieve their objectives. She was a partner at the global law firm Covington & Burling LLP, where she led the firm’s global and multi-disciplinary AI Initiative and counselled organizations on a broad range of data and technology matters, including digital transformation, AI and data governance, policy, intellectual property, regulatory, transactions, and other corporate matters. Lee holds three appointments at Duke University, including Distinguished Faculty Fellow in Law and Responsible Technology, Executive in Residence, and Responsible Technology Scholar in AI Health.
Lee speaks frequently to government leaders and at leading institutions, such as the Council on Foreign Relations, the Federal Judicial Center, the National Judicial College, the OECD, COP-27, GPAI, WIPO, the UN AI High Level Advisory Board, UNESCO, and at leading universities. She has
held leadership positions with the American Bar Association and has served as a peer reviewer for Oxford University Press. She has been selected for Marquis’ Who’s Who, CIOLook’s 10 Best Leaders of the AI Age – Shaping a New Technological Era – 2024, and CIO Business World’s 10 Most Visionary Women Leaders in AI Creating Global Impact, 2024. She received a Duke Women Innovators Award in 2023.
Lee is a member of the CEIMIA Board of Directors and the Editorial Board of the Journal for AI Law and Regulation and has several publications. Lee served on the Biden Campaign Policy Committee and is registered to practice before the US Patent and Trademark Office. She
graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and earned a B.S.E. in electrical engineering from Duke University, with both Phi Beta Kappa and Tau Beta Pi honors. Prior to joining the Duke faculty, she chaired the Strategy Committee of the Duke Engineering School Board of Visitors and was an adjunct faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Seasoned AI expert, serial entrepreneur, and CEO and founder of Wand AI, with a strong record as a co-founder of several other successful ventures. As an early pioneer in artificial intelligence, he has spearheaded the development of large-scale systems across diverse sectors, including defense, intelligence, finance, and technology.
Rotem is also a guest lecturer at UC Berkeley and serves on the advisory boards of global companies.

Social entrepreneur and executive with extensive experience in economic development, innovation, and nonprofit leadership. Over the past decade, Faisal has driven large-scale change and fostered growth in the Middle East and beyond. As the founder of Ideas Beyond Borders, he has built the organization into a leading platform for advancing free market thought, innovation, and policy reform in the Arab world, particularly in Iraq. Al Mutar has collaborated with governments, intergovernmental organizations, and private-sector stakeholders to promote growth and entrepreneurship. His work focuses on identifying transformative opportunities in diverse societies and implementing actionable policies to create jobs, reduce bureaucracy, and empower businesses with the tools necessary to grow. A sought-after speaker and thought leader, Faisal has delivered talks on global platforms, including TED, and engaged with audiences across the U.S. and the Middle East. His expertise spans innovation, counter-extremism, and geopolitical stability. He also supports startups and aspiring leaders, helping empower the next generation of changemakers. 

UAE Assistant Foreign Minister for Advanced Science and Technology. In this capacity, H.E. represents the Emirates on the global stage in the fields of advanced science, technology, and space. In June 2022, he was appointed chair of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. Previously, Omran Sharaf served as the Project Director for the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in Dubai. He led the development, launch, and operation of the Hope probe, which successfully reached Mars’s orbit on February 9, 2021. Omran played a crucial role in transitioning MBRSC from focusing on Earth observation satellites to interplanetary exploration capabilities. An experienced electronics and systems engineer trained in the US and South Korea, Omran Sharaf previously developed the Command & Data Handling Subsystem (C&DH) for the DubaiSat-1 satellite and led the C&DH and payload electronics subsystems for DubaiSat-2. Prior to his work on the Emirates Mars Mission, Omran was the Director of the Programs Management Department at MBRSC, overseeing new strategic programs and ensuring the success of various space missions. Omran holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Virginia (2005) and a Master’s in Science and Technology Policy from KAIST, South Korea (2013).

Chairman of the MENA Hydrogen Alliance. Frank Wouters has been leading renewable energy projects, transactions, and technology development for more than 30 years and played a leading role in the development of renewable energy projects all around the world. He served as Deputy Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) from 2012 to 2014. He has served on the board of energy companies in Europe, Asia, the US and Africa and currently serves as Chairman of the MENA Hydrogen Alliance and of the Dii Advisory Board (both based in Dubai), Director of the EU Med-GEM Network (Brussels), Fellow of the Payne Institute based in the Colorado School of Mines (Denver), Chairman of the Benelux Business Council Abu Dhabi and of the HyET Group Advisory Board (The Netherlands), Senior Advisor to the Chairman at Welspun New Energy Ltd (Mumbai), and Non-Executive Board Director of Gore Street Capital (London). Frank Wouters has authored several books on renewable energy and green hydrogen, and lives in Abu Dhabi. He has a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Delft University.

Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Geoeconomics (IOG) and the Asia Pacific Initiative (API), based in the International House of Japan. He focuses on economic and health security, sanctions, international conflicts, and Japan’s foreign policy. From 2018 to 2020, Mr. Sagara served as Assistant Director of the Second Northeast Asia Division (North Korea desk) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. From 2015 to 2018, he served in the Guidance and Learning Unit within the Policy and Mediation Division of the United Nations Department of Political Affairs in New York, where he analyzed and disseminated best practices and lessons learned from UN preventive diplomacy and political engagements. From 2013 to 2015, he served in the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Sudan, based in Khartoum. He also worked at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Headquarters and at DeNA, a Japanese provider of mobile portal and e-commerce websites. Mr. Sagara has been widely published and spoke on public policy. He co-authored a report, “The Independent Investigation Commission on the Japanese Government’s Response to COVID-19: Report on Best Practices and Lessons Learned” (Discover 21, 2021).

Associate Director at the Boston Consulting Group. Sanjay Nawandhar leads the BCG Center for Public Economics (CPE) and has over a decade of experience advising government ministries, investment agencies, and leading public and private sector organizations on economic transformation, policy design, and strategic planning. His expertise spans across the design of strategies to drive economic diversification and sustainable growth, economic modeling, and impact assessment. An expert on economic policy and localization, Sanjay has led multiple national-level initiatives, including the development of comprehensive trade strategies, investment frameworks, and government spending prioritization programs. He specializes in translating complex economic data into actionable insights, fostering alignment with long-term developmental goals. Sanjay is a gold medalist Chartered Accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance. He was honored as one of the “40 Under 40 Indian CA Business Leaders” by his alma mater, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, in partnership with CNBC.

Chief of Staff to the Capgemini Group CEO since 2022. Formerly an advisor on industrial policy at the French Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, he has previously held various senior positions at the Government Shareholding Agency and the Budget Directorate. Thibaud graduated from Ecole Polytechnique, Mines Paris and Sciences Po. He is a lecturer in industrial policy at Sciences Po and is also a board member of the French-Asia Foundation and a member of the editorial board of the Terra Nova think tank.

Head of direct investments at the UAE Sovereign Wealth Fund ($100 billion AuM), Global Tech and Digital Infrastructure Investor. With over three decades of transformative experience in private equity and corporate development, he has overseen 100 investments totaling $24 billion across major tech hubs worldwide, establishing himself as a leading figure in advanced technology investments. Championing the transformative power of technology to drive economic growth and social progress, he remains committed to innovative and sustainable solutions addressing global challenges. His career is distinguished by trailblazing contributions that have shaped our current digital ecosystem such as mobile networks as a co-founder of Bouygues Telecom (1995); telecoms, Internet, digital TV as a PE investor at Apax Partners (1998); mobile broadband as a founder of Qualcomm Ventures Europe (2006); cloud computing, virtualization and IoT as the leader of Cisco Investment International and its €3-billion European deep tech strategy (2012-2016). His investments in 5G, Cloud, AI, Cybersecurity, New Space and Quantum have significantly propelled the growth of numerous technology leaders. Graduated from Sorbonne University (MBA) and ECE Paris (Engineering), Mr. Rombaut has taught private-equity for two decades, exemplifying his commitment to knowledge-sharing.

Founder and Chairwoman of Swift Property Holdings (Dubai-based REIT and prop tech), Founder and CEO of Blue Bridge (expert in generative AI adoption at scale and digital agents). Sylvie Ouziel is a board member of Covivio (REIT managing €25+bn assets) and Technion University. She has a track record of building and growing successful global technology-centric businesses. As CEO of Shared Platform for Publicis, the advertising global leader, she was notably in charge of AI and relationships with technology partners. Previously, based in Singapore, Sylvie was International President (for the world except China) of Envision, the “Net Zero thanks to technology” champion (AIoT, wind turbine and EV batteries). She was for eight years global CEO of Allianz Assistance (based in Singapore), the B2B2C travel, automotive, home and digital service leader and chairwoman of Allianz Managed Operations and Services (based in Munich). She has been global COO of Accenture Management Consulting where she spent twenty years helping clients transform and grow in the pharmaceutical, automotive and construction industries, and served in the board of M6 / RTL (TV and radio broadcasting) and Aperam, during IPO time. Sylvie graduated from Ecole Centrale Paris and holds an Accenture-sponsored Kellogg’s Northwestern Executive MBA.

Business strategist with extensive expertise in international market expansion, cross-cultural partnerships, and strategic business development. Serving as the Deputy Secretary General of the Malaysian Business Council UAE, she actively fosters collaborations between ASEAN and Middle Eastern enterprises to drive regional growth. As co-founder of IACS International, Faten leads high-impact consultancy projects across diverse industries, including telecommunications, finance, healthcare, and renewable energy. Currently pursuing an MBA in Energy Management at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS and a graduate of Harvard University’s Energy Within Environmental Constraints course, she combines rigorous academic training with hands-on expertise in sustainable business practices. Faten is dedicated to promoting leadership development and diversity, particularly within male-dominated sectors, through impactful empowerment initiatives.

Economist and policy analyst in the Artificial Intelligence and Digital Emerging Technologies division of the OECD. Her work focuses on analysing national AI strategies, policies, and regulatory approaches, as well as coordinating AI country reviews. Lucia Russo also leads the development of a composite measurement framework for AI. Before joining the OECD, Lucia served as an economist in the Digital Economy and Skills Unit at the European Commission’s Directorate General CONNECT, where she designed digital skills policies and led the evaluation of EU digital research programmes. Lucia holds a Master’s degree in Development Economics and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Roma Tre.

COO & CFO for a prominent investment office in Dubai investing across all different asset classes. Previously, Mr Vijayakumar served as COO & CFO for Miras Investments, an intergenerational institutional size family office managing a multi asset portfolio for nearly five years. Mr Vijayakumar not only specialises in LP investing in both public & private markets but also specialises in building investment management infrastructure across legal, operations, finance, treasury, IT and Human capital. Mr Vijayakumar built his family office wealth management career with Northern Trust in the Global Family Office Group in London advising UHNW and family offices and with Royal Bank of Canada in the Channel Islands and London. Mr Vijayakumar is a Fellow member of CPA Australia, Qualified TEP from Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners and a Qualified Chartered Accountant. Mr Vijayakumar also obtained family office certifications from Harvard business school and Columbia business school. Mr Vijayakumar is a frequent speaker in Industry events and is often seen as the thought leader in the family office segment.

Swiss public health expert and researcher known for his work on tobacco control and smoking cessation. He earned a master’s degrees in political science and in public health in 1995 and a doctorate in political science in 1996. An honorary professor at the University of Geneva, he has conducted research for over 30 years on smoking prevention and cessation, nicotine addiction, and the impact of various public health policies on smoking behavior. His studies often focus on harm reduction strategies, particularly in relation to e-cigarettes and other nicotine and tobacco products. His work is widely cited and has contributed significantly to the understanding of smoking behavior and to the development of effective tobacco control policies. It has made him a prominent figure in tobacco research and policy debate.

Acclaimed South African economist and entrepreneur. Between 2018 and 2023, she served the Presidency as full-time economic advisor to President Cyril Ramaphosa, driving the administration’s investment and reform agenda. Trudi also served as South Africa’s G20 sherpa, representing the President in the negotiations ahead of Leaders’ summits and meetings. Trudi currently serves as a board member of JSE-listed Spar Group and chairs the Social, Ethics and Sustainability committee. Trudi’s previous roles include being Deputy Commissioner of the Competition Commission of South Africa, and management consulting and corporate roles at Deloitte, Genesis Analytics and AngloGold Ashanti. Trudi holds an MBA and an MSc in Development Economics from Oxford University, where she studied as a Rhodes Scholar. From the University of Witwatersrand, she holds an MCom in Economics, an honours degree in economics and a BCom in Law and Economics. A former league debater, Trudi represented Wits at two World Universities Debating Championships (Manila 1999, Sydney 2000).

Regional Head of French Treasury’s units in the Arabian peninsula and economic counsellor at the French Embassy in Abu Dhabi since 2022. He was previously member of the office of the French Minister in charge of Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, Mr. Franck Riester (2020-2022). Mr. Chauvel was deputy head of the French macroeconomic policies unit (2016-2017), then portfolio manager at the Agence des Participations de l’Etat (APE) in charge of shareholdings in the energy and mining sectors (2017-2018), before joining the Kepler Cheuvreux Group as Group General Secretary, member of the Executive Committee.He is a former board member of Orano Mining, Orano Cycle and the Compagnie Nationale du Rhône. Mr. Chauvel started his career in equity derivatives trading, in Paris and Luxembourg. Jean-Baptiste Chauvel is a gradute from the Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC, Paris) and an alumnus of the Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA).

Managing Partner and co-founder of ALVEN, one of the largest and most active venture capital funds in digital technologies in Europe (software, artificial intelligence, fintech). The fund manages 1,8bn€ of capital, and has invested in 170 companies. ALVEN principally invests in Europe and the United States. Charles Letourneur started his career in M&A with LAZARD in New York, and then Paris. He was appointed Executive Director in 1999 and became member of the Executive Committee of EURAZEO. He graduated from Ecole Polytechnique, ENSAE and Science Po.

Managing Director of Eiffel Investment Group and SEO of Eiffel IME, established in Abu Dhabi. He led the development of the firm in France before setting up the office in Abu Dhabi in 2023. Eiffel is an independent asset manager focused on green and sustainable investments. With close to $10bn AUM, it operates globally and manages funds on behalf of major institutional investors. Alexis held previous positions in the insurance and asset management industry in Paris and London. He has been a Professor at HEC Paris and Université Paris Dauphine in philosophy and economy. He currently teaches in the philosophy department of Sorbonne Abu Dhabi. He is also the author of several books including La vocation de l’investisseur à la lumière de la Doctrine Sociale (collective work, 2022), and L’économie science barbare (2023). He graduated from HEC Paris and Sorbonne University.

Special Envoy of the French President for IMEC, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. He has been appointed by Emmanuel Macron in late November 2023. Previously, M. Mestrallet served as Executive Chairman of the French Agency for AlUla (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) cultural, heritage and tourism development in cooperation with the Kingdom from 2018 to 2023. Gérard Mestrallet is a prominent figure of the French private sector after acting more than 21 years as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GDF SUEZ (now ENGIE; CAC 40 index) after the merger between SUEZ and Gaz de France on July 2008. In 2015, he was appointed by the government Chairman of the Business dialogue of the COP 21 which has contributed to the final agreement of the climate conference. He has held various positions at the Treasury Department and at the Cabinet office of the Minister of Economy and Finance (J. Delors) at the beginning of his career, before joining Compagnie Financière de SUEZ in 1984. 

Professor at the RSCAS and adjunct professor at the School of Transnational Governance (European University Institute, Florence). Prof. Roy has been a Senior Researcher at the French National Center for Scientific Research (since 1985), professor at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (since 2003), and visiting professor at Berkeley University (2008/2009). He has a PhD in political sciences and a Master in Persian language and civilization (INALCO-1972). He is the author of, among other books, “The failure of political Islam” (Harvard University Press, 1994), “Globalized Islam” (Columbia University Press, 2004), “Holy Ignorance” (Hurst/ Oxford University Press, 2010), “Jihad and Death”, (Hurst/OUP 2017), “In search of the Lost Orient”, (Columbia UP, 2017), “The Crisis of Culture”, Hurst/ Oxford UP 2024.

Partner and member of the Executive Committee of the international law firm of Cleary Gottlieb, with over 35 years of experience in Latin America. His practice focuses on the energy and natural resources sectors, in which he has led a number of groundbreaking transactions. Mr. Lewis has been cited as “one of the best lawyers for corporate matters” in the region by Chambers, and named a Market Leader by IFLR and a Hall of Fame lawyer by The Legal 500. Mr. Lewis received a J.D. from Columbia Law School and a B.A. from the Williams College.

Head of research on Emerging countries and Global Geopolitics at Crédit Agricole Group’s Economic Research Department. She used to be head of the Master’s in finance and strategy, at Sciences Po Paris, where she is still teaching economics and country risk analysis. She was several times jury member for the National School of Administration. She has been expert for the European Commission and member of the London Club for the restructuring of Russian debt. She has conducted numerous research papers on geopolitical risk assessment in the financial sector. She is also an author and has published six novels.

Argentine transactional and regulatory lawyer with more than 20 years of experience in oil and gas, conventional and renewable energy, mining, and natural resources-related litigation and arbitration. He completed a Masters Degree in Energy Law and Policy in the United Kingdom (University of Dundee) as a Chevening Scholar. He founded the first and only Argentine Journal on Energy Law (RADEHM). He is a founding Partner of Martínez de Hoz & Rueda, the only Argentine law firm ranked number one at Chambers & Partners (Energy: Oil & Gas). Tomas has worked in the main energy projects of the past 15 years in Argentina (Vaca Muerta gas pipeline, Loma Campana shale oil upstream project, Trasandino oil pipeline, Pacifico gas pipeline, Cerros Colorados hydro project).

President Gas, Renewables & Power and member of the Executive Committee of TotalEnergies since 2021. In 2011, he became TotalEnergies E&P Qatar Managing Director and on April 1, 2014, the E&P Senior Vice President Middle East/North Africa and a Member of the Management Committee of the Exploration and Production segment. In 2008, Stéphane Michel was appointed TotalEnergies E&P Qatar JV Business Development Manager and in 2010 Managing Director of TotalEnergies E&P Libya. After serving as Energy Advisor to the French Finance Minister (2002-2004), Stéphane Michel joined the Group in 2005, working as Business Development Manager for TotalEnergies Downstream Asia, based in Singapore. A graduate of the Ecole Polytechnique (1994) and the Ecole des Mines in Paris (1997).