Category: Invited guests

Minister of Culture of the United Arab Emirates since February 2023. In this position, His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi is responsible for the strategic and policy direction of the UAE’s culture sectors. He leads the Ministry’s initiatives to enable a robust cultural and creative ecosystem in the country and ensure its sustainability and active contribution to the local economy. Helming multilateral engagements with the UAE’s global and regional partners on international platforms, His Excellency represents the country on high-level global fora related to culture and creativity and heritage preservation. His Excellency was the Permanent Delegate of the UAE to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization “UNESCO” where he contributed to highlighting the country’s efforts and success endeavors, in addition to strengthening relations with other permanent delegates and overseeing the implementation of many joint projects that aims to enhance human and cultural cooperation. He has previously served as the Assistant Undersecretary for Arts and Heritage at the Ministry of Culture, where he led the implementation of high-level projects on national identity, Arabic language, Islamic arts, theatre, literature, archaeology, film and architecture to name few. His Excellency holds a Bachelor of Science in Design Management from the American University of Sharjah, as well as a Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science & Policy from Columbia University and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from Paris Sorbonne University, Abu Dhabi/Paris.

Permanent Representative of the UAE to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Dr Nawal Al-Hosany also holds the position of Deputy Director General of the Emirates Diplomatic Academy (EDA), since October 2017, where she contributes to the realisation of the Academy’s mandate; to equip the UAE’s current and future diplomats with the relevant knowledge and multi-disciplinary skills to effectively serve their nation. Prior to this, she was Director of Sustainability at Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, and Director of Zayed Future Energy Prize, the UAE’s annual global awards for renewable energy and sustainability. Believing that women can play a leading role in responding to global sustainability and climate change challenges, she has been Programme Director of the UAE-led Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy (WiSER) initiative since its formation in 2015. Prior to assuming her current roles, Dr Al-Hosany held senior leadership positions with the General Headquarters of the Abu Dhabi Police, including Head of Design and Studies in the Engineering Department. In 2007, she became the first-ever female Deputy Director in the Abu Dhabi Police.

CEO of Al Zarooni Emirates Investments and Al Bidayer Holding. Dr. Adil Alzarooni is an Emirati leader of entrepreneurial teams and educator, committed to lifelong learning. With over two decades of experience in executive management, investments, sales, logistics, IT security and economic zone development, he has served in various leadership positions within UAE government entities as well as family-owned businesses. He has bolstered his portfolio with directorship positions in diverse sectors including healthcare, education, financial services, logistics, media, technology, food and beverage, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and real estate. Currently, he operates two family offices and a venture studio. Dr. Adil holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the Etisalat College of Engineering, a master’s in business administration from American University of Sharjah and a PhD in family businesses and business systems from the British University in Dubai. He is a passionate educator and an inspiring public speaker in the fields of economic zone development and sustainability of family businesses. He is the co-author of Economic Zones: The Essentials and the author of Sustaining Family Businesses: The Essentials and The Red Island: The Gatekeeper.

COO of Liquid.AI. Felix Naser is an experienced leader in the fields of technology and automotive software, currently serving as COO at Liquid AI. He has led international teams in academia, startups, and corporations, co-creating intelligent software and mobility solutions. Felix is the co-founder of Venti Technologies, an autonomous vehicle startup. He has also worked as a Global Software Project Lead at BMW Group. In addition to his role at Liquid AI, Felix has been an Angel Investor at Games of Tomorrow GmbH, a Product & Leadership Team member at Pallon, and Founder & Managing Director at SEN GmbH. Forbes 30 Under 30 lister, He holds a master’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Republic of Türkiye, with accreditation to the Republic of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and the Republic of Sudan. Former Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Sultanate of Oman, the Republic of Yemen, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Arabic Republic of Egypt. He was also accredited to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and to the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as Representative of Georgia to the Organization of Islamic Corporation (OIC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Prior to that, he was Head of State Protocol to the President of Georgia and State Advisor on Foreign Relations to the State Council of Georgia. He is a member of the International Oriental Numismatic Society (ONS) and The British Society for Middle Eastern Studies. Fluent in English, Russian, Turkish, and Persian, he has authored two books and over 30 publications. He holds a Diploma with Honors in Economic and Social Geography from Tbilisi State University and studied at Cairo University.

Minister Plenipotentiary Head of the Media and Communication Center at the Foreign Ministry of Oman. Mr. Al Balushi previously held several positions at the Ministry of Information, the latest being Media Attaché at the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in the United States of America. With a Master’s degree in International Communications (Political and Crisis Management) he earned in the United Kingdom, Mr. Al Balushi specializes in crisis and emergency management and reputation management. He also worked at the Public Authority for Electricity and Water and the Ministry of Housing.

COO and Executive Vice President of Raban Al-Safina Group (RAS Group). Mr. Saihood’s strategic leadership has been pivotal in expanding the group into a conglomerate comprising 28 companies across diverse industries, including oil & gas, power production, education, banking and financial services, security services, construction and turn-key solutions, consultancies, IT infrastructure and AI solutions, real estate development, and industrial facilities. Guided by a deep understanding of Iraq’s developmental priorities, Mr. Saihood has steered RAS Group’s operations towards bolstering key sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and technology. Under his stewardship, RAS Group has emerged as a driving force behind Iraq’s industrial advancement, aligning its endeavors with the nation’s vision for economic growth and prosperity. As the COO, he has been guiding the operations of several industrial facilities of the group, including a leading manufacturing factory for power distribution substations and components under the license of Siemens Energy, a state-of-the-art heavy engineering fabrication workshop, and a gas turbine capital parts repair-shop in partnership with EthosEnergy.

Senior Vice President of Raban Al-Safina (Group), a pioneering private sector entity driving energy transition in Iraq. In this capacity, Mr. Saihood has played a pivotal role to continuously spearhead strategic projects that not only bolster the nation’s economy but also contribute to its overall development. Through substantial investments with added-value propositions to clients, he has propelled the group to the forefront of Iraq’s energy revolution. In the sphere of energy generation, Mr. Saihood has overseen two of the country’s most significant infrastructure projects; the Maisan Combined Cycle Power Plant, and the Amara Combined Cycle Power Plant. His leadership in the oil and gas sector has included groundbreaking initiatives such as the execution of two complex projects in the gas sector: the Buzurgan Pipeline Project and the Bin Umar Development Project. These strategic endeavors not only reduce Iraq’s dependency on neighboring countries for the supply of gas fuel, but also yields sustainable and positive environmental outcomes.

Diplomatic Advisor to the French President Special Envoy for IMEC. Prior to her diplomatic career, Ambre Eyoum worked in the energy industry for 10 years at TotalEnergies in Paris, at various positions related to energy diplomacy, strategy and sustainability. She became a senior civil servant after passing by the ENA (Ecole nationale d’administration) in 2022-2023 (promotion Guillaume Apollinaire). During her curriculum she was posted at the Embassy of France in the U.S.A in Washington, where she was acting as energy advisor at the chancery. In November 2023, as a diplomat, she integrated the G7-G20 summits Taskforce at the Ministry of Europe and Foreign affairs in Paris. Her scope covers climate, energy and economic diplomacy. Since early 2024 she has been in charge of coordinating the inception phase of the French IMEEC-project team (India-Middle East-Economic corridor) in support of the French President Special Envoy, Mr. Gérard Mestrallet, before becoming his Special and Diplomatic Advisor. Ambre Eyoum is a graduate from Sciences Po Bordeaux, she holds a Master’s degree in Geo-economics. She was a Young Leader of the World petroleum Council and of the “Global Governance Futures 2030” project led by the German think tank GPPi.

Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar since August 2022. Amb. Al Mansour started her diplomatic career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2004. Previously she held various positions at Embassies of the Republic of Slovenia in Tehran, Prague and Cairo, as well as at the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Slovenia to the EU in Brussels. Between 2019 and 2022 she was Head of Department for Africa and the Middle East at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, and held an additional (honorary) role as Coordinator for Equal Opportunities at the Ministry.

Associate researcher at Ifri since June 2010. He holds a doctorate in geography from the Institut Français de Géopolitique (Université Paris 8), and is also head of investigations at Africa Intelligence. He teaches the geopolitics of oil and gas in Africa, the comparative African policies of the P5 members and relations between Africa and the Gulf at the Executive Masters programs of HEC and Sciences Po Paris. He also lectures at the Diplomatic Academy of the Netherlands (Clingendael).

Chief Investment Officer of the Othaim Family Office. Jamil Hallak is a distinguished leader in global capital markets, with over 20 years of experience driving financial innovation and strategy at top institutions in Paris and London. His career began in Global Rates and Credit trading and portfolio management, where he quickly became known for his expertise in High Yield and Emerging Markets. Jamil’s ability to devise financing solutions during critical financial crises solidified his reputation in the industry. In 2009, Jamil led the Middle East and Africa trading business during the early stages of MENA’s debt capital markets growth. His leadership played a crucial role in navigating challenges such as the Arab Spring, the Dubai financial crisis, and various high-profile restructurings. Throughout his career, Jamil has held senior roles at prestigious financial institutions, including Société Générale, BNP Paribas, Standard Chartered, Deutsche Bank, and Credit Suisse. His strategic insights and leadership have significantly influenced the financial landscape at these organizations. In 2017, Jamil took on the role of Head of Investments at Riyad Bank during its transformation journey, aligned with the government’s ambition. He was key in recruiting talent, managing risk, developing new areas of expertise, and collaborating on strategic initiatives, earning him a prominent reputation within the Kingdom. Since 2020, Jamil has served as the Chief Investment Officer of the Othaim Family Office, where he continues to apply his deep expertise in capital markets to drive financial success and innovation. His career reflects a blend of leadership, financial acumen, and a commitment to navigating complex market environments.

Vice President of Côte d’Ivoire. Prior to this, he served as the Governor of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), following his appointment by the Heads of State of the West African Monetary Union. As BCEAO Governor, he chaired several important entities, including the BCEAO’s Board of Directors, the Monetary Policy Committee, and the Financial Stability Committee of the West African Monetary Union. He was at the same time an active member of the Board of Directors of the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI). Prior to that, he held various positions in the Ivorian public administration, including Director of the Prime Minister’s Office (2007-2010) and Minister of Construction, Urbanism, and Housing. He was also Special Advisor to the President for Economic and Monetary Affairs.

55th Speaker of the US House of Representatives. Kevin McCarthy is described as a man exuding “true American grit.” Prior to his election to Congress, McCarthy served as the fastest rising Minority Leader in the California State Legislature. In Congress, he held nearly every elected leadership position in the House Republican conference and served under four Presidents, during two economic crises, and through consistent political upheaval while always maintaining his approach to governing as a Happy Warrior. After his election to Speaker, McCarthy went on to secure $2T in deficit reduction. McCarthy’s decade and a half at the pinnacle of U.S. government has imbued him with powerful insights into politics, leadership, and values. Throughout his career, McCarthy fought for a more effective, efficient, and accountable federal government. McCarthy’s invaluable perspective as a Washington insider, as well as his sharp insights and analysis, make him the ideal voice on the future of the U.S.

CEO of LIG System Co., Ltd., South Korean defense and IT solutions company. Mr. Yun served as CFO of Huseo Inc. and LG Electronics Australia Inc. At LG Electronics Inc., he held key positions including Director of Trade Defense & Anti-Dumping and Team Leader for Overseas Subsidiary Management. He has extensive experience in strategic planning and restructuring from his time at Zenith Electronics. Mr. Yun holds an MBA from Michigan State University and an BA in Business Administration from Yonsei University.

CEO of LIG Corp., a South Korean conglomerate. At LIG Nex1, an aerospace and arms manufacturer, he held various leadership positions, including Director of Strategic Planning and Director of Network Divisions. Prior to joining LIG Group, he worked in management consulting. Mr. Choi holds an MS in Business Administration from Seoul National University.

Minister of Economy, Planning, and Development of Côte d’Ivoire. She is a first-class economist and the first woman to serve as Minister of Economy and Finance of the country. She played a pivotal role in shaping Côte d’Ivoire’s economic policies, leading significant reforms that boosted economic growth to 9% annually during her tenure as Minister of Economy and Finance (2012-2016). Under her leadership, Côte d’Ivoire achieved financial ratings by renowned agencies, Moody’s and Fitch, and began accessing international financial markets. She has served as Minister of Planning and Development since 2016, overseeing the National Development Plans (NDPs) and international cooperation efforts. She chaired the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) Board of Governors (2019-2020), contributing to the institution’s historic capital increase. She has represented Côte d’Ivoire globally, participating in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals discussions and overseeing the 2021 Population Census. She is a Member of the Executive Board of the Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) and Member of Parliament for Bouna since March 2021. She holds a MA in Economics from the University of Abidjan-Cocody, a Statistical Engineer and Economist degree from the National School of Statistics and Economic Administration (ENSAE) in Paris, a Diploma of Advanced Studies (DEA) in International Economics and Development Economics from the University of Paris Panthéon-Sorbonne, and a diploma in Economic Policy Management from the Institute of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to the United Arab Emirates. Mr. Ramūnas Davidonis is a career diplomat. He also serves the Republic of Lithuania as Ambassador to Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, and is Ambassador-Designate to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Before taking up his current position, he was Deputy Ambassador at the Lithuanian Embassy in the UK from 2021 to 2022, and Deputy Director for Latin America, Africa, Asia and Oceania Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania from 2019 to 2021. Graduated from the Philology Department of Vilnius University and holder of an M.A. in International Relations and European Studies from the Central European University (Prague/Budapest), he started his career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania in 1991.

Partner in Dentons’ Paris Sovereign Advisory group. Ramu focuses his practice on supporting governments and government-related entities on the development and financing of resources and energy-related projects. Ramu is also an expert in non-contentious infrastructure law and has spent most of his career advising on the development of large-scale energy (including oil and gas) and infrastructure projects all around the world (notably South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and India). His expertise, both as an in-house and a private-practice lawyer, stems from many years of drafting and negotiating projects and associated commercial agreements making him one of the most sought-after international commercial lawyers in his areas of expertise. Currently a lot of his work is in Africa and South America. Ramu’s diverse experience gives him a very unique skill set and ability to quickly identify his clients’ needs and place them in a commercial context to get projects done.

Minister of State at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Previously, Her Excellency Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi served as Minister of Culture and Youth, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, and President of Zayed University, where she established the College of Interdisciplinary Studies to prepare students for dynamic and future-focused careers. As a champion of the UAE’s cultural and creative industries, Her Excellency has advanced initiatives such as the National Creative Relief Program and the National Strategy for Cultural and Creative Industries, positioning the sector as a cornerstone of economic growth. On the international stage, she spearheaded the UAE’s successful bid to join UNESCO’s Executive Board and led efforts to restore Mosul’s heritage through the “Revive the Spirit of Mosul” initiative, exemplifying the UAE’s commitment to cultural preservation and global collaboration. Her Excellency holds key leadership roles, including Secretary-General of the Board of Trustees at the Kalimat Foundation and Board Member at Alef Education. She has also chaired twofour54, Abu Dhabi Media, and the UAE National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science. For her contributions to global cultural and diplomatic engagement, she has been awarded prestigious honors such as the French Legion of Honor and South Korea’s Gwanghwa Medal.

Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to the United Arab Emirates. H.E. Anatol Vangheli has had a distinguished career in diplomacy, serving the Republic of Moldova in various capacities for almost three decades, holding the diplomatic rank of Ambassador. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he worked as Secretary General, Ambassador to the State of Israel, to the Hellenic Republic and to Cyprus, Director of the Policy Analysis, Monitoring, and Evaluation Division and Asia, Africa, Middle East, and Pacific Division. Ambassador Vangheli’s expertise extends to international security, economic diplomacy, and humanitarian missions. His previous roles include serving in the OSCE Missions to Georgia and Kosovo as Spokesperson, Counsellor for refugees and observer. He holds a Master’s degree in Cultures and Economies of Central and Eastern Europe, as well as studied law, political science and foreign philology at the Universities in Moldova and in the Institute of Political Studies in Grenoble, France.

Co-founder and Co-director of EcoPeace Middle East, unique regional environmental peacebuilding organization founded in 1994 and nominated in 2024 for the Nobel Peace Prize. Gidon has served as its co-Director for three decades. An attorney by profession, Gidon is an alumnus of Monash University in Australia, Washington College of Law at American University, and Yale University’s World Fellows program. Mr. Bromberg has been immersed in the environmental peacebuilding world for over 30 years and has written extensively on the relationship between water issues and Middle East peace. He has presented on these issues before the UN Security Council, UN Climate Summit, US Congress, European Parliament, and in other local and international forums. Gidon is a member of the jury of the prestigious Goldman Environmental Award.

CTO and co-founder of poolside AI. Eiso is an engineer who has been building early stage companies in the AI and developer tools space for over a decade. Prior to founding poolside, Eiso was the founder and CEO of Athenian, a data-enabled engineering platform. Before that, he built source{d}, the world’s first company dedicated to applying AI to code and software, where he lived first hand through the challenges poolside faces which seeded the thinking for poolside’s early technical and applied research decisions. As CEO of his previous 3 companies, Eiso raised from prominent European and US investors, many of which have followed him consistently across companies. Eiso also currently sits on the Board of a private GPU cloud provider.

Ambassador of France since June 2019, Philippe Étienne is also a professor of public and international affairs at Columbia University. He has additionally joined the “Geopolitical Practice” chair within the Democratic Studies program at the École Normale Supérieure (ENS-PSL). From 2019 to 2023, Philippe Étienne served as France’s ambassador to the United States, marking a significant milestone in his diplomatic career. In May 2017, he joined the French Presidency as diplomatic advisor to President Emmanuel Macron, also acting as G7 and G20 sherpa. Throughout his diplomatic career, he has held several prominent positions, including Ambassador of France to Germany and Romania, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of France to the European Union, and Director-General for International Cooperation and Development at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since July 2023, he has been leading the prefiguration of the GIP Mission Libération, while also advising economic actors on their international activities. In 2023, he was promoted to the rank of Commander of the Legion of Honor.

Senior Vice President and Head of Public Affairs and Business Development for Adani North America, part of India’s largest infrastructure and logistics conglomerate. In this capacity, Anurag Varma shapes the company’s partnerships and strategic growth in North America. He has been a driving force for over 25 years at the nexus of key public and private sector initiatives between India, the U.S., and increasingly, Canada. Before joining the Adani Group, Anurag was Vice President, Head of Global Government and Public Affairs at Infosys, a global leader in technology consulting. There, he led complex public policy strategies across major markets, from the U.S. and Canada to Europe, Australia, and India. Anurag has also served in senior counsel roles at top-tier law firms Patton Boggs and Akin Gump, where he represented international governments, including the Government of India, Indian corporations, and major Indian American trade associations before the U.S. Congress and Administration. Anurag was pivotal in advising multinational companies navigating India’s intricate market entry landscape, while simultaneously advancing U.S.-India trade relations. Based in Washington, D.C., Anurag has earned a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Comm) from the University of Alberta (Canada), and law degrees from the University of Denver (J.D.) and Georgetown University Law Center (LL.M.).

Managing Partner, in charge of the Investor Relations team at Eurazeo. With over 15 years of experience in alternative asset management, Mathieu joined Eurazeo in 2015 to accelerate the firm’s international expansion. With his team, Mathieu collaborates with institutional investors and wealth managers globally to understand their specific investment needs, offer first-class investment solutions, and deliver tailored client servicing. Prior to joining Eurazeo, Mathieu was a Senior Advisor to Everest Capital, a Miami and Singapore-based investment manager focusing on emerging markets. Before that, he oversaw the development of the European and Middle Eastern business of Protégé Partners, a New York-based fund of hedge funds specializing in seed money for hedge funds. More recently, Mathieu has overseen Rothschild & Co’s development in the Middle East as a Senior Advisor. Mathieu holds a Master’s degree in Law and Political Science from Paris I – Panthéon Sorbonne University and has taught criminal justice at the Sorbonne in Abu Dhabi. He is admitted to the Paris Bar and is also an auditor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Diplomatic Institute.

B20 Sherpa. As B20 Sherpa, Constanza Negri leads the strategic coordination of the B20 Brasil, ensuring the effective preparation, delivery, and advocacy of policy recommendations to advance global economic priorities. Her role encompasses fostering collaboration among global business leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to address critical challenges such as sustainable growth, digital transformation, and inclusive trade. An experienced senior professional, Constanza has a proven track record of representing private sector interests and driving impactful international engagement with deep expertise in EU, Brazil, US, and Latin America and BRICS relations. Prior to her current position, Constanza served as Head of Trade and International Integration and Senior Advisor to the VP on International Economic Relations and Trade at CNI, where she joined in 2012. She also held the position of Deputy Director and Head of Policy for the Department of International Affairs at EUROCHAMBRES, where she led strategic work on EU Trade and Investment Policy, and EU-Brazil and EU-USA relations. Constanza’s academic background reinforces her expertise, with a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Bologna, an Advanced Diploma in European Studies from the European College of Parma, and a postgraduate degree in International Economic Relations and Regional Integration from the University of Barcelona.

Chief Economist at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank. Dr. Monica Malik has over 30 years of experience as an Economist specializing in the MENA region. Monica holds the position of Chief Economist at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, where she established the Economic research team. Previously, Monica was the Chief Economist at EFG Hermes and was the lead person in the Economics team. Before EFG Hermes, she was the Senior Economist for the MENA region at Standard Chartered, Dubai and at Dun & Bradstreet, London. Monica has authored a number of academic books and articles on Economic Development in the GCC. She has presented at a number of high profile conferences and participated in policy round table discussions, as well as appearing regularly in the international media. Monica holds a Ph.D. in Economic Development in the Middle East focusing on Private Sector Development in Saudi Arabia from the University of Durham in the UK.

Ambassador (retired), inaugural Director of AJC Abu Dhabi: The Sidney Lerner Center for Arab-Jewish Understanding. Ambassador Sievers was a U.S. diplomat for more than 30 years, serving across the Middle East and North Africa, as well as in Turkey, including postings in Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Morocco and Saudi Arabia. The U.S. Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman from 2016 to 2019, he joined AJC in 2021 after a stint as Non-resident Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Council. As Director of AJC Abu Dhabi, Ambassador Sievers is building on over 25 years of AJC engagement with governments and civil society in key Arab states. Heading the first office of a global Jewish organization in an Arab or Muslim-majority country, Ambassador Sievers is focused on deepening ties with the leadership and people of the Arabian Gulf, promoting the consolidation of the historic Abraham Accords, and serving as a bridge between the American Jewish community and the region. Ambassador Sievers received a BA from the University of Utah and a master’s degree in International Relations and Middle East Studies from Columbia University. His professional awards include the State Department’s Meritorious and Superior Honor awards, the Intelligence Community’s Agency Shield and Exceptional Collector awards, and the American Foreign Service Association’s Sinclaire Award for his study of Arabic language and culture.