3rd Arab-British Economic Summit 2023

Ahmed Aboul Gheit is the Secretary General of the League of Arab States. Before being elected as Secretary General in July 2016, he served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt from 2004 to 2011. Aboul Gheit previously served as the Permanent Representative of Egypt to the United Nations, from 1999 to 2004. Between 1992 and 1996, he served as Egypt's Ambassador to Italy/Macedonia/San Marino and Representative to the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome. He served as Chef de Cabinet of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt twice, from 1996 to 1999, and 1989 to 1992, and was the Political Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1989 to 1990. Prior to those duties, Aboul Gheit was Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations (1987-1989); Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the United Nations (1985-1987); Political Adviser to the Prime Minister of Egypt (1984-1985); and Political Adviser to the Minster of Foreign Affairs of Egypt (1982-1984). After joining the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1965, Mr. Aboul Gheit was an Attaché/Third Secretary at the Egyptian Embassy in Cyprus in 1968, where he served until 1972. He later served as a member of the staff of the Adviser to the President on National Security Affairs (1972- 1974); Second/First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the United Nations (1974-1977); Counsellor, Cabinet of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Special Aide (1977-1979); and Political Counsellor, Embassy of Egypt in Moscow (1979-1982). Born on 12 June 1942 in Heliopolis, Egypt, Mr. Aboul Gheit obtained a bachelor's degree in economics at Ainshams University, Cairo. He is married and has two children.

Lord Dominic Johnson of Lainston CBE was appointed Minister of State in the Department for Business and Trade on 7 February 2023.

He was previously Minister of State (Minister for Investment) in the Department for International Trade between 24 November 2022 and 7 February 2023.

He was Minister of State jointly in the Department for International Trade and the Cabinet Office between 2 October 2022 and 28 October 2022.

He has spent over 25 years in financial services, beginning his career at Robert Fleming in 1995, before moving to Hong Kong to work for Jardine Fleming and then in 2002, after a series of dot com start ups, heading the marketing for Lloyd George Asset Management - an emerging markets specialist firm.

In 2007 he co-founded Somerset Capital Management LLP as an employee-owned democratic partnership, focussing on pension fund management in developing countries.

Between 09 November 2022 and 02 October 2022 Dominic was a non-executive board member of the Department for International Trade. He was Chair of the department’s Audit and Risk Assurance Committee.

Between 2017 and 2019 he was vice-chairman of the Conservative Party.

Mohamed Al Khadar Al Ahmed is the Chief Executive Officer of Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi - KEZAD Group, the integrated trade, logistics and industrial hub that falls under the Economic Cities & Free Zones portfolio of AD Ports Group.

As CEO, Al Khadar oversees the development and operations of KEZAD Group, and is directly responsible for planning, developing, managing and promoting 12 Economic Zones with a total area of 550km 2 including 100km 2 designated as FreeZones, in addition it has more than 578,000m 2 of prebuilt facilities and more than 40 staff accommodation complexes with a capacity of over 450,000 beds (Located in Abu Dhabi City, Al Ain City and Al Dhafra Region). KEZAD Group hosts more than 1,850 investors in 17 industrial & economic sectors, catering to a range of key sectors such as pharmaceuticals, metals, automotive, polymers, building materials Recycling, Food & Agtech , lastics & Polymers, Retail & Logistics, Hi Tech& Green Energy, Life Sciences, Oil & Gas, Specialty Chemicals.

Prior to his role in KEZAD Group, Al Khadar was Chief Executive Officer of ZonesCorp , one of the largest operators of purpose built economic zones in the Middle East & Africa. Under his leadership, ZonesCorp advanced several milestone projects and developments to enhance Abu Dhabi’s competitiveness and its attractiveness for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

With a breadth of government and private sector knowledge and experience in aviation, investment, ports, urban planning, and municipalities spanning over 20 years, Al Khadar is an expert in driving and executing proven projects development and business strategies that have powered economic expansion, development projects, and infrastructure.

Prior to joining ZonesCorp, Al Khadar held executive positions in several government organisations, including Executive Director of Strategic Affairs Sector with the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), as well Executive Director of the Urban Development Sector with Abu Dhabi’s Urban Planning Council (UPC).

In 2020, while serving as a General Coordinator, Al Khadar successfully organised , launched, and managed the 10th World Urban Forum (WUF10) in partnership between DMT and UN Habitat the first ever to be hosted in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and the Arab World. He also played an instrumental role in implementing Abu Dhabi’s Development Acceleration Programme Ghadan 21).

Al Khadar holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aerospace Sciences from Metropolitan University of Denver (Colorado, USA) and Executive MBA from the American University of Sharjah (UAE). He holds an Executive Education in Leadership from INSEAD (Abu Dhabi), Executive Education in Governance from Harvard University (USA) and Executive Education in Competitive Strategy from INSEAD France).

H.E. Mr. Abdulla Bin Adel Fakhro was appointed as the Minister of Industry and Commerce in November 2022.
Prior to his appointment as minister, His Excellency spent 20 years in his family’s business, in which he progressed up the ranks until leaving to join the Government of Bahrain. His Excellency was an entrepreneur funding and leading serval of his own businesses, In addition to that, he was a member of the board of directors of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry until November 2022.
His Excellency also occupied the post of Director of Fakhro Restaurants Co. (McDonald’s Bahrain), Abdulla Yousif Fakhro Group, Lotus Investment Company, GAC Bahrain, Managing Director at Adel Fakhro & Sons, Vice Chairman of Dreams Society, Founder and Chairman of Sawari Marine Services W.L.L and Summit 7 Holding, Co- Founder and Vice Chairman of Omneyat Foundation as well as Trustee and Treasurer of Think Inc Foundation in the United Kingdom (London).
In addition to his post as Minister of Industry and Commerce, His Excellency is also Chairman of Export Bahrain and board member of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, Economic Development Board and Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) as well as the Minister in Charge of Bahrain Bourse.
His Excellency received his bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship from Babson College, and his MBA in Finance/ Entrepreneurship from Babson F.W Olin Graduate School of Business.

Fatima Mohammed Al Hammadi is the Chief Commercial Officer at Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi - KEZAD Group, AD Ports Group’s integrated trade, logistics and industrial hub that falls under its Economic Cities & Free Zones portfolio.

Fatima’s aim is to position Abu Dhabi and KEZAD Group as the primary investment destination for international businesses to set up gold standard projects. Her mission is to create a global network of investors, strategic partners and stakeholders across industries that align with the UAE’s Industrial Strategy and the National Agenda.

Prior to KEZAD, Fatima was the Vice-President of Commercial & Business Development at ZonesCorp, where she built deep relationships with investors by understanding their challenges and ensuring their business sustainability through matchmaking initiatives with governmental and semi-governmental entities.

In 2020, she drove ZonesCorp to achieve significant revenue by developing sector-focused sales strategies to offset the global effects of the pandemic. She also guided the development of new commercial and industrial ventures contributing to the growth of this sector.

Prior to ZonesCorp, she was the Director of Customer Services & Sales Support at global telecom player Etisalat, where she developed and enhanced customer service strategies and programmes for projects across the UAE.

Fatima holds a bachelor’s in Information Management from Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi, UAE as well as a Higher Diploma in Information Administration and an Executive Education in Leadership Certificate from Harvard University, USA. She has also successfully completed several courses such as the National Programme for Leadership, Advanced Project Management, Strategy Formulation & Execution, Trade Facilitation & Insertion into Global Value Chains (WTO), Balance Scorecard - Palladium Norton Kaplan Camp and EFQM Excellence Model.

The Rt Hon Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean is a senior Labour member of the House of Lords and a business leader. Formerly Deputy Leader of the House of Lords, Baroness Symons was a Minister in the UK Government from 1997 until stepping down in 2005. Among her government posts she was Minister for the Middle East, Minister for International Trade and Minister for Defence Procurement, and the Prime Minister’s envoy to the Gulf.

Previously a trade union general secretary, she was an Equal Opportunities Commissioner and a governor of the London Business School. As well as working closely with DLA Piper, Baroness Symons is now involved with a number of other commercial organisations, including roles as a non-executive director of British Airways, and as an advisor to other companies, including those with strong Middle East links, and with a number of not-for-profit organisations, including the International Red Cross.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon is the Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, the Commonwealth and United Nations at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). He’s also the Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict.

He was first appointed as Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict and as Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the United Nations in June 2017.

Lord Ahmad was Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the United Nations until September 2020. He was then appointed Minister for South and Central Asia, North Africa, United Nations and the Commonwealth until September 2022.

Dr Khaled Hanafy is the “Secretary General of the Union of Arab Chambers” and Professor of Economics and International Business. He held several Governmental, academic, business and consultancy positions, most recent of “Minister of Supply and Internal Trade in Egypt”, “Chairman of Internal Trade Development Authority” and “Dean of College of International Transport & Logistics” in the Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport.
He was awarded “The Best Minister” for two consecutive years according to top surveys, in recognition of developing a New Food Subsidy System serving more than 70 million Egyptians.
Dr Hanafy had a remarkable contribution in developing the Egyptian internal trade, through launching a number on initiatives that were reflected in developing internal trade and in making it more efficient. These initiatives include: “Egypt's Food Industries”, “Consumer Complexes E Linking Project”, “Gameeti Project”, “Internal Trade and Logistics Zones” and “Upgrade The Egyptian Storage Capacity”.
Dr Hanafy was the Chief Editor of the Economic constitution of Egypt. He was Chairman and board member of several holding companies in the private and governmental sectors. He participated in and headed a number of consultancy projects for the Arab League, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization, the United Nations, the International Labor Organization and the European Union. He was also an Economic Advisor for the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce and provided consultancy services to several national & multinational organizations.
He holds a PhD degree in International Trade and a MSc degree in Regional Development. He also holds many diplomas in International Trade, & Business Administration from top American universities. On the academic level, Dr Hanafy is a Professor of Economics and International Business and has a wealth of profound publications.

Mr. Sameer Abdulla Nass, Chairman of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry since 2018, leads the dedicated efforts of the Chamber towards developing the national economy and proceeding firmly in the path of its progress. He has a strong belief that the Chamber is the true voice of the national business community as the elected members are the best representatives of it. Such belief provides him with great motivation to continue the legacy of success, in cooperation with the Chamber's members, and provide effective solutions to all challenges, monitor the national economic situation and improve macro financial growth leading to one milestone after another in the local business environment's list of achievements. This comes in line with the rules and principles of 2030 vision of sustainability and fair competition that aim to achieve the citizens, government and economy's best interest. Mr. Nass holds the Chairmanship of the Union of Arab Chambers along with being the Chairman of Nass Group and Nass Corporation.
Nass Group is an international business entity with a rich history and prestigious global presence in civil construction and general trading industries, such as: engineering, manufacturing, marine and industrial services trading. Mr. Nass leads the only Bahraini family business that is publicly listed and is pioneering in the fields of building materials, heavy lifts, shipbuilding, landscaping, waste management and wholesale food. The Group is responsible of constructing a large number of famous landmarks in the Kingdom of Bahrain, including Bahrain World Trade Center and The Avenues Shopping Mall.
Mr. Nass manages the business while following a number of essential principles including being up to the standards, delivering more than what is promised, ensuring highest quality and improving administrational structuring in order to increase productivity and efficiency. He stands by the fact that specialization is key of success, however, having experience and making efforts in multiple fields are highly important elements which would help in interrelating between different businesses, and guaranteeing their sustainability.
In terms of his participation in the development of the work of civil society institutions, Mr. Nass is a Board Member of Bahrain Philanthropic Society. Moreover, he has an active role in promoting the principles of community partnership through his previous chairmanship of the Board of Directors of Muharraq Club in addition to his previous membership in the Board of Directors of Muharraq Parents Care Home.

Mr Bandar Ali Reda joined the Arab British Chamber of Commerce, on 1st March 2019, as Secretary General and CEO, becoming the fourth person to lead the Chamber since its foundation almost five decades ago.

As CEO, Mr Reda contributes his expertise by drawing on his wealth of experience as a diplomat and extensive time spent in the private sector to ensure the Chamber moves to the next level.

Mr Reda has a distinguished professional career of more than a decade in banking and corporate industry at SABB HSBC Saudi Arabia, prior to senior positions in the diplomatic service of his country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he served as Commercial Attaché in the UK & Europe, based in London, and in Italy and as part of the Saudi delegation to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) in Paris.

Mr Reda holds a BA in Economics and Business Administration from Orlando, USA. He has been an Executive Member of the Saudi-Italian Business Council, the Council of Saudi Chambers; a Member of the Business Youth Committee, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce; a Member of the Saudi Economy Association; and a Member of the Saudi Arabian legal accountants. Mr Reda has demonstrated his experience and abilities in his roles in both public and private sectors.

Since taking up his post, Mr Reda has successfully steered the Chamber throughout the difficult months of the pandemic and lockdown, a period which presented unprecedented challenges for international trade and the business community. Under Mr Bandar Reda’s guidance and leadership, the Chamber not only continued all its activities uninterrupted but extended its services during this period and has reinforced its reputation as the leading strategic business services organisation in the UK dedicated to strengthening Arab-British trade and building closer business co-operation.

Oliver Christian is His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for the Middle East and Pakistan, and His Majesty’s Consul General to Dubai. He was appointed to the role in September 2023.

Oliver was previously Head of the Prime Minister’s Business Unit in Downing Street, serving four Prime Ministers from 2019 to 2023. Oliver was responsible for maintaining a trusted link between the Prime Minister, Whitehall and the boardrooms of UK and international businesses and investors. He oversaw over £78 billion of investment and export deals, establishing the UK Global Investment Summit and the creation of the Office of Investment during his tenure.

Prior to that he helped establish the Department for International Trade (now the Department for Business and Trade), as the Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State and President of the Board of Trade in 2016. Oliver has 13 years’ experience in Government having worked in trade, investment, business, regulation and security across several Departments and represented the UK in its missions overseas.

Oliver has a degree from Keele University in International Relations and Philosophy and studied abroad at the University of Toronto. He a keen runner, sailor and active mentor with the Prince’s Trust.

Ayman is the Group Managing Director of The Corporate Group. He is in charge of subsidiaries responsible for delivering one-stop-shop of professional services related to business setup solutions and enabling both FDIs and foreign companies to do business in UAE and the GCC.

He has attracted businesses across all sizes and industries such as but not limited to education, healthcare, technology, energy, and professional services. Some of these businesses are listed in global stock market while others are start-ups offering disruptive technologies/ideas. Furthermore, his experience includes advising companies for corporate structuring and merge & acquisition transactions along, developing operational framework that delivers unique customer engagement with clients and stakeholders, along with association with both private and government sectors.

Ayman devotes his time as a mentor and coach for start-ups and SMEs in the UAE.

Mr Abdeslam El-Idrissi is proud to have served the best part of over 36 years with the Arab British Chamber of Commerce, serving both as Director of Trade Services, Acting General Manager and now his present position as Deputy CEO and Secretary General. During this time, he has cultivated strong relationships with British Chambers, Government bodies, educational institutions, NGOs across both the Arab world and the UK regions, as well as the UK-Arab business communities as a whole.
To this end, Mr El-Idrissi is in much demand across the regions as a keynote speaker and as one of the UK’s leading experts on UK-Arab trade relations.
He is also a key member of the Institute of Export where in the past he has held the position of Vice Chair of the Institute of Export, London Branch fo.r a period of 7 years

Lord Udny-Lister has been UK Co-Chair of the UAE-UK Business Council since 2020.

Prior to this he was Chief Strategic Advisor to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to the Gulf Region.

Lord Udny-Lister has had a lengthy career in Local Government, including as Deputy Mayor for Policy and Planning at City Hall, the seat of London’s Government, and Leader of Wandsworth Council. He served as Chief of Staff to the Mayor of London from 2011-16. He has a considerable background in facilitating large-scale urban regeneration schemes and coordinating major public and private sector partnerships. He also served as Chairman of London and Partners, as a Non-Executive Director at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and as Chairman of Homes England.
In 2021 Lord Udny-Lister was appointed Privy Councillor to HM The Queen. He is also currently a Senior Adviser to HSBC, a Director at Covent Garden Market and a Governor at the Museum of London.

Andrew is a hard-wired technology expert who has helped hundreds of clients create seamless, trusted applications for the fintech, commercial and advertising sectors.

Understanding the power of agile development and secure, highly performant software, his company, Arishi delivers solutions that are practical, imaginative and robust, with the flexibility to adapt to changing regulatory conditions.

Combining enthusiasm, experience and humour, Andrew is an inspiring speaker on technology. He has written for magazines and spoken at conferences, on how startups should use technology, mobile payments and the sometimes awkward union between technology and business.

Andrew has delivered ground-breaking technology across a variety of areas within financial services and artificial intelligence that others couldn’t, wouldn’t (or just plain didn’t) develop, often years ahead of the competition.

Arishi has become highly regarded in industries across the globe, where split second improvements in performance, usability and visual appeal are becoming increasingly important – government, health, finance, fintech, advertising, and international business, to name a few. Arishi has delivered exceptionally performant digital projects for major clients in the Middle East and has now established an office in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

When he’s not immersed in the virtual world, or pursuing his passion for retro computers, Andrew enjoys spending as much time as possible with his family, who all enjoy exploring the GCC region.

Patricia Yates is the CEO of VisitBritain/VisitEngland, the national tourism agency – a non-departmental public body of the UK Government. The agency raises Britain’s profile worldwide, increasing the volume and value of tourism exports and developing England and Britain’s visitor economy.

Patricia oversees the day-to-day operations of VisitBritain/VisitEngland in London and overseas, leading strategies for growing the visitor economy, from marketing Britain internationally to supporting the industry, working in partnership with stakeholders. Alongside the Chairman, she also ensures that tourism is high on the political and economic agenda.

Patricia had been with the VisitBritain/VisitEngland since 2005, becoming CEO in 2022 and previously as the agency’s Strategy & Communications Director.

In her session, Patricia Yates will explore how tourism is an enabler of cultural and economic exchange. She will discuss VisitBritain’s work in the Gulf including its campaigns to drive visitor growth, the importance of visitors from across the region to Britain’s economy and the focus on building a sustainable, innovative and accessible destination.

Patricia started her career as a journalist working on research and technical publications. She followed this with a long period editing Holiday Which? where she scoped the strategy for and led on all Which?’s research, campaigning and public affairs work in tourism, travel and transport. She also launched and edited the Which? Guide to Hotels for many years.

Patricia chairs the Tourism Industry Emergency Response (TIER) group, which coordinates tourism industry messaging at times of crisis and is a Fellow of the Tourism Society. She is a member of the Tourism Industry Council (TIC), chaired by the Tourism Minister, which brings senior visitor economy stakeholders together to discuss policy issues. Patricia also chair’s TIC’s Sustainability Working Group, collating industry expertise on policy to support the move to NetZero. She is an observer on the Tourism Alliance Board for VisitBritain/VisitEngland.

Khalid Al Marzooqi is a seasoned business development professional with more than 15 years of experience in the field. Since 2007, Khalid has been leading the international business development for Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi KEZAD Group.
He is also responsible for creating and developing sales channels, strengthening the presence of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in KEZAD, managing mega industrial projects and enhancing relations with government agencies.
From 2013 - 2018, Khalid was a senior sales manager at the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), responsible for the Asia Pacific region, where he managed six overseas JAFZA offices.
During his time with JAFZA, Khalid attracted a number of companies to the free zone, including several Global Fortune 500 companies. Khalid also held the position of acting head of the business development department at DP World, where he managed KPIs, the budget and was the regional manager for Europe and America.
Khalid holds a Master of International Business from Wollongong University in Dubai and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the American University of Sharjah.

Aleksandra was appointed a Senior Adviser in the Secretariat General of Government of Montenegro in 2006, during her mandate she represented Montenegro at many international conferences, seminars and round tables. She chaired multi-disciplinary Government team that was consisted of Deputy Ministers for several years.
Aleksandra was a representative of International Centre for Migration Policy Development for Montenegro between 2006 and 2008.

After founding a real estate agency Montenegro Properties Ltd, she participated at many renowned real estate expos together with Montenegrin Government Investment Promotion Agency to promote investments in Montenegro, such as MIPIM Horizons, etc. She had a presentation about Montenegrin investment opportunities at Montenegro pavilion at EXPO 2020 in Dubai.


Aleksandra brings over 18 years of experience and expertise in the real estate sector, with a focus on high-end residential and mixed-use properties, foreign investment, and development. Montenegro Properties was chosen several times as the best agent, best marketing and best website in Montenegro by the The International Property Awards which recognizes excellence in the property industry worldwide, promotes an international standard and rewards the best estate agents globally. Judging was undertaken by a panel of over 70 experts from all over the world and chaired by two active members of the House of Lords: Lord Caithness and Lord Best. Montenegro Properties appeared in the official winners’ publication “World’s Best Europe 2019-2020”.

Rabih is a pioneering figure in sustainability, with over 25 years of experience. He anchors ZefLab's business direction and is the CEO & Co-Founder of Phyla Earth. Through his company, Zef Concepts, he's shaped sustainable solutions across the built environment. His expertise spans low-energy designs, low-carbon initiatives, and comprehensive environmental frameworks. Rabih's projects span Europe, the Middle East, USA, and Africa, marked by ethical considerations and adaptability. Notably, he's been instrumental since 2014 in conceiving the Great Green Wall of Africa, showcasing his enduring commitment to transformative ecological projects.

Graduating from LSE with a degree in Geography, Marco was initially involved in a Parliamentary role within the Department of Environment & Urban Affairs. Marco took his experience and moved into the education sector helping transform the non-statutory funded provision at Canterbury College including apprenticeships and training programmes.

In 2008 Marco was appointed as CEO at the International Visual Communication Association, where he established the Association as a key partner for UK government leading trade missions to UAE, Qatar, China, Germany, and India. His next role was as Chief Executive at the British Antiques Dealers’ Association, representing world leading art and antiques dealers. He led the association through legal and regulatory changes and navigated the transition to online.

Marco’s combined knowledge of imports/exports together with his experience in education led Marco to the Institute of Export & International Trade, where he was appointed Director General in January 2020. The Institute has grown from a team of twelve to now over 160 international trade and customs experts, with membership growing from 2,000 to 7,000. IOE&IT is now a trusted partner for governments, international agencies, global businesses and MSMEs on every continent. In 2022 IOE&IT opened its first international office in Kenya with plans to further invest in support of AfCFTA and the global trade agenda.

Karim Fatehi is the interim Chief Executive of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI). He has served as an LCCI Board member since September 2022 and has been a member of the LCCI Council for seven years.

Karim is a highly experienced business leader and has served as Managing Director of United Corporation, a globally approved Engineering Procurement Management company which he established in 1995, for over 25 years. The company has twice won the Queens Award for International Trade in 2007 and 2011.

He is also an expert in international trade and is currently serving as an Expert Trade Advisory Group (ETAG) Member on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). In 2012, he was awarded an MBE for his services to international trade.

Ayaa Gadad, UK graduate, has joined Al Sahl Group in 2018 and is well-known for her creativity, compassion, and commitment. Currently working as a Head of Business Development and Strategy for Al Sahl Group, Ayaa advises the board on strategic topics, business and corporate strategy, new business development, scenario planning, business model innovation strategy, transformation, and turnaround.
Ayaa has always been enthusiastic about assisting Al Sahl Group in achieving lasting growth and developmental impact.

Shevaun became Director General of BCC at the end of April 2021. She joined BCC from the Cabinet Office where she led Business Partnerships. She joined the Government in 2016 and also ran the Inclusive Economy Partnership for HMG.

Shevaun started her career in consultancy in London and New York. She then moved to the Walt Disney Company in strategic planning before joining Disneyland Paris, opening the second theme park. Shevaun then joined the agency world, running global accounts for Millward Brown, Mindshare and WPP.

Following this, she became a partner in a start-up digital innovation agency and venture builder, Independents United, where she also became an Advisor for the Danson Foundation.
Most recently, Shevaun was the New Ventures Director for Avado, building new businesses in Edtech and founding the Academy of Digital Business Leaders.

Shevaun has a passion for business as a force for good. She is a social impact investor, sits on the Ventures Advisory Board of UnLtd, and is Trustee of Barefoot College International as well as a board member of Women of the World Foundation.

Hicham has more than 18 years experience in international financial markets with a strong focus on MENA and Sub-Saharan Africa regions.

His extensive experience in the Corporate and Investment banking sphere comprises of several roles in various business areas such as Treasury & capital markets , corporate banking , project finance and structured commodity trade finance.

Hicham is heading the global business at Bank of Africa United Kingdom Plc , a specialist bank linking international finance with the growing opportunities in Africa, the bank has a strong market presence thanks to its affiliation to bank of Africa, Group BMCE one of the major panafrican financial groups.

Hicham holds a Master of science in International Finance and an Executive MBA.

Based in the UAE, Rebecca is a dynamic event host, TV anchor, business and live news correspondent.
She has shone on the global stage for more than 23 years, having broadcast for leading U.S, European and Middle Eastern television networks, including Bloomberg, CNBC, Euronews and Dubai One.

Rebecca has interviewed hundreds of CEOs, celebrities, ministers and heads of state over the years, and has regularly contributed to publications from The National newspaper and Wall Street Journal to Vogue Magazine and the South China Morning Post.

She constantly moderates and hosts high-profile economic, business, political and cultural events, forums and summits around the world and is a sought-after executive media trainer.
Rebecca is also the lead English-language media/public speaking coach for the Sky News Arabia Academy in Abu Dhabi.

Rebecca is globetrotting Irish national whose family has proudly called the Middle East home for more than 25 years. She is a university graduate of the London School of Economics & Political Science.

Jed Mrabet has been an Attorney at law at the Bar of Tunis since 2005 and a managing partner of Mrabet Avocats, a law firm founded in 1973 by the late attorney Kamel Mrabet. In 2018 he became Attorney before the Tunisian Supreme Court. Mr. Jed holds a Master’s degree in Criminal Sciences from University of Toulouse - France and a Master’s degree in Legal Sciences from the Carthage University: “Faculté des sciences juridiques, politiques et sociales de Tunis” – Tunisia.

He is responsible in Tunisia as well as throughout the MENA region for expanding the law firm as he has a dual training in French and Tunisian Law. In addition, he has been a counsel for numerous major companies such as in litigation, arbitration, M&A's operations, banking, aviation, media, IT and franchising matters.

Besides his distinguished professional career, Mr. Mrabet is the President of the Tunisian-British Chamber of Commerce. He is also an active member of multiple business Chambers, such as the Tunisian-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Tunisian-French Chamber of Commerce.

Paul Nanson is a senior leader with extensive expertise based on operations, leadership development, training, and personnel management. A qualified coach, mentor and keynote speaker.​

His current role is built on 34 years serving in the British Army, leading, and operating in a variety of roles and operational environments including Northern Ireland, both Gulf Wars, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. His final post was Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where he furthered the reach and reputation of the world’s premier Leadership Academy, including the development of leader selection; a through-life Leadership Development ‘Pipeline’ aimed at next-generation leaders; international leader development for officers from up to 80 countries; and a Commercial Leadership Development Programme designed to take military leadership into the civilian market.​

With Commandant came the role of Director Leadership for the British Army. Over the 5 years he reinvigorated the Army’s study of leadership and leader development including the creation of the first Centre for Army Leadership and the writing of its first leadership doctrine. In 2022 he received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters from the University of Reading for his contribution to contemporary thinking about leadership and leadership development.​

Paul is the author of “Stand Up Straight: 10 Life Lessons from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst”. The book is the first official self-improvement and leadership book from the British Army’s world-leading Sandhurst Academy.

Dr Chris Nonis is a Doctor of Medicine, and Chairman of the Mackwoods Group, established in 1841, in Healthcare, Energy, Software, and purveyors of Fine Tea. He Chairs the Advisory Council for Sri Lanka of the British Asian Trust, a charity founded by HRH the Prince of Wales, now HM King Charles lll. He formerly served as Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK, and Chaired the Board of Governors of the Commonwealth Secretariat. He is also Advisor to Hinduja Investments and Project Services of the Hinduja Group.

Lolade is the Home Office Future Borders and Immigration Systems Programme Director and head of the ETA project, with a focus on leading the transformation of the UK border processes into one that is digital, data driven and person centric.

Lolade has spent several years leading transformation programmes across a number of government departments including the Ministry of Justice, Department of Health and Social Care, Cabinet Office and NHS England.

Julia is a Partner at Fragomen focusing on Global Government Strategies and Compliance and recognised as world leader in providing strategic immigration advice to governments, individuals and the world’s leading organizations.

Before joining Fragomen, Julia was a Partner, Legal Markets Leader and Head of Global Immigration at PwC leading complex multi-jurisdictional client engagements and providing strategic global immigration advice.

Having previously been appointed Deputy Chair of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Julia was announced as Chair of the Board in 2023.

Julia is the Chair of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute Charitable Trust and is on the board of Breaking Barriers.

In 2021, Julia was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Global Mobility Award by the Forum for Expatriate Management. In 2022 Julia joined the Advisory Board of The Global Mobility Executive.

Chief Executive Officer and Principal, British Institute of Technology

Dominic Palmer-Brown has been a Higher Education Consultant since 2019.

He has been a professor, lecturer, teacher, supervisor, mentor and corporate tutor at all university levels, from foundation year to doctoral level, specialising in employability, data mining, and AI in virtual learning environments.

His research expertise encompasses investigations into the field of cognitive science and AI in inclusive education.

Dominic has a wide experience of research, publication, consultancy, teaching and supervision in neural networks, data mining, data analytics, graduate employment and AI in education.

Throughout his career, he has been a proponent of the links between universities, employers, and industry. He has considerable international business development leadership experience.
Dominic was Interim Executive Dean of Digital, Technologies and Arts at Staffordshire University, 2021-22.

He served as Pro Vice-Chancellor, Employment Outcomes at London Metropolitan University, from 2016-18, where between 2008 – 2016, he was Dean of Computing and then Life Sciences and Computing.

Simon was appointed to develop and lead Gemcorp Middle East operations in July 2023 having spent most of his career in banking across emerging markets.

Prior to this, Simon represented the UK Government as His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for the Middle East and His Majesty’s Consul General to Dubai. During his tenure, Simon successfully led several multibillion-dollar investment programmes between the UK and various GCC states, initiated talks for the UK-GCC Free Trade Agreement and saw bilateral trade grow to all-time highs.

Simon has spent more than two decades in the banking sector with extensive experience leading corporate and investment banking groups across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

His previous roles in the Middle East include:
Head of Corporate and Investment Banking at First Gulf Bank (UAE)
Chief Executive Officer, Middle East and Africa with the Royal Bank of Scotland

Simon was also CEO for ABN AMRO Bank in South Africa. Before this, he worked in consulting at PwC and in project finance within the construction industry.

Simon holds a MBA with distinction from Nottingham University and a First Class degree from Reading University.

Quincy Quayson is the Founder and CEO of Q3 Consultancy, supporting global clients to develop and grow their businesses within the Middle-East Region and internationally.

Quincy holds a senior role within the UK Freeport government program, responsible for Liverpool City Region’s (LCR) Freeport as its Operations and Business Development Director. He is supporting the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) and LCR Freeport team with its core programme deliverables from government; International Trade and Investment / partnerships, along with Innovation, NetZero, Skills, Regeneration and Job Creation initiatives.

Quincy is an experienced sales and business development professional, with an expertise in the aerospace sector. He has over a decade of consultative sales & business development experience, holding multiple leadership roles at GE Aviation and Honeywell Aerospace and an extensive global network in the aviation Industry. At Honeywell, he had responsibility for its product sales across all airlines in the Middle East region.

Q3 Consultancy provides advisory services for government entities, multinational companies, SMEs and consultancy firms to develop and grow their business, acting as their representative in-region, on-the-ground. He works with a wide range of cross-sector clients, including aerospace, future mobility, technology sectors and Freezones.

He is currently based in Dubai, UAE with Q3 Consultancy responsible for supporting Dubai South's Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) business development and Sharjah Research Technology Innovation Park (SRTIP) for the UAE. Quincy has supported USA states, Italian municipality delegations and several Aerospace and Technology companies explore sales and partnership opportunities in the Middle East region.

Peter Thomas is the Chief Clinical Information Officer and Director of Digital Development at Moorfields Eye Hospitals. His primary interest is in digital transformation of clinical care, and creation of a hospital environment that can embed and sustain technologically enabled and automated services. To achieve this, he has recently founded the UK’s first Department of Digital Medicine. In 2022 he was named as “CCIO of the year” in the annual Digital Health Awards. By clinical training he is a paediatric ophthalmologist.

He is the digital/clinical lead for the NHSE eyecare transformation programme and sits on the NHSE Remote Monitoring Board. Prior to medicine Peter undertook his PhD in computational neuroscience at the University of Cambridge and spent time working in research and development at IBM.

With over three decades of banking experience, including 15 years in alternative investments and a trailblazing 5-year journey spearheading FinTech startups, Mr. Nick is a distinguished figure in the finance industry. He has held senior positions at renowned institutions like Credit Suisse, HSBC, and Standard Chartered, reflecting his commitment to excellence.

Mr. Nick's invaluable expertise aligns seamlessly with MBS GREEN's core values, making him a key contributor to our mission of driving sustainable investments and innovative solutions in the quest for a low-carbon economy. His visionary leadership continues to shape the future of finance, inspiring us to push the boundaries of financial technology while upholding the highest standards of integrity.

Tom Wintle is the UK’s Chief Negotiator for the UK – Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) FTA negotiations. Joining DBT in 2018, Tom previously led the UK’s transition to independent membership of the World Trade Organization, represented the UK in G20 trade discussions, and delivered the inaugural G7 Trade Ministerial track.

Prior to joining DBT Tom held a variety of Senior Civil Service roles in Cabinet Office, the Department for Business, Energy and Industry, and the Department of Energy and Climate Change, leading teams on internationally focussed issues. Tom worked as a financial management consultant before joining the civil service, and has a degree in Biological Natural Sciences from Cambridge University.