“I believe Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) will drive the BIG SHIFT in this century towards a global, cohesive action plan for the climate and biodiversity emergency. For me, reimagining ESG through our Sustainable Legacies framework is key in advising our clients towards climate-smart cities.”

Farah Naz is the director of ESG and innovation for the AECOM Middle East. She is a chartered engineer, a fellow of CIBSE, an award-winning climate strategist, Zayed Inspirer and honored with most influential woman of the year award in 2024.

She authored Middle East region’s first book, on decarbonization, titled “net zero city: 10 year transformational plan for our cities” in 2021 and published a Children’s book on Climate Change titled “ Mission zero”. Her third book titled Intelligent Buildings will be launched in London in November 2024.

Farah has over 20 years’ experience in the built environment, working across four continents and in the UAE, and lead the sustainability for projects like the Museum of the Future, in Dubai, Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi, Bee’ah HQ in Sharjah, Masdar Eco Villa, and the Expo 2020 Terra Sustainability Pavilion, Very recently she lead the Sustainability strategy and Carbon Management for COP28, UAE and ADIPEC Energy event, Abu Dhabi.

As CEO of AESG, Saeed founded and built AESG into one of the Middle East and Europe’s largest and most respected international consultancy, engineering and advisory firms.

Under Saeed's direction, AESG has developed a strong reputation for delivering the highest quality consultancy in Environment and Sustainability, Specialist Engineering and Project Delivery Management.

Saeed is recognised as a thought leader in sustainable development, engineering and construction and has published numerous papers and presented at hundreds of local, regional and international conferences.

As well as his professional role as CEO of AESG, Saeed also served as Chairman of the Emirates Green Building Council between 2013-2020 as well as Vice Chair of the World Green Building Council MENA Network from 2011 to 2014. Saeed has been a Board Member of the World Green Building Council between 2015 – 2021 and served as part of the Board’s Executive Committee, providing leadership to the global sustainable building movement. He was awarded 'Executive of the Year' at the Big Project Middle East Awards and in 2021 the ‘Construction Executive of the Year’ at the Construction Week Awards.

Dr. Georges Kachaamy is the Director of the Center for Research, Innovation, and Design (CRID) at the School of Architecture, Art, and Design, the American University in Dubai. He has served as the chairperson of the Department of Architecture under which the program has received the NAAB Accreditation. He is a professor of architecture, a registered architect, a certified VR Sketch trainer, a GRAVITY SKETCH Certified Trainer, a VictoryXR Certified VR Educator, an associate member of the American Institute of Architects, an affiliated member of the UAE Society of Engineers, and a former member of the Order of Engineers & Architects in Beirut. He was the recipient of the Japanese Government Monbukagakusho Scholarship and received his doctorate from the University of Tokyo in Japan.

As an academician, Dr. Kachaamy’s research interest relates to future and virtual environments, space planning, well-being designs, phenomenological theory in architecture, and evidence-based spatial experiments. He is mostly known for his vision towards futurist architecture that deals with Gravity Defiant Architecture (GDA) a.k.a. Airborne Architecture. He has more than 14+ years of academic experience where he received the American University in Dubai President’s award for teaching excellence, the President's Award for Institutional Effectiveness, the Provost's Award for Creativity in Design and the Visual Arts. In addition, he served on the board of the AIA Middle East Chapter as the Director of Continuing Education.

As a practicing architect, he has over 15 years of experience between Dubai, Tokyo, and Beirut. He worked on different national and international urban and architectural designs. His work spans from universal spaces for meditation to the urban conservation and design studies for cultural heritages and urban developments. His latest contribution was the design of the Executive MBA educational facility on AUD campus.

As an Artist, he has evolved a specific technique that combines automatic art and meditation practices. His artwork is an ongoing and ever-growing compilation of works known by “Unconscious.” The 100+ art pieces have been exhibited internationally in Venice, Dubai, Munich, and London.

Moreover, Dr. Kachaamy has won international prizes from renowned organizations such as the International Union of Architects, UIA (Union Internationale des Architects) and for the past 15 years he has published many articles and has been involved in architectural/artistic talks, and exhibitions. In 2018, 2019, and 2021 he was invited by the European Cultural Center to exhibit his architecture project “Rising Oases” and artwork "Unconscious" at the Palazzo Bembo and Mora in the context of the Venice Biennale. In addition, his works and contributions have featured on major multiple media outlets such as CNN, TIME Magazine, MBC1, Skynews Arabia, Dubai TV, SAMA Dubai, Dezeen Magazine, ArchDaily, ASCE Magazine, Middle East Architect, MTV, and Future TV.

David Clifton is a seasoned Market and Economics Advisor with a wealth of experience in navigating complex economic landscapes. Known for his keen analytical skills and strategic insights, he has been a trusted advisor to government agencies, sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, and corporate entities alike. He is a thought-leader and specializes in the intricacies of the GCC and Middle East having played a pivotal role in shaping policies and strategies that have positively impacted diverse sectors.

With over a decade and a half of experience in providing sound economic market forecasts, analytics, advisory, intelligence and modelling in the Middle East, he has become a trusted figure in providing insight critical to policies that align with the unique cultural and economic dynamics of the Middle East. Having spent the previous decade working across Europe and North America, his government advisory tenures include providing valuable insight on a variety of initiatives including the PMO law change in 2015/16 in Saudi Arabia which became one of the significant sectors of vision 2030 from a technical standpoint.

David’s expertise has seen him present impact analysis and forecasts for major media outlets due to his ability to simply package complex models and economic principles thus providing strategic guidance for navigating the challenges and opportunities specific to the region.

Mina Nessim serves as the Head of Engineering & BIM at Binladin Contracting Group, where he spearheads the Engineering and Digital Delivery of large-scale projects, including the Sharjah Airport Expansion. With a distinguished track record managing high-profile developments such as Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, the Doha Gold Line Metro, the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Uptown Dubai, and the Zayed National Museum, Mina is a recognized leader in BIM management and construction engineering. His strategic use of cutting-edge engineering technologies has been instrumental in enhancing project efficiency and ensuring adherence to industry standards. Mina's leadership and technical expertise have been critical in the successful execution of these iconic ventures.

Cynthia Corby is an Audit & Assurance Partner in the Dubai office and DME Construction Industry Leader. She is a South African Chartered Accountant and a Fellow of the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (United Kingdom) and has over 20 years of professional experience. She has worked extensively with the major construction companies in the UAE and Middle East Region, and has significant advisory experience on corporate transactions, including acquisition, due diligence and group re-organisations. Cynthia is the founder and regular author in our annual publication GCC Powers of Construction, which gives an expert view on the firm’s assessment and outlook for the industry.

Naser Khalidi is an experienced infrastructure finance and PPP specialist at the Government of Dubai's Department of Finance. Naser supports DOF’s mission to develop and monitor Dubai’s PPP pipeline, collaborating with government entities to deliver impactful, high-value infrastructure projects. With over a decade in public-private partnerships and an MBA from Cass Business School, Naser combines strategic expertise with practical insights to advance Dubai’s PPP Strategy.

Geoff Iredale is the Construction Director at Dorsch Middle East, where he is the main project manager responsible for the safety walkabouts, progress presentations, risk assessments and value engineering for the relevant projects as well as ensuring that staff follow the Dorsch Project Management Manual instructions through regular meetings and inspections.

Over the past 40 years, Geoff developed excellent communication and managerial skills, which allowed him to successfully lead teams to deliver large complex projects as well as liaising with clients, Stakeholders and utility authorities.

With a particular interest in airport construction, Geoff gained over the years vast experience in identifying suitable materials and building techniques to withstand the harsh environment. Of the region. His recommendations range from suitable treatments to improving the durability of underwater concrete structures and asphalt mixes suitable for airport runways.

Previously Geof held the position of Dorsch Deputy Chief Resident Engineer for the Lusail City project in Qatar, where he oversaw the infrastructure development for Lusail City, turning 3,500 hectares of undeveloped waterfront into a progressive, world-class city.

Throughout his career Geoff worked across various countries in the Middle East including Saudi Arabia, Libya, Oman and Kuwait.

Geoff is from UK and holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree from the University of Southampton.

Basel Tachwali, a seasoned architect, is driven by a passion for design and innovation in construction technology. With extensive expertise in Industry 4.0, Design for Manufacturing & Assembly, Concrete 3D Printing, and Sustainability, he has instrumentally contributed to projects totaling over 300,000 sqm, such as the award-winning The Coastal Village Residence by The Red Sea Global named sustainable project of the year 2020 at Big Projects Middle East and Technology Champion of The Year by Big Project Awards 2021.

Tachwali was awarded and nominated for several prominent prizes throughout his career, and he was named Young Talent of the Year by Design Middle East in 2021, Featured on the Middle East’s Most Influential Architects Powerlist in 2022.

Today, Basel takes up an advisory role as a Construction Technology Specialist at Dubai Municipality, working on paving the way and regulating the use of innovations in the construction industry, and also serves as a member in Architecture School and Center for Research, Innovation, and Design Advisory Boards at the American University in Dubai.

Dr. Sabih has extensive experience in the design and construction of civil and heavy civil infrastructure projects, such as Heathrow Terminal 5 in London, Khalifa Port and Khalifa Industrial Zone in Abu Dhabi, Metro operation, London Underground (Tube Lines, London), program management for the development of multi-mode transit systems, the Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Public Transport Program, Metro Design, Doha Metro and recently, Head of Engineering with Hyperloop Transportation Technologies MENA Region.

Dr. Sabih is well known in the GCC region for his contribution to the construction industry within the region, he is a regular contributor to the regional industry events a Keynote Speaker, Presenter or as Conference Host.

Dr. Sabih is a Charted Civil Engineer, Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation and Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (UK), also, he is the Institution of Civil Engineers Council Member for Middle East & Africa.

He sits on several Universities Industry Advisory Bords advising, supporting the universities in their education activities. He is Honorary Professor at Heriot-Watt University.

Roger Wahl, Chief Technology Officer at Innovo Group, excels in transforming companies through people, automation, data, security, and advanced technologies like AI. With 30 years of global tech leadership, he has established high-performing digital and technology teams across diverse regions and sectors. Roger's extensive experience includes key roles in the US Air Force, GE, Genpact, and global E&C firms. Passionate about technology's role in productivity, safety, and sustainability, he actively engages in venture capital and startups, pioneering technologies in the real estate lifecycle. He holds an MBA from Nova Southeastern University.

Omar is an Associate Partner in McKinsey’s Middle East office working on major construction projects and real estate developments in the region and globally on a variety of topics including e.g., future-proofing developments, supply chain security, execution and market entry strategies. Prior to McKinsey, Omar was a Project Manager in the construction and engineering realms and is holder of a bachelor of engineering and an MBA”.

A well-known and respected thought leader in MENA affairs, Edward James has been with MEED for more than 19 years, working as a researcher, consultant and content director. Until September 2008 he was MEED’s Gulf Bureau Chief, after which he moved over to head up the consulting arm of the business. From 2015-2021 he was responsible for content and research at MEED Projects, the region’s leading projects tracking service.

Today he heads up all content and research produced by the MEED group. His specific areas of expertise are construction, hydrocarbons, power and water, and the petrochemical market, and is considered one of the world’s foremost experts on the MENA projects market.

He is a regular guest commentator on Middle East issues for news channels such as the BBC, CNN and ABC News and is a regular speaker at events in the region. He has an honours degree in Arabic and Middle East Politics.

Colin Foreman is Editor and a Specialist Construction Journalist for news and analysis on MEED.com and the MEED magazine. He has been reporting on the region since 2003, specialising in the construction sector and its impact on the broader economy. He has reported exclusively on a wide range of projects across the region including schemes such as Dubai Metro, the Burj Khalifa, Jeddah Airport, Doha Metro, Hamad International Airport, and Yas Island. Before joining MEED, Colin reported on the construction sector in the Middle East and Hong Kong. He has a bachelor’s degree from Newcastle University and a master’s degree from the University of Reading.

Indrajit Sen is the Oil & Gas Editor at premier UAE-based news, analysis and projects information organisation MEED (Middle East Economic Digest). He has been working with MEED since December 2017, covering the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region’s oil, gas, refining and petrochemicals markets, across the upstream, midstream and downstream segments.

Indrajit closely tracks projects undertaken by the region’s energy giants such as Saudi Aramco, ADNOC, QatarEnergy and PDO, as well as the ones being planned by international oil companies, particularly those in the Gulf. Procuring accurate and exclusive information on projects therefore requires him to maintain a robust network of industry contacts, and build on it.

Beyond extensively covering the regional hydrocarbons projects market, Indrajit also monitors macro developments including general energy sector schemes announced by regional countries and/or their national oil companies, geopolitical aspects impacting the energy market, oil and gas demand-supply movements, OPEC strategies and government policies.

Along with producing news content on the MENA energy sphere for MEED, which can be accessed here, Indrajit regularly produces analysis and opinion articles offering in-depth understanding and perspectives on market events, industry announcements and project developments.

He also appears on TV news networks and radio shows as an industry observer to share his views on energy market matters.

Previously, Indrajit worked with Oil & Gas Middle East magazine, owned by Dubai-based ITP Media Group between October 2015 and November 2017. Having started out as a reporter for the magazine, he eventually became the magazine’s Deputy Editor. He was also the co-editor for the magazine’s digital portfolio – the website arabianoilandgas.com and the social media platforms.

Indrajit has been working as a journalist in the GCC for more than ten years now, previously covering international politics and diplomacy for Muscat Daily, Oman’s second largest English newspaper and the Gulf’s real estate sector for Gulf Property magazine in Dubai.

Details about Indrajit’s professional career can be found on his LinkedIn profile. He is active on Twitter as well.

Throughout his career, Michael has successfully overseen real estate assets exceeding $5 billion in value, spanning luxury residences, class A office spaces, civic landmarks, hotels, and mixed-use developments. He has held executive roles in companies ranging from startups to major enterprises, leading teams and projects across the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.

Prior to joining Mered Development, Michael served as Head of Development for the Qiddiya Performing Arts Center in Saudi Arabia, a key part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 initiative. In this role, he led a world-class team to deliver an iconic property in Qiddiya City, envisioned as Saudi Arabia’s future entertainment hub.

Michael also held the position of CEO at Wainbridge Capital, where he managed operations across four countries and restructured the company’s board during a major merger.

Michael’s deep understanding of the real estate landscape, coupled with his proven ability to drive innovative, large-scale developments, makes him the perfect choice to lead Mered Development into its next phase of growth. We are confident that his leadership will further strengthen our company’s position as a market leader and accelerate our ambitious development plans.

In his new role, Michael will focus on expanding Mered Development’s portfolio in the United Arab Emirates consisting of Iconic Tower, the tallest building in Dubai Internet City and Abu Dhabi project. Michael has been charged to grow Mered’s team for future growth in the UAE and wider GCC. He will continue to foster strong investor relations, increase Mered’s marketing visibility and driving innovative projects that set new standards in real estate development.

Bandar Tashkandi is an accomplished finance and real estate development executive with over a decade of experience in strategic financial planning, capital investments, and market analysis. He has held pivotal roles across top organizations, including Saudi Aramco and the Saudi Authority for Zakat, Tax, and customs (ZATCA), Soudah Development, a PIF company, and he is currently leading the privatization of infrastructure projects for three government sectors in the National Center for Privatization and PPP. Known for driving transformative projects, Bandar has expertise in operational efficiency, investment strategy, and stakeholder engagement. He holds the CFA, CMA, and CSCA certifications and has completed the Harvard Leadership Development Program.

Mr. Shafik has previously worked in the United Sates and Kuwait. He has been employed by Orascom Construction Since 1998 and has been the VP of Business Development since January 2022.

Mr. Shafik has played a key role in the development and growth of Orascom Construction and witnessed the rise of the company to become one of the largest regional contractors operating across the Middle East and Africa.

Throughout his career, Mr. Shafik was pivotal in the growth of the activities of Orascom in the infrastructure, industrial and building sectors both in development and in construction. Orascom has executed some of the largest projects of fossil fuel power plants in the world and also has grown dramatically in the railway, metro and road sectors. In the building sector, Orascom has executed many prestigious hotels, hospitals, opera houses and museums.

Mr. Shafik has overseen Orascom’s achievements in executing iconic projects, including the Grand Egyptian Museum, the world’s largest archaeological museum, alongside prestigious hotels, hospitals, and cultural landmarks. His leadership has also enabled the company’s expansion into countries like Nigeria, South Sudan, and Rwanda, where Orascom has successfully delivered key infrastructure projects.

The company has installed over 27 GW of conventional power generation across Egypt, Algeria, Kuwait and Iraq, including two state-of-the-art CCPP’s considered as the largest in the world with a combined capacity of 9,600 MW on EPC+F basis. Orascom Construction has also pioneered Egypt's first ventures in the renewables sector including the 1st Hybrid Solar-Thermal CSP Plant and the 1st IPP Ras Ghareb Wind Farm. The company also extends beyond Egypt where we are currently constructing hydropower barrages in Burundi. Orascom Construction has also been a major contributor to water treatment infrastructure, including Egypt's first PPP wastewater treatment plant, Saudi Arabia’s first Independent Sewage Treatment Plant, and most recently the USD 2.4 billion Project WAVE Desalination Plant in the UAE. Furthermore, Orascom Construction has played an integral role in the transportation sector, where the company has been involved in all three Greater Cairo Metro Lines since the 1980s, as well as railways, tunnels, roads, and airports & ports.

Mr. Shafik graduated from Ain Shams University in Egypt with a Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering. Also, he holds a Master of Science degree in Project Management from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in International Business from the University of South Carolina in the USA.

He is also an Alumni of the Harvard Business School through the Executive Education Program.

Robbie McBratney is Executive Director of Engineering at ROSHN Real Estate, the leading real estate developer in Saudi Arabia. Robbie leads the delivery of vertical, infrastructure and mobility strategies for ROSHN's visionary communities across Saudi Arabia. Robbie's primary focus is on developing legacy initiatives and strategic infrastructure to serve not just today's communities but also for the next generation beyond 2030.

Before joining ROSHN Real Estate, Robbie played a pivotal role in the delivery of the world-renowned Maraya Concert Hall at Al Ula, showcasing his expertise in delivering complex and time-sensitive projects throughout the GCC. His journey is rooted in a practical background, holding a BSc in Process Engineering, and working his way up through the Potable Water and Wastewater industry, which has seamlessly evolved into supporting real estate development projects across the region.

With an unwavering commitment to quality and excellence, Robbie McBratney stands at the forefront of realising Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

Wael Mansour, CEO Royal Advance Electromechanical LLC in the UAE and Royal Advance Mutaqadima in KSA, brings over two decades of industry expertise to the MEP field across the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the USA. Mansour has been a driving force behind the evolution of the region’s skyline and infrastructure.

An engineer by training, Mansour holds a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Lawrence Technological University in Michigan, USA. This strong academic background, combined with hands-on industry expertise, equips him with a balanced skill set in technical engineering and strategic business management.

Francis Alfred is the Managing Director of Sobha Realty, an international luxury real estate developer that specializes in premium residential apartments, townhouses, and villas.   A forward-looking leader with vast experience in the field, Francis has played diverse roles and led the company’s business operations across India and the UAE for two decades before he was appointed Managing Director of Sobha’s Middle East operations in 2016.   Spearheading some of Sobha Realty’s most outstanding achievements, he is responsible for overseeing the company’s strategic global expansion and diversification while managing, monitoring, and master planning the design and delivery of several real estate projects.   His hands-on leadership style has been instrumental in ensuring the timely delivery of projects that meet the highest standards of quality and excellence. Under his watch, Sobha has witnessed achievements and milestones that have catapulted the company into the ranks of leading real estate developers in the UAE today.   An expert in the contemporary and innovative construction style, Franics pay keen attention on digitalization to propel Sobha and the real estate industry forward. Gravitating towards Contech and Proptech, Francis supports the rollout of next-generation technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence, and data analytics.   He also advocates for lean manufacturing and business processes, as well as led the implementation of Sobha’s backward integration model in the region. This has resulted in the vertical integrations of the company’s manufacturing and services.   An enthusiastic reader, Francis is self-reflective and informed and loves intellectual discussions. He encourages collaboration and critical thinking among team members to achieve shared goals.   Francis, a civil engineer, also holds a technology degree from India's Annamalai University.

Mohammed S. Al Surf, holder of PhD. in Sustainable and Green Construction. Founder & President of the Sustainability Professionals in Saudi Arabia Network (SPSA) reaching 5000 members. First Saudi to become a USGBC® Faculty, an ISSP® Sustainability Associate and a TRUE® Advisor. LEED® Accredited Professional in BD+C, ENV SP credential and a Green Classroom Professional. Author of the books titled “Sustainable Housing in Saudi Arabia: Opportunities & Challenges” and “10 Steps to Become a Sustainability Professional”. Member of several local and international professional entities such as the U.S. Green Building Council, the Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE), the Pacific Rim Real-Estate Society (PRRES), Asian Real-Estate Society (AsRES) and Project Management Institute (PMI). Dedicated to applying a systematic approach to Green Construction and Sustainable methods applied on projects in Saudi Arabia to induce quality of life while preserving the depleting supply of natural resources.

Ghina’s facade design management competence allows a robust delivery of projects from concept stage to completion, including design reports, specifications, and detail drawings. Ghina has a developed an understanding of design and buildability of façade systems including material knowledge and installation techniques. She has been involved in Façade and Facade Access jobs for prestigious projects in the Saudi Arabia, UAE. She handled the management and façade design process of a business complex in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi targeting Net Zero for its main headquarter building.

Ghina oversaw the multidisciplinary project management and the façade design of a mixed- use project adapting the Najdi architectural style, with history and heritage assets at its core, challenging the modern compliance requirements with respect to the traditional Najdi aspi- rations. The project is considered as a world class destination project within Riyadh, aspiring for LEED Cities and Communities Gold and Mostadam Communities rating accreditation.

Prior joining the middle east firms, Ghina joined Permasteelisa Group, Scheldebouw B.V. in Netherlands as an intern, where she observed closely the design and execution of the various façade systems for prestigious projects in Europe.

WORK EXPERIENCE
Principal Facade Consultant at Zutari Middles East
Facade Engineering Department, Dubai.
March 2023 - Present
Role Description:
- Leading facade team to develop façade design scheme from CD to IFC.
- Managing facade designers workflow, providing technical guidance.
- Developing technical specifications and reports.
- Leading clients meetings and workshops through the project’s phases.
- Developing façade system concepts based on architectural concepts.
- Managing site supervision scope, shop drawings, material submittals and site inspections.
- Facade Project management, resourcing, budgeting, and administration daily work.
- Managing the facade department business development.
- Leading Facade bids opportunities, reviewing RFPs, negotiation proposal with clients.

CONFERENCES / ARTICLES
The March 2022 edition of ITP Media Group’s MEP Middle East (ITP) magazine, The MEP industry needs to step up in “Implementing Advanced Tech” -
Link: https://www.mepmiddleeast.com/people/mep-industry-ghina-yamak

The March 2022 edition of ITP Media Group’s MEP Middle East (ITP) magazine, Reshaping the narrative of the male-dominated MEP industry
Link: https://www.mepmiddleeast.com/business/diversity-mep

Speaker at Women in Construction Summit Dubai 2019. Panel discussing the early engagement with educational insitutions.

After graduating as an architect and urban designer from Toulouse Architecture School in 2006, Pierre developed his career in Toulouse, Paris and London, working on international projects. Together with growing-up in Scotland and Ivory-Coast, the progression of his career gave him an open-mind which he considers essential to design meaningful places. His experience includes cultural, education, health, hospitality, industrial, mixed use, office, residential, retail and urban design projects.

With over 25 years of expertise in the aluminum and metals industry, Ihab Mouallem stands as a distinguished leader in system design and the execution of large-scale international projects.
In 2023, he took the helm as Group CEO of ALBADDAD SAUDI HOLDING, steering the company’s strategic vision and overseeing its daily operations.
His leadership has been pivotal in driving business growth, optimizing supply chains, and expanding into new markets.

Ihab Mouallem's outstanding contributions were recognized when he was named among the top 10 at the "Top CEO Conference and Awards" in the Mining, Metals, and Chemicals category.

His participation as a speaker at the Saudi Giga Projects 2025 underscores his commitment to innovation and excellence in the construction sector.

Throughout his career Lewis has established a well-rounded understanding of design, construction, and operational requirements. Understanding the impacts across the business and supply-chain has enabled him to better define consistent, efficient, and cost-effective processes and technological solutions as the business or project requires. With experience spanning architectural design, project management, model coordination and BIM strategy, Lewis has developed a strong working knowledge of industry standards, guidance documentation and practical application, with a wealth of experience defining and implementing digital strategy, workflows, processes, standards, supporting documentation and templates within large infrastructure and aviation organisations.

Prior to joining Autodesk, Lewis led the BIM strategy and Asset Information Management team at London Gatwick Airport, and during his time there founded the ‘Connected Airport’ events which is now facilitated by Autodesk. This long-standing focus group now consists of 165+ international airports and was designed to support airport owners looking to advance their capital delivery and campus management with BIM-based workflows. The aim is to provide a greater understanding of how BIM processes and principles from capital projects can integrate and enhance the ongoing Airport facilities management whilst exploring how Airport Digital Twins have a critical role to play.

Mikhael is a multi-faceted Business Development Manager and Acting Director at BEC Arabia Ltd, a top contracting conglomerate in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His role encompasses Giga projects, PPP initiatives, and strategic alliances. His expertise includes overseeing tendering processes, project supervision, and strategic oversight of contracting, Real Estate Development, Landscaping, Facility Management, and other subsidiaries.

Committed to driving business acumen, fostering innovation, and ensuring client satisfaction, Mikhael's work at BEC Arabia reflects his dedication to maintaining the company's industry leadership while contributing to Saudi Arabia's transformative initiatives in line with Vision 2030, with a particular emphasis on Giga projects.

Hani Rizkallah is the President of Infrastructure for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in this role, he spearheads the country’s business development and activities, including construction and project management services across several mega projects like the NEOM projects (Spine & Connector, Regional Infrastructure, and Trojena), the Riyadh Metro Project, New Murabba, and Jubail.

Hani joined Bechtel over 25 years ago as a graduate hire. He has since taken on progressive leadership on civil engineering projects for railways, highways, and infrastructure. Prior to his current role, he was the Program Director at NEOM for three years which began after a successful period as the executive assistant to Bechtel’s Chairman/CEO and Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Hani held several positions in business development and functions managing multidisciplinary teams. Between 2014 and 2019 Hani was the Delivery Director for Underground Stations on Bechtel’s Riyadh Metro Project in Saudi Arabia. He oversaw the engineering, procurement, and construction of the Deep Underground Stations, as well as the quality and safe delivery on budget and schedule.

Hani has extensive knowledge in forming and maintaining stakeholder relationships with various customers. He worked in the UK from 2004 to 2014 on a number of iconic rail jobs. He was Project Manager on Bechtel’s Vauxhall Station Upgrade project, and the Project Manager on Liverpool Street Station for Bechtel’s Crossrail Project Delivery Partner (PDP) project.

Hani’s experience in the construction industry also involves four years on London’s Tube Lines upgrade program delivering more than thirty station upgrades over the entire Jubilee, Northern, and Piccadilly Lines network, managing overall costs and schedules for a portfolio of concurrent modernization projects. Hani also supported the Civil Building Unit that specialized in building hotels and building infrastructures around the Middle East.

Hani holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering and a master’s in business administration from the American University in Cairo (AUC). Bechtel elected Hani as Principal Vice President in 2019 and Senior Vice President/Partner in 2023. He is fluent in Arabic and English and is married with two children.

• Strategic senior leader with proven infrastructure, engineering, rail, and construction experience.
• Spearheading the delivery of projects aligned with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030.
• Holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering and a master’s in business administration from the American University in Cairo (AUC).

Steven Mifsud MBE is a global leader in the field of accessibility establishing accessibility consultancy Direct Access in 2004. Under his leadership, Direct Access has won several international awards including the MEED Editors Award in 2019. Steven has worked on some of the world’s most iconic projects including world expositions, Olympics and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. For Expo 2020 Dubai, Steven was appointed Director of Accessibility responsible for all aspects of access and inclusion during the construction and operation stages of the event. He has led teams working with a diverse range of Saudi projects including Qiddiya, Neom, Ilmi, Diriyah Gate and Seven. In 2021 he was awarded the MBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for creating a more accessible world.

A well-known and respected thought leader in MENA affairs, Edward James has been with MEED for more than 19 years, working as a researcher, consultant and content director. Until September 2008 he was MEED’s Gulf Bureau Chief, after which he moved over to head up the consulting arm of the business. From 2015-2021 he was responsible for content and research at MEED Projects, the region’s leading projects tracking service.

Today he heads up all content and research produced by the MEED group. His specific areas of expertise are construction, hydrocarbons, power and water, and the petrochemical market, and is considered one of the world’s foremost experts on the MENA projects market.

He is a regular guest commentator on Middle East issues for news channels such as the BBC, CNN and ABC News and is a regular speaker at events in the region. He has an honours degree in Arabic and Middle East Politics.

Colin Foreman is Editor and a Specialist Construction Journalist for news and analysis on MEED.com and the MEED magazine. He has been reporting on the region since 2003, specialising in the construction sector and its impact on the broader economy. He has reported exclusively on a wide range of projects across the region including schemes such as Dubai Metro, the Burj Khalifa, Jeddah Airport, Doha Metro, Hamad International Airport, and Yas Island. Before joining MEED, Colin reported on the construction sector in the Middle East and Hong Kong. He has a bachelor’s degree from Newcastle University and a master’s degree from the University of Reading.

Yasir Iqbal is MEED’s Construction Editor. He has been with MEED for more than 3 years, working as a researcher, writer and construction expert. Before joining MEED, Yasir worked as an analyst at a regional project tracking platform where he led a team of researchers analysing the projects market and providing expert assessments for key project stakeholders across the region.

His specific area of expertise is the Saudi Arabia construction market, with a particular focus on the giga projects program on which he is widely-known for his insights and commentary. He holds an MBA degree from the University of Kashmir.

Salman Badr currently held the position of the Executive Vice President, Infrastructure Advisory in the National Center for Privatization & PPP since January 2021. Prior to that Salman served as Director of Investments at The Saudi Industrial Investments Company (Dussur), an industrial investment and development company.

Salman’s experience also includes an executive leadership role in an international defense logistics company, as well as private equity and infrastructure investment execution in a global emerging markets private equity firm.

Salman holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Political Science with Honors from the University of Toronto, Canada, 2005.

Sherief is currently working for the Global Industry Strategy & Innovation team at Oracle, and part of Oracle’s Industries Innovation lab.

Sherief is an industry’s digital transformation speaker, as well as sitting on the judging panel of the region’s prestigious innovation start-ups accelerator programmes.

Sherief comes from a construction project management background with 17 years of experience in Enterprise Project Portfolio Management automation. Prior to joining Oracle, he used to develop business and project manage implementations for enterprise-wide project management solutions for large organisations in the Middle East.

Varun Kharbanda, Managing Director, Protiviti Member Firm for the Middle East

Varun is Regional Middle East & India Leader for Real Estate, Infrastructure Industry & Capital Projects Advisory Vertical within Protiviti Member Firm. He leads a team of professionals responsible for providing end to end solutions for mega and complex Capital Projects and Programmes from concept to operational stabilization phase across varied range of project portfolios.

He has extensive international experience of 19 years across US, Europe, Middle East, Southeast Asia and India sub-continent in leading Project, Program & Portfolio level engagements with C-suite stakeholders.

Lucien Zeigler is a venture capitalist, strategic advisor, podcast host, and public speaker with over 15 years of experience working with and living in Saudi Arabia. Lucien is Managing Director at RedSalt Advisory Company, a boutique business development and strategic advisory firm with clients in the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East, principal and director for the MENA region at Pilatus Capital, a deeptech venture capital fund based in Silicon Valley, California, and Vice President of the non-profit Saudi-US Trade Group based in Washington, D.C.

Lucien is founder and co-host of The TWENTY30 Podcast, the number one bi-weekly podcast show and Youtube channel in English covering Saudi Arabia featuring interviews with changemakers leading Saudi Arabia’s transformation, topical deep dives into the news driving the day, and more.

Previously, Lucien was co-founder and CEO of the media startup Outlit, the venture-backed social publishing network and micropayments platform.

He is a frequent public speaker and event moderator. Among Lucien’s recent Saudi Arabia public speaking engagements include the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) Private Sector Forum in 2023 and 2024, the Human Capability Initiative launched by the Saudi Ministry of Education, events at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, and others.

Lucien splits his time between Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Washington, D.C., USA.

Faisal leads and oversees our project governance and compliance, project controls, quality management, reporting, project risk management and project management information systems.

He has undertaken both strategic and operational roles over the last 13 years across several industries focusing on planning and development of large-scale projects in the Middle East and North America.

Prior to joining Red Sea Global, Faisal worked with Arcadis within their business advisory practice where he led business transformation projects in the UAE and Qatar. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a major in Finance and Economics from McGill University, Canada.

Dr Hossam Abdel Gawad is SETS' VP of Technology and Innovation and an Associate Professor of Traffic and Highway Engineering at Cairo University. He has a PhD in Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) from the University of Toronto and over 20 years of experience in the Middle East, Africa, and North America. He has published over 50 publications in international journals and has focused his career on transport planning and optimization, Intelligent Transport Systems, Artificial Intelligent applications in transportation, smart cities and smart mobility, as well as data-driven innovation in transportation and spatial data management and warehousing.

Dr Hossam Abdel Gawad has worked on a variety of projects that leveraged his deep knowledge on mobility technology, integrated multi-modal mobility, shared mobility systems, smart transport systems, data driven transportation management, as well as micro-mobility & non-motorized Transport. He has worked on numerous projects for clients including the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, City of Toronto, City of Hamilton, Ministry of Transport of Ontario, as well as several in the MENA region and Saudi Arabia, including: RCMC, RCRC, MoTLS, Qiddiya Investment Company, NEOM, Riyadh Municipality.

Arsanios is a seasoned digital leader with extensive knowledge of all aspects of digital transformation, strategy, and tactical operations. He has special interest in automation research and development to modernize the industry. Arsanios is an expert in building and training digital teams on new methods and enjoys challenging current workflows. He is also a selected speaker for New York Build and other industry forums.

Arsanios founded Singularity AEC to help companies reach their full digital potential. Along with his team at Singularity, Arsanios is pushing technological boundaries by offering unique design technology services and customized tools to the Architecture, Engineering and Construction industry.

Mohammed S. Al Surf, holder of PhD. in Sustainable and Green Construction. Founder & President of the Sustainability Professionals in Saudi Arabia Network (SPSA) reaching 5000 members. First Saudi to become a USGBC® Faculty, an ISSP® Sustainability Associate and a TRUE® Advisor. LEED® Accredited Professional in BD+C, ENV SP credential and a Green Classroom Professional. Author of the books titled “Sustainable Housing in Saudi Arabia: Opportunities & Challenges” and “10 Steps to Become a Sustainability Professional”. Member of several local and international professional entities such as the U.S. Green Building Council, the Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE), the Pacific Rim Real-Estate Society (PRRES), Asian Real-Estate Society (AsRES) and Project Management Institute (PMI). Dedicated to applying a systematic approach to Green Construction and Sustainable methods applied on projects in Saudi Arabia to induce quality of life while preserving the depleting supply of natural resources.