Archives: Speakers

Vinod Raghothamarao is currently Director Middle East, Africa and India for GaffneyCline and based out of Dubai. He has 21+ years of work experience across Consulting and C-level Advisory, Research, Knowledge Monetization, Strategy, Technology and Management Consulting, P & L Management, Sales and New Business Development across energy (upstream oil and gas, LNG, midstream,downstream,),energy transition (Hydrogen, CCUS), industrial, EPC and mining sector. I have strong business development, analytical, project management, leadership skills as well as advanced communications skills. I have extensive experience working with a diverse set of executive clients across Asia (including Southeast Asia), USA, Latin America (Brazil), Europe (Spain, France) and the Middle East (GCC, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan) & Africa.

Vinod Raghothamarao is a regular contributor to Middle East and Global Media on energy and energy transition thought leadership articles apart from moderating and chairing panels on energy transition. Hydrogen  and jury member of Middle East energy awards for the last few years.

Vinod Raghothamarao has an MBA (Finance & Strategy) from ESADE Business School in Barcelona Spain and an undergraduate degree in Computer Science Engineering from NIT Surathkal,India.

Karan brings 17+ years of international experience from SLB, Weatherford and EY-Parthenon, and holds an MBA from London Business School and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Western Ontario. At EY, Karan is a recognized global expert in oil and gas and is a trusted strategic advisor to C-suite leaders in Canada, the U.S., and across MENA. His expertise includes oil and gas, clean fuels, critical minerals, the energy transition, and a continuously developing knowledge of the uses and limitations of Generative AI. He actively advises clients on corporate and growth strategy, cost takeout and operational efficiency, transformation and value creation efforts, and commercial due diligence to support M&A transactions. He is known for his pragmatic, data-driven approach that combines field experience, technical depth and business acumen. With a leadership style built on trust and accountability, Karan has built a strong track record of leading high-performing teams, turning around underperforming operations, and scaling businesses across geographies.

Sulaiman Rafat S. Turki is the Chief Strategy & Development Officer at Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC), bringing over a decade of extensive leadership experience across multiple sectors. He specializes in strategic planning, risk management, and corporate governance. Sulaiman began his career in real estate development and mining before joining Saudi Aramco, where he held various roles in finance and project management. His responsibilities include implementing corporate strategies, developing strategic and operational KPIs, and driving new business initiatives. He has played a key role in shaping SWPC’s strategic direction. He is also committed to mentoring young professionals and fostering industry innovation. He holds an MBA and a bachelor’s in business administration specializing in corporate finance.

Dr. Saraa Alasadi is an accomplished academic and industry professional with extensive expertise in civil engineering, engineering management, and digital transformation in construction. At the American University of Bahrain, she teaches and supervises research in areas spanning sustainability, traffic and transportation engineering, and BIM.

Her research and publications focus on innovative applications of machine learning, BIM, and sustainability in civil engineering, with several papers featured in IEEE and other leading journals. She is also a frequent speaker at regional and international conferences on smart cities, sustainability, and digital transformation

Dr. Mohamad Nassereddine is a distinguished electrical engineer specializing in renewable energy, smart grid technologies, and power system operations. His research is dedicated to enhancing sustainable energy solutions, smart city development, and maintaining electrical network stability. As a Senior Member of IEEE and a reviewer for leading journals, Dr. Nassereddine is committed to innovation and excellence in electrical engineering, significantly contributing to knowledge advancement and the development of cutting-edge technologies. His work greatly impacts energy management, sustainability, and the future of electrical power systems. Dr. Nassereddine’s publications from the years 2023, 2024, and 2025 encompass the following sectors:

• Renewable Energy Systems: Research on hybrid photovoltaic and biogas systems, solar power prediction, energy storage, and integrating renewable energy sources into power networks.
• Smart Grids and Smart Cities: Concentrating on smart grid stability, advanced electrical network design for smart cities, IoT applications in intelligent transportation, and energy efficiency in smart energy management.
• Electrical Power Systems: In-depth study of transmission line earthing systems, lightning protection for PV systems, advanced earth grid monitoring, and substations.
• Machine Learning and Data Analytics: Application of machine learning for electricity demand forecasting, smart grid security, and fraud detection in financial transactions.
• Waste to Energy: Examination of hybrid waste-to-energy solutions.
• Power Prediction in Photovoltaics: Enhancing performance using machine learning techniques.

“Dr. Maher is a highly accomplished professional and visionary leader with over two decades of dedicated experience in the fields of engineering, academics, management, and sustainability.

Currently serving as the Vice President and Head of Khatib & Alami’s Riyadh office, Dr. Maher oversees the operations of Khatib & Alami in Riyadh-KSA, managing a team of around 2,000 employees. In addition, Dr. Maher is the General Manager and Executive Board Member of Khatib & Alami Regional Headquarters in Riyadh. His leadership has been instrumental in successfully delivering several prestigious projects’ awards, establishing Khatib & Alami as a trusted partner for esteemed Clients.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Dr. Maher holds a Ph.D. in Environmental & Water Resources, exemplifying his dedication to advancing knowledge in his field. He serves as a lecturer at Beirut Arab University and the Lebanese University, and also holds a position in the advisory board of the Civil Engineering Department at Beirut Arab University. His expertise spans a unique combination of managerial acumen, technical prowess, and academic distinction, evident through his numerous research contributions and publications in respected international journals.

Dr. Maher has several publications and is actively engaged in seminars and conferences, where he generously shares valuable insights on engineering and sustainability.”

Dr. Fadi Aloul is the Dean of the College of Engineering and a Professor of Computer Science & Engineering at the American University of Sharjah (AUS), UAE. He leads a college consisting of an outstanding 100 faculty, 25 lab instructors, 22 administrators, and over 2,700 students. The college offers ten undergraduate programs, ten master’s programs, and four doctoral programs. He previously served as the Computer Science & Engineering Department Head from 2016-2021.

Dr Aloul is known for his visionary, innovative, and transformative leadership, consistently pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and inspiring others to reach new heights in their endeavors. As soon as he was appointed, he led a major revamp of all undergraduate and graduate programs in the College of Engineering which was the first since their inception. In addition, he launched several new undergraduate and graduate programs and general education courses related to the latest market needs.

Six research clusters were identified in the college, reflecting the faculty’s expertise, and leading to a greater focused impact. Five of the clusters were converted to research centers: Energy, Water and Sustainable Environment Research Center (EWSERC), Artificial Intelligence, Smart Infrastructure and Robotics Research Center (AISIRC), Advanced Biosciences and Bioengineering Research Center (ABSBERC), and the Materials Research Center (MRC) which was established in collaboration with the College of Arts and Science.

Several initiatives related to improving students’ experience, empowering faculty, fostering innovation, promoting women in engineering, advancing entrepreneurship, recognizing excellence, improving media exposure, digitizing services, expanding international research network, collaborating with top universities, and engaging with industry, community, and schools were launched.

Under his leadership, the college of engineering improved by 40 points in the 2023 QS subject rankings to be placed as #356 worldwide. Furthermore, AUS engineering and computer science graduates were rated as the top choice for employers in the UAE. The overall research productivity increased by 51% and the new students’ intake increased by 56% in Fall 2024.

Dr. Aloul holds a PhD and MS degrees in Computer Science & Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA, respectively, and a BS degree in Electrical Engineering summa cum laude from Lawrence Technological University, Michigan, USA. His research and industrial interests are in Cyber Security, Mobile Applications, Teaching Innovation, and Design Optimization. He is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and a Certified Reviewer for the UAE Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA).

Dr. Aloul received a number of prestigious awards including the Global Engineering Deans Council (GEDC) Airbus Engineering Diversity Award, the Sheikh Khalifa Award for Higher Education, the Sheikh Rashid’s Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievement, the Abdul Hameed Shoman Award for Young Arab Researchers, and the AUS Excellence in Teaching Award. He has been consistently named among the top 2% global scientists by Stanford University/Elsevier. He has over 150 publications, 1 US patent which generated over 7500 citations and an h-index of 41 as per Google Scholar. He is senior member of IEEE & ACM and a member of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Academy of Scientists. He is a regular invited speaker and panelist across many international conferences related to Cyber Security, AI, Technology, Innovation and Education. In 2024, he was ranked among the Top 200 Creators on LinkedIn in UAE and one of the Top 10 Voices for Higher Education in the UAE.