Archives: Speakers

Sharat is Executive Director – Retail/Commercial Design & Delivery at Diriyah Company, where he plays a key role using his expertise in shaping retail and commercial design, along with delivery systems and standards that enhance product deliverables.

Sharat brings over 20 years of experience in retail design and project management to his current role with Diriyah.

Previously, he served as Director of Retail Design and Delivery Property Management at Meraas Development in Dubai, where he led portfolio management for mixed-use properties, covering base build and tenant design and delivery.

Earlier in his career, Sharat held senior positions in Dubai with Majid Al Futtaim—where he oversaw the design and delivery of more than 1,000 F&B, service, and retail units, including short-term spaces—and with Home Centre.

Sharat is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the School of Planning and Architecture in New Delhi, India.

Sherif is a Partner and Head of Middle East & Africa working across Actis’ long life infrastructure and energy infrastructure sectors. Born in Cairo, Sherif has spent most of his life in the Middle East region. He started his career at EFG-Hermes Private Equity, investing in Egypt, Jordan and Turkey, and later moving to structured finance at HSBC where he focused on infrastructure project finance.

In 2004, Sherif joined Actis as an Associate focusing on North Africa. Now a Partner leading Actis’ business in the Middle East & Africa, he has played various deal leadership, execution, investment management and exit roles across 13 different transactions spanning multiple sectors including Wind Power, Solar C&I, Telecommunications, Education, Healthcare, and Consumer Sectors. Sherif also played a leadership role in the transaction leading to Actis taking over management rights of the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia funds previously managed by Abraaj Capital in 2019.

Sherif is an Adjunct Professor of Finance at the American University in Cairo, where he has regularly lectured on private equity and has been awarded the “Excellence in Teaching Award.” He is also a member of the Economic Advisory Council of the Arab Republic of Egypt and a member of the Young Presidents Organisation. Sherif has a Ph.D. in Economics and an MSc in Finance and Economic Development (with Distinction), both from the University of London.

Yazeed Alsaqaaby leads the Transport Sector project at the National Center for Privatization (NCP), covering roads, airports, ports, logistics centers, and public transport. He oversees the full transaction cycle—structuring, tendering, negotiating, and closing—to ensure projects maximize value for the government. With a background in private equity and asset management, he brings an investment-driven approach to infrastructure delivery.

Khaled Alrubaian joined NCP in January 2024 as an Executive Vice President for Social Advisory, he has more than 15 years of rounded experience in the financial, private, and government sector. Prior to joining NCP, Khaled has been the Assistant Deputy Minister for Logistics Deputyship at the Ministry of Transport and Logistics where he was in charge of delivering change, development, and transformation of the logistics sector in KSA.

Before that, he was a CEO of a family office leading different investments and a Senior Financial Advisor in a government entity. Khaled has also worked as an Investment Director at an Agribusiness firm (ARASCO) on the capacity of advising the CEO and the board on IPOs, M&As, Restructuring, and Divestitures. Early in his career, he joined the banking industry, namely SAMBA and SABB, in Institutional Banking. In addition, Khaled assumed different board and committee positions in the investment, agribusiness, logistics, and manufacturing sectors where he served as a chair and a member.
He has an MBA from Suffolk University in Boston, USA and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Management from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. In addition, he is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA), a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA). Moreover, he completed several executive programs from different leading universities such as London Business School, University of Pennsylvania (Wharton), and IESE.

Zeyd joined Victaulic in 2016 as an Area Sales Manager for the Middle East and ascended the ranks to Regional Sales Manager for the Middle East and Africa before assuming his current position as Division Manager for the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey at the start of 2023.

In this role, Zeyd leads a team of dedicated sales and marketing professionals, orchestrating the delivery of innovative and reliable mechanical pipe joining solutions according to the diverse needs of customers across the region.

Zeyd’s strengths lie in developing and executing strategic plans, nurturing enduring customer relationships, and solving complex challenges. Under his guidance, the team has achieved remarkable growth in sales revenue, market share, and customer satisfaction, cementing Victaulic’s position as an industry leader.

Prior to joining Victaulic, Zeyd garnered extensive experience in various roles within the engineering and infrastructure sectors. As a Regional Sales Manager at Duktus Pipe Systems, he spearheaded the sales of water network systems in the MENA region, catering to government entities, consultants, and contractors. His tenure as a Business Development Manager at Khudairi Group, meanwhile, equipped him with insights into EPC projects and water infrastructure services in Iraq.

Drawing on his Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Management from Jordan University of Science and Technology, Zeyd’s career has also included a stint as a Project Engineer at Consolidated Contractors International. Having contributed in this role to the execution of a substantial water pipeline project in Abu Dhabi, Zeyd knows first-hand the challenges faced by engineers and contractors. This positions him to adeptly assist in overcoming these obstacles with Victaulic’s grooved mechanical pipe joining solutions.

Zeyd is passionate about providing value and quality to customers and creating a positive impact on the environment and society. His mission as Division Manager for the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey is to drive sustainable growth for Victaulic as a trusted business partner and total solutions provider throughout project lifecycles – from virtual design, through prefabrication and modularisation, to installation training and quality control. Also with a keen eye on future needs, including potential reconfigurations or recycling efforts, Zeyd remains steadfast in his commitment to facilitating success and longevity for Victaulic’s valued customers.

Connect with Zeyd Ammoura on LinkedIn

ABOUT Victaulic

Since 1919, Victaulic has been the world’s leading manufacturer of grooved mechanical pipe joining solutions. The company’s innovative technologies and services are used in one of the most demanding markets. They enable work to be carried out more quickly, while increasing occupational safety, ensuring operational reliability and maximising productivity. The company has 15 major manufacturing facilities and 28 branch offices, employing over 3,600 people who speak a total of 43 languages. With more than 1,800 active patents in over 125 countries worldwide, Victaulic’s products are used in a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, chemicals, mining, power generation, water and wastewater treatment, military and marine, building services and fire protection. For more information, please visit www.victaulic.com.

Charles Phillips is an independent consultant specialising in sustainable development in Saudi Arabia. He advises the UN Global Compact in Saudi Arabia and ModeScore, a sustainable transport certification expanding across the region. He is also an Associate at Aeon Collective, a Saudi NGO dedicated to sustainable development. His work focuses on climate change and sustainability policy, the Kingdom’s giga projects, and its growing tourism and heritage sectors. Charles has travelled and worked extensively across the Middle East and holds an MPhil in Modern Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Oxford.