Archives: Speakers

He is the assistant deputy mayor for Iconic Projects at Riyadh Region Municipality. Before that, he had appointed in several executive leadership positions as Vice President for Operations at the Ministry of Health and managerial positions at Spending Efficiency and Government Projects Authority (EXPRO). Furthermore, Mohammed worked as project manager at King Abdullah Financial Distract (KAFD).In addition; he worked at Wood Group Mustang in both offices; Houston, USA and Alkhbar, Saudi Arabia. Mohammed has MBA degree from Prince Mohammed bin Salman College of Business and Entrepreneurship. He, also, has a Master’s degree in Engineering Management from the University of Akron, Ohio, USA after getting his Bachelors’ degree in civil engineering from King Saud University. Mohammed has completed several executive programs from University of Oxford and Harvard. He obtained Engineering license from State of Texas, USA as well as E-PMO license (Expert Level)

General Manager for the Projects Department of Jeddah Historical District. Sean is a degree qualified Civil Engineer, a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, and a Chartered Member of the Institution of Engineers of Ireland. He has over 35 years’ experience in the construction industry and has a proven track record on project delivery worldwide. He has delivered large complex projects in Ireland, UK, USA, South Africa, Libya and most recently KSA. Sean has over 13years experience in KSA including Atturaif UNESCO World Heritage Site in Diriyah, NEOM, Diriyah Gate and most recently Jeddah Historical District UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Josep Forroll is the Chief Development Strategy Officer and acting Chief of Development for Diriyah Phase 3 at Diriyah Company. In his current role, Josep is responsible for defining and overseeing strategies across the Diriyah Development Company. With over 20 years of global experience, Josep brings expertise to the forefront of Diriyah’s transformation.

Before his role at Diriyah Company, Josep contributed to defining the vision, concept, organizational setup, and overall strategy for several Real Estate gig and mega projects in Saudi Arabia. His portfolio includes projects such as Red Sea, NEOM, Al Ula, and Jeddah Central, where he worked with senior country leadership to shape the future of these developments.

Josep has extensive experience defining and driving company strategies, transformations, governance, organization models. He has experience across various industries and geographies. Before joining Diriyah Company, his career includes senior positions at strategy consulting firms such as Boston Consulting Group and Oliver Wyman.

His educational journey includes a Master of Science in Telecommunications Engineering, a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, and an MBA from INSEAD. Presently, he serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the INSEAD alumni association in Saudi Arabia.

Daniel McBrearty boasts a distinguished record in orchestrating real estate and hospitality development endeavors, adeptly steering strategy formulation and execution, fostering brand growth, and pioneering creative design initiatives. His expertise spans acquisitions, pioneering development methodologies, asset expansion, and portfolio oversight.

Throughout his professional journey, Daniel has occupied pivotal leadership roles within globally renowned entities such as Vail Resorts, Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney Imagineering, , and others. Additionally, while at Under Canvas he worked with KSL Capital Partners and the Investment Committee to establish a new brand in addition to bolster quality standards, health and safety protocols, and environmental stewardship, while diligently preparing official reports.

Daniel earned his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles, and further fortified his expertise with a master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge.

Francis is a seasoned Vice President, Program Director and C-suite level professional with over 28 years in construction delivery and leadership. He has led teams over 300 professionals on complex billion-dollar Private Investment Fund (PIF) projects and is experienced at reporting to Board and Ministerial levels. Over his career, he has developed an outstanding record in program delivery with full lifecycle appreciation from master planning to handover on complex major programs and also in business, strategy, complex problem solving, negotiations, client relationship management and leading teams.

Having devoted the past 14 years of his career in GCC, he has developed a deep understanding of the industry. In the past 6 years in KSA he has delivered major programs to successful completion to include the reactivation of the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD).

• Extensive experience throughout the GCC
• Full lifecycle experience from concept through master planning to completion and handover
• Proven successes in planning, directing, and coordinating high-priority and complex projects and tasks.
• Proven experience in major Legacy and Brown field reactivation programs

Education

Executive MBA, University College Dublin; Postgraduate, Building Project Management, School of Architecture, University College Dublin; MA, Trinity College Dublin; Honours Degree Engineering.

Parsons (NYSE: PSN) is a leading disruptive technology provider in the national security and global infrastructure markets, with capabilities across cyber, space and missile defense, transportation, environmental remediation, urban development, and critical infrastructure protection.

Founded in 1944, today the company has more than 18,000 employees around the globe delivering integrated solutions at the speed of relevance. The company proudly supports global customers, delivering on our corporate vision of Creating the Future of National Security and Global Infrastructure.

With a team of more than 6,000 employees in the Middle East, our professionals bring domain expertise across multiple disciplines, including smart mobility, asset management, urban planning, and landscape architecture.

Please visit parsons.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook to learn how we’re making an impact.

Slava Kiryushin is a highly recognised construction dispute specialist in the MENA region having represented clients in multi-billion disputes related to energy, construction and infrastructure projects. His clients include national and international oil & gas companies, refining and petrochemical companies, EPC contractors, and oil & gas service companies.

More about Slava

Slava advises on all complex aspects of construction and oil & gas projects from inception through to completion and on all aspects of dispute avoidance and resolution. He is a solicitor-advocate and frequently advocates on behalf of clients in international arbitration. His recent work includes oil and gas processing facilities, drilling contracts (onshore and offshore), power plants, LNG facilities, refineries, water desalination plants and major railroads.

He has Part II appearance rights (restricted) to appear before the DIFC courts, is a member of most international arbitration bodies, is a founding member of the DMCC Energy Club and is regularly invited to speak at international conferences. Slava is also a certified PRINCE2 and PRINCE2 Agile project manager.

What the market says about Slava

Slava is widely recognised by the industry, as reflected in rankings and awards received:

• Up and Coming Partner in Construction Dispute Resolution (Chambers Global UAE 2024)
• Leading Individual in Oil, Gas & Natural Resources (Legal 500 EMEA UAE 2024).
• Next Generation Partner in Construction (Legal 500 EMEA UAE 2024).
• Expert in both Oil & Gas and Power/Electricity (Who’s Who Legal).
• Winner of the “Client Choice 2021” award in Energy and Natural Resources (UAE).
• Asian Legal Business MENA Super 50 lawyer (2022).
• Thomson Reuters Global “Standout Lawyer” (2022).

He is held in high esteem by the industry, as is reflected in client testimonials from recent Legal 500 and Chambers rankings:
“Slava Kiryushin is one of perhaps 3-4 people in the entire Middle East that understands the industry. He has been in the industry for quite some time and speaks the same language.” Legal 500 EMEA UAE 2024

“In my 20 years of experience, I’ve not come across a better lawyer than Slava. If there is a technical, commercial issue or dispute in the O&G sector, Slava is the right person. Best person in the industry that we have worked with.” Legal 500 EMEA UAE 2024

“Slava Kiryushin is excellent with clients and very knowledgeable of construction projects and disputes throughout MENA, especially in the energy sector. He is very personable.” Legal 500 EMEA UAE 2024

“Slava Kiryushin is commercial and pragmatic, he breaks down complex issues into simple decisions.” Legal 500 EMEA UAE 2024

“Slava is an outstanding energy lawyer. He has an outstanding commercial awareness of the energy industry and of the motivators driving both sides in complex disputes.” Chambers Global UAE 2024

“We enjoy working with Slava. He works in a collaborative manner to bring together inputs from a variety of experts to address complex issues on large-scale infrastructure projects.” Chambers Global UAE 2024

“Slava is hands-down the best lawyer we have worked with. Extremely intelligent and user-friendly, with a perfect balance of technical advice and commercial expertise.” Chambers Global UAE 2024

“Slava Kiryushin is not just a legal expert, but a true oil and gas powerhouse. He is involved in the most technical aspects of operations and can dissect the drilling reports with ease, as well as understanding the workflow of the most complex production facilities in the oil and gas process.” Legal 500

“Slava Kiryushin is the person to go to if you have a complex oil and gas issue. When dealing with drilling programmes, complex EPCs or any form of commercial arrangements, we have not met anyone better suited than him.” Legal 500

Elan Habib is the Middle East Regional Director for ICIS, a commodities intelligence firm for the global energy and petrochemical industries.

Prior to ICIS, Elan was the Head of Thought Leadership & Strategic Research at the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA), the industry body that represents the downstream hydrocarbon industry in the GCC. In this capacity, Elan led and defined the strategic direction of GPCA’s thought leadership platform, influencing regional agendas. Elan worked closely with CEOs in the chemical industry and senior government officials on several initiatives, including bilateral trade relations for key chemical exports, the development of the downstream industry, as well as increasing chemical industry competitiveness in the Middle East.

Prior to GPCA, Elan led the Middle East business intelligence for Royal Vopak, a Dutch oil, gas, and chemical terminal company, with headquarters in the Netherlands.

Elan has spent more than a decade working with senior government and industry leaders in the region. Elan worked as a senior strategy consultant at Monitor Group (later Monitor Deloitte), where she advised government leaders in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, and the UAE. Her work focused on defining and implementing national strategic plans, and on issues related to economic development and competitiveness.

Elan is also an author with a track record of publishing articles in leading industry trade press. She is a sought-after expert for media interviews and has been featured on platforms such as Al Arabiya TV, Bloomberg, Oil & Gas Middle East, and MEED Business Review. Her discussions revolve around critical topics such as decarbonization, the energy transition, hydrogen, and downstream petrochemical integration. Her insights and analyses contribute to shaping industry discourse and strategies in these vital areas.

Elan is a Canadian national. She graduated from The University of Western Ontario with a B.A. in Political Science.