Archives: Speakers

Following graduation with a Master of Engineering (MEng) in Chemical Engineering, I began my career with Atkins’ Nuclear and Power business, providing technical advisory services and managing a wide variety of projects, including new build thermal power generation front end development studies, technical due diligence and nuclear and oil and gas safety cases.

In 2011, I pursued my interest in bioenergy with another consultancy, where I soon led the company’s bioenergy team, with responsibility for project delivery, business development and P&L. Projects included feasibility and conceptual design studies for biomass boiler and combined heat and power developments.

In 2013, I returned to Atkins with increased responsibilities, including delivering and managing larger, more complex projects and bids.

In 2018, I joined Atkins’ Nuclear and Power business in the Middle East to deliver power and water projects and grow our presence in the region. I am responsible for technical delivery, project management, business management and business development.

I am a chartered chemical engineer and a member of the Institution of Chemical Engineers. I am also a qualified Energy Saving Opportunities Scheme lead assessor.

Atkins’ Nuclear and Power business in the Middle East provides high value technical advisory services in relation to nuclear, hydrogen, waste to energy, renewables and conventional power projects, to a wide range of clients, including public sector clients such as Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (KAPP), Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP), as well as private developers such as ACWA Power, Marubeni, Engie and others.

Amer Kharbush is the Head of Projects Execution Function in ROSHN Group. He is a successful high-performing manager with demonstrated hands-on experience in managing multiple complex and challenging projects through effective strategy and planning.

His area of expertise includes delivering projects in hospitality, multi-use commercial, bio-medical research, healthcare, residential and retail complexes, education, museums, and high-rise and low-rise buildings.

Throughout his career, Amer was able to develop the proper skillset to regularly meet and exceed performance targets and clients’ expectations, and decrease project cost and time through value engineering, constructability reviews, proper planning and site management, while building and maintaining strong relationships.

Mohamed serves as the President of the Diriyah Development Company (DevCo) and leads the development activities for the 14 square kilometer, USD 63Bn mixed-use development, anchored on the birthplace of the Kingdom, the UNESCO World Heritage site of At-Turaif.

Mohamed has more than 20 years’ experience leading major retail-focused, residential, and commercial offices projects across the Middle East. Over the course of his two-decade career, he has been responsible for some of the region’s most innovative retail, residential and interiors companies.

Prior to his joining Diriyah, Mohamed held positions as Development Director of the Mall of Oman and Development Director of the City Center Almaza, Egypt, for Majid Al Futtaim Properties. Prior to that he was General Manager for Living in Interiors, based in Cairo, where he led the transformation of a family-owned business into a corporate enterprise developing premium residential and offices buildings.

Mohamed also has professional experience working as a structural design engineer and head of business development for a portfolio of Dubai and Egypt based companies. Mohamed holds a BSc in Civil & Structural Engineering from Cairo University and a PMP certification.

As the Managing Director of KEO-Infrastructure, Sameer is responsible for the division’s operations, including training and career development, business growth, and commercial management. As a divisional head, he reports to the President and CEO and is a member of KEO’s Executive Leadership Management Board.

Sameer has 25 years of global project experience and significant executive leadership and operational expertise having previously held senior executive positions in international consulting firms and contracting companies across the US, North Africa, and the Middle East.His key skills are in Project Management, Technical Expertise in Infrastructure Projects, Operations Management, Business Development, and Client Relationship Management. Sameer has an acute understanding of planning and delivering mega infrastructure projects.

Sameer is a degree-qualified Civil Engineer. He holds current memberships in the American Society of Civil Engineers since 2001, the Texas Board of Professional Engineers since 2005, and the UAE Society of Engineers.

Sameer is a future-thinking infrastructure leader, broadening his views away from purely physical assets to include Smart, Digital and Sustainable assets. He is reshaping how we think about infrastructure, focusing on how infrastructure can contribute to ecological and societal health and prosperity in future cities. Sameer is an active member within the engineering community in the region and had authored numerous articles for well reputed media providers.

He is a sought-after speaker who has delivered presentations on various topics in conferences across the region, engaging audiences with his expertise and insights.

Nourhan ElSadawy is the HR Director for Mott MacDonald’s Middle East business. A highly accomplished HR professional with a wealth of experience in leading and managing People functions, she plays a crucial role in driving the strategic People initiatives for the company’s operations across the Middle East.

Nourhan holds a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management and Development, and is an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), demonstrating her commitment to continuous professional development and staying up-to-date with the latest HR practices. Her strong educational background, combined with her practical experience, allows her to apply a well-rounded approach to managing People projects.

Nourhan has successfully led and managed numerous People initiatives, contributing to the overall success of Mott MacDonald. She is a valued member of Mott MacDonald’s Middle East Unit Board, where she collaborates closely with business leaders to develop and implement effective People programs, procedures, and processes that align with the strategic goals of the company.

Nourhan is committed to identifying, nurturing, and developing talent within the local region. Her passion for talent management is evident in her strategic approach to People initiatives, ensuring the company attracts, retains, and empowers top-notch professionals.

As the Managing Director of KEO-Infrastructure, Sameer is responsible for the division’s operations, including training and career development, business growth, and commercial management. As a divisional head, he reports to the President and CEO and is a member of KEO’s Executive Leadership Management Board.

Sameer has 25 years of global project experience and significant executive leadership and operational expertise having previously held senior executive positions in international consulting firms and contracting companies across the US, North Africa, and the Middle East.His key skills are in Project Management, Technical Expertise in Infrastructure Projects, Operations Management, Business Development, and Client Relationship Management. Sameer has an acute understanding of planning and delivering mega infrastructure projects.

Sameer is a degree-qualified Civil Engineer. He holds current memberships in the American Society of Civil Engineers since 2001, the Texas Board of Professional Engineers since 2005, and the UAE Society of Engineers.

Sameer is a future-thinking infrastructure leader, broadening his views away from purely physical assets to include Smart, Digital and Sustainable assets. He is reshaping how we think about infrastructure, focusing on how infrastructure can contribute to ecological and societal health and prosperity in future cities. Sameer is an active member within the engineering community in the region and had authored numerous articles for well reputed media providers.

He is a sought-after speaker who has delivered presentations on various topics in conferences across the region, engaging audiences with his expertise and insights.

Nicholas King is the Group Chief Development Officer of Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer behind The Red Sea and Amaala, two ambitious tourism projects set along the northwestern coast of Saudi Arabia. These destinations will play key roles in the realization of Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s economic roadmap for the future.

Nicholas joined the organization in September 2020, bringing with him more than three decades of experience in successful International real estate development.

Prior to joining RSG, Nick was principal of SunCal, one of the largest private land developers in the United States. In that role he led urban development activity, as well as having a guiding hand across all projects including land developments on both coasts ranging from 2,000 to 55,000 acres. Nick had direct responsibility for the acquisition and development of numerous award-winning projects including, most recently, a three million square foot mixed-use development in the Arts District of Los Angeles designed by Herzog & De Meuron.

Before SunCal, Nick operated throughout the Asia Pacific region, developing and investing in luxury residential, integrated resort, and complex mixed-use urban projects, both through his own business as well as in a leadership capacity for organizations such as ING Real Estate, Shell Real Estate and Hillwood Asia.

He received his Master’s Degree in Urban Design, specializing in Real Estate Development, from Harvard University. He was awarded an MBA from the University of Chicago and completed the Global Leadership Program at IMD in Lausanne.

Nick brings with him a wealth of experience in global cutting-edge development and thinking, and is responsible for all Red Sea Global developments.

Guy Perry joined Diriyah Company as President of DevCo, the development and construction arm of Diriyah. In this role, Mr. Perry will lead the organization’s masterplanning and construction activities for the 14 square-kilometer mixed-use development, anchored on the birthplace of the Kingdom, the UNESCO World Heritage site of At-Turaif.

Guy has over 30 years’ experience in regional tourism strategy, design, development and consulting, criss-crossing the globe and giving him a broad view of the industry, its needs and challenges.

Prior to joining Diriyah Company, Guy worked with McKinsey & Company as Vice President in charge of development strategy for the Middle East, South Asia, Africa, and Europe. He also previously held the role of President of Cities & Strategy at Essel Group in Mumbai, India; Executive Director of Building and Places for APAC at AECOM based out of Hong Kong; President of In-Vi Investment Vision+Environments covering Zurich, Warsaw and Sao Paulo; Senior Vice President at TriZecHahn Europe based in London; and Vice President at HOK based out of St. Louis with a global remit.

While presiding over his own design and development firm, IN-VI, his projects received top accolades from ULI, ISOCARP, the International Property Awards, FIABCI, the International Academy of Design and Health, the Architecture Review and the Global CSR awards.

Guy is focused on the creation of human-centric, environmentally appropriate and fiscally responsible districts and cities.

Guy holds two master’s degrees from Harvard University and has taught at Harvard, MIT and the University of Hong Kong. Early in his career, he led the production of the Smithsonian Institution’s first Emmy Award winning documentary.

Ben Edwards is the Group Head of Cost, Commercial and Procurement of Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer behind The Red Sea and Amaala, two ambitious tourism projects set along the northwestern coast of Saudi Arabia. These destinations will play key roles in the realization of Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s blueprint for economic diversification and sustainable development.

Ben was appointed in August 2022, with over 25 years of experience gained with major contractors in the UK, Europe, Caribbean, Middle East and Far East. He has a proven record of delivering complex building and civil engineering projects across the globe prior to joining RSG.

Previously he was a Main Board Director of Tilbury Douglas in London, UK. He was responsible for the development and implementation of the business’ commercial strategy to undertake a greater proportion of lower risk projects blending the strengths of a strong regional business with public sector building and infrastructure frameworks, fit out and a selective presence in the commercial development market.

Ben has a bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying from the University of Northumbria at Newcastle, UK.

Tony Aikenhead is Chief Delivery Officer at the Sports Boulevard Foundation where he is overseeing construction of the world’s longest park in Riyadh.

Tony has over 40 years’ experience in the construction industry, working in the UK, US, Australasia, Europe, Middle East and Latin America. He is a highly accomplished construction and programme director with a specific focus on major project and programme delivery within schedule and budget.

Prior to joining the Sports Boulevard Foundation, Tony was most recently CDO of Dubai Expo 2020, a £17bn Design and Construction Programme. Before this role, he was CEO of a leading and highly reputable international construction company of 2000 staff, £1bn turnover. In this role, he led the restructuring to profitability and enhanced growth and resilience following a period of recession.