Archives: Speakers

As Executive Director, International Investments and Manufacturing in Oxagon, Howard Wu leads a team responsible for building the capacity needed for NEOM’s Oxagon to become a global hub for advanced and clean industries, and a byword for world-leading green technologies.

Under his remit, Wu and his team are charged with attracting investment across Oxagon’s operations, fostering industrial innovation, and managing the development of its innovation and industrial districts.

Through his work, he plays an integral role in fostering growth Oxagon’s green industrial ecosystem, spanning seven core manufacturing clusters, with both technology and people at its core.

Prior to joining Oxagon, Wu held the position of Vice President, Global Head of Networks and General Manager USA at QCT LLC, an original design manufacturer that provides custom-engineered data center solutions to customers around the world. In the hospitality space, Wu’s experience lies with the Millenium and Copthorne Hotels group as President of North America and Chief Technology and Solutions Officer.

During his tenure with Ericcson, Wu held several leadership roles, including Head of Product Line Cloud Hardware and Infrastructure to Vice President of Head of Software Defined Infrastructure. Additionally, he spent time working at Joyent, a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung, as General Manager of Canada and then President of Greater China.

Wu’s academic credentials include a BA in Political Science and Asian Studies from Furman University and an EMBA in Business Administration in British Columbia, Canada. He is the recipient of several global awards, including Canada’s Most Innovative Cloud Startup in 2010, Ericsson Product Team of the Year 2015, and Red DOT Design Award 2016.

Experience overview:

3 years with Schlumberger wire-line and testing

Started as field logging engineer in Oil and gas drilling rigs with Schlumberger to acquire data vs. depth trained in Egypt then worked in Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar.

15 years with Saudi ARAMCO

9 years in engineering design services with Saudi ARAMCO executing Industrial design projects both in-house and through General Engineering Services Contractors.

4 years in project management in KAUST/Town center project completed conceptual design, detail engineering, procurement, construction, handover and closeout.

2 years in project management in King Abdullah Sports City /Main stadium completed conceptual design, detail engineering, procurement and started construction.

12 years with Saudi Binladen Group (SBG)

4 years Chief Procurement Officer in Public building and Airports Division
4 years Commercial Director for Haramain Division.
4 years chief supply chain offices for SBG Contracting (all projects Haramain and non-Haramain)

Total of 30 years Total experience in the fields of engineering design, supply chain and project management .

Dr. Waleed Sultan is an Innovative and Forward-Thinking Leader, visionary C-Suite executive, strategic architect, and transformational leader with a proven track record of driving multibillion-dollar projects and achieving exceptional results across portfolio, program, and project management. With over 20 years of expertise, he excels in business transformation, organizational strategy, and governance frameworks, positioning himself as a catalyst for achieving Vision 2030 objectives and beyond. As a thought leader and author, Dr. Waleed combines cutting-edge technologies such as AI, Big Data Analytics, and digital transformation with elite certifications from top global institutions, including Harvard, IBM, and PMI. His mastery in Benefits Realization Management (BRM), Business Continuity Management (BCM), and VRIO frameworks empowers organizations to unlock value, drive innovation, and sustain competitive advantage. Dr. Waleed’s strategic foresight, risk management expertise, and stakeholder engagement skills have positioned him as a trusted advisor to government and private-sector leaders. His ability to design and execute governance frameworks, ESG strategies, and smart city solutions underscores his role as a pioneer of transformation and impact.

Mr Ahmed Al-Qarishi has experience that exceeds 15 years, during which he occupied positions in Banking and Insurance supervision within the Saudi Central Bank. Mr Al-Qarishi has a Master’s degree in Actuarial Science from Ball State. University in the USA; in addition, he is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries in the USA (FSA).

Yazan Alkhalidi is the Chief Commercial Director at MERED bringing over 20 years of hands-on experience in real estate development and project controls across the Middle East. His career has been defined by successfully managing high-profile portfolios that include luxury residences, flagship commercial buildings, hotels, and dynamic mixed-use developments. Yazan is passionate about building and leading collaborative, high-performing teams, with experience spanning KSA, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, and Doha.

Before joining MERED, Yazan was instrumental in overseeing the commercial and project control strategies for the Qiddiya Upper Plateau Assets in Saudi Arabia, a cornerstone of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 initiative. His work included streamlining project controls, ensuring budget alignment, and optimizing delivery processes. In addition, he has held leadership roles managing PMOs and commercial operations across several countries, enabling the seamless execution of large-scale, complex projects.

Known for his approachable leadership style, transparency, and deep expertise in commercial and project control frameworks, Yazan is dedicated to driving MERED’s success. He is committed to expanding the company’s portfolio while fostering a culture of excellence that supports its growth across the UAE and the GCC.

Sample career highlights

–Nesma Renewable Energy (NRE):  Chief Investment Officer

–Chief Investment Officer PPP  Nesma Water and Energy: Responsible for the full project cycle including development, asset management and portfolio expansion.

–Executive Director of Water Aljomaih Energy and Water: Responsible for the investment of project cycles from origination, business development, tendering and expansion of the water business and special projects.

–Head of Business Development for Middle East Tractebel Engie: Responsible for the full business development cycle of projects covering water, power, hydro, T&D and Urban.

–Regional Director for Middle East, CIS and North Africa Grupo Cobra: Responsible for the Business Development, Regional expansion and Project Development of Water, Power, Hydro, Oil&Gas including EPC projects

–Board Member for Jubail International Water Company and Yanbu International Water Company representing Nesma

Chris Seymour has more than 30 years’ experience in the industry and over 15 years based in the Middle East working in most of the major cities in the region.

Currently heading up the Mace business in ME & Africa, Chris is also the former managing director of the Mott MacDonald Middle East operation. Professionally he is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Governing Council and also an independent advisor on the Investment Committee of ENBD Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT).

Having spent many years in PFI and PPP procurement practising in both UK, Europe and Middle East, he also advises many clients on strategy, risk, commercial and technical advice for major programmes & investments.

A familiar face at conferences and industry events, Chris was awarded Construction Executive of the Year in 2020 by Construction Week magazine.

Prior to moving to the Middle East Chris worked for Arcadis and was a member of the strategic advisory board to the Group, advising on mergers and acquisitions, divestments, strategy changes and shareholder presentations.