OUR SPEAKERS

SESSION 3: INNOVATE EDUCATION

DR TONY CHAN, PRESIDENT, KAUST

Professor Tony Chan became the third president of KAUST in September 2018 after nearly a decade as president of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. He led a strategic planning process to lead KAUST into its second decade, including growing the faculty and students by up to 50%.

He has expanded KAUST’s research emphasis from energy, water, food and environment to include digital and health, launching new initiatives in Artificial Intelligence, Smart Health, Cyber Security and Circular Carbon.

By positioning the university to leverage Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 strategic plan, he is strengthening its engagement with the nation. He also leads efforts to enhance the global and national visibility of KAUST.

President Chan was Assistant Director of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate at the US National Science Foundation from 2006 to 2009. He taught Computer Science at Yale University before joining UCLA as Professor of Mathematics in 1986 and was Chair of the Department of Mathematics in 1997 and later Dean of Physical Sciences. He was a co-founder and Director of the US NSF funded National Math Institute IPAM.

He received his BSc and MSc in Engineering from Caltech and his PhD in Computer Science from Stanford University, followed by a Research Fellowship at Caltech. He holds an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Strathclyde. He is a member of US National Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of IEEE, AAAS and SIAM.

Professor Chan was awarded the 2020 SIAM Prize for Distinguished Service to the Profession. He serves on the Future Investment Initiative Institute; King Abdulaziz City of Science & Technology; the Biotechnology City Initiative of Riyadh; Skolkovo, Russia; Yidan Prize Foundation, Hong Kong; IPAM, UCLA and the Hong Kong Academy of Science. He also serves on the Advisory Board/Committee of King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals; NEOM; KAPARC College, the Supervisory National Strategy Committee of Data and AI of the Saudi Data & AI Authority; KAIST, Korea; RIKEN, Japan; Hang Lung Mathematics Awards, China, SUSTech, China; and the Academic Ranking of World Universities, China.

PROFESSOR MOHAMED LOUTFI, PRESIDENT, THE BRITISH UNIVERSITY IN EGYPT

Professor Loutfi is currently President and Vice-Chancellor of the British University in Egypt. He was previously Vice-Chancellor’s Special Envoy at Coventry University and served as the inaugural President of the Knowledge Hub at Coventry’s campus in Egypt.

He has held numerous leadership roles such as the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff Metropolitan University and at the University of Sunderland.

He holds multiple international roles; he is an Ambassador (former council member) at the Observatory of Magna Charta Univeristatum of Fundamental University Values and Rights in Bologna, Vice-President of the Board of the Arab European Leadership Network in Higher Education ARELEN and was the first in Europe to take part in a global education think tank set up by the Ministry of Education in China to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and start-up education.

Professor Loutfi has been responsible for building partnerships with over 25 different countries, some at governmental level. Projects have included partnerships with universities and enhancing institutional cooperation in learning, teaching and enterprise.

He worked on many EU projects for Higher Education Reforms and on Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Ukraine, Russia, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt. He has worked with Ministries of Higher Education in Lebanon, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and Morocco to develop frameworks for building capacity for leadership in higher education.

Professor Loutfi holds a BSc in Economics and Political Science, an MSc in Information Technology and a PhD in Systems Thinking, his research involves Modelling and Simulation of Social Systems, Non-linear, Dynamic Feedback Systems. A Professor of Internationalisation from Cardiff Metropolitan University, a visiting Professor at Coventry University – UK, and a visiting Professor of Innovation and Globalisation at Eurasia University – China.

The professor has 30 years of experience in higher education with extensive experience in university leadership and management.

DR IMRAN ZAWWAR, REGIONAL DIRECTOR, CRANFIELD SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

Dr Imran Zawwar is a business strategist and heads the Middle East portfolio at Cranfield School of Management as a Regional Director. He has led several executive and corporate development engagements/programmes and has worked on key projects helping governments and other business entities.

Dr Zawwar is a well-respected academic and a member of the Strategy Thought Leadership group at Cranfield School of Management. His research focuses on the strategic interaction between technological innovation and the role entrepreneurs play in helping the countries to grow.

His teaching, research and consulting interests include business strategy, digital transformation and business model innovation.

RT HON CHARLES CLARKE, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EDUCATION, ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER OF CAMBRIDGE PARTNERSHIP FOR EDUCATION

Consultant on international education reform, Cambridge Partnership for Education Rt Hon Charles Clarke was Member of Parliament for Norwich South from 1997 to 2010. He served as Education Minister from 1998 and then in the Home Office from 1999 to 2001. He then joined the Cabinet as Minister without Portfolio and was Labour Party Chair. From 2002 to 2004 he was Secretary of State for Education and Skills and then Home Secretary until 2006.

Charles was previously Chief of Staff to Neil Kinnock, when Leader of the Labour Opposition and previously a councillor in the London Borough of Hackney, chairing the housing committee.

Mr Clarke now holds Visiting Professorships at Lancaster University and King’s College London and works with educational organisations internationally. He is a consultant on international education reform for Cambridge Partnership for Education and co-leads the Baltic Geopolitics programme at the Cambridge University Centre for Geopolitics.

He is the author of numerous publications. In 2011 the Centre for European Reform published his ‘The EU and Migration: A Call for Action’. In 2014 he published ‘The Too Difficult Box’, an analysis of the problems which need to be overcome in promoting change, and in September 2015 two studies in political leadership, ‘British Labour Leaders’ and ‘British Conservative Leaders’; in 2015 he co-wrote, with Professor Linda Woodhead, “A New Settlement, Religion and Belief in Schools”; in 2020 he co-wrote, with Professor Ed Byrne, “The University Challenge”. Mr Clarke read mathematics and economics at King’s College, Cambridge.

Our Speakers

SESSION 4: ACCELERATING HEALTH

JED MRABET, PRESIDENT, TUNISIAN BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (TBCC)

He holds a master’s degree in criminal sciences, University of Law, Toulouse, France (2004) and a degree in legal sciences, Faculty of Legal, Political and Social Sciences of Tunis (2003).

Jed Mrabet was admitted to the Tunisian Bar in 2005.

He has been a Managing Partner of Mrabet Avocats law firm since 2006. He has acted as an Attorney before the Tunisian Supreme Court since 2018.

His varied professional career includes:

• Legal assistance to national airline company TUNISAIR for the sale and lease back agreement (2020);

• Legal assistance to Amen Bank for the transfer of the entire shares constituting the share capital of Al Farabi clinic;

• Legal assistance in the constitution of a joint venture company between the Tunisian-Kuwaiti Development Consortium, Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) and Echiffa Holding to constitute a Real-estate subsidiary, Echiffa Immobilier in November 2017.

• Legal counsel on behalf of the Tunisian state for the sale by Al Karama Holding of its direct and indirect interests in the Carthage Cement Company in June 2017;

• Legal assistance to Groupe Médical les Oliviers (GMO) in the sale of controlling stake in the capital of the company in favour of the TunisianKuwaiti Development Consortium;

• Counsel at the Initial Public Offering of DELICE DANONE in April 2014, which was a first in the history of Tunis Stock Exchange;

• Intervention during the Private Equity transaction relating to the sale of 49% of the capital of SAH (LILAS) to the investment fund Emerging Capital Partners (ECP) in 2008;

• Intermediary council at the initial public offering of the SOPAT agribusiness company 2007. Of the work of the TBCC, Mr Mrabet says, “The Chamber’s role is to attract investment and create jobs, as well as to boost economic growth; it acts as an ambassador of the Tunisian economy to foreign companies, bilateral chambers, it develops an incentive framework for Tunisian investors abroad and trade exchanges; strengthening cooperation between Tunisian and British business leaders.”

RICHARD BURGE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, LONDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Mr Richard Burge joined the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) as Chief Executive in February 2020.

Previously, he was an independent advisor on international affairs focusing on trade, conflict, and development with a portfolio of advisory and consultancy work. Richard’s varied career has seen him lead four multi-million pound organisations as Chief Executive over a total of 18 years. These comprised a leading charity, a UK government agency, a private company and a membership body.

Mr Burge has been on the Board and a non-executive director of five multi-million pound operations including companies, charities, two government agencies, and a UK Russell Group university. He has worked in over 55 countries, specialising in Africa, the wider Commonwealth, and post-conflict situations.

He was Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) from 2017 to 2019. For the previous eight years, he was Chief Executive of Wilton Park (a Foreign and Commonwealth Office agency for conciliation and dialogue on global issues). He was also a Commissioner for Commonwealth Scholarships, and on the Council of Durham University.

His other roles have included Chief Executive Officer of the Countryside Alliance, Director General of the Zoological Society of London, and for ten years he served with the British Council in Africa and the Middle East.

JESS MCCREADIE, PRINCIPAL, OCTOPUS INVESTMENTS

Jess McCreadie is Principal at Octopus Investments. She sits in the company’s health team, and her focus is engaging with, investing in and supporting Europe’s most promising health tech companies.

“The gap between health and life expectancy is widening and to improve quality of life in later years we need a more decentralised, preventative and personalised approach to healthcare,” she says.

Prior to joining Octopus Ventures in June 2021, Jess led the health tech investing team at Legal & General supporting leading health innovations. She invested balance sheet capital into early-stage health tech businesses and supported scale up via board representation in her portfolio.

Earlier in her career Jess McCreadie invested into and was a banker in a range of alternative asset classes including renewable energy, real estate, and Venture Capital Funds. Jess has a passion for sustainability and delivering social impact alongside economic value.

Outside of work Jess can be found enjoying London’s restaurants, cycling, running, trying out the newest fitness classes, or in the park running around with and after her dog.

CHESTER KING, CEO, INTERNATIONAL HOSPITALS GROUP (IHG)

He is a co-owner of the International Group of companies which operates IHG. He has over 28 years senior management experience within the healthcare, advertising, marketing, sports, esports and leisure industries. He is a Trade Advisor Group member to the UK Government’s Department of International Trade (DIT). Mr King holds a BSc (Hons) in Biomechanics.

DR OUALAE ALAMI, VICE PRESIDENT, CLUSTER LEAD HOSPITAL

Dr Oualae Alami has over 20 years of experience in health care with 18 years at Pfizer. She is currently leading the Hospital Business across Europe with a focus on the UK and 14 Western European countries. Oualae is driven by the mission of providing treatment options and breakthroughs that aim to save lives. Her work involves partnering with Scientific societies, industry and governments to leverage effective policy making and strategic leadership to advance on some of the world’s most pressing health issues in the field of infectious disease especially in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Oualae is a strong believer in the power of inclusive and agile organization that enable colleagues to bring their best selves in all settings and is purposeful about their growth. She leads a diverse team of over 200 colleagues who are committed and empowered to making an impact for patients.

She has held various leadership positions across Africa and Middle East. She was instrumental in establishing Pfizer’s Oncology organization and helped position the company as a key player in advancing cancer care in the region, bringing novel medicines and access solutions to patients across the region. More recently, she led Pfizer Biopharmaceutical group in the Middle East. With her team, she focused on building sustainable partnerships that recognized the value of innovation in research-based medicines.

Oualae is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion with a focus on advancing Women in leadership in general and on Women from minority groups. She is involved in various programmes that focus on developing, mentoring and coaching women and Pfizer and across industries.

She was the former Africa and Middle East Chair of Pfizer diversity and inclusion council leading Pfizer’s efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in Africa and the Middle East.

Dr Oualae sits on the board of the Arab International Women’s Forum and a number of other key regional organizations. Oualae started her career as a pharmacist in Paris, then worked in Novartis France before joining Pfizer in 2004 where she served in a variety of leadership roles across the MENA before moving back to Europe in 2021. Oualae holds a Doctor of Pharmacy from Paris XI University as well a master’s and leadership diplomas from ESSEC and Harvard Business School.

Our Speakers

SESSION 4: ACCELERATING HEALTH CONTINUED...

TALGAT TAKIYEV, HEAD OF INVESTOR RELATIONS OF DEEP KNOWLEDGE GROUP

Talgat is a finance professional with in-depth expertise in investor relations, management and business development. Prior to joining Deep Knowledge Group, he worked for asset management companies and family offices in the UK and Switzerland, as well as an investment banking boutique in New York. Talgat holds a master’s degree in Management from Imperial College Business School.

Our Speakers

SESSION 5: BANKING AND FINTECH REVOLUTION

SHEVAUN HAVILAND, DIRECTOR GENERAL, BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Shevaun Haviland became Director General of British Chamber of Commerce in April 2021. She joined the BCC from the Cabinet Office where she led Business Partnerships. She joined the Government in 2016 and also ran its Inclusive Economy Partnership.

Shevaun Haviland started her career in consultancy in London and New York. She then moved to the Walt Disney Company in strategic planning before joining Disneyland Paris, opening the second theme park. Ms Haviland then joined the agency world, running global accounts for Millward Brown, Mindshare and WPP. Following this, she became a partner in a start-up digital innovation agency and venture builder, Independents United, where she also became an Advisor for the Danson Foundation.

Most recently, Shevaun Haviland was the New Ventures Director for Avado, building new businesses in Edtech and founding the Academy of Digital Business Leaders.

Ms Haviland has a passion for business as a force for good. She is a social impact investor, sits on the Ventures Advisory Board of UnLtd, and is Trustee of Barefoot College International as well as a board member of Women of the World Foundation.

ANDREW ELIA, MANAGING DIRECTOR, ARISHI

Andrew Elia, Managing Director of Arishi, is a hard-wired technology expert who has helped hundreds of clients create seamless, trusted applications for the fintech, commercial and advertising sectors. Arishi is a member of the ABCC.

Understanding the power of agile development and secure, highly performant software, Arishi delivers solutions that are practical, imaginative and robust, with the flexibility to adapt to changing regulatory conditions.

Combining enthusiasm, experience and humour, Andrew Elia is an inspiring speaker on technology who has written for magazines and spoken at conferences on how start-ups should use technology, mobile payments and the sometimes awkward union between technology and business.

Mr Elia has delivered ground-breaking technology across a variety of areas within financial services and artificial intelligence that others couldn’t, wouldn’t (or just plain didn’t) develop, often years ahead of the competition.

Arishi has become highly regarded in industries across the globe, where split second improvements in performance, usability and visual appeal are becoming increasingly important – government, health, finance, fintech, advertising, and international business, to name a few. Arishi has delivered exceptionally performant digital projects for major clients in the Middle East and now has an office in Abu Dhabi.

When not immersed in the virtual world, or pursuing his passion for retro computers, Andrew enjoys spending as much time as possible with his family, who all enjoy exploring the GCC region.

NASSER SALEH, EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN AND FOUNDER, MADFOOATCOM FOR E-PAYMENTS P.S.C.

Nasser Saleh is Executive Chairman & Founder of MadfooatCom company with more than 25 years of experience in IT, banking and consultancy. Prior to MadfooatCom, Nasser was a Consulting CIO to the Director General of ISTD – DAI Jordan Fiscal Reform II USAID project.

Nasser worked on managing the e-Channels and ePayments at AlRajhi Bank in Saudi Arabia. Nasser also worked as a Senior Consultant at Accenture, KSA and as a Senior Test Engineer at Microsoft, USA.

His diversified experience in the financial industry gave him deep insight into the Fintech sector, its challenges and its criteria for success, allowing him to develop MadfooatCom’s vision which became the national operator and manager for the electronic bill presentment and payments in Jordan, eFawateerCom, for the Central Bank of Jordan.

Nasser was awarded King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein Medal of Excellence in 2017 for establishing MadfooatCom/ eFawateerCom and won Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashed best service company award in the Arab world in Dubai. Nasser was selected as an Endeavor Entrepreneur in 2014, a member of the American Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) in Jordan, won EY Entrepreneur of The Year Award for 2013 and he was awarded Queen Rania National Entrepreneurship Award in 2012. Nasser holds a B.Sc. In Electrical Engineering from the University of Jordan.

GABRIELE GIAMBRONE, MANAGING PARTNER, GIAMBRONE & PARTNERS LLP

Gabriele Giambrone is the Global Managing Partner and is head of its European Litigation and Arbitration team at Giambrone & Partners LLP.

Mr Giambrone is a multi-jurisdictional dispute resolution lawyer specialising in international arbitrations, mediations, investigations, regulatory, white-collar fraud, antitrust, anti-corruption, bribery and the strategic management of complex litigation. He has strong academic credentials, and is qualified as Barrister in England & Wales, as Avvocato Cassazionista in Italy and as Abogado in Spain.

Gabriele Giambrone has a comprehensive understanding of both the technical legal requirements for matters involving multiple jurisdictions and the practical concerns and investigative methods used by governments and experts in different countries. He manages a large disputes portfolio resulting from the rise of financial fraud including crypto, forex and binary options claims and assisted in pioneering the technological advances relating to service of legal documents. Giambrone & Partners LLP is a member of the ABCC.

H E SUHA NAJJAR, CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL INVESTMENT COMMISSION, IRAQ

She is a member of the Iraq Prime Minister’s advisory committee for restructuring and rehabilitating of the industrial sector.

Dr Al-Najjar has been an advisor to many leading private companies in different sectors on investment and acquisitions, particularly in Iraq. She was the founder and CEO since 2010 of Akkadia Partners, a boutique advisory and asset management company.

She previously worked for Pharos Holding, an Egyptian investment bank, the National Bank of Kuwait, Nomura International and J P Morgan.

She holds higher degrees in finance and economics from the universities of Kuwait, Sussex and London.

Our Speakers

CLOSING REMARKS

ABDESLAM EL-IDRISSI, ABCC DEPUTY CEO & SECRETARY

General

Mr Abdeslam El-Idrissi is proud to have served the best part of over 36 years with the Arab British Chamber of Commerce, serving both as Director of Trade Services, Acting General Manager and now his present position as Deputy CEO and Secretary General. During this time, he has cultivated strong relationships with British Chambers, Government bodies, educational institutions, NGOs across both the Arab world and the UK regions, as well as the UK-Arab business communities as a whole.

To this end, Mr El-Idrissi is in much demand across the regions as a keynote speaker and as one of the UK’s leading experts on UK-Arab trade relations.

He is also a key member of the Institute of Export where in the past he has held the position of Vice Chair of the Institute of Export, London Branch, for a period of 7 years.

Event Host

REBECCA MCLAUGHLIN-EASTHAM, FOUNDER AND MD OF RMD MEDIA

Rebecca McLaughlin-Eastham is a broadcast journalist, event host & executive media trainer with more than twenty years’ experience at leading US, Middle East and European TV networks.

Until 2021, Rebecca anchored Inspire Middle East, the flagship Gulf TV show of Euronews. She also presented Business Line and covered the GCC region as a live news correspondent. She currently freelance presents for Euronews TV, most recently having launched Spotlight from Abu Dhabi.

Ms McLaughlin-Eastham is the former Middle East Business & Oil Correspondent for Bloomberg Television in London and the Middle East, prior to which she was a stock market correspondent and Bureau Chief for CNBC Europe Television in Paris.

During her fourteen years in the MENA region, Rebecca also anchored the flagship current affairs and business programme for state broadcaster Dubai One TV.

Rebecca has interviewed hundreds of CEOs, heads of state & cultural figures over the years. Some notable interviewees have included the Prime Ministers of France, the UK and Egypt, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Bernard Arnault, Sylvester Stallone, Gwyneth Paltrow, Nobu, Nancy Ajram, Yousra and Vivienne Westwood. She has written extensively for leading global publications, from Vogue magazine and The National newspaper, the South China Morning Post and the Wall Street Journal.

Rebecca McLaughlin-Eastham is a UAE-based, Irish national and a university graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science.