Alexander Al-Samahiji has over 30 years of experience in a wide range of sectors, including traditional and alternative energy, non-conventional water treatments and the ICT sector. His signature qualities include his passion of researching and conveying deep understanding of the subject at hand in simple terms, combined with his ability to motivate and enable cooperative teams to excel at their leading-edge missions. With a background in engineering, his unwavering passion for technology has enabled him to directly contribute to some of the key developments in the Kingdom of Bahrain over the years. From his contributions to the introduction of the GSM and internet services to the country, to activating the National Renewable Energy Action Plan and National Energy Efficiency Action Plan, his private and public sector experience has allowed him to develop a unique perspective combined with an entrepreneurial spirit.

Abdullah Jefri is the Senior Manager for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – excluding Saudi Arabia – at IFC, a member of the World Bank Group and the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. With over 20 years of global experience in finance and investments, he now focuses on enabling high-impact investments from the GCC to emerging markets, helping to diversify GCC economies, and advancing projects that tackle climate change.

Previously, Abdullah was IFC’s regional manager for the Levant countries, where he oversaw a billion dollar-plus portfolio and the commitment of over half a billion dollars of new investments in a region including fragile and conflict-affected states such as Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria. During his tenure, he led projects that helped increase access to finance, healthcare, and state-of-the art infrastructure as well as secure better opportunities – including for women, entrepreneurs, and forcibly displaced populations. Prior to Amman, Abdullah was based in IFC’s Washington, D.C. office for over a decade, where he focused on identifying investment opportunities in emerging markets, executing equity and debt transactions, and managing a portfolio of investments in Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. During that period Abdullah led or co-led the execution of over $1.1 billion of investments in emerging markets.

Prior to IFC, Abdullah was an investment banking manager in the Saudi American Bank (then an affiliate of Citibank, now acquired by Saudi National Bank) and an accounting supervisor in General Dynamics Arabia.

Abdullah, a Saudi national, holds an MBA and an MSc in Finance from Boston College.

Dr. Ahmed Al-Abri serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Co. (ASRY), Bahrain, a leading international ship & rig repair / building / fabrication facility in the Middle East and leads the transition and modernization process of ASRY’s development and growth.

Dr. Al-Abri is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience in the Maritime and Logistics Industry. Over the last three decades, Dr. Al-Abri developed an in-depth knowledge and expertise in specialized maritime fields, managing various maritime and shipbuilding projects in addition to the broad experience in drydock, ports and logistics facilities.

Dr. Al-Abri began his long career as a Naval Architect in the United Kingdom, prior to becoming a Chief Naval Architect at the Oman Royal Navy. Prior to joining ASRY, he held numerous executive leadership and board positions, including the Chief Executive Officer of ASYAD Ports, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Oman Drydock Company (ODC), Chairman of the Board at Duqm Naval Dockyard, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Oman’s Port Management and Operation Company, MARAFI.

Dr. Al-Abri holds a PhD in Operational and Environmental Management of Ports and Shipyards from the University of Portsmouth, as well as a Master of Science Degree in Maritime Engineering, and a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Naval Architecture from the University of Southampton.

Specialties: Ports & logistics management, drydock, maritime and shipbuilding management, project management, strategic and project planning, feasibility studies, etc.

Mr. Ali Beraik Shafeea is a seasoned finance professional with a diverse background in regulatory affairs, banking, and operational analysis. Currently serving as the Acting Director of the Securities Offering and Listing Affairs Department at the Qatar Financial Markets Authority, he plays a pivotal role in overseeing securities regulation and facilitating market integrity in Qatar’s financial landscape.

Prior to this role, Mr. Ali was a Lean Transformation Associate at Qatar National Bank, where he focused on improving operational efficiency and implementing lean methodologies to enhance service delivery across the organization. This experience honed his skills in process optimization and project management.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Ali worked as an Operations Accounting Analyst at Shell, where he managed financial reporting and analysis within a dynamic corporate environment. This foundational experience in a multinational corporation provided him with a strong understanding of financial operations and accounting principles.

With a blend of regulatory expertise, banking acumen, and analytical skills, Mr.Ali is dedicated to driving growth and innovation in Qatar’s financial sector.

Dr. Boutros Klink is the Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank Bahrain.

Dr. Klink has held the positions of CEO of Standard Chartered Bank for Bahrain and Middle East (Excluding
UAE), CEO of Standard Chartered Capital Saudi Arabia, as well as various senior positions at Standard
Chartered Bank, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank, UBS, National Bank of Canada, and the
Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec.

Dr. Klink was responsible for building and launching the Standard Chartered Bank branches in the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia (launched in 2021) and in the Arab Republic of Egypt (launched in 2024).

Dr. Klink is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Standard Chartered Bank Cote d’Ivoire and a director
of the Board of Standard Chartered Capital Saudi Arabia and a member of its Board Audit Committee and
Board Nomination and Remuneration Committee. Dr. Klink is also a Director of the Board of the Bahrain
Association of Banks and previously served as a Director on the Board of St Christopher’s School in
Bahrain.

Dr. Klink was previously a member of the Standard Chartered Group Diversity & Inclusion Council and chaired
the Africa and Middle East Diversity and Inclusion Council.

Dr. Klink holds a Doctor of Science degree in Earthquake Engineering from MIT, a Master of Science in Civil
& Environmental Engineering from MIT, a Master of Art in Financial Mathematics from Columbia University,
and a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering from the American University of Beirut.

Dr. Klink has lived and worked in Bahrain, Canada, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, UAE, & USA and is fluent in
Arabic, English and French.

Bruce has over 20 years’ experience in corporate venture investing working for two of the world’s largest corporations – Aramco and Itochu Corporation. He joined Aramco in 2011 and as Head of Strategic Venturing has responsibility for a global corporate venturing program focused on technology and energy investing with $2B assets under management. He also played a leading role in the establishment of OGCI Climate Investments, a $1B fund investing in climate related technologies on behalf of 12 of the world’s leading oil & gas companies.

Early in his career he was founder of a start-up developing early smartphone applications and worked in the wireless telecoms industry, consulting on new product development and global market strategies.

He has a Master’s degree in Engineering, Economics and Management from the University of Oxford, where he was Casbard scholar in Engineering and winner of the Pilkington Prize in Management Science. He has held the Chartered Financial Analyst designation since 2007. He has a highly international background having lived in 9 countries on 4 continents. In 2013 he was named to Global Corporate Venturing’s ‘PowerList 100’.

Caius Camargo is a business administrator, entrepreneur, and the founding CEO of Hydrocavit Brazil, a leading company in cavitation technology focused on sustainable industrial applications. With over 12 years of experience, Caius has dedicated his career to developing innovative solutions aimed at reducing carbon emissions through hydrodynamic cavitation.

He has led impactful projects, including the implementation of this technology in ethanol production processes for the Shell-Raízen joint venture in Brazil, contributing to more efficient and environmentally responsible operations. Caius continues to drive Hydrocavit Brazil forward, promoting initiatives that merge technology and sustainability to transform industry and support a cleaner future.

Clint McLachlan is an industry leader with over 25 years of global experience in the metals, energy, and manufacturing sectors. As Director ESG & Technical at Alba Aluminium & Power, Clint spearheads strategic ESG and sustainability initiatives while driving technical innovation.

His extensive career includes leadership roles such as Chief Technical Officer and General Manager at Vedanta Resources Aluminium & Power in India, as well as General Manager at Tomago Aluminium Smelter in Australia. Clint has also held key operational roles at Southcorp Industries, and BHP Resources, overseeing operations across multiple global sites.

Clint holds a Master of Business from the University of Newcastle, Australia, and has furthered his expertise through executive programs at INSEAD and BlueBus. Known for his strategic vision, leadership in innovation, and commitment to sustainability, Clint continues to make a significant impact in driving industry transformation.

Halel Engineer is the Managing Director of Environment Arabia Consultancy Services WLL, the first registered environmental consultancy firm in Bahrain, founded in 2001. As the first woman environmental scientist from Bahrain, Halel has been a trailblazer in the field. She is also the founder of Reef Arabia, established in 2012, which specializes in designing artificial reefs for the enhancement of the marine environment.

With a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science from the University of Plymouth and an MSc in Environmental Impact Assessment and Auditing from the University of East Anglia in the UK, Halel brings extensive expertise to her role. Her qualifications include certification in EARA- approved EMS Implementation and various auditor credentials, including IRCA QMS Auditor.

Under her leadership, Environment Arabia, an IEMA Consultancy Partner, has been instrumental in preparing Environmental and Social Impact Assessment reports for clients seeking international financing from the World Bank Group and International Finance Corporation (IFC) in the Kingdom of Bahrain. She leverages her extensive network across the MENA region to guide clients through environmental requirements and legislative compliance, overseeing all projects with a focus on quality assurance and sustainable solutions.

Halel is a board member of the Global Entrepreneur’s Organisation (EO), Bahrain Chapter, and has served as the President of EO Bahrain in 2022/2023. Halel is also a board member in the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, responsible for the environment, and on a Government Advisory Group for Strategic Environmental Planning in Bahrain, reflecting her dedication to advancing environmental sustainability and policy.

Ian is the Chief Sustainability Officer at Bank ABC and leads the Bank’s journey to integrate sustainability throughout the Bank’s global value chain and DNA, which covers 15 different jurisdictions. He has over 17 years of experience implementing sustainability within asset management and banking, having worked in London, Asia and Turkey, this has involved developing sustainability strategies and integrating sustainability into global investment processes.

His extensive work experience includes being a Founder of a global asset management firm, building up the firm’s institutional investor client base and managing top quartile performing global and emerging markets investment strategies.

Before joining Bank ABC, Ian worked at Citigroup helping them to embed environmental risk practices across their European corporate banking business. Ian is a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants and has a BA (Hons) in Accountancy & Finance from Heriot-Watt University.

Jessica is a global expert in sustainable finance and ESG, advising clients including financial institutions, investors, governments and regulators on a broad range of issues relating to ESG and sustainability strategy. She has deep expertise in sustainable finance and responsible investment, as well as carbon, climate and gender finance. Now based in the Middle East, Jessica has lived and worked extensively across the region, as well as Asia and North America.

Previously a partner and MENA Sustainable Finance Leader at EY, other roles include Head of Asia for the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (UN-PRI), following a long stint as Chief Executive and Board Director of the Association for Sustainable and Responsible Investment in Asia (ASrIA), one of Asia’s leading think tanks working to promote sustainable finance and responsible investment. She also led the Asia Investor Group on Climate Change – representing large investors on climate risk – and played an active leadership role in the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance (GSIA) and the Global Investor Coalition on Climate Change (GIC).

Jessica frequently contributes articles, authors reports and speaks at conferences on issues related to ESG and sustainable finance, related market and regulatory developments, climate and carbon finance policy. She also speaks widely on gender-related topics, having authored a book on women and investing, ‘Financial Feminism: A Woman’s Guide To Investing For a Sustainable Future’ and is currently working on her second book, ‘Breaking the Green Ceiling’, an exploration of the role of female leadership in driving sustainability.

Justo Alejandro is pleased to represent HSBC in his capacity as Regional Head of Infrastructure Finance, MENAT. With over 17 years of experience, 14 of those in the GCC, he has participated in numerous multi-billion-dollar developments across several asset classes, with particular focus in the renewables and energy-transition space (including 13 GW of solar power financed just during 2024).

Kalyan Subramanian (Kal) is a subject matter expert on ESG, and the broader spectrum of sustainability related issues and topics. Kal is a leader with KPMG and has the experience of working with a range of clients across sectors including Financial Services, Manufacturing, Energy and Retail. He has worked closely with Development Agencies including UNDP, UNGC, USAID, etc., and a range of global/ regional Civil Society organizations One Young World, Enactus, Junior Achievement, INJAZ Bahrain, the Pearl Initiative, etc. Based in Bahrain, Kal has been a part of KPMG for 19 years and has experience in working with stakeholders across the UK, US, Germany, France, Brazil, Mexico, India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, China, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, and the Middle East, South Asia, and the Caspian region. Over his tenure he has supported the setup of the KPMG foundation in India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and China.

Kal has also worked closely with regulators in the Kingdom of Bahrain to be able to support the development around ESG within the marketplace, while support their stakeholders in the implementation of the requisite frameworks and controls.

He has experience in working with clients on aligning their investment and efforts in line with the national vision strategies across the GCC region. This also includes efforts focused on Inclusion & Diversity and supporting educational and awareness related initiatives within the marketplace.

Kal has worked towards supporting National initiatives on Women Empowerment and Inclusion & Diversity in Bahrain, including research, and facilitating strategic initiatives. He drives KPMG’s strategic partnership with Diversity on Boards in Bahrain and is a facilitator on their Emerging Board Leaders Fellowship (EBLF) program. In the past he was also a part of the Global Diversity Team in KPMG and led the Inclusion & Diversity Assessment across firms in the MESAC region.

Kal is a member of the Sustainability Forum Middle East’s Advisory Committee and supports them on an ongoing basis to help drive a positive influence across the region in relation to ESG and on the broader Sustainability of the marketplace and community.

Karim is the Executive Director of Sustainability Performance & Accreditation at Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer behind The Red Sea and Amaala, two ambitious tourism projects set along the north-western 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.

As part of the Environment and Sustainability business group, he is working to implement RSG’s new model for regenerative development, which puts people and planet first, and leverages the most innovative concepts and technologies to deliver projects that actively enhance the well-being of customers, communities, and the environment.

He oversees performance, accreditation, and sustainability strategy development.  He leads the implementation of sustainability guidelines in hospitality operations, seeking certifications for hotels and resorts, and establishing a company-wide sustainability performance management system. Additionally, his team influences the design and construction of RSG’s assets through effective accreditation processes.

Throughout his 24-year career, Karim has been a global advocate for environmental protection and sustainability. He directed the publication of several environmental reports for governments and corporates, addressing critical environmental challenges and climate change. Karim’s expertise also extends to the built environment, as evidenced by his work in establishing and operating the first Net Zero Energy community in the GCC, best known as the “The Sustainable City” in Dubai.

Before joining RSG, Karim led sustainability strategy, policies, and guidelines at Diamond Developer where he was Chief Sustainability Officer. He was instrumental in mainstreaming sustainability across the organization and implementing ESG reporting practices. As the Executive Director for SEE Institute, based in Dubai’s Sustainable City, Karim designed and set up innovative knowledge programs. He also contributed significantly to the design of the SEE Institute venue, the first net-zero building in the UAE. Karim directed more than 50 environmental projects, as Director at ECODIT, spanning coastal zone management, biodiversity conservation, waste management, and cleaner production, among others, across the Arab world.

Shaikh Khalifa bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa currently holds the position of Chief Executive Officer of Bahrain Bourse as well as Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Bahrain Clear. Sh Khalifa also served as the Chairman of Arab Federation of Capital Markets (2022-2023), as well as an active member the GCC Exchanges Committee – GCC General Secretariat. As CEO, Sh. Khalifa drives BHB’s strategy, with the aim of positioning Bahrain Bourse as a ‘Sustainable & Innovative Marketplace’. Sh. Khalifa has more than 20 years of capital markets experience and possesses a wide range of expertise from business development and corporate planning to strategy and operations.

Preceding his appointment as CEO, Sh. Khalifa served as Deputy Director for Central Securities Depository (CSD) and Information Technology, and subsequently Chief Operating Officer, prior to handling the role of Chief Executive Officer. Sh. Khalifa holds an MBA from the CASS Business School – London.

Eng. Layla Sabeel has extensive experience in environmental public policies as well as climate change, she is Bahrain’s national focal point for UNFCCC, leading Bahrain’s negotiation team focusing on various agenda items including article 6, adaptation, mitigation work program, finance and loss and damage.

She is working on various adaptation projects such as: the national adaptation investment plan, focusing on creative climate finance instruments to fund adaptation projects and sea level rise resilience plan for the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Eng. Sabeel is also working on planning the emission reduction targets activities to reach the emission targets set by HRH the crown prince and the prime minister to reduce emission 30% by 2035 and reach net zero by 2060.

Lina is the Regional Head of Sustainable Finance, Africa & MENAP at Standard Chartered Bank. She has over 18 years of banking experience across Sustainable Finance, Corporate Finance, and investment banking, delivering innovative deal origination and execution across various industries and regions.

In her current role, Lina has developed key relationships with clients advising them on sustainable finance solutions and instruments, and on suitable transition opportunities for their businesses. She also sits on various working groups with the objective of mobilizing capital towards green, social, and transition projects.

Lina holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance (Magna Cum Laude) from the American University of Sharjah with a minor in Economics, and an MBA with distinction from London Business School. Lina was also a board member of the MENA Clean Energy Business Council (“CEBC”).

Mark Thomas is a veteran operating executive with a record of transformative leadership and value creation across the globe. Over his 38-year career with bp, Mark developed a deep knowledge of board and executive processes, strategic transactions, commercial optimization, front-line operations, and Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance. He has a strong appreciation for the nuance of global business, having lived and worked in nine countries and conducted business in 20 others.

Mark’s most recent role as Group Chief Executive Officer, Bapco Energies, previously known as “nogaholding” has accountability for managing the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s investments in the oil and gas sector. The Bapco Energies Group, comprising 15 subsidiary companies, spans the entire oil and gas value chain from exploration, through midstream infrastructure and downstream petrochemicals and refining. Reporting to the Board of Directors and Chairman His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Mark is accountable for the overall financial and operating performance of the Group and the Group Strategy that integrates the subsidiaries under one umbrella organization. Mark is Chairman of the Board of Bapco Gas & Bapco Gas Expansion, Chairman of BACJET Fuel Company, Vice Chairman of Bapco Refining, a member of the Bapco Upstream Board of Directors and SteerCo Chairman of BMP Project.

As Head of Group Chief Executive’s Office (2018-2020), Mark was an advisor to bp CEO Bob Dudley and a steward of executive processes. He worked directly with the executive team and the Board of Directors and had oversight of strategy development and investment governance. He also provided support to Mr. Dudley in his roles as Chair of the Oil & Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) and Chair of the World Economic Forum Oil & Gas Governors Committee.

As Regional President of bp’s North Sea business (2015-2018), Mark transformed the core business to improve profitability while setting the foundation for production to double over the next five years. Among the changes, Mark led the divestment of $1.5B of non-strategic assets, reduced headcount by 70%, invested in focused growth opportunities, and improved overall safety performance to best in the basin.

Earlier, as Vice President Operations, bp Azerbaijan (2009-2014), Mark was the operational leader for one of bp’s top three global businesses, accountable for the safe and reliable operation of two mega-fields that produced one million barrels of oil equivalent daily. He also served as Head of Engineering, Maintenance and Subsea in the North Sea business, Performance Unit Leader for Central North Sea, Southern North Sea, and President and Managing Director of BP Nederland Energies, among other big operational roles.

Mark began his career as a Project Engineer for Amoco Canada and was a Commercial Negotiator for Amoco in Trinidad and Tobago when the company merged with bp in 2000. He earned an MBA from European University in Antwerp and a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of New Brunswick in Canada. He has served as the Chair of the Board of the International School of Azerbaijan, the Second Vice President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan, and a member of the Board and head of the Audit Committee of the UK Offshore Oil & Gas Association in Aberdeen.

Mohammad Junaid serves as the Head of the Corporate Governance Section at the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), where he has been an integral part of the organization for the past 15 years. He plays a key role in identifying and addressing weaknesses in corporate governance practices and in examining and recommending methods to enhance public companies’ compliance with SCA regulations. Mohammad is a recognized expert in promoting robust corporate governance practices among public companies in the UAE.

Beyond his role at the SCA, Mohammad has significantly contributed to improving the UAE’s ranking in the ‘Protecting Minority Investors’ of the World Bank’s Doing Business index. He also led the transition from physical to virtual general assembly meetings for listed companies during COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, he is an active member of the UAE Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG) representing SCA, including all financial regulators in the UAE and he leads the Disclosure Working Stream. This group is dedicated to developing a sustainable finance ecosystem in the UAE.

Mohammad holds a Master’s Degree in Applied Finance and Banking from the University of Wollongong and is an alumnus of the Government Leaders Programme – Future Leaders, administered by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) of the UAE..

Mohammed J. Al Aradi is an Engineering Program Specialist at the Ministry of Works – Sanitary Engineering Planning & Projects (SEPPD). With over 20 years of experience in water resources management and holds a master’s degree in water resources management, as well as a High national diploma in integrated water resource management (IWRM) and a BSc in Civil Engineering.

Mohammed has worked on significant projects such as the National Water Strategy 2030 and the GCC Unified Water Strategy (2016-2035), where he played a key role in the development of water models. He is proficient in using tools such as WEAP and has a strong passion for planning tools, particularly in the context of water resources.

In his free time, Mohammed enjoys expanding his knowledge in water resources planning and modelling, showcasing his dedication and commitment to his field of expertise.

More than 10 years of experience in Corporate and Investment Banking in Brazil. Former Executive Director from BTG Pactual, responsible for origination and structuring of corporate lending, with a focus on infrastructure and alternative assets. Currently a partner in FRAM Capital, overlooking the private equity investments.

Ms Riham ElGizy is the CEO of RVCMC, a Saudi Arabian company and the first voluntary carbon market in the MENA region. In the company’s first 18 months she led the world’s largest ever voluntary carbon market auction in Riyadh in 2022, before setting a new record at a second auction in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2023. She is now leading the development of Saudi Arabia’s first carbon exchange, launching in 2024.

Ms. ElGizy, recognised in New African’s ‘100 Most Influential Africans of 2023’, leads efforts to convene people and organisations from all sides of the voluntary carbon market ecosystem, shaping direction of the industry as it grows to play an increasingly valuable role in tackling climate change. Last year, RVCMC hosted the first Global South Carbon Markets conference at FII7 in Riyadh, and she regularly speaks at international conferences, from the Africa Climate Summit to COP.

Ms. ElGizy believes in uniting voices from across the Global South on the development of voluntary carbon markets. Through her leadership of RVCMC, she is showing how the Middle East and Africa can work together to drive innovative climate action in emerging economies. This is all part of RVCMC’s aim to be one of the largest voluntary carbon markets in the world by 2030, channelling finance to credible projects that drive climate action and improve livelihoods across the Global South.

Ms. ElGizy brings a wealth of expertise to her current role, with over 20 years of international experience dedicated to impact related-investments through her extensive work as a leader in mergers and acquisitions, as well as strategy and business development experience. She was formerly head of Saudi Aramco’s investment valuations and structuring, the function responsible for advising and formulating investment decisions for corporate and executive management and  government institutions. Prior to joining Saudi Aramco, she spent 16 years with BP in North America and North Africa.

Ms. ElGizy has a track record in originating and executing energy, clean technology, and renewable energy transactions across the globe. She has advised strategy and investment boards and led negotiations with governments and privately held institutions.

Ms. ElGizy is a Sloan fellow MBA (MIT Sloan School of Management) and during her time at MIT, she worked on projects promoting sustainable economic growth in emerging markets, through the deployment of innovative technology solutions and climate change simulations.

The Dutch Engineer Mr. Robert Valk holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University Of Delft, The Netherlands. With over Thirty (35) years of industry experience, Mr Valk is the Founder of Valk Solutions, a market leader in the Netherlands and Western Europe in omnichannel retail software solutions.

Mr Valk has vast experience in successful developing start-ups as well as M&A’s,  developing the growth of businesses and expansion of services in the renewables sector. His experience is further enhanced by entrepreneurialism, key knowledge of innovative-strategic business development and financial business modelling. For more than 10 years working in waste management solutions, he developed an innovative high speed Artificial Intelligence (AI) based self learning waste bootle sorting machine in 2019.

Working in the field of renewable energy for many years, especially in the hydrogen and waste to energy. In 2017 he founded Green Tech Egypt (GTE), an engineering, environmental and renewable energy services & solutions developer in Egypt. Mr Valk is a big supporter of Hepca, a NGO in Hurghada protecting the Red Sea. GTE is the project founder, developer  and financial project sponsor of the first Waste Sorting plant built at Hurghada in 2018 and developed the first Waste To Energy power plant in Egypt at Giza, a 120 million USD foreign investment to convert the waste problem to a sustainable energy solution.

He founded Renergy Group Partners in 2020, a PPP development company with the Ministry Of Military Production and OAK from Bahrain. The latest project development is the biggest green hydrogen production plant in the world at El-Tor, approved by the Prime Minister, with a production of 400.000 tons per year of liquid hydrogen (LH2), a 15 billion USD foreign investment with a COD in 2030.

Sarah El Battouty is a global award winning architect with 20 years’ experience in the field of Green and Environmental Buildings and Sustainable Development. Sarah is the founder of one of Egypt’s unique Environmental Design, training and strategy company ECOnsult who have achieved the highest number of energy saving certified projects in Egypt by an Egyptian consultant. Her design work spans from Egypt to Italy and China focusing on partnering with the private sector and government on implementing green projects with social impact. She is also an entrepreneur that founded another unique start-up in Egypt that specializes in transforming scrap waste into luxury high-end sustainable furniture. MuBun Sustainable Furniture is currently exporting. In 2014 Sarah was appointed as a senior Advisor to the Egyptian President focusing on sustainable community development. Sarah is among the most decorated and influential women in the field of climate change, environmental design and green economy by international institutions. She is among the first Arab and first Egyptian to be a finalist and awarded Ashden Fellowship. In 2023 Sarah founded Again Florist a concept to evolve into a recycling start-up which tackles the waste from flowers in events by recycling it into small decorative products.

She has worked on several projects with the presidency adopted by government including introducing energy and water saving awareness programs into the media and education system as well the creation of a youth leadership program to empower youths to participate in the political process. Her focus has been Regional’s environmental policy which culminated in the successful ratification of Egypt signing the Paris Climate Agreement and embarking on a nationwide program for energy saving as well as water scarcity awareness. Sarah represents Egypt as an official in a variety of lectures and summits focusing on climate, housing and national security. She is now working to make environmental awareness and resource and natural heritage preservation entre the Egyptian curriculum with the Ministry of Education which she sees as a cause and passion. Sarah is the first regional entrepreneur to be nominated for the Prestigious EarthShot Prize.

El Battouty’s work has been recognised by the United Nations and Vital Voices. In March 2024 her portrait was commissioned along with 15 other women leaders advancing the sustainable development goals, making her the first Egyptian to hold this SDG post.

Sherif is a tech industry veteran with over 25 years of experience, known for driving success
and creating value for people, profit, and the planet. His leadership is defined by a
commitment to impact and purpose, enabling significant contributions throughout his
career.

As the Chief Partnership Officer for AI & Cloud for Sovereignty, Sherif leads initiatives across
more than half of the world’s countries. His work advances responsible AI and Cloud
adoption, transforming emerging nations. This mission supports global growth, economic
prosperity, skills development, startup ecosystems, and job creation, all while ensuring
ethical AI use.

Previously, Sherif was the Chief Sustainability Commercial Officer for Microsoft Central
Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa, leading the commercial strategy for Microsoft Cloud
for Sustainability and driving the ESG Data Estate digital solutions. He also served as the
Chief Business Strategy Officer for the Middle East & Africa, contributing to significant
business growth.

Sherif held the role of Executive Director for Commercial Partners & Channel Business in the
UAE, leading strategic alliances and B2B startup growth. As the Regional General Manager
for Microsoft Bahrain and Oman, he empowered diverse audiences, including governments,
enterprises, and start-ups.

Starting at Microsoft Egypt in 2000 as an Internet Solutions Specialist, Sherif moved to
Microsoft Gulf in 2003 as a Senior Consultant in Dubai. He then set up a Regional Shared
Services Center at the Middle East & Africa headquarters and served as Regional Director for
Cloud Solutions Sales for Microsoft Middle East and Africa.

With extensive experience spanning technology consulting, cloud solutions sales, general
management, sustainability, AI, strategy, and partnerships, Sherif bridges technology,
business, and social impact. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering &
computer science from Ain Shams University, Egypt, and an Executive MBA from London
Business School, where he was in the top 10% of his class.

Sherif has received numerous awards, including five of Microsoft’s Circle of Excellence
Platinum Awards and the ‘Chairman Award’ presented by Bill Gates. His journey is a
testament to his dedication to impactful leadership and his belief in technology’s power to
create a better, more sustainable world.

Victoria Barron is the Chief Sustainability Officer at GIB Asset Management and has overall responsibility for the business sustainability agenda, sustainability frameworks and governance, as well as leading projects to enhance corporate sustainability while supporting the growing development and adoption of sustainability at the sector and regional levels.

Victoria has over 15 years of experience in sustainable investment, working with asset owners, asset managers and industry stakeholders. She was most recently Head of Sustainable Investment at BT Pension Scheme, the UK’s largest corporate pension scheme, leading its sustainable investment and stewardship strategy. Previously, she was a Responsible Investment Equity Analyst at Newton Investment Management and worked for Hermes Equity Ownership Services, the FTSE Group, and CCLA Investment Management. Victoria currently co-chairs the ASCOR project, a sovereign debt issuer climate change assessment tool backed by $5trn AUM, and has served on multiple investor advisory bodies including the UK Asset Owner Roundtable, Investment Association Climate Change Working Group, UK Sustainable Investment Finance Association, the Quoted Companies Alliance, 30% Club Investor Group and SBTI Investor Group. She studied at Imperial College London, Manchester University Business School, and Oxford Said Business School.

Supported by her extensive expertise in strategy and business development, Mrs. Al Zayani oversees the development of NBB’s growth strategy. She engages in identifying and developing growth opportunities for the Bank through organic and inorganic initiatives, including transaction support for the BisB acquisition in 2020. Zaina also leads post-acquisition management related to integration planning and implementation. She is currently responsible for the development of the Bank’s 3-year growth strategy, as well as aligning and monitoring the execution of the roadmap across functions. Zaina is responsible for identification and pursual of in-organic growth opportunities through Mergers & Acquisitions in alignment with the Group’s inorganic growth strategy. In addition, she manages the proprietary equity portfolio of the Bank and seeks strategic investments and exit opportunities as aligned with the Bank’s strategy. Moreover, Zaina drives the sustainability strategy to ensure the effective application of associated governance metrics across the organisation and Its adherence to local and international standards.

Zaina has over 20 years of experience in providing transaction support for M&A, investment management as well as compliance. Prior to her current position, she assumed several managerial roles including Head of Exchange of Financial Information at the Central Bank of Bahrain, Manager at Ernst &Young and a private investment holding company.  She holds an MBA from DePaul University, USA, a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from Concordia University, Canada and is certified with an ICA International Diploma in Compliance.

Zaina is a mentor in INJAZ Bahrain’s Entaliq programme and is an active member of the Innovation Team with initiatives focused on fostering a culture of innovation within the organisation and the community.