His Excellency Mr. Jasem Albudaiwi has served as Secretary General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf since February 2023. He previously served as Kuwait’s Ambassador to the United States of America (2022-2023), Ambassador to Belgium and Head of Mission to the European Union and NATO (2016-2022), and Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (2013-2016). He has also headed Kuwait’s delegation to numerous international conferences and forums, and throughout his career has contributed to strengthening regional and international partnerships at all levels.

Dr. Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa was appointed as Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications by Royal Decree No. (89) of 2024 issued on November 6, 2024.

He possesses extensive legal, academic, and research experience in diplomacy, international relations, law, mediation, media, sustainable development, and intercultural dialogue. His experience in these areas contributed to strengthening Bahrain’s bilateral and multilateral relations—at regional and international levels—and supporting Bahrain’s efforts in promoting coexistence and dialogue among cultures and civilizations, as well as in conducting specialized studies and analyses on international and strategic affairs.

He holds several prominent official positions including Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence since 2023, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Bahrain Center for Strategic, International, and Energy Studies (Derasat) since 2017. Previous positions included serving as the Undersecretary for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2021–2024), Undersecretary for International Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2015–2021), Deputy Secretary-General of the Supreme Defense Council (2020–2024), and the Director General of External Communication at the Information Affairs Authority in 2014.

Dr. Sheikh Abdullah holds a Ph.D. in International Relations and Diplomacy from L’École des hautes études internationales et politiques in Paris (2015), a master’s degree in law from Queen Mary University of London (2008), and a bachelor’s degree in law from the Applied Science University in Jordan (2006). He is fluent in Arabic, English, and French.

He has been awarded several honors, including the Order of Competence (First Class) from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, in 2018, and the Prince Salman bin Hamad Medal for Medical Merit in 2021.

H.E. Mr. Abdulla Bin Adel Fakhro was appointed as the Minister of Industry and Commerce in November 2022.

Prior to his appointment as minister, His Excellency spent 20 years in his family’s business, in which he progressed up the ranks until leaving to join the Government of Bahrain. His Excellency was an entrepreneur funding and leading serval of his own businesses, In addition to that, he was a member of the board of directors of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry until November 2022.

His Excellency also occupied the post of Director of Fakhro Restaurants Co. (McDonald’s Bahrain), Abdulla Yousif Fakhro Group, Lotus Investment Company, GAC Bahrain, Managing Director at Adel Fakhro & Sons, Vice Chairman of Dreams Society, Founder and Chairman of Sawari Marine Services W.L.L and Summit 7 Holding, as well as Co- Founder and Vice Chairman of Omneyat Foundation.In addition to his post as Minister of Industry and Commerce, His Excellency is also Chairman of Export Bahrain and board member of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company and Economic Development Board, Minister in Charge of Bahrain Bourse as well as Board member of Hawar Islands Development.His Excellency received his bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship from Babson College, and his MBA in Finance/ Entrepreneurship from Babson F.W Olin Graduate School of Business.

Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin is an economist with more than 30 years of experience in international finance and development. Dr. Mohieldin is the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for Egypt. He has been the United Nations Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda since February 2020. He also served as the Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund representing the Arab States and The Maldives.

Previously, Dr. Mohieldin was the Minister of Investment of Egypt from 2004-2010, and more recently, served as the World Bank Group Senior Vice President for the 2030 Development Agenda, United Nations Relations and Partnerships.

Dr. Mohieldin also served on several Boards of Directors in the Central Bank of Egypt and the corporate sector. He was a member of the Commission on Growth and Development and was selected a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum in 2005.

He is a Professor of Economics and Finance at the Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University and as a Visiting Professor at several renowned Universities in Egypt, Korea, the UAE, the UK and the USA. He is a member of the International Advisory Board of Durham University Business School.

Dr. Mohieldin holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Warwick, United Kingdom; an M.Sc. in Economics and Social Policy Analysis from the University of York, United Kingdom; a Diploma of Development Economics from the University of Warwick; and a B.Sc. in Economics from Cairo University.

The American University in Cairo bestowed Dr. Mohieldin degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, in recognition of his status as a leading public servant at both the national and international levels focusing on economic reform, development, and inclusion.

Dr. Abdulla Isa Alabbasi is a leading expert in sustainability, energy transition, and AI-driven energy systems, with over 15 years of experience across research, policy, and strategic implementation. He directs the Energy and Environmental Studies Program at the Bahrain Center for Strategic, International, and Energy Studies (Derasat), where he advances high-impact initiatives in grid modernization, decarbonization, and renewable integration.

His contributions extend to active involvement in global energy platforms such as CIGRE, IAEE, IEEE, and UNDP, where he supports dialogue on energy security and environmental governance. Dr. Alabbasi regularly works with national and regional stakeholders to help shape energy policy and promote the adoption of advanced technologies. He also engages in public outreach through media and national platforms, supporting broader awareness of sustainable energy practices and the importance of energy transition in the region.

Apurba is an Associate Partner with KPMG in India’s ESG practice. As a climate, energy and ESG specialist, over the years, she has focused on solutions around deep decarbonisation, ESG transformation, energy transitions, carbon markets, green finance, platform building, energy modelling, sustainability reporting and strategy, corporate social responsibility, etc. She has worked extensively with the corporate sector but also worked quite closely with the government on policy. In her previous role, she was the Head for Climate Policy and Modelling at WRI India.

Badr Aljohani is a corporate sustainability professional with nearly 25 years of experience across the industrial and banking sectors, encompassing a wide range of successful roles in operations, manufacturing, environmental protection, and sustainability. His career reflects a strong focus on integrating sustainability principles into core business strategy and operational performance.

His professional experience includes working with leading organizations in utilities, petrochemicals, mining, and banking, including Saudi Electricity, SABIC, Sadara, Maaden, the Saudi Industrial Development Fund, and Alinma Bank. Through these roles, Badr has developed deep cross-sector expertise and a comprehensive understanding of sustainability implementation within complex, large-scale institutions.

Badr holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from King Saud University and a one-year postgraduate diploma in Professional Industrial Management from the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce. Known for his expertise in corporate sustainability strategy, greenhouse gas management, energy efficiency, decarbonization frameworks, and circular economy planning, he is also a certified sustainability professional, public speaker, certified coach, and accredited international trainer, continuing to contribute to the advancement of sustainability practices through leadership, knowledge sharing, and professional engagement.

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.

Damian is the Anthesis Sustainability Services Leader – Middle East and is based in Dubai.

He assists clients to understand their contribution to society and their environmental impacts; and assisting them in effectively communicating and reporting their sustainability strategies, goals and results. He also works with industry bodies and regulators to develop standards of sustainable practices, reporting and assurance.

Damian has over 26 years of reporting and assurance experience with PwC & Deloitte; with over 20 years in London working primarily in the Financial Services industry, and over 6 years in Dubai, working with a variety of industries across the Middle East. He has recently joined Anthesis, a leading international sustainability consultancy firm.

Professor Damilola S Olawuyi SAN is an international lawyer, professor, and policy adviser specialising in energy, natural resources, and environmental law. He serves as UNESCO Chairholder on Environmental Law and Sustainable Development at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, he has advised on major energy and infrastructure projects globally. He sits on the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, and serves on several committees and boards including the African Development Bank, International Law Association, International Bar Association and the Association of Environmental Law Lecturers in Middle East and North African Universities (ASSELLMU). His award-winning book Environmental Law in Arab States earned recognition from the American Society of International Law (ASIL) in 2023.

Professor Olawuyi holds a doctorate (DPhil) in energy and environmental law from the University of Oxford; a Master of Laws (LLM) from Harvard University; and another LLM from the University of Calgary. He has been admitted as Barrister and Solicitor in Alberta, Canada; Ontario, Canada; and Nigeria.

Further information about his profile and publications can be found at: www.damilolaolawuyi.com

Biography to be updated.

Eleonore is part of the Sustainability and ESG team at Anthesis Middle East, overseeing the management and delivery of sustainability engagements across the region. She brings extensive expertise in ESG strategies, having previously worked with the EY Climate Change and Sustainability practice in the UAE. With a strong track record in developing leading ESG reporting frameworks and sustainability strategies, she focuses on integrating ESG principles into business strategies.

Eleonore’s experience spans multi-sectoral clients inthe Financial sector, Power & Utilities, Transport, Telecommunications, Real Estate, and the public sector throughout the Middle East, with a proven ability to drive impactful, client-focused outcomes.

Erik Ringvold serves as the Chief Business Development Officer at VCM, overseeing the organization’s Business Development, Advisory and Strategic Project functions. In this capacity, Erik drives strategic initiatives, fosters partnerships, and leads efforts to expand VCM’s impact across the global carbon market landscape.

As an executive specializing in carbon markets, Erik brings extensive experience across the full carbon market value chain. Before joining VCM, he spent the last decade at McKinsey & Company, where he advised a diverse range of stakeholders, including projectdevelopers, traders, banks, investors, carbon credit buyers, and standard setters. A recognized thought leader in the field, Erik has published extensively on carbon markets and carbon accounting, co-authoring several of the most widely cited reports in the industry.

Before transitioning to carbon markets, Erik began his career as an energy systems engineer, later moving into consulting for the financial industry where he worked extensively with banks, payment providers, and exchanges.

Fatima Akhtarzada is the Director of Licensing and Regulatory Policy at the Central Bank of Bahrain, where she oversees the development and implementation of licensing and regulatory policy frameworks across the financial sector. She has nearly 20 years of experience in financial regulation, supervision, and policy development, with a focus on strengthening market integrity, governance, and sustainable growth.

She has held several senior leadership roles at the Central Bank of Bahrain, including Head of Licensing of the Non-Banking Sector and Head of Mutual Funds Authorization and Supervision, where she led the authorization and oversight of collective investment undertakings and investment fund structures, as well as related regulatory activities.

Earlier in her career, she gained over five years of private-sector experience in asset management, financial planning, and banking through roles at HSBC Bank Middle East and TAIB Bank B.S.C. (c), which continues to inform her practical, market-aware approach to regulation and policy.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree (Honors) in Banking and Finance from the University of Bahrain and is currently completing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at DePaul University. She also holds an Advanced Diploma in Islamic Commercial Jurisprudence, an International Diploma in Compliance, and an Investment Representative Certification, and has passed Level I of the CFA Program. Her professional interests include sustainable finance, regulatory reform, institutional governance, and leadership in financial services.

Fawaz Farouk Bilbeisi was recently appointed as the Regional Manager, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Syria, based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for International Finance Corporation (IFC).

He has an extensive career in economic diplomacy, investment promotion, and development finance, with major accomplishments in raising finances for public and private sector projects.

In his role, Fawaz’s top priorities will be to develop South-South investment opportunities aligned with both local priorities and IFC’s global strategies; as well as investing in selective high impact transactions in KSA in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

Before that Mr. Bilbeisi served as a Senior Advisor to the Executive Director of the Board of The World Bank Group, advising the Board on private sector development, PPPs, project finance, SMEs, climate finance, investment guarantees, trade finance among many other areas.

Prior to that, he was appointed in 2008 as Director of Jordan Economic and Commerce Bureau in Washington, D.C. where he worked extensively on developing Jordan – US Economic and business relations including increasing bilateral trade and investments.

Mr. Bilbeisi also held various posts at Jordanian Embassies abroad, including London and Paris, where he gained extensive experience in working with governments, private sector and international organizations like OECD, UNESCO and EBRD, and garnered relationships with key decision makers across many countries and regions.

Mr. Bilbeisi speaks three languages and holds a master’s degree in international relations from University of Exeter, a Higher Diploma in Foreign Service from Oxford University, and a BA Degree in Political Science and Economics from University of Jordan.

Federico Bonini is a Partner at BCG, with more than 8 years of experience in the energy practice and key expertise in the power and decarbonization sectors. He has international experience across every step of the power value chain (generation, T&D and retail) as well as relevant functions expertise. Federico has supported some of the largest transformations and decarbonization strategies across Europe, LATAM and the Middle East. He is also involved in selected public sector engagements, developing strategies for governments across Europe on decarbonization and on selected verticals (e.g. green hydrogen, large scale renewables). In the last few years, he concentrated on scaling up low carbon investments (solar PV, wind onshore and offshore, power networks).

Giuseppe Bonaccorsi joined Boston Consulting Group in Rome in 2011, and transferred to the Dubai office in early 2013. As a core member of the firm’s Energy practice, Giuseppe’s main focus is helping energy companies prepare for energy transitions with new strategies, and helping them enter new spaces such as alternative energy and new digital technologies (AI, blockchain, and IoT) in order to diversify their portfolios.

Giuseppe has worked with several major energy clients in GCC in both oil and gas and utilities. He has functional expertise in strategy, digital transformation, sustainability and circular economy, innovation, and setting up of new digital businesses. Among his recent client engagements, he has set up three digital startups in Dubai for a major GCC energy player, and launched a full innovation sprint focused on new digital ventures for a leading energy player in UAE.

Prior to joining BCG, Giuseppe worked for another consulting firm supporting major European companies in the energy sector, working mainly on strategy projects.

Dr. Hanan Albuflasa has a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Renewable Energy from Loughborough University in the UK. Internationally recognised for her expertise, she represents Bahrain in the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for Solar and Wind Energy and served as the IEEE PES Region Representative for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa in 2023. She led several international research collaborations, including EU-GCC and Horizon2020. Her research contributions cover renewable energy integration, desalination technologies, and energy efficiency. She has published several journal papers and book chapters. In 2022, the United Nations Women designated her the most prominent scientist in Bahrain in the fields of sustainability, environment, and renewable energy.

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.

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.

Katherine Garrett-Cox is CEO of GIB Asset Management, a sustainability-focused investment firm. Prior to joining GIB AM, Katherine was Chief Executive and Chief Investment Officer of Alliance Trust PLC and served as a member of the UK Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Group and the Scottish Business Board.

Outside of her work at GIB AM, Katherine is the Chair of the Clean Air Fund, Chair of CDP Worldwide, Chair of Gousto. Katherine is a Member of the UK Society of Investment Professionals, CFA Institute

Eng. Khalid is a highly professional, confident, and ambitious leader with over 16 years of experience in environmental compliance, climate change, environmental management, and sustainability across a variety of roles. Currently serving as the Director General of Climate Affairs at the Environment Authority of Oman, Eng. Khalid also leads the Omani Negotiation Team for Climate Change and the team negotiating the Treaty on Ending Plastic Pollution. Additionally, he acts as a Climate Affairs Expert to the Chairman of the Environment Authority in Oman.

Previously, Eng. Khalid served as an Expert in Regulations and Studies at the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture in Saudi Arabia from June 2022 to January 2024. Over the past decade, he has focused on critical areas including the development of net-zero strategies, managing and executing climate change mitigation projects, and planning adaptation strategies. His expertise extends to capacity building for the climate change sector, designing climate financing strategies, and overseeing carbon credits management, including the preparation, implementation, and reporting of ITMOs frameworks.

Eng. Khalid has played a key role in regulating compliance requirements for carbon credits registration and has contributed to establishing high-integrity carbon markets. He has also worked on developing a master plan for carbon market growth in collaboration with international partners, such as A6IP from Japan.

Known for being self-motivated, reliable, and diplomatic, Eng. Khalid excels at multitasking and maintaining a positive attitude under pressure. He is recognized for his integrity, attention to detail, and ability to work both collaboratively and independently.

With a strong interest in sustainable development, corporate sustainability, sustainability reporting (in alignment with GRI standards), and governance in environmental management, Eng. Khalid is passionate about advancing life cycle assessments (LCA), cleaner production mechanisms, and the social license to operate. His expertise spans sustainability, governance, policy and legislation, environmental management, environmental assessments and auditing, waste management, water resource management, project management, carbon credits, carbon markets, climate finance, and climate change mitigation and adaptation projects.

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.

Laila is a senior communications strategist with more than two decades of experience advising clients across international markets including the US, Europe and Middle East. She is financial PR and media specialist, who has worked with a broad range of financial institutions, sovereign funds, family offices, listed companies, and government organisations on building and managing their brands, reputations and relationships with multiple stakeholders. Her strengths lie in helping clients develop impactful cross-border communications strategies, compelling brand and value propositions, clear and powerful content, and effective outreach campaigns targeting the financial media and investment community.

Prior to establishing FinMark in 2010, Laila spent 10 years at Financial Dynamics (now FTI Consulting), a leading City of London and international financial PR agency. She joined the firm in 1999 at its New York offices, established its Middle East operations in 2003, marking the launch of the region’s first specialist financial PR company, and went on to help manage the firm’s London based developing markets practice between 2007 until 2009.‎

Laila holds a Master’s degree in Middle East Area Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, and a Bachelor’s degree in political science from California Polytechnic State University. She also holds a Certificate in Business and Climate Change from the University of Cambridge’s Institute for Sustainability Leadership, and is currently completing a Certificate in Sustainable Finance at the Oxford University Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment.

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”).

Marie-Claire Daveu is Chief Sustainability and Institutional Affairs Officer (Chief Sustainability Officer) at Kering Group and a member of the Group’s Executive Committee. She is internationally recognised for her leadership in sustainability, environmental policy, and institutional engagement, and is widely regarded as one of the architects of sustainability integration within the global luxury industry. Since joining Kering in 2012, she has led the development and execution of the Group’s sustainability strategy, embedding environmental and social responsibility into business decision making across all Kering Houses and operations.

Under her leadership, Kering became a pioneer in sustainability management through the creation of the Environmental Profit & Loss (EP&L) framework, an innovative tool that measures and monetises environmental impacts across the entire value chain. This approach has positioned Kering as a global reference for responsible business, enabling the Group to set and achieve ambitious climate and environmental targets. Notably, Kering met its 2025 EP&L intensity reduction target four years ahead of schedule, demonstrating the effectiveness of data-driven sustainability strategies aligned with long-term value creation. Marie-Claire has also played a central role in advancing Kering’s climate, biodiversity, and nature-positive commitments, promoting scalable solutions and cross-sector collaboration.

In addition to her executive role at Kering, Marie-Claire Daveu holds several prominent board positions, including as a board member of Crédit Agricole S.A. and AgroParisTech, reflecting her influence across both the financial and academic sectors. Her career uniquely spans senior roles in government and industry, having previously served as Chief of Staff to the French Minister for Ecology and Sustainable Development, as well as holding advisory positions within the Office of the French Prime Minister. She also served as Director of Sustainable Development at Sanofi-Aventis Group, where she led corporate sustainability strategy at a global level.

Marie-Claire Daveu is a graduate of ENGREF, the Paris Institute of Technology for Life, Food and Environmental Sciences, and holds a postgraduate degree in public administration and management from Université Paris Dauphine. Her background combines deep technical expertise with public policy experience, enabling effective engagement with governments and international institutions
on issues of climate transition, biodiversity protection, sustainable industry, and long-term economic resilience.

Kering Group is a global luxury group managing the development of a portfolio of leading Houses across fashion, leather goods, jewelry, eyewear, and beauty. Its portfolio includes Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Brioni, Boucheron, Pomellato, DoDo, Qeelin, Ginori 1735, as well as Kering Eyewear and Kering Beauté. The Group is internationally recognised for its leadership in sustainable luxury, innovation, and responsible value-chain management.

Shaikha May has more than 16 years of experience in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and computer operations. She is appointed as the Director of Geographical Information Systems. She began her career in 2006 as a computer specialist at the Computer Operations Directorate, she was promoted in 2013 to computer analyst at the GIS Directorate. In 2015, she was appointed Head of the data development group in the same directorate, becoming Chief of GIS Processes Analysis in 2019.

During her time at the iGA, Dr. Shaikha May supervised a range of corporate and national projects that involved innovative restructurings of operations at government entities and the development of geographical systems to support their services, most notably the Building Permit Portal, Benayat, Planning for urban planning services, Sijilat and the infrastructure permit system, Tasareeh.

Dr. Shaikha May participated in several committees and task forces such as CIO’s Corporate Excellence team, the Government Procedures Restructuring team under the umbrella of the National Committee for Geospatial Information Governance, and the National Biodiversity Clearing-House Mechanism Committee, which is part of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, in addition to several internal committees in iGA.

She represented iGA at various local and international events, including the annual GIS Day celebration, and represented the Kingdom of Bahrain at the meeting of the Arab Committee of United Nations Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM).

Dr. Shaikha May holds a PhD in Innovation Management from Arabian Gulf University (2021) and a Master’s in Information, Network, and Computer Security from the New York Institute of Technology (2013). She also holds a Bachelor’s in Computer Engineering from the University of Bahrain, an ITIL certificate in Information Technology Service Management (2018), and a certified Ethical Hacker degree CEH V6 (2010).

Mehrali ECER graduated from the Department of Environmental Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, Dokuz Eylül University.

He worked as an Environmental Auditor at BOTAŞ in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Crude Oil Pipeline Project Directorate. At the Ministry of Environment and Forest, he held various positions including Environmental Engineer, Head of the Greenhouse Gas Monitoring and Emission Trading Branch, Head of the Climate Change Department, Director-General of EU and External Relations at the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, and Head of the EU Environmental and Climate Change Operational Programme Authority. He also served as the Director-General of Environmental Impact Assessment, Permits and Inspections, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Türkiye Environment Agency, and as a Ministry Advisor.

He is currently serving as the Deputy Director of the Directorate of Climate Change Türkiye.

Mohamed Alaali is the Group Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at BBK Group, where he leads the Bank’s strategic direction and drives its sustainability agenda in alignment with both national development goals and global ESG standards. In this capacity, he is responsible for shaping the Group’s long-term strategy, advancing transformation initiatives, and embedding sustainability across its operations and business lines. Mohamed has more than 19 years of experience in strategy development, corporate transformation, and sustainability leadership.

Prior to joining BBK Group, Mohamed served as Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer at Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB), where he led the Bank’s corporate strategy and ESG programs, driving initiatives that supported its digital and sustainable transformation journey. Before that, he was Senior Manager of Strategy and Business Development at the National Bank of Bahrain (NBB), where he contributed to the development of strategic growth initiatives and new business opportunities across the Group.

Mohamed holds a Master of Business Administration in Business Strategy and Operations from the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois, earned through the prestigious Fulbright Program, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Information Systems (Summa Cum Laude) from Murray State University and the University of Bahrain. He actively contributes to Bahrain’s financial and sustainability ecosystem through his roles as a member of the Bahrain Customer Centricity Society, the Sustainability Committee of the Bahrain Association of Banks, and the Finance, Insurance & Tax Committee of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce.

Prof. Mohammad Abu Zahra is a global expert in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), decarbonization and clean energy, with over 20 years of experience in research, industry, and policy development. He currently serves as the Chief Regional Office-MEA at the Global CCS Institute, where he leads efforts to accelerate the deployment of large-scale CCUS projects and supports governments and industries in developing carbon management strategies.

Prof. Abu Zahra is also a member of the United Nations Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (UN CEET), an independent advisory body to the UN Secretary-General that provides technical expertise to advance global net-zero goals. His contributions to the UN CEET reflect his commitment to shaping international policies on carbon management and sustainable energy solutions.

Prior to joining the Global CCS Institute, Prof. Abu Zahra served as a faculty member at Masdar Institute and Khalifa University from 2011 to 2022, where he established the first regional research group dedicated to CO₂ capture and co-founded the RICH Center (Research and Innovation Center on CO₂ and Hydrogen), a multidisciplinary hub for advancing carbon and hydrogen technologies. During his academic tenure, he supervised over 30 MSc and PhD students, published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and technical papers, and delivered over 250 presentations at both local and international conferences. His work significantly advanced CCUS technologies and established this CCUS research in the region. In addition to his academic contributions, Prof. Abu Zahra also served as Carbon Capture Project Manager at the IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme (IEAGHG) and as a Senior Process Engineer at TNO, where he was actively involved in pioneering carbon capture projects and integrated energy systems.

Prof. Abu Zahra holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Jordan, a Master’s in Process Design and Development from the University of Twente, and a PhD in Chemical Engineering-Process and Energy from Delft University of Technology.

A frequent speaker at global energy summits, Prof. Abu Zahra actively engages with policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers to drive the adoption of CCUS technologies as a critical tool for climate change mitigation. His expertise continues to shape the future of carbon management in the region and globally, supporting the transition toward a low-carbon economy.

Mostafa Hawas is a Sustainability and Environmental Markets Expert with over seven years of experience across sustainable finance, climate policy, and market development. Hawas currently leads Egypt’s transition into sustainable markets at The Egyptian Exchange (EGX). He spearheaded the establishment of the Egyptian Climate Exchange (EGCX), the first voluntary regulated environmental market in Egypt and the wider region.

Hawas is a board member of the Sustainability Committee at the Arab Federation of Capital Markets (AFCM). He acts as the primary focal point for EGX in several global networks, including the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative, the African Securities Exchanges Association, and the Federation of Euro-Asian Stock Exchanges.

Recognized for his leadership in global policy networks, he is a Fellow of the U.S. Department of State’s Professional Fellowship Program (PFP) and almnus within the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community. He is also an alumnus of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Climate Champions network, where he has contributed to regional ESG dialogues and climate education initiatives.

Hawas is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Euro-Mediterranean Studies. His research focuses on a comparative analysis of climate action strategies, aiming to recommend policy frameworks that bridge the North–South divide in global climate governance.

Nam (Namrata) Rastogi currently serves as a Carbon Policy and Technical Specialist at UNDP, where she leads carbon market readiness activities with a focus on Article 6 implementation, supporting countries in translating international carbon market frameworks into practical and ambitious strategies. In her previous roles she served as the Senior Environment Officer at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), leading climate risk management assessments, climate finance, and mitigation initiatives around the globe. Nam has also worked with the World Bank leading on NDC implementation, carbon market and pricing design; and with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) on global transparency and MRV systems. She has experience working in the non-profit sector and the U.S Department of Energy, supporting international clean energy and climate initiatives. She brings more than 15 years of experience advancing climate finance, carbon markets, and policy implementation across emerging and developing economies.

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As Head of Technical Portfolio Development at ASRY, Omar Al Enezi plays a leading role in shaping the company’s strategic direction across sustainability, modernization, and diversification. He oversees high-impact initiatives including solar energy development, green ship recycling, offshore wind strategy, and EPC project development, aligning ASRY with the region’s evolving energy transition and industrial transformation goals.

Omar has nearly four years of experience at ASRY, beginning his journey as a Mechanical Supervisor before transitioning into strategic leadership roles. His broader career spans government and industry, having served as a Senior Mechanical Engineer at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce for five years and earlier as a Special Projects Engineer at the Ministry of Interior.

He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Bahrain and a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bahrain Polytechnic. Omar has also completed the Middle Management Leadership Program, supported by Harvard Business Publishing, which further strengthened his leadership capability and strategic decision-making skills. He is currently a member of ASRY’s Executive Committee for Ship Recycling, contributing to the advancement of responsible industrial practices and long-term sustainability initiatives.

Omar leads SE Advisory’s sustainability development across the MEA region. He drives
strategic engagements with key customers and partners, helping organizations:
• Strategize and digitize Sustainability roadmaps to Decarbonize operations.
• Align with national and global sustainability goals.
• Integrate Schneider Electric’s global expertise into local markets

Specialties
• ESG disclosure & sustainability-linked financing
• Energy efficiency & carbon credit integration
• Digital transformation & innovation strategies
• Stakeholder engagement in national sustainability programs
• Regulatory compliance aligned with global frameworks

With over a decade of experience at the intersection of digital transformation and
sustainability, Omar brings a business-driven approach to innovation. He holds an MBA in
Digital Business, is ESG-specialized, and CEM certified

Razan Bucheeri is a Senior Legal Researcher at the Climate Change and Sustainable Development Directorate at the Supreme Council for Environment in Bahrain.

In this role, Razan has supported both mitigation and adaptation action in the Kingdom. Her contributions include drafting national documents, such as Bahrain’s Nationally Determined Contribution and first Biennial Transparency Report to the Paris Agreement, and the National Adaptation Investment Plan. Razan also actively participates in multilateral environmental negotiations, including the UN Environment Assembly, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution, and has advised on climate policy, such as carbon market mechanisms.

Razan holds a Bachelor of Laws from Newcastle University and a Masters in International Law from the University of Edinburgh. Prior to joining the SCE, Razan was a Studies Specialist at the Prime Minister’s Office.

Riad Meddeb is the Director of the UNDP Sustainable Energy Hub, leading global efforts to expand sustainable energy access and drive a just energy transition across 130 countries. With decades of experience in policy, finance, and advocacy, he has played a pivotal role in shaping high-level global energy discussions, contributing to G7, G20, and COPs while advancing UNDP’s energy agenda at the country level to maximize impact.

With expertise in sustainable energy and development, Riad advises governments, multilateral institutions, and the private sector on policies that link energy access with socio-economic transformation—spanning education, health, productive uses of energy, green industry, and digital innovation. His portfolio includes leadership on emerging areas such as green hydrogen, energy governance, anti-corruption in the energy sector, and the responsible use of AI and data systems to optimize national energy planning and investment decisions.

He previously served as Senior Principal Advisor on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Interim Director of the UNDP Global Centre for Technology, Innovation, and Sustainable Development in Singapore, leading global initiatives to scale up renewable energy, enhance resilience, and foster green innovation. He co-led the creation of the Climate Investment Platform, a joint initiative with IRENA, SE4ALL, and the Green Climate Fund, unlocking finance for clean energy projects worldwide. 

Before joining UNDP, he worked as an Economist at UNCTAD, ILO, and in the private sector and was a lecturer at the University of Paris V. He holds degrees in Economics and Finance from the University of Paris I: Panthéon-Sorbonne.

Mrs. Sara is a risk management expert with over 15 years’ experience in risk and resilience.

Prior to joining Gulf Air Group (GFG), Sara was a risk assurance manager with Deloitte and Touché (M.E.). With Deloitte, Sara led multiple risk assurance services specifically enterprise risk management, business continuity and information security services for multiple industries including, transportation, education, financial and retail.

Sara’s experience is rich of successful risk management and resilience transformation programs for large organizations.

With GFG, Sara is responsible for the group’s Enterprise Risk Management and supports the organization with developing its’ Business Continuity Management, Information Security Management and Sustainability & ESG reporting Programs.

Sara served as a Director on the boards of multiple companies and chaired Audit and Risk Committees.

Sara holds an International Airport Professional designation, which recognizes her excellence in airport management and proficiency in applying ACI best practices and ICAP SARPs. She also holds numerous accreditations and professional certifications in risk and resilience.

Sarah Baashan is the Director of Corporate Sustainability at Aramco, where she leads the company’s sustainability positioning, strategy, governance, and reporting. Her work resides at the intersection of energy, sustainability, and climate policy, advancing initiatives that strengthen Aramco’s contribution to a balanced and inclusive energy future.

Prior to this role, she established and led Aramco’s Industry Insights and Engagements function, responsible for shaping the company’s policies on the energy transition and expanding its partnerships across North America, Asia, and Africa. She also managed Aramco’s institutional relationships with organizations like the World Economic Forum and the B20, and led a corporate team contributing to global policy dialogue during Saudi Arabia’s G20 Presidency.

With nearly two decades of experience spanning international policy, multilateral diplomacy, and corporate spheres, Sarah brings a rare blend of global insight and pragmatic execution. During her secondment to the Ministry of Energy in 2012, she became the first Saudi woman to represent the Kingdom in multilateral climate negotiations and participated in various forums like the United Nations, UNFCCC, IPCC, WTO, IMF, the League of Arab States, and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

As a Presiding Officer of the UNFCCC, Sarah facilitated chapters of the Paris Agreement, and became the co-Chair for the Paris Agreement Rulebook, securing consensus among 196 Member States on detailed guidance for NDCs, transparency frameworks, global stocktake, and climate finance mechanisms.

She brings a development-oriented perspective to the global energy transition and is particularly passionate about the role of energy in enabling growth across the Global South. Sarah holds a Master of International Affairs in International Economic Policy from Columbia University, and is an OPEC Fellow.

Seneca Cottom is Head of Sustainability at Alshaya Group, where she leads ESG strategy across 17 countries for one of the region’s largest retail operators. With over two decades of experience in commercial real estate, operational performance , and sustainability, she focuses on embedding sustainability into core business strategy, unlocking efficiencies and long-term value. Her work spans reporting, circular economy pilots, recovery systems, and decarbonization initiatives. A GRI Certified Sustainability Professional, Seneca advocates for framing sustainability  as a lever for innovation, resilience, and competitive growth across emerging markets.

Simon Henry is the Director of Carbon Market Development at the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA). In his role, he leads a variety of work areas to improve and expand carbon market mechanisms around the world. During his ten years with IETA, he has worked on both voluntary and compliance markets, including:

• Managing a special IETA initiative called Markets for Natural Climate Solutions, which worked to maximise business investment in NCS through carbon markets.
• Helping to establish the Climate Action Data Trust; a blockchain based platform – co-owned by IETA and the Government of Singapore – to link, aggregate and harmonise carbon credit registry data from around the world.

Prior to joining IETA, Simon worked in energy and environmental consultancy. He was a Senior Consultant for five years at Pöyry Management Consulting (now AFRY), where his work focused on providing market analysis and commercial advice to a variety of European energy market stakeholders including utilities, investors and regulators. Prior to Pöyry, he worked for AEA Technology (now Ricardo) for both private and public sector clients on a range of sustainability topics.

Sonia Weymuller is the Co-Founder and General Partner at VentureSouq, leading the firm’s climate investment practice. Previously, she was an Investment Consultant for Acumen’s KawiSafi Fund, worked in Commercial Development at Turner Broadcasting in Dubai, with Viacom’s Emerging Markets Strategy Group and with Microsoft’s Strategy and M&A team in London. Sonia is a selected member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Investing in Gender Parity; she is on the Board of Advisors of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) and is a Jury member and Capital Mentor for the Cartier Women’s Initiative. She also serves as the UAE Director for the Yale Alumni Schools Committee and on the Yale President’s Council on International Activities. Sonia holds a B.A. from Yale University, an MSc from the London School of Economics, and is a Kauffman Fellow.

Talal AlAraifi is the Chief Executive Officer of SAFA, a pioneering carbon offsetting platform that empowers individuals and business to understand, manage and reduce their carbon footprint.

Prior to Safa, Talal served as the CEO of Mazad, where he led the company from its setup, transforming Bahrain’s auction and asset sale landscape through innovation, transparency and digital strategy. During his tenor, Mazad evolved into a national recognized platform facilitating efficient, trusted and tech-enabled asset sales.

With over a decade of experience across the public and private sectors – including roles at the Central Bank of Bahrain, Saudi Arabian Insurance Company, and as a fellow in the prestigious fellowship program for the Prime Minister’s Office – Talal brings a unique depth of strategic vision, regulatory depth and executional rigor to every initiative he leads.

Talal is a senior Saudi executive in the energy and infrastructure sector, with extensive leadership experience across renewable energy, power, and water desalination projects delivered under PPP model in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A leader who is widely recognized for his ability to translate strategy into executable programs, build institutions from inception, and lead complex, multi
stakeholder environments with clarity, discipline, and purpose.

He currently serves as Central & Eastern Renewables Cluster Head (Construction KSA) at ACWA Power, where he holds executive accountability for all renewable energy projects under construction across the region. In parallel, Talal serves as Chief Executive Officer of three ACWA Power affiliate project companies, collectively representing over 4.2 GW of solar capacity with a combined
investment value exceeding SAR 10 billion.

Earlier in his career, Talal held senior leadership roles on landmark water desalination projects, including Jubail 3A and Rabigh 3, each with a capacity of 600,000 m³/day.

Talal began his career at Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), where he managed a portfolio of electrical infrastructure projects.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from King Abdulaziz University.

With more than 25 years of experience in agriculture, environment, and climate adaptation, Thomas brings extensive expertise in advancing global and multilateral environmental agreements. He has worked on initiatives to halt biodiversity loss, address ecosystem degradation, tackle climate change, and reduce disaster risk. His experience spans key frameworks such as the Rio Conventions (UNCBD, UNCCD, UNFCCC), the Sendai Framework, and related policy and programming processes, including NDCs, NBSAPs, Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets, and other national action plans.

Before his current role, Thomas led climate resilience and renewable energy efforts at UNDP’s Sub-regional Office for West and Central Africa in Dakar. From 2015 to 2020, he served at the UNDP Regional Service Center for Africa, supporting the IGAD Drought Disaster Resilience Initiative. Between 2010 and 2015, he was UNDP’s Chief Technical Advisor on Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience in Haiti.

Prior to joining UNDP, Thomas worked with the World Bank, the private sector, and community-led organizations on sustainable agriculture and climate adaptation. He holds a BA in Agronomy and Rural Development from the University of the French West Indies and Guyana and an MA in Development Studies from the University of Geneva.

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.