Deputy Governor Corporate Operations (COO SAGIA)
CEO CADRE Economic Cities
Ahmed joined SAGIA July 07 as GM HR SAGIA & Economic Cities. He was then appointed SAGIA Chief Operating Officer on Dec. 07, maintaining his leadership role of the human capital development strategy for the Economic Cities. Ahmed took over the CEO role of Cadre Economic Cities upon its formation May 08.
During his 16 year tenure with Procter & Gamble, prior to Sagia, Ahmed lead several organizations redesigns/restructures, acquisitions & put several Global HR systems. He’s an active trainer and speaker. Thousands from Europe, Middle East & Africa have benefitted from Ahmed’s workshops & speeches.
Vice President, Planning and Projects Development
Sipchem
Dr. Abdullatif M. Bhairi has 2 Bs degrees in Chemical Engineering and Mathematics from the University of California, MS and PhD degrees in Chemical Engineering in the field of Gas Processing from Oklahoma State University
During his career Dr Bhairi worked for such companies as National Methanol Company (NMC), Marsa Brega - Libya, the first methanol plant in the Middle East, Nama Petrochemical Company (NAMA) and was a member of a research team in King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals for 5 years
Dr Bhairi joined Sipchem as a Vice President, Planning and Project Development in October 2000. In Sipchem, he is responsible for technology selection, technology licensing, negotiating Join Ventures and Marketing/Offtake arrangements for many projects.
Vice Chairman/Chief Executive, National Industrialization Company (TASNEE)
Moayyed I. Al-Qurtas is the Vice Chairman & Chief Executive of National Industrialization Company (TASNEE), which is one of the largest Saudi industrial companies, having investments in several industrial fields throughout Saudi Arabia. He is also the Chairman of the boards of MAADANIYAH, RASASS and ROWAD, which are Tasnee’s affiliates and a member of the boards of Industrialization & Energy Services Company (TAQA) and Saudi Vitrified Clay Pipes Co. (SVCP).
Commercial Director, India, Middle East & Africa (IMEA), The Dow Chemical Company
Dr. Zuhair Allawi is commercial director for India, Middle East & Africa region for Dow with additional oversight sales responsibility for Fabric & Surface Care in that region. He is located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Director of Chemical Business, Saudi Aramco
Fayez has about 17 years of experience in the field of refining and chemicals businesses. He graduated from KFUPM in 1992 with a bachelor degree in chemical engineering. After graduation he worked for Sabic handling different responsibilities including plant operations, planning and project management and was involved in several mega projects including SABIC’s Petrokemya Olefins II and III. In early 2002 Fayez joined Saudi Aramco as a petrochemical specialist. Since his move to Saudi Aramco, he participated in setting up Saudi Aramco’s chemical business as well as working on several initiatives that focus on leveraging the Kingdom’s hydrocarbon resources for the advancement of the local economy. Also, Fayez played a key role in setting up Petro Rabigh and Ras Tanura Integrated Project with Sumitomo Chemicals and Dow Chemical respectively. Currently Fayez is the Director of Saudi Aramco’s Chemicals Business Department.
Vice President – Chemicals, ExxonMobil Saudi Arabia Inc.
Mr. Granier has been employed with Esso /ExxonMobil for 30 years .
He joined the company as process Engineer with a Chemical Engineer degree from Institut Polytechique Toulouse (France ) , a Master Of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College London (UK ) and a Doctor-Engineer degree from Institut Polytechique Toulouse (France) .
Regional Director, Middle East, Foster Wheeler
In 30 years with the company, he has developed extensive experience technically, commercially and contractually. Francesco became responsible for the Middle East market in 1994, based in Al-Khobar for a couple of years. In 2001 he was reassigned to Milano where he became senior vice president responsible for the European and African market. He is now back in the Middle East, based in Bahrain, senior vice president of global sales and marketing for the region.
Managing Director, HSBC Head of Project Finance, Middle East and North Africa
Mr. Robinson has been based in the Middle East for nearly 7 years and following nearly 5 years heading the project finance business for HSBC in Saudi Arabia, he has recently moved to Dubai to assume regional responsibility for the largest project finance team in the Middle East and North Africa. With almost 15 years of experience in project finance, he has advised clients in the petrochemical, power, water, infrastructure and telecom sectors, utilising both conventional and Islamic structures. In addition to numerous ongoing project finance transactions, Jonathan is centrally involved in several privatisation initiatives in key infrastructure sectors across the region. He has previously held senior positions with PwC securities and Export Development Corporation in Canada, as an advisor and lead arranger of many project finance transactions.
Chief Economist & Managing Director, Proprietary Investments
Jadwa Investment
Since June 2007 Brad has been the Chief Economist at Jadwa investment Company in Riyadh. He is also Managing Director of Proprietary Investments, overseeing investment of the bank’s own capital, and he is the Vice Chairman of the Management Committee. Brad publishes regularly on issues related to the Saudi and global economies and the world oil market. He appears frequently in the domestic and international media and is a regular public speaker. For nine years prior to joining Jadwa, Brad was the Chief Economist at Samba Financial Group, formerly Saudi American Bank, in Riyadh. At Samba he was also head of cross-border risk management for the bank, which involved managing the bank’s exposures outside Saudi Arabia.
Islam Al-Bayaa
Chief Executive Officer,
KPMG Financial Advisory Services LLC
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Islam is the CEO of KPMG Financial Advisory LLC (Saudi Arabia). He has over 15 year of experience in Corporate Finance. After starting his career with KPMG in the UK, Islam worked for number of Investment Banks in London namely Salomon Smith Barney (now Citigroup), Hawkpoint and Kessler. At the beginning of 2009, Islam joined KPMG in Saudi Arabia to lead the Corporate Finance business. Islam’s experience includes strategic advice, business planning, financial structuring, mergers, acquisitions, IPOs and placement advisory services. His experience spans number of sectors including commercial banking, retail banking, insurance, financial services and manufacturing.
Dr. Stephen Crute
General Manager, ARENSCO
Dr Stephen Crute is the General Manager of Arabian Environmental Science Ltd Company (Arensco) based in Saudi Arabia. Following an initial career as a marine engineer, Stephen returned to education and completed his first degree in the UK followed by his Doctoral research on Ecosystem analysis using computer simulation modeling. Stephen has over twenty years experience in the provision of environmental consultancy and services throughout the world. He has been working in Saudi Arabia for four years and is familiar with the environmental regulation and policy frameworks within the Kingdom.
Stephen and his company Arensco has provided extensive environmental input into petrochemical projects within Saudi Arabia.
Oscar Silva
Former CEO, GIB Financial Services, Saudi Arabia
Oscar has over 25 years of expertise in the origination, structuring and execution of investment banking, corporate, project and structured finance transactions, including Islamic finance. Most recently he was Head of Investment Banking at Gulf International Bank B.S.C. (GIB) in Bahrain and Chief Executive Officer of GIB Financial Services, GIB’s Saudi subsidiary responsible for investment banking, asset management and brokerage. Leading a team of 14 bankers located in Riyadh, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, he delivered several landmark transactions in the GCC and Saudi Arabia in particular, including the recent IPOs for Saudi Steel Pipes, Halwani Brothers and Al Othaim Markets Co, private placements for Dubai Investments (M’sharie) and Riyadh Cement Co. and M&A advisory on behalf of Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil and Suez Environment Co.
Partner, Clifford Chance
Nicholas Wong is an English qualified energy and infrastructure partner based in the Paris office of Clifford Chance. Nick acts for sponsors, banks, governments and export credit agencies on the acquisition, privatisation and development of energy and infrastructure assets in the Middle East, Europe, CIS and Africa. Most recently Nick acted for the sponsors on the Saudi Kayan petrochemicals complex project and is currently acting for the export credit agencies and lenders to the Nord Stream gas pipeline project.
CEO / President, Mohammad Al-Mojil Group
Ibrahim has over 30 years industry experience, joining SABIC in 1977 as a production engineer. By 1995 he occupied the position of President of Eastern Petrochemical Co. (SHARQ) and was assigned chairman of SABIC America. He was then appointed Group President, Intermediates at SABIC Head Office in Riyadh, KSA in 1998, moving later to Vice President of Research & Technology in 2002 – 2004. Up until 2008 Ibrahim occupied dual positions as Vice President Corporate Control (SABIC) & Chairman of the Board “National Industrial Gasses Company” (GAS).
President & CEO, RCS CORPORATION
Mr. Garcia began his career as a Mechanical Engineer in the commercial nuclear industry in 1981 after receiving his Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology. In 1994, he founded RCS Corporation to provide exceptional service around Professional Staffing Placement for the Nuclear and Petrochemical Industries. RCS has placed over 2500 professionals for permanent and contract positions worldwide. In June 1997, RCS Corporation was recognized as the “Fastest Growing New Small Business in America” by Entrepreneur Magazine. In Saudi Arabia, RCS has partnered with SIPCHEM, SABIC and Ma’aden over the past few years.
Vice President for Technical Affairs, Saudi Railways Organization
Ali Saad Al Karni is a lead member of SRO Expansion and Privatization Team and a member of numerous technical team involved in implementation of North South Railway project, GCC Railway connections, National Transport Strategy and Comprehensive Transport Planning.
Managing director-Chemical division, TechKnowledge
Wesam Abu Saif has a BSc degree in Chemistry and has worked as a chemical researcher in many pharmaceutical and chemical companies; during which he published 3 research articles in leading scientific journals. For the past 2 years Wesam has been working with TechKnowledge as a Managing director of Chemical division helping and supporting other researches in the region to get access to the latest scientific information.
Sector Head, Transportation and Logistics (T&L) Sector, SAGIA
Dr Abdouh has a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Transportation and Traffic Engineering) and M.S. Public Administration from University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Prior to Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, SAGIA, he held a position in the Ministry of Transportation (MOT) as Director of Comprehensive Transportation Department and Coordinator of the National Transportation Strategy, NTS
Dr Osama is a member of the Service Sector Committee regarding Saudi Arabia’s accession to the WTO.
Dr. Mezyad Alterkawi received B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Utah State University, USA. In 1991 he was awarded a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning from Texas A&M University, USA
Since 2007 Dr. Alterkawi has served as the CEO of the Riyadh Technology Incubation Center at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia which will form the core of the Riyadh Techno Valley scheduled to open in 2010. He has been a KSU faculty member since 1991.