Hamid Mamdouh Senior Counsel @ King and Spalding LLP - Geneva Office. Visiting Professor, Queen Mary, University of London. (Former Director of Trade in Services and Investment, WTO). Prior to retirement from the WTO at the end of September 2017, was the Director of the Trade in Services and Investment Division, since May 2001. Previously, was a Senior Counsellor in the Trade in Services Division. Had been the Secretary of the WTO Council for Trade in Services since the establishment of the WTO in 1995. During that time, was also responsible for legal affairs relating to Trade in Services and the implementation of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). Earlier, during the Uruguay Round negotiations, his responsibilities included legal matters relating to the negotiation, design and drafting of the GATS. Before joining the GATT secretariat as a dispute settlement lawyer in January 1990, he was representing Egypt to the GATT in the Uruguay Round Negotiations on a wide range of issues, including tariffs, non-tariff measures, intellectual property, investment and trade in services.

Dr. Abla Abdel Latif, originally a Professor of Economics at AUC, is currently the Executive Director and Director of Research of The Egyptian Center for Economic Studies (ECES). She was the Chair of the Presidential Advisory Council for Economic Development for eight years until last September 2024. 

In 2013, she was honored with membership of the Committee of Fifty, whose mission was to draft Egypt’s Constitution following June 30, 2013.

Adel Hamaizia is a strategic policy and advisory expert specializing in information advantage, risk mitigation, and policy development and implementation for companies and governments operating across the Middle East, the Balkans, and Africa. Previously, he was an Associate Fellow with the Chatham House MENA Programme and Vice-Chairman of the Oxford Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies Forum (OxGAPS), which he co-founded and where he also co-edited the thematic quarterly Gulf Affairs. He is a regular commentator in leading international media, including The New York Times, Financial Times, The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, and Reuters.

Ahmed Dawoud is an applied economist specialising in causal inference and Bayesian methods, with more than nine years turning quantitative evidence into decisions for senior executives, government ministers and development partners, including the World Bank and USAID.

He is Head of Research at Thirty Five Investment Holding in Qatar, where he works with the investment team on due diligence, feasibility analysis and opportunity screening across critical minerals, energy, infrastructure, food security and real estate in Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

He is also a Consultant to the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies (ECES), where he spent nine years rising from Research Analyst to Principal Economist and Head of the data science unit, where he led a team of economists and AI engineers, directed donor-funded policy research briefed to ministers, and built Egypt's first real-time labour-demand platform.

Previously, as Head of Decision Science at ProfitOPS.ai, he led causal-AI work for Fortune 100 clients including UPS and WestRock, and created ProRCA, an open-source tool that traces falling business KPIs to their root causes.

He has authored more than 15 studies, research papers and reports on trade, AI and labour markets, and Egypt–Gulf relations, and holds an honours economics degree, with a minor in statistics, from Cairo University.

Eng. Ahmed El-Assar is the founder of MASAR for Consultancy and Business Development, bringing 18 years of leadership experience at ExxonMobil, where he held key commercial and strategic positions. Ahmed is also a television presenter on TeN TV, a columnist for Al-Ahram and Akhbar Al-Youm, and the founder of El-Assar Cultural Salon. He chairs the Industry Committee at the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Egypt and serves as Vice Chairman of the Lieutenant General Mohamed El-Assar Foundation for Sustainable Development. Drawing on his extensive industry experience and professional network, he helps connect businesses with relevant opportunities and key decision-makers.

He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from Alexandria University, an MBA from the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT), and is a graduate of the Advanced Leadership Program at the National Training Academy.

Ahmed Farouk Ghoneim is currently a Professor, Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University. He is a research fellow at the Economic Research Forum for Arab Countries, Iran and Turkey (ERF) as well as at Center for Social and Economic Research (CASE) in Poland. He works as a consultant to several international and national organizations including the World Bank, WTO, UNCTAD, UNDP, and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). He holds a Ph.D. in Economics and his special interests in research include mainly trade policy, trade in services, regional trade integration, the multilateral trading system, the World Trade Organization, the economics of Intellectual Property Rights, institutional economics, law and economics, and political economy in which he has published widely. He held different policy oriented positions, among which was an advisor on foreign trade issues to the Minister of Foreign Trade and advisor to the Minister of Industry on foreign trade issues and international agreements. He advised several governments on different trade policy issues, and helped in capacity building programs in a number of countries. Since August 2014 he has been appointed as the Cultural Counselor for Egypt in Berlin and Vienna and the Head of the Student Mission in Germany, Austria and a number of European countries, which is a diplomatic position lasting for three years. Starting November 2018 he has been back to Egypt, as a professor of economics, Cairo University and pursuing back his research and consultancy interests. In August, 2020 he has been appointed as the head of the economic authority of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC). He serves as a board member for a number of institutions including NMEC, Grand Egyptian Museum, Supreme Council of Antiquities, and Fund for Tourism and Antiquities. He is also an advisor to the Minister of Planning and Economic Development on trade policy issues. Starting October 2024, he has been appointed as the CEO of the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Previously, he served as the Vice Minister of Finance for Fiscal Policies and Institutional Reform. Since 2016, he has been the Chief Negotiator and Government focal point with the IMF. He also serves as Egypt's non-resident Executive Director at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). He leads Egypt’s inter-ministerial team managing the annual economic dialogue with the EU. Kouchouk is a board member of several institutions including the Monetary-Fiscal Coordination Council, the Arab African Investment Bank, Talaat Mostafa Holding, and the Urban Development Economic Authority. He has previously served on the boards of the Central Bank of Egypt, Egypt Air Holding, and Misr Fertilizers Production Company (MOPCO). With nearly 25 years of experience, he worked as a Senior Economist for the World Bank (2013-2016) and held leadership roles in the Ministry of Finance and other ministries. Kouchouk holds a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard Kennedy School and a master’s degree in economics from York University, UK, and a BSc in Economics from the American University in Cairo.

Ahmed Rashad is the founder of Business Belarabi, one of the leading Arabic-language media and educational platforms specializing in business and career development, entrepreneurship, and leadership. He is also an angel investor supporting early-stage ventures, a transformation management and strategy consultant, and a certified executive coach. In addition, he works as a leadership and management trainer and contributes articles to Entrepreneur and Think Marketing magazines.

Dr. Ahmed Rostom is a distinguished economist and international development leader with more than 28 years of experience in financial sector reform, private sector development, and economic policy. He currently serves as Minister of Planning and Economic Development of the Arab Republic of Egypt. 

Before assuming his ministerial role, Dr. Rostom built a distinguished international career at the World Bank, where he served as a Senior Financial and Private Sector Specialist. In this capacity, he led major development finance initiatives across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, working closely with governments, regulators, and private sector stakeholders to design and implement reforms that strengthen financial systems and stimulate economic growth. His work focused on expanding access to finance, mobilizing infrastructure investment, supporting the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises, advancing financial inclusion, and promoting climatesmart investment strategies. Known for combining strategic policy vision with practical implementation, Dr. Rostom has played a key role in shaping programs that translate economic policy into measurable development outcomes.

Dr. Rostom holds a Ph.D. in Economics from George Washington University, an M.Sc. in Economic and Social Policy Analysis from the University of York, and both B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Economics from Cairo University’s Faculty of Economics and Political Science. He has also completed executive education programs at the University of Cambridge, the Wharton School, and Harvard University. A published researcher, his work has appeared in outlets including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the World Bank Policy Research Series. 

Alaa Hashim is a co-founder and executive partner at Transcendium, a boutique management services firm focused on large-scale business transformations. He is also the chairman of Delicious Inc. and owner of the local coffee shop chain, Cilantro Café. Alaa serves on several boards, including Giza Seeds & Herbs, CACC Cargolinx, and B-Tech. He has a background in mathematics and has previously served in multiple roles in the industry, rising to co-CEO of MAC Carpet. He is also involved in various committees and organizations, including the Industry Committee at the AmCham Egypt, the Egypt-US Business Council, and Educate Me. Alaa teaches Business Planning and Strategy at the American University in Cairo and serves on its Dean's Strategic Advisory Board.

Eng. Alaa El-Din Seba has held several prominent positions throughout his career, including Co-Founder and Chairman of Beltone Financial Holding and Co-Founder of EFG Hermes. He has also served on the boards of the Central Bank of Egypt, the Egyptian Exchange, and GB Auto. He currently serves on the boards of the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies (ECES), B Investments, and Madinet Masr. He is also a founding member of the Egyptian Investment Management Association and the Egyptian Capital Market Association.

Eng. Seba holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, and a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Cairo University.

Amre Moussa is a prominent Egyptian diplomat and political figure who served as Egypt’s Ambassador to India (1983–1986), Permanent Representative to the United Nations (1990–1991), Minister of Foreign Affairs (1991–2001), and Secretary-General of the League of Arab States (2001–2011). Following the 2011 January Revolution, Moussa ran for president as an independent candidate. In 2013, he was elected chairman of the 50-member committee tasked with drafting Egypt’s new Constitution, adopted in January 2014. Si nce 2018, he has served on the African Union’s Panel of the Wise, which supports conflict prevention and peacebuilding. He also chairs the High-Level Advisory Council of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the Governing Board of Interpeace, and is a member of the Board of Leaders for Peace.

Moussa has received numerous national and international honours, including Egypt’s Order of the Nile and Japan’s Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun.

Ana Palacio is a Spanish international lawyer and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, the first woman to hold the position. She has held senior positions in European institutions and served as General Counsel of the World Bank Group. She previously served as a member of the Executive Committee and Senior Vice President for International Affairs at Areva, specializing in energy, nuclear power, and renewable energy. She is a member of the International Advisory Board of OCP Group, the Board and Strategy Committee of the Atlantic Council, the Academic Council of the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, and the External Advisory Committee of the Energy Futures Initiative. She also maintains close engagement with the European Commission on defense matters and is a regular speaker at international conferences and contributor to international publications, including Project Syndicate and El Mundo.

Andrew Hawley is a New Zealand entrepreneur and strategist, and co-founder of Ghost Dynamics, a digital-first consultancy specializing in complex transformation, service design, and emerging technologies. With more than 25 years of experience building and leading creative and digital businesses, he has worked across corporate, government, and creative sectors, helping organizations redesign services, adopt new technologies, and turn ambitious ideas into practical solutions. At Ghost Dynamics, he works on applying agentic AI to global insurance services and designing future public services in New Zealand, including initiatives related to the evolution of the country’s social welfare system. His approach to AI focuses on real-world implementation, particularly value capture, sovereign capability, assurance, liability, and the social implications of automation. A long-time music producer, Andrew brings a creative perspective to the debate on AI. While using AI selectively as an analytical tool, he remains skeptical of its use as a substitute for human creativity. Drawing on his experience in a small, geographically isolated economy, he is particularly interested in how countries can benefit from AI while retaining control over critical systems, data, capabilities, and economic value rather than ceding them to offshore platforms.

Anita Prakash is the founder of Research Lab Asia, where she leads solutions-oriented research on inclusive trade, critical economic infrastructure, global value chains, supply chains, and connectivity across emerging markets and the Global South. Her work focuses on India, ASEAN, East Asia, Oceania, Africa, Europe, and the Indo-Pacific, with current research on the new Economic Corridors in Asia and Europe including the IMEEC, critical minerals supply chains, and new regional production networks. She has contributed policy research for the G20, G7, ASEM, OECD, and Asia-Africa Growth Corridor initiatives. She contributes to the Trade Ministers meetings in ASEAN, the East Asia Summit, Asia-Europe Meeting, the Trade and Agriculture Working Groups in G20, and Trade Ministers in the G7. She previously served as Director in the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Jakarta, Indonesia. Prior to that, she served as Director in the Government of India in the Department of Commerce, and NITI Aayog. She was a Visiting Research Associate at the Geneva Graduate Institute from 2016 to 2019. She is a Distinguished Fellow at the Council for Strategic and Defense Research (CSDR), India and a member of the Research Advisory Committee of DAKSHIN (Center of Excellence for Global South). She is an alumna of Delhi University (M.Phil, Political Science) and Australian National University (MBA).

Antonio Villafranca directs research activities and co-leads the Europe and Global Governance Centre. Since 2001, he has taught International Relations and European Economic Policy at Bocconi University in Milan. He has coordinated numerous research projects funded by Italian and European institutions and authored numerous publications on European and global economics and governance. At ISPI, he coordinated the T7 (2024) and T20 (2021), the think-tank engagement groups of the G7 and G20, respectively. Villafranca received his MA from the Catholic University of Milan.

Arda Batu is the Secretary General & Board Member of Turkish Business Confederation (TÜRKONFED). Arda attained his high school degree from The Browning School in 1996 and then joined New York University, where he was included in the “Dean’s Honors List”. Arda moved to Istanbul in 1997 and transferred his studies to Bosphorus University, where he attained his BA degree from the Department of Political Science & International Relations. In 2001, Arda joined the European Parliament Internship program and then joined the European Studies Institute MA program of The Marmara University; he graduated in 2003. Besides his role at TURKONFED, Arda Batu served as an independent board member at Federal Mogul Izmit Piston, a subsidiary of Tenecco Powertrain in Turkey. Arda was on the executive board of Connecting Business Initiative (CBi), a joint initiative by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In addition, he is a member of Global Relations Forum (GIF) and continues to serve on the High Council of Member of Human Development Foundation (INGEV).

Aya Elgebeely is a technology entrepreneur and executive with an extensive track record of building innovative products, leading high-performing technology teams, and driving digital transformation across the MENA region, particularly in FinTech, InsurTech, HealthTech, and AI-powered solutions. Aya began her career as a software engineer at IBM Egypt, where she was recognized as an IBM Inventor with four patents. She is also a certified cloud architect and has contributed multiple research publications in software engineering and process management. Throughout her career, she has held technology leadership positions at prominent regional startups and technology companies, including 360Imaging, Instabug, and others, contributing to product innovation, engineering excellence, and business scalability. Aya is the Founder and CEO of Talents Arena, an AI-powered talent intelligence and hiring platform dedicated to bridging the gap between exceptional technology professionals and employers, while fostering a thriving tech community across the Middle East and Africa. She is also the Co-founder and Chief Product & Technology Officer (CPTO) of Qaf Education, an innovative digital education platform focused on making high-quality, career-relevant education more accessible to Arabic-speaking learners. At Qaf, she leads product strategy, technology innovation, and the development of scalable digital learning experiences, with a vision to bridge the gap between academic education and evolving professional market demands. Driven by a passion for technology, entrepreneurship, and education, Aya focuses on building scalable, impactful ventures that empower individuals, transform industries, and create meaningful opportunities across the region.

Céline Kauffmann is an economist and policy expert specializing in sustainable development, green growth, international governance, and regulatory policy. As a member of IDDRI’s leadership team, she supports the institute’s strategic development, strengthens its engagement with policymakers and stakeholders, and advances international partnerships to enhance its policy impact. Prior to joining IDDRI, Céline spent more than two decades at the OECD, where she held several senior leadership positions and led policy work at the intersection of economic development and environmental sustainability. Between 2020 and 2023, she headed the OECD Division on Entrepreneurship, SMEs and Tourism, overseeing research and policy initiatives on green entrepreneurship, SME decarbonization, and sustainable finance. Earlier, as Deputy Head of the Regulatory Policy Division, she led work on international regulatory cooperation and governance frameworks. Throughout her career, Céline has directed major international policy initiatives, convened high-level stakeholder platforms, and contributed to ministerial dialogues on sustainable development challenges. She began her OECD career as coordinator and lead author of the African Economic Outlook, a flagship publication produced jointly with the African Development Bank. Her expertise spans green investment, sustainable finance, entrepreneurship, SME transformation, regulatory cooperation, and environmental governance. She holds a PhD in Economics from Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne.

Charles Michel is a distinguished Professor at China Europe International Business School and a Visiting Professor at the College of Europe’s Tirana campus in Albania. He served as mayor for twelve years in Wavre, and held ministerial posts as regional minister for home affairs and federal minister for development cooperation. In 2011, he was elected leader of his political party, and in 2014, he became Belgium’s youngest prime minister at age 38. 

With extensive experience in policymaking, international negotiations, and strategic leadership, his areas of expertise include geopolitics, multilateral affairs, security and defense, climate and energy, trade, and reform of the international financial architecture. He founded Charles Michel Office, an advisory agency specializing in geopolitics and conflict resolution, and serves as Senior Counsel at Clay Arbitration. 

Ms. Chitose Noguchi was appointed as the new Resident Representative of UNDP Egypt, as of 17 August 2025.

Bringing over 25 years of experience in international development and crisis response, Ms. Noguchi most recently served as Special Representative a.i., and prior to that, Deputy Special Representative and Head of the Gaza Sub-office with UNDP’s Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP). She has contributed to emergency response and resilience building through economic recovery, strengthening of basic services delivery and governance, and climate resilience including sustainable water and energy resources management in some of the most challenging operational contexts. She has worked with national and international partners to advance efforts on the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus and gender in crisis.

Her career also includes key leadership roles at UNDP Headquarters in New York as Global Programme Manager in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, where she co-led the design and establishment of the UN Joint SDG Fund, and oversaw global initiatives on institutional capacity development, quality assurance, and results-based management. She has also contributed to Egypt’s development cooperation agenda, having supported the design of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) in 2012.

Ms. Noguchi began her career with CARE International, serving in leadership positions, including Deputy Country Director in Vietnam, and National Director of CARE Japan.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Tokyo and a master’s degree in international development from George Washington University

Cornelius W. Queen is senior vice-president at the Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund. He previously managed a humanitarian aid program in Lebanon during the Syrian refugee crisis, served as a legislative aide in the U.S. Congress, and was a member of the Carter Center’s election observation mission during Egypt’s 2011-2012 elections. He holds an MA from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and a BA from Johns Hopkins University. He is a term member at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Prior to her appointment as Senior Vice President, Ms. Dajani managed the Al Ghurair Refugee Education Fund, which is administered by the AGF. She has extensive management experience leading large-scale education, youth, and gender development initiatives and programs.

Previously, she was the Regional Manager of the Stevens Initiative at the Aspen Institute, Deputy Director General of the Jordan River Foundation, and Director of Madrasati. Ms. Dajani holds an MA in Social Research from the University of Bath and an MA in Gender and Development from the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex.

She is also a Chevening Scholar and an Eisenhower Fellow.

Dina Abdel Fattah is an assistant professor of economics at the Onsi Sawiris School of Business at The American University in Cairo (AUC). Abdel Fattah received her MSc (2009) and PhD (2017) in economics from the University of Sussex, United Kingdom. Her doctoral thesis dealt with the economics of young women in Egypt, preceded by an MSc with a focus on return migration and entrepreneurship in Egypt. In addition to her work, Abdel Fattah has worked as an independent migration, gender and labor market expert who works with a number of local, regional and international institutions.

Dina Samaha has more than 26 years of experience in banking and financial services, spanning corporate and investment banking, financial institutions, structured finance, credit, capital markets, strategy, and executive management. Her career combines extensive credit and transaction expertise with experience in institutional transformation, business restructuring, and strategic leadership across multinational and Egyptian financial institutions. Prior to joining rate, Dina served as Assistant Managing Director at United Bank of Egypt. Previously, she was Assistant Managing Director and Corporate Banking Business Group Head at Société Arabe Internationale de Banque (SAIB). She also spent approximately two decades at Citibank Egypt, ultimately serving as Country Corporate Bank and Financial Institutions Head.

Dina holds an MBA in Banking and Finance from Maastricht School of Management and a BA in Business Administration from the American University in Cairo.  

Dina Sherif builds things that last, with a focus on organizations, ecosystems, and the next generation of leaders who will run them.

She is a Senior Lecturer at MIT Sloan and Executive Director of the MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship, where she has tripled the Center's annual budget, secured over $60M in funding, and expanded its reach across Africa, the Arab world, and Southeast Asia.

With 20+ years at the intersection of entrepreneurship, impact investing, and economic development, Dina's work is rooted in one conviction: that strong private sectors and inclusive economies are built, not inherited. Her track record spans government advisory roles, venture capital, and institution-building across the Middle East and Africa.

She is a Founding Partner of Ahead of the Curve, the Arab region's leading firm on sustainable business and impact entrepreneurship, and was previously a Partner in Disruptech, Egypt's first fintech-focused VC fund, with a sharp focus on financial inclusion for underserved communities, especially women.

Earlier in her career, Dina held the endowed Willard Brown Chair for International Business at the American University in Cairo and founded two centers there, one for entrepreneurship, one for philanthropy and civic engagement. She has also served as a Senior Advisor to the Atlantic Council's Middle East Program.

Dina advises at the highest levels. She previously sat on Egypt's Special Presidential Advisory Council for Economic Development and served as a Senior Advisor on private sector development to Queen Rania of Jordan, in addition to serving as a Senior Advisor to Her Highness Sheikha Mozah’s leading organizing serving Arab youth, Silatech. She has also served on the Global Advisory Board of the Eisenhower Fellowships. She currently sits on the boards of Qalaa Holding and Smart Medical Services, both residing in Egypt.

Her voice carries weight. A sought-after speaker and author, her work includes the book From Charity to Social Change: Trends in Arab Philanthropy and landmark policy reports on responsible business across seven Arab countries. She has been recognized as a UN Global Compact SDG Pioneer, an Eisenhower Fellow, a Harvard Kennedy School Lucius Littauer Award recipient, and one of Egypt's top 50 most influential women.

Dina holds an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School and two degrees from the American University in Cairo. She is also graduate of the THNK School for Creative Leadership in Amsterdam.

Elbegdorj Tsakhia is a member of Club de Madrid and serves on its Board of Directors. He served four terms as a Member of Parliament, twice as Prime Minister, and two terms as President of Mongolia. He currently serves as a Commissioner of the International Commission against the Death Penalty, Patron of the World Sustainable Development Forum, and President of the World Mongol Federation. He joined The Elders in 2022 and continues to work on public policy, governance, and democracy in Mongolia. He holds a Master of Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School and has been a Visiting Fellow at Stanford University’s Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies since 2023.

Elizabeth Sidiropoulos is the chief executive of the South African Institute of International Affairs, which she has led since 2005. She has published widely in her areas of focus - on South African foreign policy, Africa and external powers and global governance. Since December 2020 she serves on the UN’s High-Level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs. In 2025 she was co-convenor of the SA Think 20 process under the SA G20 presidency. She also worked closely with the SA Department of International Relations and Cooperation on various G20 processes and, in particular, the G20@20 review, where SAIIA, together with the OECD and the University of Toronto were the knowledge partners. She also served in the Secretariat of the G20 Development Working Group in 2025. In 2026 she was appointed as a member of the International Advisory Council (IAC) of the Vivekananda International Foundation’s National Security Journal as well as of The New Alignment Advisory Board.

Gwendoline E. Abunaw is a Cameroonian banking executive with more than 20 years of experience in the financial sector. She has served as Managing Director of Ecobank Cameroon since 2011 and has held several senior executive positions, including Head of Corporate Banking for Cameroon with regional responsibilities across Central Africa and Deputy Managing Director. Prior to joining Ecobank, she held senior roles at Standard Chartered Bank and Citibank. She also serves on several corporate boards and chairs key Ecobank Group subsidiaries, including the board of directors of the National Investment Corporation (SNI). In 2022, she became the first woman President of the Association of Cameroonian Banks and Financial Institutions (APECCAM). She holds an MBA from London Metropolitan University. In recognition of her contributions to the banking sector, she was named Woman of the Year 2023 in Banking and Finance for the CEMAC region.

Dr. Hakim Ben Hammouda is a distinguished Tunisian economist, international researcher. He specializes in development economics, international economics, globalization, economic transformation, and the reform of global institutions, with a particular focus on Africa and the Global South. Throughout his career, he has held senior positions in major international organizations, including the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the African Development Bank (AfDB), notably serving as Chief Economist at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and Director of the WTO Training Institute. He is the author of numerous books and academic publications and was awarded the Alan Powell Award in 2007 for his contributions to trade policy research in Africa. He holds a PhD in International Economics from the University of Grenoble.

 Dr. Hala H. Elsaid, a distinguished economist and academic, currently serves as the Economic Advisor to the President of Egypt, a role she assumed in July 2024. This follows her tenure as Minister of Planning and Economic Development from December 2019 to June 2024, and Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Administrative Reform from February 2017 to December 2019. Her excellence in leadership was recognized when she was named the Best Arab Minister by the Arab Government Excellence Award in November 2020.

Dr. Elsaid established Egypt's first sovereign wealth fund and served as its founding Chairperson, an important achievement that significantly contributed to the country's economic development and investment strategy. She led the implementation of the National Sustainable Development Strategy (Egypt Vision 2030) and initiated the National Structural Reform Program in 2021, focusing on labor-intensive sectors crucial for economic growth.

In the banking sector, Dr. Elsaid served on the Central Bank's Board of Directors and as Executive Director of the Egyptian Banking Institute. She has also been an Advisor to the Central Bank Governor and held positions on various financial boards. Currently, she serves as a Non-Executive Board member of Société Arabe Internationale de Banque.

In recognition of her commitment to social responsibility and community development, Dr. Elsaid serves as a Member of the Board of Trustees of both the Magdi Yacoub Foundation and Ahl Masr Foundation, contributing to vital healthcare initiatives and community welfare programs.

Dr. Elsaid earned her PhD in Economics with Highest Honors from Cairo University in 1989. She became the first elected Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Political Science in 2011 and served as Cairo University's Assistant President for Scientific Research and Exterior Relations from 2013 to 2016.

H.E. Professor Hani Sewilam is the Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation and a professor of Hydrology and Water Resources Management. Under Minister Sewilam’s leadership, Egypt has embarked on establishing the second generation of irrigation management, marking a transformative shift in the country’s water resource governance strategy.

This new phase, known as “Irrigation v2.0,” focuses on integrating advanced technologies, digital transformation, and sustainable practices to enhance water use efficiency and agricultural productivity. The strategy emphasizes modernizing irrigation systems, promoting precision agriculture, and adopting smart water management solutions that address challenges posed by climate change, population growth, and limited water resources. This forward-looking approach aims to optimize every drop of water through innovative irrigation techniques, improved infrastructure, and strengthened institutional capacity. It aligns with Egypt’s national vision for water security, ensuring resilience, equitable water distribution, and sustainable development for future generations.

Prof. Sewilam served as the Managing Director of the UNESCO Chair in Hydrological Changes and Water Resources Management at RWTH Aachen University in Germany, where he was also the University Rector’s Delegate for African Countries and Academic Director of the Department of Engineering Hydrology.

In Egypt, he has been a professor at the American University in Cairo and the founding director of the Center for Applied Research in Environmental Sustainability (CARES), the country’s first center dedicated to sustainable development. He co-founded an MSc program in Sustainable Management – Water and Energy at RWTH Aachen and established an MSc program in Sustainable Development at the American University in Cairo.

Early in his career, he worked as a researcher at the National Water Research Center of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation in Egypt. Since 2002, he has secured funding and implemented numerous international research and development projects in collaboration with institutions from more than 20 European, Mediterranean, and African countries. His work encompasses flood risk management, solar-powered desalination, aquaponics, hydroponics, water scarcity solutions, rainwater harvesting, effective water management, and innovative capacity-building programs for water professionals.

His main areas of expertise include hydrology, water management, desalination, integrated water systems, and the Water–Energy–Food (WEF) nexus. His research also explores the nexus’s role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Between 2018 and 2021, he was part of the core technical team supporting negotiations among Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. He has authored over 130 international publications in water-related fields and contributed to establishing several long-term initiatives.

Professor Sewilam earned his PhD (summa cum laude) in Water Resources Management from RWTH Aachen University, an MSc in Irrigation Management from the University of Southampton, and a BSc in Civil Engineering from Zagazig University. In 2022, he received the Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus Award from PRIMA, part of the European Union.

Recently, his course Water–Energy–Food Nexus and Sustainable Development was selected as one of the few globally offered by RWTH Aachen University through edX.org as a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC).

Hassan Sawaf is a German-born and educated engineer, entrepreneur, and pioneer in artificial intelligence with more than 30 years of experience in building mission-critical AI systems across industry, government, and academia. He has founded and led AI organizations within Amazon, Meta, eBay, SAIC/Leidos, and AppTek, teams that continue to power multi- billion-dollar businesses today. Hassan co-founded the AWS AI effort, generating over 20 products resulting in multi-billion USD businesses for AWS. In 2020, Hassan founded aixplain, the world’s first full-stack agentic AI platform, dedicated to democratizing intelligence for enterprises and developers. aixplain is now one of the fastest-growing players in the emerging Agentic AI market, hosting over 55,000 AI agents in the aixplain marketplace and serving clients across the U.S., GCC, and Europe.

Dr. Henry Huiyao Wang is a leading Chinese expert on globalization, international relations, global trade and investment, with particular expertise in US–China relations. He previously served as Counselor to the State Council of China, appointed by the Chinese Premier, and held several senior positions, including Vice Chairman of the China Public Relations Association and Standing Director of the China Institute of International Economic Relations. A globally recognized think tank leader, he is a frequent speaker at major international forums and the author and editor of more than 100 books, including the Springer Nature China and Globalization Book Series. He holds a Ph.D. in International Management from the University of Manchester.

Bio

Hung Q. Tran is an international economist with extensive experience in global finance, monetary policy, and international economic affairs. He previously served as Executive Managing Director of the Institute of International Finance (IIF) and Deputy Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He also served as Global Head of Research and Chief Economist at Rabobank International and Deutsche Bank. Earlier in his career, he taught economics at the New York Institute of Technology in New York.

Hussain Abdulla is a seasoned financial executive and investor with more than two decades of leadership experience spanning banking, investment, and entrepreneurship across the GCC and international markets. Based in Qatar, he spearheads GGV’s cross-border investment strategy, supporting innovation-led and impact-driven growth across emerging markets. Prior to joining GGV, Hussain served as Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Investment Committee at QInvest, Qatar’s leading investment bank. Earlier in his career, he held senior positions at Standard Chartered Bank and Qatar National Bank.

Hussain holds a Bachelor of Science in Banking and Financial Studies from the University of Qatar. His career reflects a commitment to building resilient financial ecosystems, fostering cross-border collaboration, and advancing venture capital as a catalyst for sustainable economic transformation.

Ambassador Hussein Haridi has had a distinguished diplomatic career spanning several decades at Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during which he held a number of prominent leadership and diplomatic positions, including Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador of Egypt to Pakistan and Spain, Director of the Israel Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Director of the Press and Information Department. He also served as Deputy Head of the Egyptian Diplomatic Mission in France, Counsellor at the Egyptian embassies in France and Kuwait, and Second Secretary at the Egyptian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Before joining the diplomatic service, Ambassador Haridi served in the Egyptian Armed Forces as a First Lieutenant in the Reserve, Field Artillery, from 1972 to 1976, during the October War of 1973. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the American University in Cairo and a diploma in International Economic Relations from the Institut d’Administration Publique in Paris. He was awarded the Order of Merit in 1979.

Iliana Olivié is a Spanish economist specializing in development studies, international development, development cooperation policies, and global development finance. At the Complutense University of Madrid, she teaches postgraduate courses in economic analysis and development. She has participated in more than 30 national and international research projects and has authored more than 150 publications, including academic articles, books, book chapters, policy reports, and policy-oriented articles. Her recent research has addressed diversity in development studies, the influence of EU member states on development cooperation policy, and China’s approach to international norms through the Belt and Road Initiative.

Commodore loannis STRATOGIANNIS was born in Athens in 1969. He graduated from the Hellenic Naval Academy in June 1991. ln March 1993, he applied for the Submarine Service and completed a full career as a Submarine Officer in the Hellenic Navy. He holds a Master's Degree (MBA) in Defence Systems Financial Management from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, and a Diploma in Strategic Studies from the National Defence College, His sea duty assignments include serving as a Division Officer on HS LIMNOS (F- 451) and on HS POSEIDON (5-116) as Navigator, Operations and Weapons Officer. He attended the 'lnternational Diesel Submarine Training Course' at the Naval Submarine School, Groton, CT. Following his department head tour, he attended the Advanced Submarine Officers' Training Course and he was then stationed as Executive Officer on HS OKEANOS (S-1L8). Upon graduation from the Submarine Commanders' Course, he assumed command of HS AMFITRITI (5-117) until October 2006. ln July 2O22, he was appointed Commandant of the Hellenic Submarine Command (COMHELSUB). His staff assignments include serving as Deputy Commander of the Naval War College, Submarine Programs' D¡rector of the Armaments' Directorate of the Navy, Head of the EU Desk of the Ministry's General Directorate of National Defence Policy & lnternational Relations, Deputy Chief of Staff Operations of the Aegean Naval Command, Military Assistant to the Chairman of the EU Military Commíttee (CEUMC) in Brussels, Director CIS (N6) of the Hellenic Fleet HQ' spokesman forthe Hellenic Navy and Navigation & Pilotage lnstructor at the Hellenic Naval Academy. On the 3'd of March 2024, he was promoted to Commodore and was stationed at the Hellenic National Defence General Staff as Director of the Defence Policy Dírectorate. On the 7th of November 2025, Commodore STRATOGIANNIS took up the position of Director to the NATO Strategic Direction-South Hub in Joint Force Command Naples, ltaly. By virtue of outstanding performance, Commodore STRATOGIANNIS has been awarded with all relevant decorations and medals of the Hellenic Republic and the Hellenic Armed Forces up to his rank. Commodore STRATOGIANNIS speaks English and French fluently and basic Spanish. He is married to Rania and he has a son, a daughter and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Milou.

Ivana Dragičević is an award-winning Croatian international affairs journalist, author, and strategic communications consultant. She previously worked as a reporter and editor for HRT – Croatian Public Television and N1, the CNN affiliate for the Adriatic-Balkan region, and has contributed to international media outlets including CNN and the Associated Press. Over more than two decades, she has covered major global events and interviewed world leaders. She has also pioneered documentary and multimedia projects on migration, youth in Europe, and the future of Europe, in cooperation with the European Parliament and European Commission. She is a member of the Executive Committee of the European Trilateral Commission, the Selection Committee for David Rockefeller Fellows, and the EU Knowledge Hub on Prevention of Radicalization. She is also a founding member of the Europe’s Futures Initiative and a 2022–23 Europe’s Futures Fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM), Vienna. She is the author of two books, Uneqals, on global inequality, and Unsecured, on global security. She has received numerous awards, most recently the 2024 Europa Award.

Previously, Dr. Jin-Yong Cai was a partner at TPG, leading its infrastructure business in emerging economies, and served as CEO of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, from 2012 to 2016. Earlier in his career, he was a partner at Goldman Sachs, where he led the China investment banking business, and helped establish China International Capital Corporation while at Morgan Stanley. He currently serves on the boards of Aon plc and the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, and holds a bachelor’s degree from Peking University and a doctorate from Boston University. 

American University of Beirut; Director of the Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs (IFI), and Associate Professor of Political Studies. Previously, Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment, Adjunct Professor at Sciences-Po Paris, and Consultant to the French MoFA. Non-Resident Fellow, GCSP (Geneva) and GISR (Doha).

Julia Wanjiru is a Policy Analyst at the OECD Environment Directorate with over 20 years of experience supporting climate, environmental and sustainable development policies. An agricultural economist by training, she has worked extensively on the links between climate change, water, energy, food systems and rural-urban development, helping governments develop practical policy solutions for sustainable and inclusive growth, with a particular focus on African economies. Julia recently led the first phase of the OECD project 'Overcoming Financial and Capacity Barriers to Empower Clean Small-Scale Enterprises in South Africa'. The initiative supports the government's just energy transition by strengthening opportunities for green small-scale enterprises in the Western Cape and Mpumalanga provinces, including coal-dependent communities. Previously, Julia led the OECD Green Growth Policy Review of Egypt and co-ordinated several OECD Environmental Performance Reviews. She has also advanced OECD work on just transition, supporting policy approaches that align climate objectives with economic development and social inclusion. Throughout her career, she has worked closely with policymakers, development partners, private sector and local stakeholders to advance climate resilience, sustainable resource management and inclusive economic transformation, including through support to the Food Crisis Prevention Network in West Africa.

Dr. Karim El Aynaoui is a Moroccan economist specializing in macroeconomics and development economics. He previously served at Bank Al-Maghrib, where he was Director of Economic Studies, Statistics and International Relations, after earlier spending eight years as an economist at the World Bank covering the Middle East, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa. He has authored and co-authored numerous books and academic publications, including The Oxford Handbook of the Moroccan Economy, and serves on the advisory and scientific committees and councils of several leading international institutions, including the Malabo Montpellier Panel and the Trilateral Commission.He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Bordeaux and is a Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.

Bio

Eng. Khaled Hashem has over 30 years of professional experience in project management, infrastructure development, and leading teams across diverse regions, including the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe. He held several positions at Honeywell, a global technology company operating in automation, energy, and infrastructure, eventually serving as President of Honeywell Egypt and Libya, then North Africa, before being promoted to lead the entire region.

He also served as Country Director for General Electric (GE) in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Earlier in his career, he worked across several sectors with leading multinational companies, including ExxonMobil and Metito, in the oil and gas and infrastructure fields.

Eng. Hashem holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Engineering and an MBA from the American University in Cairo, as well as a Master’s degree in Business Studies from IE Business School in Madrid. He is currently a doctoral researcher in Business Administration at the same institution in Spain.

Dr. Khalid S. AlSaeed is Chairman of AlKhizanah Capital Company, a CMA-licensed alternative asset management firm in Riyadh specializing in AI Venture Capital private equity, private credit, and infrastructure funds aligned with Saudi Vision 2030. He continues to serve in an advisory capacity to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). From 2012 to 2017, Dr. AlSaeed was Chief Economist and Director of Banking, Financial Sector, and Debt Capital Markets at the IMF in Washington, D.C., where he advised governments across the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia on macroeconomic and financial-sector policy. His work spanned debt-capital-market development, banking-sector reform under Basel III, sovereign debt management, and the restructuring of state-owned enterprises, including technical assistance on establishing Debt Management Offices for Saudi Arabia and IMF programs engagement. He was among the IMF's pioneers on Islamic finance, co-leading its first mission on Sukuk market surveillance and contributing to Board-level work on financial stability in countries with Islamic banking. He has co-authored several IMF flagship publications, including 'Arab Economic Transformation Amid Political Transition'. Dr. AlSaeed holds a PhD in Finance from Durham University, UK.

Professor Kuni Miyake is a Visiting Professor at Ritsumeikan University. Previously, he served as Special Adviser for Foreign Affairs to the cabinets of Japanese Prime Ministers Yoshihide Suga and Fumio Kishida. He also served as Executive Assistant to Mrs. Akie Abe at the Office of the Prime Minister of Japan (2006–2007) and as CIGS Research Director for Foreign and National Security Affairs (2009–2023). Miyake joined Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1978 and held various diplomatic and policy positions until 2005, including Deputy Director-General of the Middle East Bureau, Minister at the Japanese embassies in Iraq and China, and Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Japan in Iraq. He also directed the Ministry’s Japan–US Security Treaty Division and its First and Second Middle East Divisions. He holds a law degree from the University of Tokyo.

Dr. Mabel Lu Miao is a leading Chinese expert in global governance and international cooperation. She serves as Co-Chair of the T20 Multilateralism Task Force and has spoken at major international forums, including the Munich Security Conference, Paris Peace Forum, Doha Forum, Athens Democracy Forum, and Boao Forum. She holds a Ph.D. in Modern and Contemporary Chinese Studies from Beijing Normal University and has been a visiting fellow at New York University and Harvard University, a postdoctoral fellow at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and a Lien Fellow at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

Marc Uzan is the Founder and Executive Director of the Reinventing Bretton Woods Committee, an internationally recognized non-profit organization established in 1994 to advance dialogue on the international financial architecture. Under his leadership, the Committee has organized more than 250 conferences and seminars worldwide in partnership with central banks, think tanks, multilateral development banks, and governments. He has edited several books on international finance, including Regional Integration in Central Asia (2024), The New Kazakhstan (2023), Bretton Woods: The Next 70 Years (2015), and The Ten Years After (2018). He has also authored academic papers on the international financial system and written extensively on economics and finance for leading media outlets.

With over 30 years experience in the field of international development, particularly in Latin America, she has been part of the professional staff of the Interamerican Development Bank, the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program, working extensively in these organization’s Washington, Uruguay, Geneva, Brussels and Paris offices, and in their field offices. As project officer, sector specialist and senior adviser, in these organizations, she has done considerable project and programme work in a number of different areas, most recently in the fields of governance, State reform and civil society – governmental relations. She has also gathered significant experience on relations between international organizations, governmental and non-governmental organizations, national and international partners and counterparts.

Early in her career Ms. Agüero was trade policy officer at the U.S. Department of Treasury and research assistant at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.

Ms. Agüero holds Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service and Masters in Latin American Economic Development degrees from Georgetown University, as well as postgraduate studies at George Washington University.

Mohamed Elnawawy co-founded InTouch, Egypt’s first internet service provider, in 1992. He later became Chairman and CEO of TE Data in 2000. His legal practice spans technology and telecommunications, venture capital transactions, international submarine cable projects, data protection, and maritime governance under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Registered as a Class A Data Protection Officer in September 2026, he advises clients on regulatory compliance and explores the economic and legal implications of data governance, artificial intelligence, digital evidence, and cross-border data flows. He holds a BSc in Computer Science, an LLM, and an LLB, and founded Partners.law.

Sir Masood Ahmed is a leading expert on international development finance. He joined CGD in 2017 following a 35-year career at major international institutions, including the IMF, World Bank, and UK Department for International Development, focusing on debt, aid effectiveness, trade, and global economic prospects. Previously, he served as Director of the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia Department, overseeing operations in 32 countries. He has served on the G20 High-Level Independent Panel on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response and as Policy Advisor to the G20 High-Level Independent Expert Group on Strengthening Multilateral Development Banks.  

Born and raised in Pakistan, Sir Masood holds a BSc (Honours) and an MSc in Economics with distinction from the London School of Economics and Political Science. In 2023, he was awarded a knighthood (KCMG) by the UK government for services to international development.

Mirette F. Mabrouk is a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute (MEI), where she leads the Egypt Initiative, and focuses on economic development, geopolitics, regional security, and sustainable development issues in the Middle East and North Africa and The Horn of Africa.

Prior to joining MEI, Ms. Mabrouk served as the deputy director and director for research and programs at the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East at the Atlantic Council. She was also a fellow at the Project for US Relations with the Middle East at the Brookings Institution and was based in Cairo, where she was the director of communications for the Economic Research Forum (ERF).

Her work has appeared in prominent publications such as Foreign Policy, The Hill, and HuffPost, and she has been quoted or appeared on major media outlets including the BBC, VOA, Sky News, Bloomberg, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. She is the author of the book chapter “And Now for Something Completely Different: Arab Media’s Own Little Revolution” from Reconstructing the Middle East(Routledge, 2017), as well as the editor of the report Rethinking Egypt’s Economy (Middle East Institute, 2020).

Dr. Mohammed  Ibrahim is a Sudanese-born entrepreneur and philanthropist, internationally recognized for his work on good governance and leadership in Africa. He founded Mobile Systems International in 1989, a cellular consulting and software company, and Celtel International in 1998, which pioneered mobile telecommunications services across Africa. He has received numerous honorary degrees, fellowships, and international awards, including the GSM Association’s Chairman’s Award for Lifetime Achievement, the Eisenhower Medal for Distinguished Leadership and Service, and the Foreign Policy Association Medal. He was appointed KCMG in 2023. He holds a BSc in Electrical Engineering from Alexandria University, an MSc in Electronics and Electrical Engineering from the University of Bradford, and a PhD in Mobile Communications from the University of Birmingham

Mohamed Elnawawy co-founded InTouch, Egypt’s first internet service provider, in 1992. He later became Chairman and CEO of TE Data in 2000. His legal practice spans technology and telecommunications, venture capital transactions, international submarine cable projects, data protection, and maritime governance under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Registered as a Class A Data Protection Officer in September 2026, he advises clients on regulatory compliance and explores the economic and legal implications of data governance, artificial intelligence, digital evidence, and cross-border data flows. He holds a BSc in Computer Science, an LLM, and an LLB, and founded Partners.law.

Ferid Belhaj is a Tunisian lawyer and former diplomat with more than three decades of experience in international development, multilateral finance, and global governance. During his career at the World Bank, he also held several senior leadership positions, including Chief of Staff to the President of the World Bank Group, Regional Director for the Mashreq, Regional Director for the Pacific, Special Representative to the United Nations, and Country Manager for Morocco.  His work has focused on fragility, forced displacement, economic reform, climate resilience, and the future of multilateral cooperation.

Mohamed Fouad is an Egyptian economist, business executive, and Member of the Egyptian House of Representatives. His career spans international financial services, management consulting, corporate governance, and economic policymaking.

He is Senior Vice President at COPC Inc., advising major corporations and public institutions on operational excellence, organizational performance, and institutional transformation.

Earlier in his career, he worked with J.P. Morgan and Charles Schwab in the United States and held senior executive roles in Egypt, including Managing Director of Concentrix Egypt. He has also served on the boards of public and private sector organizations.

Fouad served in the Egyptian Parliament from 2015 to 2020 and returned in 2026. His parliamentary and policy work focuses on fiscal sustainability, public debt, investment, energy, economics and state-owned enterprise governance. He contributes regularly to economic research and public debate and is the author of Economics of the Paper Kile (2024).

He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the American University in Cairo, and MBA from Western University, and PhD from Sadat Academy for Management Sciences. He has also lectured at universities and participated in economic policy forums in Egypt and internationally.

Before pursuing business opportunities in the private sector, Mohamed Kassem had a Foreign Service career for 15 years. His last post was a Commercial Councilor in the Egyptian Embassy in Washington D.C. from 1985-1989. 

Kassem is now Chairman & CEO of World Trading Company –Egypt, a major textiles and apparel sourcing organization and Nanotech International a total solar energy solution provider in Egypt. He is also Chairman of Baseera the first independent public opinion research center in Egypt and International Building Systems and Equipment Company (IBEC). 

Kassem serves as a Chairman of Egyptian Exporters Association (Expolink) and board member of International Textile Manufactures Federation ITMF. He is also Chairman of Trade Policy Committee at the Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI). 

Over the years, Kassem help founding and served as a board member in a host of the other companies span different industries such as textile, ICT, energy and industrial real estate development. 

He had also helped establish and serves on the board of different NGO’s.

Dr. Mona Hamdy is founder of Anomalys, a sovereign data defense company widening human freedom by giving people true ownership of the intelligence and value they create. A teaching fellow of applied ethics at Harvard University, Hamdy holds the MENA Chair of Harvard W3D: Women in Defense, Diplomacy, and Development. She advises UC Berkeley SkyDeck's blockchain and AI accelerator and serves as Chief Ethics Advisor to aixplain, a Silicon Valley AI product and innovation lab devoted to security and sovereignty. Previously, she was Executive Director of the Mosaic Foundation in Washington, DC, a diplomatic nonprofit of the spouses of Arab ambassadors dedicated to improving the lives of women and children and deepening cross-cultural understanding. Over two decades of global work, Hamdy has advised the UN and served on the World Bank SDG 1 Council, the board of the US Center for Democracy and Technology, and the Bretton Woods Committee. A frequent writer on faith, culture, and emerging technology, she recently published "Techno-Ideologies of the Twenty-First Century" with Stanford University and "The Unseen Layers of AI: An Exploration of Poor Data Provenance in Model Training" for the G20. Her upcoming works include "We Are the Superintelligence" and The Guide to Companion Intelligence.

Nabil Fahmy has been a career diplomat for over three decades, served as Egypt's Ambassader to several countries, including the United States and, Japan. He held numerous government and international positions mostly focusing on crisis management, conflict resolution & arms control. He founded and was Dean of School of Global Affair and Public Policy, at the American University in Cairo (AUC). He is Chairman of Lynx Business Advisors, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Cairo Regional Center for International Commercial Arbitration. He has published three English and Arabic books and is a syndicated columnist and an active public speaker.

Dr. Nangula Nelulu Uaandja is the Executive Director of Emeraldsand Platforms, a Namibian-owned private sector group operating across media, technology, investment, and business development. A purpose-driven executive with nearly 30 years of leadership experience, she has built an accomplished career spanning both the private and public sectors. She spent 24 years in the auditing and accounting profession, specialising in assurance, advisory, consulting, and forensic investigations, including a decade as Managing Partner of PwC Namibia. She later served as the founding Chief Executive Officer of the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), where she led the establishment of Namibia's national investment promotion agency. Dr. Uaandja combines private sector expertise with a strong commitment to public service, advancing inclusive economic growth, investment, institutional development, and accountable governance. Her doctoral research on public-private collaboration contributed to the development of Namibia's Public-Private Forum, reflecting her dedication to strengthening partnerships between government and business. Inspired by her lived experience as a refugee and freedom fighter, she champions people-centred approaches to sustainable development. She continues to work at the intersection of policy, investment, and private sector development, leveraging her experience to drive economic transformation and create lasting social and economic impact in Namibia and beyond.

Nathalie Delapalme is the Chief Executive Officer of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, which she joined in 2010. She was previously Inspecteur General des Finances at the French Ministry of Economy and Finance (2007-2010). Prior to this, Nathalie served the French Government as an advisor for Africa and Development in the offices of various Foreign Affairs Ministers, between 1995-1997 and 2002-2007. She also served the French Senate as advisor for the Finance and Budgetary Commission, where she assessed fiscal and public policies between 1984-1995 and 1997-2002. She is co-Secretary General of the Africa-Europe Foundation and sits on the Boards of International Crisis Group and Fondation de France. She is a member of the Advisory Board of IFRI (Institut Francais des Relations Internationales) and on the Council Scientifique of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de Defence Nationale). She is a member of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) and a member of the WEF’s Expert Network. Nathalie is Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur and Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite.

Professor Ngaire Woods is the founder of Oxford’s Global Economic Governance Programme and co-founded the Oxford-Princeton Global Leaders Fellowship with Robert O. Keohane. Her research focuses on organizational governance, globalization, global development, and international institutions. Professor Woods serves on the boards of L’Institut National du Service Public, the Berggruen Institute, and the Stephen A. Schwarzman Education Foundation. She is also an Independent Non-Executive Director at Rio Tinto and Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Good Governance.

She studied at Auckland University and Balliol College, Oxford, as a New Zealand Rhodes Scholar, earning an MPhil and DPhil in International Relations. 

Nicolas J.A. Buchoud is a global policy expert specializing in Track 2 diplomacy and sustainable development. Since 2019, he has co-chaired the T20 Infrastructure Investment Task Force and led several T20 workstreams. He is an active member of Think7 France, a member of the advisory team of Think20 US, and serves on the advisory boards of several international initiatives, including the Indonesia Creative Cities Network (ICCN) and the World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE). He also leads a flagship research project on charitable giving and the future of climate finance in Asia, supported by the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) and the Rockefeller Foundation.

Nikolaos Vettas has served as General Director of IOBE since 2013 and Professor of Economics at the Athens University of Economics and Business since 2003. His research focuses on economics and industrial organization and has appeared in leading academic journals. He is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), Associate Editor of the International Journal of Industrial Organization, and co-editor of Beyond Austerity: Reforming the Greek Economy (MIT Press, 2017). In 2020, he served as Vice-Chairman of the Hellenic Republic’s Growth Plan Committee for the Greek economy. He holds a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and has held academic positions at Duke University and INSEAD.

Dr. Adly is the Advisor to the Minister of Communication & Information Technology for R&D. She is also a Professor of Computer & Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University. She has obtained her PhD in Computer Science from Cambridge University, UK in 1995. She has served in several positions since 1988 locally and abroad. Dr. Adly served as Head of ICT sectorat Bibliotheca Alexandrina for more than 20 years, where she was responsible for the BA's overall ICT strategy & the design and implementation of its digital initiatives. She was appointed as First Deputy to the Minister of Communications & Information Technology From 2013 to 2016. She is author/co-author of more than 60 publications in peer reviewed journals and scientific conferences.

Noha El-Mikawy is on the governing board of the Swedish International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the Cairo International Center for Conflict Prevention, Peacemaking, and Development (CCCPA), and the Arab Reform Initiative (ARI). She is on the advisory board of the Swedish Dialogue Institute and the Asfari Institute at the American University in Beirut.  Her professional experience over 35 years is in academia, development, and philanthropy. Her experience covers public policy, global affairs, grantmaking, and governance programs. She was Dean of the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy (GAPP) at the American University in Cairo (AUC) (2022-26), Regional Director of the Ford Foundation in the Middle East and North Africa (2012-2022) and Team Leader for Governance at the UNDP Regional Center (2005 - 2012).  Before 2005, Noha led comparative research on the political economy of MENA at the University of Bonn and lectured at the American University in Cairo, Free University of Berlin, and Erlangen Nuremberg in Germany. Noha holds a Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles (USA).

Omar El Aawar is the Founder and CEO of UTH, formerly The Youth Summit, a youth-focused media and experiences platform built to inspire, connect and create opportunities for the next generation.

He started creating platforms for young people at 16, when he launched Inspiring Egyptians and interviewed more than 250 people, including Sir Magdi Yacoub and Chris Gardner. That experience shaped his interest in people, their stories and the very different paths they take in life.

Since launching in 2024, The Youth Summit has grown into Egypt’s leading youth festival, bringing together more than 5,000 attendees and 100 speakers across business, culture, media, sports and entertainment.

Through UTH, Omar is building a platform that gives young people access to honest conversations, meaningful opportunities and experiences that reflect their ambitions, challenges and evolving identities. At its heart, his work is about helping young people feel less pressure to have everything figured out and more confident in building life on their own timeline.

Omar El-Shenety has over 20 years of experience in investment banking, private equity, and strategy consulting, having worked with various family offices and high-net-worth investors. Omar also serves as adjunct faculty at the American University in Cairo and the University of London at AAST, and is a research consultant at the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies, focusing on macroeconomic and financial analysis for the Middle East region. He holds a Global Executive MBA from Columbia Business School and London Business School, a Master of Laws from King's College London, and a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the American University in Cairo.

Omar Khashaba is Managing Partner at Algebra Ventures. He joined Algebra in 2018 as an Associate and helped execute investments in several rapidly growing companies, including Brimore, Dsquares, and POSRocket. In 2020, Omar was promoted to Principal, taking on board responsibilities in portfolio companies and leading new investments.

Prior to joining the firm, Omar held an executive role at Yodawy, an online pharmacy and insurance benefits management startup. Earlier in his career, he co-founded and served as CEO of Tutorama, a marketplace for peer-to-peer tutoring.

Omar holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Cornell University.

Omar Mohanna is Chairman of Chubb Insurance Egypt and Chairman of Chubb Life Insurance Co. Egypt, both are subsidiaries of the US multinational insurance group Chubb. He also holds the position of Chairman of Coca-Cola HBC Egypt. Additionally, he is Chairman of Prometeon Tyre Egypt Co., the largest tyre producer in Egypt and a subsidiary of the multinational tyre manufacturer Pirelli. Mohanna is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of The United Bank.

Mohanna is a member of the Board of Directors of CI Capital, a top investment banking firm in Egypt and the region. He also serves on the board of B Investments, a private equity holding company with a strong track record.

Mohanna is also the former Chairman of Suez Cement Group of Companies (SCGC), one of Egypt’s largest cement producers. The company now carries the name of Heidelberg Materials after being acquired by the German Multinational Group Heidelberg Cement AG, a global leader in cement production. 

Mohanna’s over 25 years of commercial and investment banking experience with Egyptian and international financial institutions has culminated in the position of Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Egypt Arab African Bank (EAAB). He also served as Managing Director of Accor Hotels Group in Egypt, a subsidiary of the French multinational Accor Group. His previous board appointments include  AIC Investment Company having as major shareholder La Compagnie Financière Edmond de Rothschild (LCF), The Egyptian Aviation Services Co. (EAS), CORPLEASE, the Corporate Leasing Company (Egypt), and Palm Hills Developments Company (PHD).

Mohanna is actively involved in numerous organizations that support the business community in Egypt. He is President of The American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt (AmCham Egypt) and is Chairman of The Egypt-US Business Council. Additionally, he is a member of The Export Development Consulting Council to the Prime Minister of Egypt, and is member of the Board of Directors of Egypt’s Tourism Promotion Authority, and of the Board of Directors of The Export Council for Chemical Industries and Fertilizers. 

Mohanna has also been a member of the Board of The Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI), where he chaired the Foreign Relations Committee. At the broader community level, he is a Board member of The Association for the Protection of the environment and is a member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs (ECFA).

Furthermore, he is a member of the board of several bilateral business councils, including the Italian Egyptian Business Council, the Egyptian German Business Council, the  Egyptian Nigerian Business Council, the  Egyptian Algerian Business Council, the Egypt-Poland Business Council, and is a member of The French Egyptian Chamber of Commerce in Egypt, of The Egyptian Businessmen’s Association, and of Egypt's International Economic Forum. 

As an economist, banker, industrialist and active member of the business community, Mohanna has brought his knowledge and expertise to bear at the policy level in his capacity as Chairman of The Egyptian Center for Economic Studies (ECES), the leading economic think tank in Egypt and the region.

Saad Sabrah is a Senior Official at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, currently assigned as IFC Country Head for Egypt.

Saad is a multicultural professional with international expertise and a career spanning over 25 years in major multinational institutions in the USA and the Middle East/ North Africa region. He enjoys strong leadership and management skills, with a proficient experience and familiarity with the entire spectrum of private sector development, including finance and development in emerging markets and fragile and conflict situations. Saad is recognized for animating and turning visionary thinking to elevate corporate value and purpose in the leadership arena. He is also a subject matter expert in infrastructure investment, public private partnerships, corporate governance, and digital economy development.

Prior to joining the IFC in 2004, Saad worked in Management Consultant at the strategy practice of KPMG Consulting as well as at NDC Group Advisory Services practice in the USA. In that capacity he advised senior management of multinational corporations in a wide range of industries on business strategy and investment decisions as well as advised government client and public agencies on business process and foreign investment development and competitiveness.

Saad holds a Master’s degree in Business Management from Strayer University in the USA. He also holds a dual Bachelor’s degree, in Accounting and in Decision Science/Management from George Mason University in the USA.

Saba Almubaslat serves has more than 25 years of experience in international development and humanitarian response, with a particular focus on youth and women’s participation and civil society empowerment, especially across the Global South. Prior to joining the Ford Foundation, Ms. Almubaslat served as Chief Executive Officer of the Asfari Foundation, where she led grantmaking to strengthen the resilience and professionalisation of civil society organisations in the Levant. She also spearheaded the establishment of incubators and accelerators to support youth innovation and entrepreneurship across the region. Previously, she served as Chief Executive Officer of the Humanitarian Leadership Academy, a subsidiary of Save the Children UK. Saba, previously spent 15 years with Save the Children International, where her final position was Country Director in Jordan. 

Ms. Almubaslat holds a master’s degree in education from Framingham University, an MBA in Executive Leadership, and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Jordan.

Samir Saran is a leading expert on global governance, climate and energy policy, technology policy, and India’s foreign policy. He leads ORF’s efforts to foster international partnerships and build global networks of young leaders. He is the author of five books, has edited leading journals and publications, and has written numerous academic papers and book chapters. His recent publications include GeoTechnoGraphy: Mapping Power and Identity in the Digital Age, The New World Disorder and The Indian Imperative, and Pax Sinica: Implications for the Indian Dawn. 

El Khawanky expertise is focused on economic development and investment support in Egypt and MENA in different areas such as digitalization, financial inclusion, transition towards cashless economy, corporate governance, macroeconomic reforms, promoting entrepreneurship, private sector engagement, and industrialization.

Additionally, throughout his work, El Khawanky led several projects to support business and investment in MENAT; working with business of all sizes and sectors. 

Prior to working at CIPE, El Khawanky joined the Ministry of Administrative Development during the establishment of the e-government program in Egypt. 

Overall, El Khawanky experience extends for more than 15 years in policy making working with public, private, and international organizations.

Sherif is a Managing Director, Head of Middle East & Africa, working across Actis’ long life infrastructure and energy infrastructure sectors. Born in Cairo, Sherif has spent most of his life in the Middle East region. He started his career at EFG-Hermes Private Equity, investing in Egypt, Jordan and Turkey, and later moving to structured finance at HSBC where he focused on infrastructure project finance.

In 2004, Sherif joined Actis as an Associate focusing on North Africa. Now a Partner leading Actis’ business in the Middle East & Africa, he has played various deal leadership, execution, investment management and exit roles across 13 different transactions spanning multiple sectors including Wind Power, Solar C&I, Telecommunications, Education, Healthcare, and Consumer Sectors.  Sherif also played a leadership role in the transaction leading to Actis taking over management rights of the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia funds previously managed by Abraaj Capital in 2019.

Sherif is an Adjunct Professor of Finance at the American University in Cairo, where he has regularly lectured on private equity and has been awarded the “Excellence in Teaching Award.” He is also a member of the Economic Advisory Council of the Arab Republic of Egypt and a member of the Young Presidents Organisation. Sherif has a Ph.D. in Economics and an MSc in Finance and Economic Development (with Distinction), both from the University of London.

Stefan Rouenhoff served on the Economics Committee and chaired the Africa Working Group of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group. Before entering parliament, Mr. Rouenhoff served as Trade Attaché at the Permanent Representation of Germany to the European Union. From 2012 to 2014, he was Spokesperson for the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, and from 2010 to 2012, he served as an expert on SME policy at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Technology. Earlier in his career, he worked as a Research Associate in the Department of International Economics at the University of Bamberg and completed a research stay at the World Trade Organization in 2010.

Mr. Rouenhoff holds a master’s degree in Economics from the University of Bonn and a master’s degree in International Studies from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Sunjoy Joshi is an Indian public policy expert specializing in energy, environment, non-traditional security, and the challenges of growth and employment in emerging economies amid rapid technological disruption. A former member of the Indian Administrative Service, he brings extensive experience in India’s development and economic policymaking. He has served as a Visiting Associate at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London and as a Distinguished Visitor to the Program on Energy and Sustainable Development at Stanford University. He is also actively involved in social development initiatives as Vice President of the Mountain Children’s Foundation, a non-profit organization supporting disadvantaged rural children in the Himalayas. He holds a Master’s Degree in Development Studies from the University of East Anglia.

Tamim Saleh is a global leader in Digital and AI at McKinsey, having previously co-led McKinsey Digital & Analytics in Europe and McKinsey Analytics globally. He also led Big Data and Analytics globally at BCG as a Senior Partner and spent 10 years as a senior executive at IBM. With nearly 30 years of experience in Digital and AI, Tamim has led major technology programs and digital transformations across banking, mining, oil and gas, and energy. His achievements include developing the first internet retail and B2B banks in the UK, supporting one of Europe’s largest banking mergers, and helping establish a cloud offering that became one of the world’s top three hyperscaler providers. He has published in Harvard Business Review, McKinsey Quarterly, and leading technology journals.

Tamim holds an MBA from Warwick Business School and a BSc (Hons) in Civil Engineering from University College London.

H.E. Tarek El Molla. Received his B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering, Cairo University in 1986. Joined Chevron (Egypt) in Jan. 1987. Worked in different fields and held various positions in Engineering, Operations, Planning, Sales and Marketing. In 1998, he became Sales Manager and Member of the Board of Directors of Chevron Egypt S.A.E. During the period from 2002 till 2008, he got several Chevron assignments and managed projects in Dubai, Kenya & Singapore. In 2008 he became Managing Director – Marketing of Chevron Egypt. From 2008 till end of 2010, he moved to Chevron South Africa, held the position of Regional Manager in charge of South & Central Africa’s Commercial & Industrial Business. In Jan. 2011, he joined The Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) . During the period from (2011 – 2013) he held the positions of Deputy CEO for Foreign Trade, Deputy CEO for Internal Trade and Deputy CEO for Operations. From Aug. 2013 till Sept. 2015 he was appointed as CEO of EGPC. From Sept. 2015 till July 2024 he was appointed as Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources. From January 2026 todate Member of the Parliament and Chairman of the Energy and Environment Committee. On 10th May 2017, the French President awarded him the “Ordre National de la Legion D’Honneur” at the rank of Knight. On 10th November 2020, the President of the Hellenic Republic awarded him the “Grand Commander of the Order of Phoenix”. On 14th May 2024 the Italian President awarded him the Order of the Star Italy in the rank of Commander.

Tarek Osman is the author of two books published by Yale University Press: the international bestseller Egypt on the Brink (2010), published three months before Egypt’s January 2011 revolution, and Islamism: A History of Political Islam (2017). He has written and presented acclaimed documentary series for BBC Radio 4,  and a 12-episode programme for CNN Arabic. He contributed a chapter to the European Commission’s Strategic Foresight Plan as part of its Second Strategic Plan (2025–2027). His articles have appeared in leading newspapers and magazines worldwide, including Foreign Affairs, The Times, Le Figaro, The Japan Times, The Straits Times, de Volkskrant, and Ahram Weekly. Before joining the EBRD and focusing on writing and media, Tarek spent 12 years in strategy consulting and investment management in London and the Gulf. 

He holds a master’s degree in International Economics from Bocconi University in Italy and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the American University in Cairo.

Engineer Tarek Tawfik is vice chairman of the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies (ECES). He serves on the boards of several national institutions, including the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), the Egyptian Sovereign Fund, and the Rural Development Company. He also chairs the Egyptian–Dutch Business Club and has held several senior leadership and advisory roles, including Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt, Chairman of the Food Industries Chamber, and Chairman of the Food Export Council.

He holds a BSc in Civil Engineering from Cairo University, an MSc in Structural Engineering from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and an MBA from San Francisco State University.

Dr. Vera Songwe is a globally respected economist, development finance expert, and senior international leader with deep experience across public, private, and multilateral sectors. She is Chair and Founder of the Liquidity and Sustainability Facility, a financial mechanism designed to improve liquidity for emerging markets and support sustainable development and climate finance. She also served as a senior advisor to the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), focusing on financial stability, credit risk cycles, and regulatory innovation. She is Visiting Professor of Practice at CETEx–LSE and Non-resident Senior Fellow, Global Economy Development and the Africa Growth Initiative at the Brookings Institution

Dr. Songwe’s thought leadership extends to climate finance and global economic policy. She is Co-Chair of the Independent High-Level Expert Panel on Climate Finance, has served multiple G20 commissions and contributes to key international initiatives at the intersection of sustainability, finance, and economic transformation.

Dr. Victoria Vladimirovna Panova is a Russian expert in international relations and global governance. Between 2022 and 2026, she served as Vice Rector for International Relations at HSE University, overseeing international partnerships and institutional cooperation. She has served as Russia’s W20 Sherpa since 2015 and has co-chaired working groups on education, STEM, the digital divide, and the 10 Years initiative. Dr. Panova also serves on the BRICS Think Tanks Council (BTTC), T20 South Africa Advisory Council, CyberBRICS Advisory Board, Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), and Valdai Discussion Club. She is a life member of the University of Cambridge and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and an alumna of the Asian Forum on Global Governance. Her research focuses on G7/G8, G20 and BRICS governance, digital technologies and internet governance, sustainable development, global security, and humanitarian cooperation. She holds a PhD in History of International Relations from MGIMO University.

Wojciech Zajączkowski is a Polish diplomat. He previously served as Poland’s Ambassador to Romania, Russia, and China, and held diplomatic assignments in Ukraine and Turkmenistan. He also served as the Polish Prime Minister’s Chief Advisor on Energy Security and headed the Policy Planning Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He earned his PhD from the Institute of Political Studies at the Polish Academy of Sciences and was affiliated for many years with the Centre for Eastern Studies in Warsaw.

Dr. Ziad Ahmed Bahaa-Eldin is an Egyptian lawyer specializing in financial, investment, and corporate law, governance, and economic legislation. He is Senior Counsel at Thebes Consultancy, and non-executive Chairman of Bank of Alexandria. His previous public positions include Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Development and Minister of International Cooperation, Member of Parliament, Executive Chairman of the Financial Regulatory Authority, and Executive Chairman of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones. 

He is a regular newspaper commentator, has taught law at Cairo University and Peking University, and chairs the Ahmed Bahaa-Eldin Cultural Foundation. He holds a PhD in Financial Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science and an LLM in International Business Law from King’s College London.