Ahmed Gamal

Regional Business Development Manager PNY Technologies Europe & MEA – United Arab Emirates

Ahmed Gamal is the Regional Business Development Manager – AI Solutions at PNY Technologies Europe & MEA and a recognized expert in AI infrastructure. With over a decade in IT and more than 3 years in AI, he supports government and enterprise projects across the Middle East. Ahmed is a certified NVIDIA AI Advisor and a member of the NVIDIA Partner Expert Program. His work has been featured on major networks such as Al Arabiya and Dubai TV, and in Entrepreneur TV, Web3 TV, and Tech It Up. He was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate in AI & Business Excellence.

Dr. Christoper Abraham

CEO & Head- Dubai campus and Director S P Jain School of Global Management, United Arab Emirates

Dr. Chris Abraham is currently the CEO & Head - Dubai campus and Director – Executive Education. He is a globally recognized thought reader in the areas of Innovation, Design Thinking, Behavioural Design, Neuroscience of Decision Making, Future of Education, Science of Happiness, Leadership, Human Potential HRM, Entrepreneurship, ESG, Marketing & Strategy. He started his career spanning 37 years as a strategy consultant and has worked on exciting projects including Titan Watches, Moods Condoms, National Family Welfare Program and assignments with The Governments of India, Singapore, UAE, Nigeria, and Kenya. His global clients include The World Bank, The Executive Council (Govt. of Dubai), Emirates Airlines, SEWA (Government of Sharjah), Aramex, DHL, P & G, LG, Reckitt & Benkiser, AW Rostamani (Nissan Auto), Landmark Group, Norgold Russia & others. Dr. Chris is a 3 times TEDx and international keynote speaker. He has successfully presented in numerous global forums and has also conducted many consulting and executive development assignments for global organizations. He has been recognized with numerous international awards including twice Awarded “Best CEO in the World” in 2018 & 2019, by Indo – UAE Business & Social Forum, twice winner of Academic Leadership Award. Academic Advisory Boad Member – CMO Council, USA. He has been conferred as the Prestigious Knight of Parte Guelfa, Italy for Ecology, Sustainability & Environment.

Frederik Bisbjerg

Head of MENA and Digital Transformation specialist The Digital Insurer, United Arab Emirates

Dinesh Lal is a senior data science leader with 13 years of expertise in Financial Services, Healthcare, Retail, and Information Technology. He has been recognized with over 21 awards, including two from the Mastercard President, and has filed more than 10 patents, with four granted. His skills include Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Model Development, Python, SQL, and Project Management. Throughout his career, he has led advanced analytics and AI practices, developed custom models to reduce attrition and optimize fraud performance, and pioneered an ML sign language translator for financial inclusion. In his current role as Lead, Data Product and Partnership at Network International, he spearheads the strategic application of payments, AI, and Data Science to maximize data value and forge global partnerships.

Imran Sheikh

Head of Unit – Artificial Intelligence Abu Dhabi Media Network, United Arab Emirates

Imran Sheikh serves as Head of Unit for Artificial Intelligence at Abu Dhabi Media Network, where he leads innovative projects that leverage AI to transform digital media practices. With over a decade of experience in the tech industry in Abu Dhabi, Imran brings a profound understanding of AI applications in diverse business environments. Before his current role, he excelled as a project manager and a Cloud Architect, developing solutions that significantly improved operational efficiencies and data management. His expertise includes deploying advanced AI technologies to enhance business operations, making him a key voice in discussing AI's transformative potential in business. Imran's commitment to excellence in AI application and his forward-thinking approach make him an ideal panelist for exploring effective strategies for organizations aiming to harness AI's potential in the Middle East.

Jason Quist

Co-Founder & CEO HireGen-AI, United Arab Emirates

Jason Quist is Co-Founder & CEO of BoardAndGo and HireGen-AI, building agentic AI platforms that automate post-booking travel journeys and end-to-end hiring pipelines. As a deep reinforcement-learning researcher and consultant on Ghana’s first competency-based AI curriculum, he brings six years of AI engineering and applied software expertise. A solutions architect by practice, he partners with cross-functional teams to take problems from initial scoping through to live product. His focus remains on delivering practical AI systems that address real challenges across Africa.

Mohamed Amri

Director of Engineering Alpheya, United Arab Emirates

Dr Mohamed Amri earned a PhD in applied mathematics from Mines ParisTech. He began his career in data science before moving into software engineering, motivated by the disconnect he saw between exploratory models and real-world production needs. He later joined the founding team of AIQ, an early AI-driven energy startup, where he worked as a data scientist and eventually as CTO. Today Dr Amri serves as Director of Engineering at Alpheya, leading his team to develop production-ready AI tools for wealth management.

Sumit Ranjan

Head of Responsible AI at Protect Neuron, United Arab Emirates

Sumit Ranjan is the Head of Responsible AI at Protect Neuron, Dubai and a contributor to the OWASP Agentic Security Initiative. AI researcher and author of Agentic AI in Enterprise and Applied Deep Learning and Computer Vision for Self-Driving Cars, he specializes in AI security, responsible deployment, and GenAI governance. With over a decade of experience in AI across critical sectors, Sumit has published research papers in top Journals of the world, contributed to global GenAI frameworks, and regularly speaks at international conferences. He is also a Ambassdor of the AI Universal Council and an advocate for responsible, secure AI adoption in enterprise environments.

Jean-Paul Sacy

Head of Europe, Middle East and Africa Organization: Wand AI

Jean-Paul Sacy currently serves as the head of Europe, Middle East and Africa for Wand AI , a leader in AI research and enterprise-grade systems, committed to developing reliable, safe and interpretable AI technologies, to automate core workflows and tasks using a unique agentic technology to solve complex, high-value tasks, boosting organizational productivity and improving efficiency.

With a background that includes leadership roles at BakerHughesC3.ai, Lummus Digital, EY, DuPont Sustainable Solutions, and Celerant Consulting, Jean-Paul has honed his expertise across diverse industries and domains. His journey from leading teams of skilled consultants to leveraging AI for sophisticated problem-solving has kept him at the forefront of technological advancements. Jean-Paul is passionate about fostering alumni communities for collective growth through his alma maters, ESCP in France and ESIB in Lebanon. His commitment to fostering innovation, building strong communities, and driving impactful change is evident in his work and initiatives. Passionate about human-centric transformation, Jean-Paul continues to inspire others to embrace bold ideas and pursue sustainable growth.

Amr Ibrahim

Manager - Data Analytics & Science Americana Restaurants

Amr is a data strategist and AI leader with over 10 years of experience driving transformational results across e-commerce, FMCG, and technology, including Americana brands like KFC & Hardees, Talabat, Nana, Oxford university, and many global clients. With expertise in leading cross-functional data & AI teams across multiple markets, Amr has managed multimillion-dollar projects that have transformed the digital revenue shape in MENA. Currently pursuing his Doctorate in Business Administration from France with a focus on GenAI's transformational impact on marketing, bringing both theoretical depth and practical expertise to AI innovation. Under his strategic guidance, teams have achieved remarkable outcomes: double-digit revenue growth, enhanced customer acquisition & retention rates across mega brands in the MENA region.

Rahaf AlNajjar

ML Engineer | NLP and AI Product Manager, HAQQ Islamic Coin

Experienced AI Product Manager & Generative AI/ML/NLP Engineer boasting 9+ years of expertise in pioneering machine learning and NLP technologies, with a focus on chatbots, content generation, and Transformer models. Skilled in harmonizing cross-functional team dynamics to decode complex technical hurdles into implementable strategies. Dedicated to perpetual skill enhancement and upholding the highest standards of ethical AI methodologies.

Danica Soc

Data & AI Senior Consultant Accenture Middle East, Dubai, UAE

Danica Soc is a Data & AI Senior Consultant at Accenture Middle East, based in Dubai. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Economics from Bocconi University and a Master's degree in Data Science from Politecnico di Milano. Originally from Montenegro, she has spent the last decade pursuing academic and career paths across the USA, Italy, and the UAE. In recent years, she has been serving and leading major retail, technology, and telecommunications clients through their digital transformations, helping them shape and execute complex Data and AI projects. Through her expertise in the field, she has been at the forefront of applying Machine learning models and Advanced analytics to transform customer journeys and experience. Passionate about knowledge-sharing and learning, Danica has been actively participating in international summits and exploring responsible AI applications within business acumen.

Andrea Isoni

Chief AI Officer at AI Technologies, United Kingdom

Physicist and PhD from Imperial College, former Founders Factory (FF), Chief AI Officer at AI Technologies, a company specializing in AI and automation (clients in various sectors: Telecoms, Cybersecurity, Public Sector, Gaming, Energy). Board AI advisor for Waed Saudi Aramco and former AI Advisor of various funds, including Antler Venture Capital and Capital Enterprise. Committee member for IEEE and ISO Standards for AI policy. AI newsletter 'Human on AI' with 2900+ subscribers and a writer in AI ('Machine Learning for the Web' published by Packt in English and translated into Chinese and Korean more than 10,000+ copies). International AI speaker (including London, New York, Dubai, Frankfurt, Saudi Arabia) and invited to speak by governments (Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia).

Nikita Gordeev

Chief Technology Officer at Snoonu, United Arab Emirates

Nikita is the Chief Technology Officer at Snoonu, the fastest-growing technology company in Qatar. He has over 10 years of experience in software development and leadership roles across the Banking and Telecommunication sectors. He holds a master’s degree in Information Security and has completed advanced studies at MIT. Nikita is currently pursuing an Executive MBA at HEC Paris. Fast Company Middle East recognized him as one of the Top 50 AI Leaders in the MENA region. A passionate advocate for AI, cybersecurity, and technology leadership, Nikita regularly speaks at international and regional events, including Web Summit Qatar, AWS Summit Dubai, World AI Summit, and various innovation forums in Qatar. Always eager to share insights and foster collaboration, Nikita is committed to shaping the future of tech in the region.

Mahmoud Serour

CTO at BrightDrive, UAE

Mahmoud Serour is a seasoned expert in autonomous vehicle technologies and software-defined mobility systems. He serves as the CTO of BrightDrive, where he leads the development of Level 4 autonomous platforms for commercial fleets and public transportation. Mahmoud holds a Master of Science in Computer Science from Georgia Tech and has over a decade of experience in ADAS and self-driving systems, spanning software architecture, AI-powered perception, and functional safety. Previously, he established and grew the Autonomous Driving R&D team at Brightskies, building scalable autonomy solutions for buses and trucks. Mahmoud was named one of Business Insider’s top 35 under 35 transforming autonomous vehicles. His work bridges academic innovation and real-world deployment, with a strong focus on edge AI, zonal architectures, and platform scalability. He regularly speaks at global AV and mobility conferences, advocating for safe, modular, and cost-effective autonomous systems tailored to public transit, logistics, and smart city integration.

Reem Al Mosabbeh

Founder & CEO at Esaal Technology Solutions, UAE

Reem Al Mosabbeh is the Founder & CEO of Esaal Technology Solutions, a SaaS platform pioneering AI-powered digital receipts that combine sustainability with data intelligence for retail and F&B. Under her leadership, Esaal has positioned itself at the forefront of compliance, digital transformation, and customer engagement through responsible AI adoption. Beyond her entrepreneurial journey, Reem serves as the Head of Community Engagement for Women in AI UAE, where she leads initiatives advancing ethical, governance, and inclusivity across the region. She is also collaborating on a UNDP-backed project focused on innovation and sustainable development. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Reem has supported thousands of youth and startups through Unipreneur Inc., building programs that bridge industry, government, and academia. Her work emphasizes the critical shift from AI theory to practice—embedding ethics, accountability, and enforcement in every layer of innovation.

Rajeshkumar Golani

Software Engineer at Meta, United States

Rameshkumar Golani is a Tech Lead at Meta, where he drives AI accessibility and innovation across large-scale consumer products impacting billions of users worldwide. With a deep passion for leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance user experience, his current work focuses on integrating Meta AI into the Facebook News Feed, making cutting-edge AI tools accessible to over 2 billion users globally. In his recent role, he led a team of 20+ engineers to build next-generation products powered by Meta's generative AI assistant, Meta AI. One of his notable achievements includes the launch of Feed Deep Dive — a first-of-its-kind product that uses GenAI to generate prompts from feed posts, allowing users to explore and engage more deeply with the topics they care about. Warm regards,

Faten Abdullatif

Co-founder of Cylix, UAE

In a world increasingly driven by algorithms, automation, and artificial intelligence, Faten Abdullatif stands as a beacon of ethical innovation and data-centric leadership. With over 15 years of experience across the UAE's public and private sectors, Faten has not only mastered the intricate sciences of AI and analytics but has also become a respected voice for responsible AI, strategic transformation, and inclusive leadership. As a Chief Data and AI Officer and independent consultant, she has reshaped data ecosystems, introduced AI frameworks across complex infrastructures, and advocated for policies rooted in transparency, fairness, and accountability. Her journey—from pioneering AI projects in transportation to advising academia—tells a compelling story of vision, resilience, and purpose.

Anastasiia Mykhailenko

Data Science Manager at Digiplus, Philippines

Anastasiia Mykhailenko, Ph.D., is a Data Science Manager at Digiplus Interactive Corp., where she leads transformative AI initiatives that align business performance with player well-being. With over 20 years of academic and professional experience in mathematics, artificial intelligence, and the iGaming industry, she specializes in developing predictive models and decision intelligence systems that drive ROI while upholding principles of responsible gambling. Her portfolio includes projects on Player DNA modeling, early retention and LTV prediction, VIP scoring, and dynamic marketing engines, all designed with safeguards to protect players and promote sustainable engagement. A former mathematics professor and published researcher, Anastasiia is passionate about the ethical use of AI, advocating for transparent, fair, and responsible adoption of advanced analytics in gaming. Her vision is to pioneer data-driven growth that balances innovation with responsibility, shaping the future of the industry through AI strategies that serve both business and society.

Mohamed Moualhi

Laboratory of Software Implementation and Validation Algeria

Mohamed Moualhi holds a Master’s degree in Software Engineering and is currently affiliated with the Software Implementation and Validation Laboratory in Algiers, Algeria. He specializes in machine learning, deep learning, and data-driven systems, with a particular focus on applying AI to real-world challenges. His early research centered on remote sensing and Earth observation, leveraging advanced models to address environmental and sustainability issues. Recently, his work has expanded toward exploring data governance, large language models, and the evolving dynamics of the digital economy. Through both academic and applied projects, Mohamed demonstrates a strong commitment to advancing ethical, transparent, and impactful uses of artificial intelligence for societal benefit.

Kateryna Nesteruk-Hryzohlazova

Chief Data Officer, TemaBit Fozzy Group, Ukraine

Kateryna Nesteruk-Hryzohlazova is a data management executive and Chief Data Governance Officer at TemaBit (Fozzy Group). With over 15 years of experience in data governance, analytics, and digital transformation, she has successfully led enterprise-level initiatives in building modern data platforms, implementing data quality frameworks, and enabling AI-driven business transformation. Prior to her current role, she held leadership positions at ArcelorMittal and Metinvest, where she developed expertise in data strategy, IT audit, and large-scale system implementations. Kateryna is deeply engaged in advancing Data & AI Governance, ensuring that organizations can adopt AI responsibly, with transparency and measurable value. She is passionate about creating scalable data ecosystems on Microsoft Fabric and Databricks, optimizing cloud costs for AI workloads, and embedding ethical and interpretable AI in business processes. Kateryna is also a speaker and thought leader, advocating for the role of Chief Data Officers in shaping data-driven organizations.

Ray

Senior Research Associate, The Intellectual Forum, Jesus College, Cambridge, London

Ray is an AI expert and the author of Governing the Machine – How to navigate the risks of AI and unlock its true potential (Bloomsbury 2025). He is a Senior Research Associate for Responsible AI at the Intellectual Forum, Jesus College Cambridge, and has led AI research collaborations with Stanford, MIT, The Alan Turing Institute and the Institute for AI Ethics at Oxford University. Ray was Accenture’s global lead for Responsible AI and designed Accenture’s AI compliance program. He provides independent consulting, advising on principles and policy, governance, areas of risk (such as bias, explainability, reliability and sustainability), controls, capabilities and supporting platforms and technologies.

Mr. Soenil Soebedar

Founder, SOEBIT Cybersecurity, Freelancer Penetration Tester, Sr. Security Engineer, Cryptography Architect, Sr. PKI Specialist for Minister of Defence (MoD), SOEBIT Cybersecurity, Netherlands

Mr. Soenil Soebedar is a solution-oriented IT & Cybersecurity professional who spent more than 33 years in the IT sector, 22 years as a Freelancer & Founder & CEO of SOEBIT Cybersecurity in Utrecht, Netherlands and 12 years in the Cyber Security field as Ethical Hacker, Penetration tester, PKI/Cryptography specialist and Architect, Senior Security Engineer, Senior SOC Specialist, Digital Forensics Investigator, Trainer & Speaker.

Elangoraj Thiruppandiaraj

Data Scientist, Just Group Plc, United Kingdom

Elangoraj Thiruppandiaraj is a Data Scientist at Just Group Plc, where he leads initiatives that integrate artificial intelligence and machine learning into business-critical functions within the financial services sector. With over a decade of experience spanning analytics, AI strategy, and ethical AI deployment, he focuses on bridging the gap between technical innovation and enterprise adoption. Elangoraj has recently spoken at leading industry conferences, including the IRM UK Data & AI Conference 2025 and the ai:NOW Conference UK, sharing insights on AI accuracy, governance, and responsible deployment in regulated industries. Beyond his professional role, he mentors emerging AI professionals and serves as Vice President Education at the City of London Toastmasters Club, promoting communication and leadership excellence. His mission is to drive trustworthy and explainable AI solutions that deliver both business impact and societal value.

Ahmed Alkaabi

Founder, Rise Ai, United Arab Emirates

Ahmed Alkaabi is a pioneer in technology and an Ai Entrepreneur founder of Rise Ai a company started in 2023 in enabling Ai tech in marketing tools and has worked more than 100+ companies in marketing like FIFA World cup Qatar, started as a media agency and now scaled into a full stack Ai company and developed a new education system for training youth, certainly believe that technology can change lives and our future

Arun Munuswamy

Senior Delivery Manager, Fractal Analytics, India

Arun Munuswamy is a Digital Transformation Leader, public speaking enthusiast, and lifelong learner with over 21 years of diverse industry experience driving large-scale digital, cloud, and AI automation programs across global enterprises. Known for his strategic vision and execution excellence, Arun has successfully led complex transformation initiatives across multiple service lines, combining deep technical acumen with strong leadership and people management capabilities. His guiding philosophy — “Learning is everything, and everything is learning” — reflects his growth mindset and passion for continuous improvement. Arun holds an Executive Education in Senior Management Program (2022–2023) from IIM Ahmedabad, equipping him with a holistic understanding of business strategy, finance, economics, and marketing. Over his career, Arun has contributed to leading organizations such as Infosys Technologies, IBM, Wipro, and Genpact, consistently delivering high-impact results. His exceptional performance earned him several recognitions, including being honored among the Top 3,000 global employees at Infosys in 2015.

Elisa Sai

Vice President - Analytics & AI Capgemini Invent London

Elisa is a VP in the Analytics and AI team in Capgemini Invent and has extensive experience in designing and delivering Data and AI transformation projects from mobilisation to go-live across private and public sector. She has explored different career paths (including oboe player and academia!) before focusing on delivering organisational and societal data driven value and insight. Elisa is also a strong advocate of gender diversity in Data, acting as a mentor and driving initiatives to increase female participation in STEM and data.

Nishant Das

Founder of Marketways Arabia, UAE

Dr. Nishant Das is the Founder of Marketways Arabia, a Dubai-based AI and data science consultancy specializing in decision intelligence, machine learning pipelines, and advanced econometric modeling. He holds a PhD in Behavioural Finance and an MSc in Quantitative Research Methods from IESE Business School in Barcelona, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering from McMaster University in Canada. He was also a visiting doctoral researcher at UC-Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, where he integrated behavioural insight with computational thinking. Dr. Das has over a decade of experience in the GCC advising governments, financial institutions, and enterprises on AI adoption, predictive analytics, and data-driven strategy. His work combines academic rigor with real-world delivery — leading projects in machine learning, predictive modeling, and econometric systems across sectors like finance, policy, and operations

Shruti Khanna

Netflix, United States

With over 15 years of experience in the analytics and data science industry, Shruti currently leads the analytics and data science initiatives for Games at Netflix. Her career spans impactful leadership roles at industry giants such as Meta, Intuit, and Informatica, where she has consistently driven innovation and excellence. Shruti is recognized for setting ambitious, high-impact visions and priorities, and for her proactive approach to overcoming challenges in the analytics and data science domain. She is passionate about building and nurturing high-performing, inclusive teams, and is committed to ensuring technical excellence and the highest quality of output. Her work centers on leveraging data-driven strategies to propel business success and foster innovation. Shruti’s dedication to advancing the field continues to inspire those around her, making her a sought-after thought leader in analytics and data science.

Zamina Ahmad

CEO & Principal Consultant, Germany

Zamina Ahmad is an award-winning and recognized AI & ML Product Manager, keynote speaker, and consultant based in Hamburg, Germany. She helps enterprises implement Generative AI responsibly and effectively—combining leadership readiness, data quality, and scalable delivery. She also equips product and engineering teams to apply GenAI across the software lifecycle—from ideation and requirements to coding, QA, and operations. Previously, she led Open Innovation projects at Siemens and managed data labeling for autonomous driving software at Bosch. She brings 15+ years across data analysis and machine learning and founded her company shades&contrast, where she builds human-centered AI strategies, upskills teams, and guides organizations from idea to measurable impact. As Digital Female Leader Award recipient, she regularly speaks at international conferences.

Deepak Gupta

Vice President of Engineering CARS24 India Dubai

Deepak Gupta is a multi-award-winning technology executive with over 25 years of experience in AI leadership, digital transformation, and enterprise architecture across FinTech, automotive, telecom, ecommerce, and global enterprises. He currently serves as Group Chief Technology & Product Officer (CTPO) at AMPL,and was previously Group CTO & VP of Engineering at CARS24, where he scaled multi-cloud engineering, GenAI adoption, and developer productivity transformations.

Yuda (Ellis) Wang

Chairman W&L INTL Limited UAE, Dubai

Ellis Wang is a Technology & Financial Innovation Leader Ellis Wang is a technology and financial innovation executive with over 30 years of leadership experience at Google, Alibaba, ASUS, McKinsey, Intel, and Mashreq Bank. Currently Managing Director at W&L INTL and formerly Group CIO of Mashreq Bank, he led major digital transformations integrating generative AI, cloud-native platforms, and blockchain-driven banking, achieving landmark growth and efficiency. A pioneer in real-world asset (RWA) tokenization and digital assets, Ellis has collaborated with sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and fintechs across Dubai, Hong Kong, and Singapore to transform real estate, commodities, and private credit into blockchain-based instruments. He is pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration at Golden Gate University, specializing in Generative AI, and is a frequent keynote speaker and award-winning advisor.

Amaan Saigal

CEO, Improvability AI, United Kingdom

Amaan Saigal is the CEO of Improvability AI, where he leads the development of advanced AI-driven reporting, due diligence automation, and climate technology solutions. He is currently building a climate tech benchmarking tool in partnership with the Oxford Centre for Technology and Development (OCTD), a project funded by Innovate UK. Amaan has a strong background in climate economics and machine learning/statistics, with hands-on experience in emissions measurements and designing automations powered by AI to analyse and validate these metrics in real-world settings. His work bridges data science, sustainability reporting, and operational impact, supporting organisations with ESG compliance and innovation. He has advised startups and global organisations on AI strategy and responsible tech adoption. Amaan looks forward to a meaningful panel discussion and is happy for his profile to be shared on LinkedIn.

Shashank Shekhar Sahoo

Principal Data Scientist, Abu Dhabi

Shashank S. Sahoo is a seasoned data scientist and AI leader based in Dubai, with deep expertise in generative AI, large language models (LLMs), and MLOps. Over the course of his career, he has driven high-impact projects at industry-leading companies, combining technical rigor with strategic vision to build scalable AI systems. Shashank earned his technical foundation from the National Institute of Technology, and has continued to refine his skills through hands-on work in advanced machine learning, transformer architectures, and cloud-native deployment. He is Microsoft-certified and has a passion for democratizing AI — empowering teams and organizations to leverage the power of large-scale models. He is also a prolific writer and thought leader, authoring articles on NLP, explainable AI, and data pipelines. His Medium blog showcases his reflections on LLM performance, model explainability, and how AI can be responsibly scaled. Beyond his professional roles, he mentors aspiring data scientists and contributes to open-source AI initiatives. In parallel, Shashank stays active in the AI community: he speaks at conferences, collaborates with cross-functional teams, and continuously explores the frontiers of generative systems. He is committed to using AI not just for business value, but for societal good — bridging the gap between technical innovation and real-world impact.

Wassim Ben Youssef

Manager in Data Science and AI, Data & Cloud, PwC

Wassim Ben Youssef brings eight years of expertise in Data Science, AI, and Machine Learning, with a strong focus on driving business value through innovation. Currently, as a Data Science and AI Manager at PwC Dubai, MENA, he is deeply engaged in deploying cutting-edge Generative AI projects for financial services and government entities. His technical journey includes working as a Senior Data Scientist at Artefact, delivering ML solutions for asset management. Crucially, his time in the UK start-up ecosystem saw him establish and scale a new Data Science and AI practice. This involved developing specialized AI/ML products, including an anomaly detection system for high-volume invoice processing and a predictive model for estimating non-public business data for the insurance industry. He is dedicated to empowering others through technology and is the author of a machine learning course for business professionals.

Dr. Jane Thomason

Section Chief Editor Web3 & Metaverse Frontiers in Blockchain, UAE

Dr Jane Thomason, is a global thought leader in emerging technologies, including AI, Blockchain, Web3, Metaverse, and MedTech. She holds distinguished roles on the editorial boards of peer reviewed journals and is an Industry Associate: University College London, Centre for Blockchain. She is author of "Blockchain for Global Social Change," "Applied Ethics in a Digital World" "Advancements in the New World of Web 3: A Look Toward the Decentralized Future," "Infinite Playgrounds - Gaming as the Architecture of the Future" and "Stablecoins and and the Future of Financial Regulation (forthcoming) " She has published widely on MedTech, Web3, Blockchain, AI and Metaverse and is at the forefront of the impact of emerging technologies on industry and society.

Samir Sharma

CEO and Founder at Datazuum

Samir is the CEO datazuum, a consultancy specialising in data strategy and analytics. Samir and his team work with organisations to help them get more value from their data improving operational efficiency, driving revenue growth, and gaining an edge over competitors. datazuum focuses on four core areas: developing practical data and AI strategies, establishing robust data and AI governance frameworks, designing and implementing effective operating models, and providing hands-on support to turn strategy into reality. These services are designed to ensure businesses can use their data to achieve tangible outcomes. With over 20 years of international experience across the UK, Europe, the US, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, Samir has worked with organisations in industries including retail, CPG, media, technology, logistics, insurance, banking, telecoms, and the public sector. Samir has also written his first book in 2025 titled - The Strategy Canvas: A field Guide for Data & AI. Closing the Strategy-Execution Gap. He is a regular speaker at conferences.

Mohamed ElSheikh

Co-Founder and CTO at Loop Micromobility, Egypt

Mohamed ElSheikh is a seasoned Data and AI leader with over 20 years of experience driving large-scale analytics and cloud transformations across public and private sectors. Currently the CTO of Loop Micromobility, Mohamed pioneers smart mobility solutions by blending AI, IoT, and real-time data. Previously at McKinsey, he led cross-functional teams delivering advanced analytics and data strategy with multimillion-dollar business impact. Mohamed also held senior roles at Microsoft and IBM, where he architected scalable data platforms across Azure and hybrid environments. With a strong academic foundation in statistics and data science from MITx and a reputation for turning complexity into clarity, Mohamed empowers organizations to unlock value through data innovation. He is passionate about bridging strategy with technology, building data-driven cultures, and mentoring the next generation of AI talent

Vaibhava Lakshmi Ravideshik

Founding AI Scientist at Bright Owl, United States

Vaibhava Lakshmi Ravideshik is a Founding AI Scien5st at People and Planet Ventures, working across agen5c AI systems, advanced model architectures, and AI-driven genomics research. Her work focuses on designing mul5-agent workflows, next-genera5on genera5ve AI pipelines, and evalua5on frameworks for reliable, high-stakes decision-making. She also contributes to AI for genomics and computa5onal biology, developing methods that combine machine intelligence with large-scale biological data. Vaibhava is a LinkedIn Learning instructor, invited speaker at global AI events, and an ac5ve contributor in responsible AI and future-of- AI system design.

Raid Arfua

Head of AI at Cloverpop, Czech Republic

Raid Arfua is an AI leader and practitioner specializing in Applied Machine Learning and Decision Intelligence. Throughout his professional career, he has focused on building practical, high-impact AI systems that enhance business decision-making, operational performance, and product strategy. His work spans recommendation engines, segmentations, forecasting systems, and advanced LLM-based agents for enterprise use. As Head of AI at Cloverpop, he is building agentic architectures that transform meeting transcripts into structured decision trees, improve decision workflows, and enable scalable enterprise adoption of AI. He leads cross-functional initiatives, mentors engineers and analysts, and drives the strategic vision behind next-generation AI products. He has delivered numerous talks and workshops on AI solutions, and continues to contribute to the broader AI community through speaking engagements, research exploration, and strategic advisory in decision-centric AI.

Chandra Prabha Arun

AI Engineer at Digitaversal Technologies FZE, United Arab Emirates

Chandraprabha Arun is an AI Engineer and AI Team Lead with over sixteen years of experience across data science, machine learning, generative AI, and digital analytics. Her work spans diverse industries, including e-commerce leaders such as Amazon, where she has developed scalable AI systems that enhance decision-making, automate workflows, and improve business performance. She specializes in emerging Generative AI technologies, including LLMs, RAG pipelines, multi-agent systems, and transformer architectures such as GPT, BERT, and Llama. Her expertise includes building end-to-end ML and deep learning solutions, from data engineering and feature design to model development, optimization, and deployment. As a practitioner deeply invested in the evolution "Beyond LLMs," she focuses on next-generation AI architectures, multimodal intelligence, and responsible AI innovation. She actively leads cross-functional AI teams, mentors junior engineers, and contributes to high-impact projects that bridge technical advancement with real-world business value.

Gaurav Singh

Data Scientist at IBM, India

Gaurav Singh is a Data Scientist and Educator recognized for his contributions to AI and analytics training across academic and professional communities. With expertise in Python, Power BI, IBM Watson Studio, SPSS Modeler, and Cognos, he has trained hundreds of learners in data-driven problem-solving and modern analytical workflows. He has delivered talks at AI/ML workshops, including a featured session at Radisson Blu, Ranchi—an event covered by Prabhat Khabar highlighting the growing importance of artificial intelligence in education and industry. Gaurav is committed to simplifying complex concepts and empowering students with practical, project-based learning experiences. His work focuses on building digital skills, encouraging innovation, and helping aspiring professionals navigate opportunities in the evolving AI landscape. Through continuous learning, speaking engagements, and mentoring, he strives to make technology education accessible, impactful, and career-shaping for the next generation of data professionals.

Charbel Daoud

Leader | Software & AI/ML Engineer, IMT Mines, France

Charbel builds AI systems that don't just work in notebooks; they run reliably in production. As a Tech Lead and PhD researcher in Software Engineering & AI, Charbel combines hands-on engineering with leadership and research. Charbel has led programs and teams, founded and scaled an Edtech/Robotics company, and delivered production software and AI workflows across startups and institutions.

Hassan Sawaf

Founder & CEO at aiXplain, United States

Hassan Sawaf has 30+ years of experience in employing cutting-edge AI technologies for mission-critical business operations. He has founded several machine learning organizations in small and large tech companies that are leaders in their respective market segments today. The teams he started and managed are in Facebook/Meta, AWS/Amazon, eBay, SAIC/Leidos, and AppTek. In 2020, Hassan founded aiXplain, a platform designed to democratize AI development by simplifying access to best-in-class models and enabling intuitive prototyping and deployment. He also serves as an investor, board member, and advisor to global startups and companies.

Adeel Shaikh Muhammad

CEO at Adeel Solutions LLC

Adeel Shaikh Muhammad is a cybersecurity strategist, researcher, author and international speaker with over 15 years of experience in information security and IT. He holds multiple certifications including CISSP and PMP. He is currently conducting doctoral-level research on the evolving role of AI in Security Operations Centres (SOCs).

Gopi Maren

Global Alliance for Artificial Intelligence, UAE

Gopi Maren is the Chief Specialist for Data and AI Governance within a leading government entity in Dubai, where he drives enterprise-wide governance strategies, responsible AI frameworks, and data-driven culture enablement. With deep experience across data quality, privacy, metadata management, and regulatory alignment, Gopi helps organizations transform complex data ecosystems into trusted, scalable, and outcome-focused capabilities. Recognized for his leadership in GAFAI-aligned governance practices, he champions ethical AI, adaptive risk management, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure data is managed with integrity and used with accountability. Passionate about elevating data literacy and embedding governance into everyday operations, Gopi brings a balanced perspective that merges technical insight with strategic value creation across both public and private sector domains.

Gowri Shankar Sivabala

Founder, Dubai AI Community (D.AI.C)

Gowri Shankar Sivabala is an academician, engineer, AI consultant, entrepreneur, and a sustainability advocate driving change across education, engineering, and innovation. With experience spanning 30+ roles in AI, engineering, education, journalism, art and social impact, he has mentored over 2,000 professionals across 20+ countries and collaborated with organizations such as Rolls-Royce and Airbus. He is the founder of SpaceNXT Labs, Co-Founder of RecycleNXT, and founder of D.AI.C, one of Dubai’s leading AI communities. A member of the UN Innovations Network and AI in Education group at the University of Oxford, he speaks globally on responsible AI at events including AI Everything, Function1, GITEX, etc. He is also the Deputy Chair of the University of Bristol Alumni Association , he is a Guinness World Record holder and a finalist for the Study UK Alumni Award 2025 and GESS Global Education Award 2024. He currently researches AI in education at UCAM, Spain, and leads ITEF UAE and the AISGI Charter at GAFAI.

Affaan Shaikh

Founder, CEO, IntelliDent AI

Affaan Shaikh is the Founder and CEO of IntelliDent AI, an AI-powered dental diagnostic company. With a background in robotics and automation engineering, he specializes in developing innovative solutions that integrate artificial intelligence with healthcare to enhance oral health and cognition. His expertise spans multiple domains, including AI engineering, neuroscience, dentistry and software development. He has contributed to projects focusing on real-time fatigue detection, brainwave monitoring, and cognitive enhancement tools applicable in sectors such as healthcare, aviation, law enforcement, and elderly care. Beyond his research contributions, he also serves as a mentor and have trained over 1000 students in AI and research. His leadership and innovation in healthcare have earned him a nomination for the “HealthTech Startup of the Year” award at the UAE Health Awards and UK-based “Investec Entrepreneur of the year Award” Nomination.

Rui Pedro Duarte

Managing Director, Loop Future

Rui Duarte is the Managing Director of Loop Future Switzerland (DACH) and Senior AI Governance Advisor, bringing together governments, companies, and researchers to shape the governance of artificial intelligence. A member of the Diplomatic Courier’s World in 2050 Brain Trust, he also serves on the Policy, Regulation & International Cooperation Executive Office of the Global Alliance for Artificial Intelligence (GAFAI), contributing to practical, shared rules for AI. Rui works where business, technology, and policy meet. From the UN Science Summit (24) to GAFAI, he speaks globally on AI ethics, governance and diplomacy connecting people who shape technology with those who must govern it, and turning good intentions into real-world policies. With 15 years of experience — seven in the public sector and eight in the private sector — Rui has served as an elected Member of Parliament and worked with intergovernmental institutions like European Commission, the Council of Europe, the United Nations (Youth Delegate Program), and intergovernmental bodies including the African Union (Pan-African Youth Union), Arab League, and Secretaría General Iberoamericana. Rui holds a Master’s degree in Political Economy from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and is fluent in Portuguese, English, and French. He holds a Bachelor Degree in International Relations from the University of Coimbra.

Abdul-Rahim Sabouni

CEO, Span Management Consulting

Prof. Abdul Rahim Sabouni is the CEO of Span Management Consulting and Chief Academic Advisor at the Emirates Scholars Research Center. A distinguished structural engineering professor and former university president, he holds a PhD from Cornell University, an MSc from George Washington University, and a professional certificate in academic leadership from Harvard University. With extensive expertise in design, construction management, and AI, he has held senior roles, including Design Expert for Abu Dhabi Municipality.

Emile Destin Ibara Doniama

Advisor – Africa Expansion, BlackCroww

Emile Destin Ibara Doniama is a senior technology and digital transformation leader with over eight years of experience driving AI-enabled innovation, blockchain solutions, and data-driven strategy across Africa and international markets. He has held leadership and advisory roles supporting financial institutions, startups, and public-private initiatives, with a strong focus on digital finance, emerging technologies, and scalable infrastructure. Emile brings deep expertise in strategic technology execution, data governance, and intelligent systems, helping organizations translate complex technologies into measurable business and societal impact. His work spans core banking modernization, fintech, crypto analytics, and AI-powered decision frameworks, with a particular interest in financial inclusion and digital trust. He regularly engages with executives and policymakers on the future of AI, Web3, and digital economies in emerging markets.

SAMEH HABLAS CEO Founder American Plus

CEO / Founder, American Plus

Sameh Hablas is a globally recognized executive advisor and technology leader with over 24 years of experience in artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, and large-scale digital transformation across the United States, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. He is the Founder & CEO of American Plus Project Management, a U.S. and UAE–based consulting firm specializing in AI-driven transformation, critical digital infrastructure, and advanced data platforms. Throughout his career, Sameh has held senior leadership roles within major American technology companies and has worked closely with government entities across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, leading high-impact, mission-critical programs. He was awarded the Distinguished Employee Award at the government sector level in the United Arab Emirates, recognizing exceptional leadership and impact. Sameh Hablas has recently been named among the Top 50 Technology Leaders in the Middle East and recognized as one of the Top 100 Leaders in the Critical Digital Infrastructure Index 2025. He is a frequent international speaker and panelist at global conferences and forums on AI, data governance, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure. He currently leads strategic initiatives in partnership with NVIDIA, Microsoft, and leading U.S. technology ecosystem partners.

Mohamed Baraka

Chief Executive Officer, Intelligent Horizons

DDr. Mohamed Baraka is an internationally recognized academic leader and digital health expert dedicated to advancing the integration of technology across healthcare and medical education. With over two decades of academic, clinical, and leadership experience across Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, and the United Arab Emirates, Dr. Baraka has been instrumental in driving digital transformation within the health sciences sector. As a Professor and Former Dean of Pharmacy at Fatima College of Health Sciences (FCHS), Dr. Baraka spearheaded the successful national (CAA) and international (ACPE) accreditation of the pharmacy program while embedding digital health, telehealth, AI literacy, and automation concepts into the pharmacy curriculum. His initiatives have fostered interprofessional collaboration and future-ready competencies among medical, nursing, and allied health students. Globally, Dr. Baraka serves as Co-Lead of the Programme Development Working Group in the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Academic Pharmacy Section, contributing to the development of digital health and AI education programs for healthcare educators and professionals worldwide. He is also a Global AI Delegate to the UAE at the Global Alliance for Artificial Intelligence (GAFAI) and the chair of the industry cooperation & collaboration working group of GAFAI. In addition, he is an active member of the HealthAI Community of Practice, where he chairs the evaluation and validation of AI in health working group and contributes to responsible AI governance frameworks. His leadership extends to the UAE National Taskforce for Interprofessional Education Framework for Healthcare Practitioners, helping shape collaborative practice standards for the country’s health education ecosystem. Dr. Baraka’s academic and professional contributions bridge clinical science, education, and digital innovation, emphasizing how AI, digital therapeutics, telemedicine, wearables, robotics, and virtual reality can enhance patient outcomes and reshape the future of healthcare delivery. He has delivered numerous keynote talks and workshops on digital transformation in healthcare and education, inspiring the next generation of clinicians to become technologically empowered and ethically grounded health professionals

Dr Aswathy Sheela Sudhakar

Founder of Aitheal, India

Dr Aswathy Sheela Sudhakar is a board-certified AI in Healthcare specialist with a strong focus on patient safety, ethical AI adoption, and the applied use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. She is the founder of Aitheal, a patient advocacy initiative dedicated to empowering both the public and clinicians to use AI safely, responsibly, and with clearly defined boundaries. Dr Sudhakar serves as a Medical Advisor at VentureBlick, where she contributes clinical insight to early-stage health innovation and startup evaluation. She is also a research contributor to the ITU–World Health Organization Focus Group on AI for Health, supporting work at the intersection of digital health, artificial intelligence, and global health policy. Her work sits at the intersection of medicine, data-driven technologies, and human-centred design, with particular emphasis on preventing over-reliance on general-purpose AI in clinical and patient-facing settings. She regularly contributes to global discussions on AI governance, patient education, and clinician upskilling through international conferences, advisory panels, and health innovation forums.