speakers

Middle east investors summit

abu dhabi may 2025

Get ready to engage with some of the region’s most respected academic voices and thought leaders, as this year’s Summit features renowned professors from NYU Abu Dhabi. Bringing deep expertise across global finance, regulation, sustainability, and sovereign wealth strategies, our speakers will offer sharp perspectives on the forces shaping the future of investment in the GCC and beyond.

Their sessions are designed to spark meaningful dialogue, explore strategic opportunities, and provide clarity on the shifting dynamics of today’s financial landscape. Learn more about each speaker and the unique insights they bring to this year’s program.

H.E. Dr. Ahmed Abdulrahman Albanna

Chairman, Emirates Family Office Association;
Exec. Chairman – AAG;
Former UAE Ambassador to India

His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Abdulrahman Albanna, a seasoned diplomat and business strategist, boasts an illustrious career spanning over three decades in the private sector. Having held significant roles within the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, he served as the UAE Ambassador to India from 2016 to 2022.

Dr. Albanna’s expertise lies in developing business strategies and international economic affairs, making him a valuable asset to organizations like Arc Group, Histosonic, BMW, Rolls-Royce, Rina, Emaar, Yaap and Zepth.

Also, Dr. Albanna served as deputy director general of Dubai Chamber, Chairman of Dubai Quality Group, Member of the Judicial Dubai Rent Committee, Honorary Chairman IBPC UAE, Wizz Financial and Arab German Business Counsel.

H.E. Dr. Ahmed Abdulrahman Albanna

Emirates Family Office Association

H.E. Hareb Al Mheiri

Executive Director, Investor Growth Sector
Abu Dhabi Investment Office

His Excellency Hareb Al Mheiri is the Executive Director of the Investor Growth Sector at the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), where he leads efforts to attract and retain investors and talent in support of Abu Dhabi’s Falcon Economy vision. He oversees investment opportunity identification, incentive program management, international promotion, and engagement with investors, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals.

His Excellency is also the Secretary of the Tourism Development Programme, an incentive initiative that supports public and private entities in accelerating the growth of the tourism and aviation sector in the Emirate.

Previously, His Excellency held the position of Senior Vice President of Destination and Leisure Management at Etihad Airways.

His Excellency holds a master’s degree in strategic and security studies from the National Defence College in Abu Dhabi.

H.E. Hareb Al Mheiri

Abu Dhabi Investment Office

Eric Leandri

Chief Executive Officer,
Aleria – An IHC Company

Eric Leandri is a pioneer in sovereign technology, AI and digitalization, currently leading the development of renowned platforms such as Tawasal SuperApp and Aleria AI OS.

Over the past three decades of expertise in the digital field, he’s made significant strides in advocating for a more ethical and trustworthy digital landscape.

In his successful portfolio, Eric Leandri, has projects that prioritize data protection, user confidentiality and innovative leadership.

While growing his innovative digital footprint, Eric continues his dedication toward cutting edge technologies and dedicates his commitment to enhance the UAE digital landscape towards data sovereignty and ethical digital practices.

Eric Leandri

Aleria – An IHC Company

Hans-Jörg Baumann

Founding Partner and Chairman, StepStone Group

Hans-Jörg Baumann is the founding Partner and Chairman of StepStone Private Debt. As a member of the management team, he is responsible for global business development activities of private debt.

He is also a Co-founder of the Swiss Alternative Investments Circle (SFAMA) and acted for more than 15 years as its chairman.

Before founding Swiss Capital Alternative Investments AG, Mr. Baumann was a key function holder, head of trading & sales and risk management in Switzerland for UBS. He was also a member of UBS’s global trading and sales management board in Zurich.

Mr. Baumann received his MBA from the University of Zurich.

Hans-Jörg Baumann

StepStone Group

Arlie Petters

Provost,
NYU Abu Dhabi

As Chief Academic Officer of NYU Abu Dhabi, the Provost oversees academic, research, and scholarly programs and policies, faculty affairs, and academic appointments. The role includes directing the academic leadership team, managing divisional deans, and working closely with faculty and administration to ensure effective stewardship of academic resources.

Before joining NYU Abu Dhabi in September 2020, Dr. Arlie O. Petters was the Benjamin Powell Distinguished Professor of Mathematics at Duke University, where he also served as Dean of Academic Affairs and Associate Vice Provost. His research spans mathematical physics, mathematical finance, and STEM-focused innovation in developing nations.

Previously, Petters held faculty positions at Princeton and MIT. He earned his PhD in mathematics from MIT, specializing in mathematical physics, and holds a BA and MA in mathematics and physics from Hunter College. Petters pioneered the mathematical theory of weak-deflection gravitational lensing, advancing methods that test general relativity and explore spacetime near black holes.

He has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and five books, including Singularity Theory and Gravitational Lensing, An Introduction to Mathematical Finance with Applications, and three mathematics problem-solving guides.

Arlie Petters

NYU Abu Dhabi

Bernardo Bortolotti

Executive Director
Transition Investment Lab
Stern at NYU Abu Dhabi

Bernardo Bortolotti is Professor in economics at the University of Turin and Executive Director of the Transition Investment Lab at Stern School of Business at NYU Abu Dhabi. His research focuses on the complex relationships between state and markets, with special emphasis on state ownership of firms, regulation, corporate finance, corporate governance, and transition finance.

Bernardo is one of the leading international experts in sovereign wealth funds, state assets management, and privatization. His work appeared in major academic economics and finance journals, and he has published two books with Oxford University Press. He has been Executive Director of Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei. He has advised the World Bank, the Initiative for Policy Dialogue, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Italian Ministry of the Economy as secretary of the Global Advisory Committee on Privatization, the Italian Audit Office, listed firms and public and private financial institutions.

Bernardo received his PhD in economics from the Université Catholique de Louvain.

Bernardo Bortolotti

NYU Abu Dhabi

Dr. Harald Freissmuth

Dr. Harald Freissmuth is an accomplished sustainability professional with over 20 years of international experience in industry and academia. His expertise extends across various industry sectors, highlighting his versatility and depth of knowledge in sustainability practices and innovation. Throughout his career, he has occupied numerous high-level positions within major public corporations and private equity firms. Harald is a highly experienced executive advisor and lecturer with a deep understanding of sustainability. His expertise includes ESG strategies and reporting, carbon markets, international policies, carbon capture technologies, climate change, emissions reduction, circularity strategies, and tailored research and innovation in technical sustainability. He specializes in advising corporate clients on developing comprehensive sustainability improvement strategies tailored to the specific needs of organizations in the ME and EU.

At NYU Abu Dhabi, Office of Executive Education, Harald designs and delivers executive sustainability programs based on the latest findings from internationally recognized research. His determination to bring new concepts to life has motivated Harald to establish technology start-ups and an independent think tank in sustainability, accelerating new technologies to commercial readiness levels and developing the necessary commercial business models for business implementation. Harald received a Ph.D. in Technology and Economics from École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris (PSL) in France, a BSc & MSc in Petroleum Engineering and Business Administration from Mining University Leoben (MUL), Austria, and an Automotive Engineering degree from Technical College Moedling/Vienna.

Dr. Harald Freissmuth

NYU Abu Dhabi

Jean M Imbs

Professor of Economics, NYU Abu Dhabi; Global Network Professor of Economics, Faculty of Arts and Science, NYU

Jean Imbs is a Professor of Economics. Before joining NYU Abu Dhabi, he was a Professor at the Paris School of Economics and a Research Director at France’s CNRS. He received a Master’s degree in International Business from HEC Paris and a PhD in Economics from New York University. Until 2010, he was a Professor at the London Business School and the University of Lausanne.

Jean’s research focuses on international macroeconomics, with an interest in the consequences of microeconomic complexity for macroeconomic phenomena. He currently works on the rising importance of the global supply chain and its global consequences. He has published in the major professional journals in Economics, including the American Economic Review, the Quarterly Journal of Economics, the Journal of Financial Economics, the Journal of Monetary Economics, and the Journal of International Economics.

Jean consults regularly with major policy institutions, including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the European Central Bank, the European Commission, the Bank of England, the UK Treasury, and many other central banks around the world. He teaches a broad range of classes in macroeconomics, including international finance, economic growth, and monetary and fiscal policy, to graduate, undergraduate, and executive audiences. He has taught, among others, at Princeton University, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, New York University, HEC Paris, and INSEAD.

Jean M Imbs

NYU Abu Dhabi

Harun Kapetanovic

Advisor to the Director General, Awqaf Abu Dhabi
(The Endowment and Minors’ Fund Authority)

Harun Kapetanovic is the Advisor to the Director General at Awqaf Abu Dhabi, the apex authority responsible for regulating and managing endowments in the Emirate.

With over 25 years of experience in public policy, finance, and economic development, Harun has led the design and implementation of transformative strategies across government and financial sectors in Dubai and the wider UAE. Among his notable contributions is the development of a long-term savings scheme for expatriates, which garnered international recognition.

Previously, Harun served as Director and Public Sector Industry Practice Lead at Moody’s, covering Asia Pacific and the Middle East. He was also Economic Advisor to the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, where he spearheaded a number of high-impact initiatives. His career began at the World Bank, followed by senior roles in capital markets and investment banking in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. He also served as Chair of the Audit Board at BBI Bank in Sarajevo.

A Chevening Scholar, Harun holds an MSc from Henley Business School and a PhD from King’s College London. He has been recognized for his contributions to Dubai’s economic development with the Dubai Economy Award for Best Professional Employee and the Dubai Economy Creativity Award.

Harun Kapetanovic

Awqaf Abu Dhabi

Amro Zakaria

Amro Zakaria brings over 20 years of experience in global financial markets, with a strong track record as a strategist in the financial services sector. He is the Co-Founder and Director for the Middle East and Africa at the Kyoto Network, where he focuses on guiding nations and corporations in carbon optimization strategies aligned with the transition to a net-zero future.

In 2019, he founded MADARIK Ventures, which develops and finances projects aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, with a focus on ESG, renewable energy, commodities, food security, and financial inclusion. He is also the founder of Market Trader Academy (MTA), a New York–based institute offering executive education in financial markets, risk management, blockchain, and fintech.

Amro is a frequent guest on major news networks including CNBC Arabia, Bloomberg Al Sharq, and CNN, and has been published in Forbes, Newsweek, and The National. He also advises exchanges, fintech firms, and lectures at top universities on finance, energy, and sustainability, serving on the advisory board of the American University in the Emirates.

Amro Zakaria

NYU Abu Dhabi

Sarah Cocker

Managing Director
Amplify

Sarah Cocker is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience spanning finance, media, corporate communications, and academia. As Managing Director of Amplify Project Management Services, she collaborates with cabinet ministers, CEOs, and senior VPs to achieve their strategic communication objectives.

Sarah began her career as an equity analyst at BNP-Paribas, before transitioning into financial journalism, anchoring Squawk Box on CNBC and working with CBC and BSKYB. She has also hosted Business Breakfast on Dubai Eye Radio. A sought-after conference moderator, Sarah provides consultancy and coaching to empower leaders in communicating authentically.

Sarah Cocker

Amplify

Middle east investors summit

abu dhabi may 2025

H.E. Dr. Ahmed Abdulrahman Albanna

H.E. Hareb Al Mheiri

Eric Leandri

Hans-﻿Jörg Bau﻿mann

Arlie Petters

Bernardo Bortolotti

Dr. Harald Freissmuth

Jean M Imbs

Harun Kapetanovic

Amro Zakaria

Sarah Cocker

Hans-Jörg Baumann