Lalit Vase is the dynamic founder and CEO of NASR ESPORTS, boasting over 24 years of video gaming and esports industry experience. Beginning his career at Red Entertainment Distribution in 1998, Lalit played a pivotal role in exclusive partnerships with major gaming publishers in the MENA region. In 2013, he co-founded Power League Gaming (PLG), a brand strategy agency that executed projects for top brands like Coca-Cola, Red Bull, and Adidas.

In 2016, Lalit launched NASR ESPORTS, a premier esports organization in the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey. NASR ESPORTS is celebrated for nurturing top-tier talent, including the first Arab Street Fighter 6 world champion, Amjad “AngryBird” AlShalabi. The organization supports dedicated teams for numerous games and has won accolades in over 300 tournaments globally.

With a team of 50 professionals from 15 countries, NASR ESPORTS captivates over 8 million fans, generating 40 million monthly video views and reaching an audience of 120 million gamers.

Philipp Pabst is a Senior Associate at the Dubai Future District Fund, a $200m VC fund of funds and direct investment platform backed by the government of Dubai.

Before his current role, he founded 3 ventures, including a crypto investment fund. He also launched the Microsoft for Startups program, the Microsoft GrowthX Accelerator and the Highway to 100 Unicorns conference in partnership with ADIO across MEA.

Dr. Ing Antonio Feraco, is Senior Advisor for Industrial Strategy in the Industrial Development Bureau of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development. His responsibilities ranges from the co-development of policies and strategies supporting the manufacturing sector, in adopting technologies within Industry 4.0 space to enable a safe, secure and sustainable digital transformation. He was previously Vice President of Digital Service and Managing Consultant for Industry 4.0 in a global MNC where he co-led the development of a international recognized Digital Maturity Assessment, an AI Quality Management System and the Industry 4.0 practice.

With a PhD in Artificial Intelligence, a MSc in Industrial Engineer and a PMP®, Antonio ran successful projects in I4.0 and Digital Transformation for Oil and Gas, Mining, Chemicals, F&B, and Pharma, and has joined several international and large initiatives in EU and ASEAN, as a Digitisation and Industry 4.0 expert.

He worked with Applied R&D, consultancy and technology advisory sector before and has comprehensive experience in AR and VR, AI, business process optimisation, project management, energy efficiency and robotics leading projects in Smart Manufacturing, Smart City and Energy Efficiency

Antonio is also part of the Advisory Board of the AI Asia Pacific Institute, an Adjunct Professor of Innovation Process Management at the University of Vitez since 2013. He also delivers talks for industry and academia in both Technical topics such as Predictive Maintenance, and non-Technical ones like Management of Innovation Processes and Technology Transfer Strategies and Expert Evaluator for Manufacturing Innovation Project Proposals for the European Commission.

Jaspreet Randhawa has over 20+ years of experience in the global financial services industry. She is the Head of Investments and IR at Burkhan World Investments based out of Abu Dhabi.

Jaspreet is a first-generation entrepreneur, driven by the core philosophy of infusing “Profit with Purpose” through her vision of making a massive social impact on causes driven by financial crimes. She has spent the majority of her career in New York and London in executive level transformative roles in global financial services technology.

Jaspreet has played an instrumental role in several Financial services firms such as – SunGard (FIS), Broadridge, Corvil, ICAP and DTCC. She has a BSC, BMC, PLD and MBA from Durham University in the UK and Harvard Business School in the US.

Nabil Ismail is an Executive Director – Private Equity at Gulf Capital PJSC. He has been with Gulf Capital since 2014. He manages investments in the tech space and heads fintech investments with keen interest on expanding their presence from the GCC across North Africa and South East Asia. He has previously worked with TECOM Investments where he was involved in real estate investments, corporate finance, building incubation program, and divestments of assets and companies. Prior to that, he was at the Executive Office in Dubai.

Nabil has 15+ years of extensive background in investments. He has also served as a judge on several SME awards and as an advisor for The Emirates Foundation. Nabil is an avid golfer and has represented the UAE National team in the past. He holds an MSc. in Finance and Accounting from the London School of Economics and a BA in Economics from Davidson College, USA. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Martin Haugaard is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer at European Maritime Finance (Schweiz) AG & Chairman of the Investment Committee.

Martin Haugaard is a successful businessman with 25 years of experience in asset management, real estate and a primary focus on shipping funds over the last decade. Proven track record of generating excellent returns for investors through dedication, disciplined project management and establishing offices across Europe. Currently based in Switzerland and driving global opportunities for European Maritime Finance (EMF) into the future.

Robert Yao serves as the founder and Chief Investment Officer of Immensus Capital, where he oversees all investment management activities, from initial sourcing to execution and eventual exits. With over two decades of professional experience in corporate finance and investing, Mr. Yao brings a wealth of expertise to his role.

Before establishing Immensus Capital in 2016, Mr. Yao held the position of Head of Research for the China Team at Mount Kellett Capital, a US$7 billion AUM fund founded by former members of Goldman Sachs Global Special Situations Investment Team. During his eight-year tenure there, he spearheaded numerous private equity investments in China’s B2B sector, totaling over US$220 million between 2009 and 2014. Prior to his time at Mount Kellett Capital, Mr. Yao was a key member of the research SWAT team for Asia at Goldman Sachs Asia Special Situations Group. Following the completion of his MBA at the Wharton School in the United States in 2005, he joined the J.P. Morgan Investment Banking Department in Hong Kong as an Associate, where he played a pivotal role in the successful management buyout (MBO) of WH Group (0288.HK), one of the world’s largest pork companies, valued at US$283 million.

Mr. Yao earned his Bachelor of Arts in Investment Management from Shanghai University of Finance & Economy, and later obtained his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Kamlesh Kasala has 20 years of experience in PE, FI, RE Investments and M&A. He has executed transactions valued at USD 3 billion across Tech, Fintech, E-Commerce, Healthcare, and other Alternatives in USA, EU, GCC and Asia.

Presently Kamlesh is the senior Director at Amwal, Qatar, where he spearheads the sourcing, execution and management in Alternatives and Structured Investments.

He is a Board advisor to certain Tech startup companies in USA, India and GCC region. Prior to joining Amwal, he was a Principal at Oasis Capital, Bahrain. At Oasis, Kamlesh was responsible for the overall Structuring, Risk Management and Execution across their PE, RE and FI portfolios. He oversaw the setup and structuring of their various Private Equity and Real Estate funds in EU, UK and USA.

In prior roles, he has worked with a GCC regional conglomerate in their Corporate Finance and executed PE and M&A transactions in MENA and Asia across Pharma, Retail, Manufacturing and Telecom sectors.

Jean Schmitt has driven Jolt’s vision and led its development since 2012. The impetus behind the founding of Jolt was Jean’s realization that the best risk-adjusted returns typically come from late stage & growth rounds in companies that no longer face technology risk.

Prior to founding Jolt Capital, Jean was Managing Partner at Sofinnova Partners, running the IT practice, focusing on telecom and wireless markets.

Preceding this, Jean was CEO and founder of 4 companies with successful exits, including SLP InfoWare, which he sold to Gemplus (now Gemalto, XPAR:GTO) in 2000 for $60m and then became VP Telecom Solutions & Applications for the larger group.

Jean graduated from Telecom ParisTech and has a post-graduate degree in Artificial Intelligence. He is senior lecturer at Telecom ParisTech and HEC Paris, Vice President of France Deeptech, and non-profit organization regrouping deeptech stakeholders in France and Board Member at Tech Premium, an IPO cornerstone investment SICAV.

Jean is currently a board member of NILT, Virta, and Bioserenity. Previously, Jean was a board member of; Esmertec/Myriad (SIX:MYRN), Authentec (NASDAQ:AUTH) before Apple acquired it in 2012 for $356m, Heptagon before its acquisition by AMS (SIX:AMS) in 2016 for close to $1b, Fogale Sensation before its sale to a consumer electronics giant, and most recently Skill & You before its sale to Andera Partners. Jean also led Jolt Capital’s successful investment and exit in Verimatrix.

Stephen Schueler is currently Managing Director and Chairman of Green Transition, Investment Committee for European Maritime Finance. EMF, currently has a $2 billion AUM dollar portfolio of vessels including tankers, car carriers and the new ammonia carriers. All vessel are of the latest construction, eco class and most fuel efficient A rated. EMF is on the for front leading the industry through the green transition of sustainable shipping.

Stephen is the former Officer for Maersk, managing their 388 offices across 160 countries. Member of the Executive Board, CEO of the Safmarine Shipping Line and Chairman of Maersk Inc. the US American fleet.

Stephen is the former Head of Global Retail Operations for Procter & Gamble and the former Head of Retail Sales and Marketing for Microsoft.

Dr. Leen Kawas brings her deep expertise to the fund, helping to assess life sciences opportunities by drawing on her experiences in drug discovery, operation, clinical trial methodologies, regulatory strategies, commercialization, and financing. These skills were instrumental to her success as the former CEO of Athira Pharma as well as her ability to raise about $400 million and lead the company through an IPO. They will continue to serve her well in her role as Managing General Partner for Propel Bio Partners.

Dr. Kawas has won many awards and recognitions for her leadership and accomplishments including: Endpoints 20(+1) under 40 (2021), Life Science Entrepreneurial Achievement Award (2020), French-American Foundation Leader (2019), Alzheimer’s Cure Coin Award (2019), Biospace 7 Millennial Influencers in the Biotech Industry (2019), GeekWire Startup CEO of the Year (2019), 40 under 40 in Life Science Leader (2017), PharmaVOICE 100 honoree (2017), Association of Washington Business Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2016), EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women (2016), Puget Sound Business Journal 40 under 40 Award (2016), EY Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist (2016), and GeekWire Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist (2016). She was named one of Seattle’s Most Influential People by Seattle Magazine and one of the Women to Watch in Life Sciences by the Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical Association in 2015.

Dr. Abdullah Najashi is currently the Chief Executive Officer at Najashi Holding, a Family office based in Riyadh. Najashi Holding was founded in 1957 and considered as one of the first Healthcare investors in the region.

Dr. Abdullah Najashi also sits on the board as an Advisor of Ajyad Economic Company, a leading Multi-Family office focusing on Technology and Alternative Investments.

Mike Townend boasts over 35 years of investment experience, having traversed roles as an LP, GP, CIO, investor director, board member, and entrepreneur.

His tenure as CIO at IP Group, Europe’s premier deep tech investor, spanned ten years until April 2022, during which he spearheaded investments such as Oxford Nanopore and Ceres Power.

Prior to IP Group, Mike held influential positions at Lehman Brothers and Donaldson, Lufkin, and Jenrette. His financial market expertise was honed through leading public and private transactions at Paribas, DLJ, and Lehman Brothers, where he directed the hedge fund business as Managing Director.

Outside IP Group, Mike is deeply engaged in sustainability-focused ventures, notably serving as Chairman of Optimize, an AI routing company, and co-founder of Green Urban Transport, an electric vehicle enterprise. Additionally, he acts as an advisor to Yoo Group, a specialist property development entity.

Kenneth Tveter heads Clarksons Green Transition Group, and possesses extensive understanding of the energy transition with a special focus on the commercial impact and opportunities arising.

Kenneth has 15 years’ experience from commodity, energy and shipping finance, spanning investment banking, risk management, broking, trading and portfolio management. He worked 10 years for DNB and DNB Markets.

Prior to Joining Clarksons, Kenneth worked as a portfolio manager for Svelland Capital and co-founded an IMO 2020 shipping fund. He also worked as an advisor to Oldendorff, the world’s largest dry bulk owner and operator, on topics related to commercial impact and opportunities from emission regulations.

Kenneth is Clarksons “Green Expert” and has been presenting for the IMO and at other high-profile events on topics related to shipping decarbonization.

Kenneth holds an MSc. In Finance from BI Norwegian Business School.

Charles Boorady is the Managing Partner of Health Catalyst Capital Management, LLC (HCC). Charles has been involved in healthcare investments since 1994, initially with bulge bracket Wall St. firms as an investment research analyst and investment banker. Prior to 1994 he was a consultant with Accenture, leading business process automation and reengineering engagements.

He has evaluated, advised, invested in, and served as Chairman or Director in numerous healthcare companies focused on healthcare and healthcare information technology, ranging from start-up through IPO. He also underwrote significant IPOs including as the sole lead bookrunner analyst on the landmark Anthem demutualization and IPO in October 2001. He also led healthcare investment research teams.

As a healthcare analyst he ranked #1 for coverage of Health Care Providers and Services by Forbes magazine which named him among the “Dazzling Dozen” for investment research. He also ranked #1 by Institutional Investor magazine for coverage of Managed Care, for
which he maintained a top 3 ranking in the country for over a decade.

Mr. Boorady has an MBA in Analytic Finance and Statistics from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BS in Engineering from Cornell University.

Lo’ai Bataineh is a Seasoned and successful investment banker with over three decades’ track record in commercial banking, investment banking, asset, and wealth management, expert in guiding the implementation of Business Plans and Strategies. Currently serves as Senior Executive Officer of Ominvest Capital-DIFC and is responsible for managing Ominvest-DIFC investments. Earlier, he was the Founder and CEO of Ubhar Capital (U Capital).

Lo’ai has extensive experience in matters relating to mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, divestments, performance improvement, IPOs, and fund-raising transactions.

Experienced in establishing, implementing, and successfully managing Fully Fledge Service investment banking and asset management business, guiding strategic decision-making, and leveraging international experience in the Banking and Financial Services sectors.

Lo’ai has proven leadership ability with the skill to motivate and develop people, and procedures and deliver profits across investment banking business verticals. Dynamic and innovative with the ability to capture new market opportunities across multiple sectors and asset classes.

Isabelle Amiel Azoulai is a seasoned professional with a rich background spanning venture capital, private equity, and investment banking. Currently serving as the Founding & Managing Partner at Sienna Venture Capital in Paris, France, she is at the forefront of shaping the venture capital vertical and strategy for Sienna Investment Manager. Isabelle brings extensive expertise to her role, advising the group on private asset investments, particularly in the realm of technology and venture opportunities.

Prior to her tenure at Sienna Venture Capital, Isabelle held the position of Managing Partner at La Maison SA, where she co-founded a prominent private equity and venture capital investment group. Over her eight-year tenure, she led a multitude of tech-focused investments globally, overseeing the deployment of $500 million across more than 60 growth companies in various countries. Her strategic acumen and leadership resulted in numerous successful exits and the establishment of several unicorns within the portfolio. Before her venture into venture capital, Isabelle distinguished herself in the realm of private banking as a Investment Partner at Credit Suisse, where she managed a substantial client book, providing tailored solutions across multi-asset class issues and consistently ranking as a top contributor in NNA’s and revenues. This diverse background underscores Isabelle’s prowess in navigating complex financial landscapes and driving impactful investment strategies.

Asmae Lemniei is the Managing Director of Lean X Consulting, a niche strategy and innovation advisory firm focusing on the MENA region and serving corporates, governments and family offices across sectors.

Lean X Consulting’s “Reframe. Solve. Celebrate” reflects the company’s main pillars to enable effective and sustainable growth while creating global and measurable impact. Asmae comes with more than 16 years of experience across 3 continents and holds a master’s degree in international business and management from Télécom École de Management, France.

Dr. Tim Funnell is a Partner of Monograph Capital, a life sciences focused venture firm based in London and San Francisco. For the past decade Tim has been a biotech investor and company-founder at Syncona, Third Rock Ventures, and Oxford Sciences Innovation, gaining experience across therapeutic modalities and geographies.

He began his career at the Boston Consulting Group in London. Tim trained as a pharmacologist, with an undergraduate degree from University of Cambridge and DPhil from the University of Oxford.

Deepak Mehra is the Chief Economist at Commercial Bank of Dubai. Previously, at CBD, he was the Head of Investments starting in 2007. In his career spanning over 32 years, Deepak has held leadership positions in banks like Citibank and Credit Suisse.

Deepak is a graduate of Indian Institute of Technology and has an MBA degree from IMT. Deepak is a regular speaker in conferences and on television and is also the author of successful self-help books Ready, Steady, Go and Think Like a Golfer.

Dr. Paul Inthaseni is a distinguished professional with an impressive track record in finance and leadership. Currently serving as the President and CEO of Century R Company Limited in Thailand, he also chairs CR Global Investments VCC and Crossbridge Capital Asia Pte Ltd in Singapore. With a career spanning over a decade, Dr. Inthaseni has held various pivotal positions, including Managing Director at Heritage Wealth Management, Executive Director at HSBC Private Bank, and Vice President in Private Wealth Management at HSBC in both Thailand and Singapore.

His journey began as an Analyst at Lehman Brothers in Hong Kong and Thailand. Dr. Inthaseni’s educational background is equally remarkable, with a Ph.D. in Public Administration from Eastern Asia University in Thailand, a Master of International Business and a Master of Business Administration from Swinburne University in Australia, and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Assumption University.

Beyond his extensive work experience, Dr. Inthaseni has actively served in advisory roles to Parliament members and government agencies, contributing his expertise to important projects and initiatives in Thailand. He has also chaired and been a part of the boards of various organizations in Thailand and abroad, such as MCOT (Investment Advisory Board) and XHE Capital LLP in the United Kingdom. Dr. Inthaseni’s remarkable career has garnered numerous awards and recognitions, including being named the Top Investment Consultant Organization in Thailand in 2022 and receiving the Young Achiever Award in 2018. He is also a published author, notably featured in Forbes Magazine and various other publications, highlighting his expertise in portfolio management and global wealth management.

Jana Boyd, a visionary leader, is dedicated to driving innovation and growth in disruptive technology, energy transition, and the green economy. With a global reach extending from the US to Asia, she fosters collaborations and builds strategic partnerships across various sectors, including Biotech, Quantum Computing, Sustainability, and Carbon Markets.

Her recent contributions to initiatives like the UNSSC and clean energy projects have garnered recognition from the UN Energy Secretariat. Jana is actively involved in three esteemed Expert Groups with the UN Europe, focusing on Resource Management, Gas, and Hydrogen.

As a recipient of prestigious awards and recognitions, including a Doctor Honoris Causa, Jana continues to make significant contributions to global economic and cultural diplomacy. She also serves on numerous boards, both profit-driven and charitable, worldwide.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Jana enjoys spending time on the tennis court, horseback riding, and exploring the desert landscapes. Her efforts play a vital role in bridging connections between the US and the Middle East, facilitating collaborative efforts in energy transition, technology, and sustainability.

Farida El Agamy is an attorney-at-law, entrepreneur, and governance expert. She is the founding General Manager of the Tharawat Family Business Forum, the private network and knowledge hub for family-owned companies in the MENA.

Editor-at-Large @ Tharawat magazine
Director @ Target Developments
Director @ Orbis Terra Media
Co-Founder @ WIFB (Women in Family Business)
Co-Founder @ Kyma

Farida is a 2nd generation family business member, is Editor-at-Large of Tharawat Magazine, and a director both at Target Developments LLC and Orbis Terra Media LLC, her family’s firms in Switzerland. In 2019 she joined her two co-founders in setting up Kyma, a UAE-based manufacturing start-up focused on developing sustainable solutions to FMCG products.

Ms. El Agamy holds a MA in Law from the University of Freiburg, Switzerland and was admitted to the Swiss Bar in 2009. She is a certified director with the Institute of Directors (IoD) in the UK.

Bader Buallay has over 15 years of experience; he currently heads the asset allocation team at Osool Asset Management wherein his team is tasked with developing capital market expectations (CME’s) via the utilization of macro-economic models. The team is also tasked with constructing bespoke portfolios based on client objectives, conditions and constraints. Prior to joining Osool, Bader managed the investment portfolios of Sage Capital Management Group and Aspire Katara Investments which were composed of assets across the risk spectrum. Bader started his career in QInvest’s Treasury Department where he managed money market and FX hedging transactions as a dealer.

He currently serves as the Vice-Chairman of Bahrain Car Parks Company and as a Board Director of Khereiji Showroom Company. Bader is also a part-time lecturer at the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance. He holds a bachelor’s degree (Hons) in Computing and Accounting and Finance from University of Kent, UK and a masters in business administration from Imperial College London, where he was placed on the Dean’s List and also received the award for best overall performance within the program. He is a CFA Charterholder and a CAIA Charterholder.

Marcelo Guimarães Pessôa is a seasoned Brazilian professional with a diverse background in business administration and investment management. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from UNIFACS – Universidade Salvador and has completed language courses at King School in London and Bournemouth School.

Additionally, he is a Founding Partner at Maq Rent Negócios Ltda. and MGP Investimentos e Participações Ltda., with interests in machine and equipment rental and real estate investment holding, respectively.

Marcelo brings extensive experience from various industries, including mining, petrochemicals, methanol production, and securities brokerage. He served as a Founding Partner and Board Member at Bemisa Holding S.A., formerly known as GME4 do Brasil Participações e Empreendimentos S.A. His earlier roles include managerial positions at Copenor – Companhia Petroquímica do Nordeste, Metanor S.A. – Metanol do Nordeste, Morgado Corretora de Títulos e Valores Mobiliários, and Imperial Corretora de Títulos e Valores Mobiliários. Before his current ventures, Marcelo was an Executive Officer in the Business Division at Banco C6 S.A.

Marcelo is fluent in Portuguese, English, and Spanish and maintains a network of professional references for further validation of his expertise and accomplishments.

Amna Alzaabi, a proactive leader engaged in UAE government-owned strategic and business development projects, Amna’s career spans over 16 years in several leadership positions and executive memberships, including board seats with publicly listed companies. Her previous Board and Audit Committee memberships include Agthia, Arkan, and Senaat. Prior to joining ADGM as Senior Vice President in Business Development, she served as a Senior Strategic Projects Manager within the CEO’s office at ADQ.

Amna’s career has encompassed the development of international strategic partnerships and project management, collaborating with international partners from Europe, Asia, and Africa. She holds a Master’s degree in Strategy and Leadership from London Business School and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Zayed University. Additionally, she has completed leadership programs at Harvard Publishing School and the Institute of Leadership Management.

Her sense of purpose and integrity governs the way she conducts herself in business, which is one of the hallmarks of her reputation. Amna’s passion going forward is to contribute to the UAE’s social and economic development and to impact community development programs that focus on the growth of future generations.

Jamila El Mir has over 16 years of experience in environmental and sustainability strategy and policy development on a wide range of topics including large-scale infrastructure development, masterplanning and citywide planning, climate change and urban waste systems. Her role generally involves close engagement with key decision-makers to optimise solution development, buy-in and overall sustainability impact.

Jamila is currently acting as senior advisor to the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28. Prior to this, Jamila acted as technical strategy and policy advisor for environment and sustainability with the Government of Dubai and held several positions in private sector working on environmental and city sustainability advisory.

Kaiser Geelani has more than 14 years of post-qualification experience spanning economic research, investment advisory, macro themes, policy monitoring, and industry insights.

Over the past nine years at Multiply Group, Kaiser has played an important role in the Group’s transition to a diversified investment holding company with approximately AED 40 billion in assets.

As the chief economist, he is tasked with shaping the Group's macro strategy encompassing geographical and asset class perspectives. Kaiser provides valuable external viewpoints to inform strategic decision-making, enabling the Group to navigate the ever-evolving financial and economic landscape effectively.

Furthermore, Kaiser supports the investment screening process by evaluating the external environment, industry trends, potential risks, and country-specific factors of each target.

Andrew Oram is an accomplished executive with diverse international expertise across sports, sponsorship, media, and technology sectors. A unique capacity for uncovering innovative business opportunities and forecasting future trends.

With an established track record of implementing transformative strategies through a results-driven mindset and a strategic approach to elevate performance, foster engagement, and optimize commercial outcomes Andrew has worked for three international sports federations under the recognition of the International Olympic Committee.

Andrew is a former professional Cricketer and High Performance coach in both England and Australia. He is a seasoned communicator and a collaborative team player who excels in high-pressure environments to leverage commercial sales and manage international partnerships.

Introducing Oliver Kreusen, Partner & Managing Director of Bridgemaker Gulf and Venture Director at THABAT, an initiative of the UAE’s Ministry of Economy in partnership with B-M Gulf. Oliver’s extensive experience in corporate transformation and venture-building equips him and his team to future-proof family businesses by cultivating an innovation & entrepreneurial mindset as well as integrating practical commercialization strategies aimed at tangible outcomes. His and Bridgemaker’s methods have demonstrated success across various sectors, including automotive, healthcare, consumer goods and manufacturing, with a particular focus on Europe and the Middle East.

Elias El Mrabet is the Climate Finance Manager in charge of the private sector & investments at COP28, with over 10 years of entrepreneurship, business development, and investments in the climate transition.

At COP28, key world leaders from diverse constituencies launched the Global Climate Finance Framework, which provides a new narrative for climate finance. It redefines climate investments as the unprecedented opportunity for shared prosperity and economic growth. This new Framework has 10 principles assigned to various stakeholders, such as philanthropies, governments, private sector, multilateral climate funds, civil society working on implementation of critical areas such as mobilizing domestic resources (UAE Green Banking $272bn), regional green industrialization initiatives (AGII $4.5bn) and unlocking a highway for private finance (ALTERRA $30bn).

Kishore Muktinutalapati is the Head of Investment Strategy at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB). Kishore oversees investment strategy and research team within ADCB Private Bank and is responsible for framing, maintaining, and communicating the firm’s House View. Kishore and his team helps investment functions across the bank such as identifying sound opportunities and risks for clients’ portfolios.

Prior to joining ADCB in 2018, Kishore worked for 12 years at various global investment banks as a strategist and an analyst. Kishore holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial biotechnology and an MBA specializing in Finance.

Richard Catling is experienced in many aspects of corporate work including domestic and international mergers and acquisitions in various industries, including health care, education, logistics, food and beverage, retail, etc, and reorganizations and joint ventures.

Richard specialises in regional private equity and venture capital funding, with particular expertise in advising on investments in technology and media.
Richard has advised upon many UAE and regional M&A and joint venture transactions, including advising international companies on structuring options available to them that allow them to carry on business in Dubai and in the UAE.

Richard also specialises in advising regional high net worth individuals and family businesses on restructuring and, in particular, trust structuring, acting for some of the largest family companies in the Middle East and the wider MENA region on their deal and governance structures.

Richard has been recognised as a Leading Individual in the fields of Commercial, Corporate, and M&A by Legal 500. Additionally, he is featured in the 2024 Legal 500 M&A Powerlist for Private Practice in the Middle East.

David Abrams, the Founder and Managing Partner of Velocity Capital Management, heads a lower middle market Private Equity firm specializing in the sports, entertainment, and media industries. With three decades of experience in principal investing, investment banking, restructuring, and sales and trading, David brings a wealth of expertise to his role. Beyond his financial services career, he is deeply involved as an owner, operator, and investor in professional sports franchises and sports technology companies.

Previously serving as the Chief Investment Officer for Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), David oversaw strategic investments in sports and entertainment properties, including the Philadelphia 76ers, the New Jersey Devils, and Crystal Palace F.C. He established and managed HBSE’s Investment Platform, comprising ventures like the Sixers Innovation Lab and sports technology-focused venture capital funds.

During his tenure at Apollo Global Management, David spearheaded the Apollo European Principal Finance Funds, managing assets worth $8 billion. His responsibilities included acquiring distressed debt, real estate, and non-performing loans across multiple countries. Earlier, at Credit Suisse, David played key roles in leveraged finance, specialty finance investments, and distressed sales and trading.

Outside of his professional endeavors, David is engaged in various philanthropic activities and serves on the Board of Directors of Norwegian Cruise Lines. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Maher Al Kaabi is a Banking Leader with a Vision for the Future boasts over 30 years of experience in banking, technology, and family businesses. His expertise encompasses various areas, including Islamic banking, risk management, finance, technology, sales, and business development. He possesses a deep understanding of innovation, data analysis, and emerging technologies. Maher Al Kaabi actively contributes to the future by:

• Supporting startups
• Chairing a Star International School’s Board
• Co-founding Blink
• Advising government ministries on future technologies, circular economy, and family business sustainability

As an advisor and board member at Al Serkal Group, a 165-year-old family business, Mr. Al Kaabi implements strategies for improved governance, structure refinement, and digital transformation. Career Highlights:

• Co-founded New Era Computers
• Held various senior positions at Citigroup (15 years)
• Established the Enterprise Risk Management framework at Dubai Bank
• Led the Islamic Banking business at Emirates National Bank of Dubai
• Served as Group Head Chief Operating Officer for Wholesale Banking
• He is a highly sought-after speaker, sharing his knowledge on FinTech, digital economies, sustainability, and family businesses at various events.

Mr. Al Kaabi’s experience extends beyond banking to include strategy, human capital development, digital and circular economies, and engineering. He is also a strong leader, motivator, innovator, and team builder.

Tayyab Mohamed is the co-founder of Agreus group, the resourcing and recruitment consultancy dedicated to working exclusively with Single Family Offices. For nearly 15 years, he has helped build and professionalize Family Office clients across the world.

Agreus is a leading player within the Family Office ecosystem and is well known for working with some of the largest families across the world. Tayyab recently moved to the UAE to build out the Agreus presence in the Middle East.

Prior to Agreus, having worked with some of the biggest private banks and wealth managers building their teams, he brings a sell-side perspective to Family Office resourcing and recruitment. He is closely involved with Family Offices and helps address their pain points in navigating issues such as leadership, culture, hiring, retention and compensation strategies.

Petr Jákl, a true Renaissance man of Czech cinema, has excelled as an actor, stuntman, director, and producer. Born in 1973, judo runs deep in his family – both his father and uncle were champions, and Petr himself competed at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Jákl transitioned into film, leveraging his athleticism as a stuntman. He later parlayed this experience into acting, appearing in Hollywood movies like “xXx” and “EuroTrip.” But his true passion lies behind the camera.

Petr Jákl’s directorial debut, the 2010 political thriller “Kajínek,” became the highest-grossing Czech thriller ever. He continued this success with the horror film “Ghoul,” again achieving record-breaking numbers. Jákl doesn’t shy away from international projects – his 2022 historical epic “Medieval” featured Hollywood stars like Michael Caine and Ben Foster.

Petr Jákl’s story is one of dedication, athleticism, and a love for filmmaking. He continues to be a driving force in Czech cinema, pushing boundaries and captivating audiences worldwide.

Jorge Felippe is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Almulla Capital. He also serves as a board member and member of the Investment Committee. Jorge has over 20 years of experience in private equity, consulting, and industry across Europe, the Middle East, Brazil, and Asia. He built substantial capabilities in leading organizations through operational improvements and portfolio management.

Jorge holds a leadership role as a partner at Bridge Capital. He is also a former senior member of the investment team of Mizuho Gulf Capital, Principal at Ashmore PE, and Strategy Director of British Gas, with prior experience in consulting at BCG and marketing with P&L responsibility at P&G and Reckitt Benckiser.

Jorge graduated from London Business School with an MBA. He also holds two bachelors from FGV and University of Sao Paulo in business and advertising respectively. He is fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Mohamed is the AI advisor for H.H. Sheikh Mohammad Al Sabah at the Kuwait AI and IoT Association. He has been working on AI systems since the year 2000 in Big Tech Silicon Valley, e.g. Microsoft & Google, but lately in the GCC as well. His current area of research is AI Safety and the Alignment Problem. Mohamed’s experience in AI is holistic, from its theoretical underpinnings to its engineering complications to its regulatory and ecological aspects. He is quite excited to share his perspectives on AI safety and the Alignment Problem with such a great panel and supreme audience.