Apex Invest: The Capital of Capital 2024

Founder and CEO - Annex Investments

Ahmed Nasser Al Nowais is the visionary Founder and CEO of Annex Investments, a pioneering hybrid venture single-family office that is headquartered in the United Arab Emirates. Mr. Al Nowais has established himself as a prominent figure in the Middle East's entrepreneurial scene by utilizing a novel approach to combining venture capital with conventional wealth management strategies. Mr. Al Nowais has played a critical role in the transformation of Annex Investments into a prominent organization that promotes innovation and empowers entrepreneurs, with more than a decade of experience in venture capital, consultancy, technology, and law. The firm combines traditional family office wealth preservation strategies with venture capital, investing directly in early-stage companies while aligning these ventures with the family's long-term financial objectives and values. This innovative model has facilitated the development and success of a multitude of startups in a variety of sectors. Mr. Al Nowais is a seasoned Attorney at Law who is profoundly knowledgeable about the legal frameworks governing startups in the UAE, in addition to his business acumen. He is a fervent proponent of policies that promote a supportive environment for innovation and entrepreneurship, and he is actively engaged in the process of removing obstacles and improving resources for emerging businesses. Mr. Al Nowais's influence is not limited to the corporate sector. He showcases an unwavering dedication to the development of a dynamic business environment in the region by serving as a founding board member of the Emirates Angel Investors Association. Additionally, he is a highly esteemed member of the Family Business Council Gulf (FBCG), where he contributes his expertise and best practices to fortify family-owned enterprises. Mr. Al Nowais is committed to utilizing his platform to not only generate financial returns but also to contribute to the social and economic well-being of the region, driven by a passion for social impact investing. His strategic investments are frequently directed toward ventures that have the potential to generate an enduring, significant impact. Mr. Al Nowais is a highly sought-after thought leader who frequently presents at industry conferences and events, where he imparts his knowledge on the changing business landscape in the region, startup strategies, and venture capital trends. His active involvement with a variety of organizations that are dedicated to promoting and supporting businesses in the UAE and beyond is a testament to his passion for entrepreneurship. Ahmed Nasser Al Nowais is not only influencing the present but also establishing the foundation for future generations of innovators and investors through Annex Investments and his extensive contributions to the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem. This is propelling the region toward sustained economic growth and global leadership.

CIO - Divino Global Holdings LLC

Adi Divgi is Principal at EA Global, his family investment vehicle since 2005, and founded Divino Global Holdings in Apr 2023 to provide investors access to capacity-constrained and hard-to-access private market opportunities. Previously, he was Managing Director of Strategic Wealth at Legacy Wealth Management and Legacy Investment Solutions, its discretionary affiliate, since July 2021. From Apr 2014 to May 2021, Mr. Divgi was Head of Alternative Investments at Catalina, a $5+bn AUM reinsurer. From 2011-2014, Mr. Divgi oversaw the Opportunistic Fixed Income investment program at the New York City Bureau of Asset Management ('BAM'). Mr. Divgi began his credit career at Deutsche Bank, working in New York and Mexico City, and is a graduate of the Huntsman Program, with a BA in International Studies (Spanish minor) from the University of Pennsylvania and a BS in Economics and MBA in Finance from Wharton.

Vice Chairman & Executive Board Member - Moraal Holding

An experienced executive with more than ten years of diverse expertise in investment management, corporate governance, and leadership within the healthcare, construction, and real estate industries. As Vice Chairman and Executive Board Member of Moraal Holding being instrumental in driving the transformation of the group & setting the stage for sustained growth. As a Civil Engineer in addition to his Executive MBA from the renowned London Business School, where he specialized in Finance, Strategy, and Entrepreneurship, along with his extensive leadership experience across various industries, provide him with a unique perspective on the intersection of healthcare infrastructure and investment opportunities. His deep understanding of the healthcare landscape allows him to take a strategic, forward-thinking approach that appeals to both investors and stakeholders. In addition to his role at Moraal Holding, he is part of the Board of Yainvest AG, an innovative software company, where he contributes his insights into tech-driven growth strategies.

Advisor - Family Office

Mr Foroodian is part of the team at a private family office and an active investor. In his current role he looks at a variety of investments from early stage private to large cap public companies. His career includes a brief tenure as Managing Director EMEA at New Jersey based MPI after having served as Principal of a London based multi family office firm focusing on PE deals in the financial services industry. Mr Foroodian’s experience includes his roles as chief investment officer of Inflection Point Capital Management, Chief investment officer of Innovest Strategic Value Advisors, Vice President of Dresdner Kleinwort Benson, Barclays Global Investors and Mackenzie Financial. Mr Foroodian is a CFA charter holder. He completed his studies at the University of Oxford in Engineering, Economics & Management and has a MBA from Imperial College.

Founding Partner - Canadian Association of Alternative Strategies & Assets (CAASA)

James co-founded CAASA in response to industry support for a Canadian alternatives association to serve all aspects including: hedge / alternative strategies; liquid alternatives; private lending; private real estate; private equity; plus emerging areas where Canada is a leader such as digital assets / blockchain and robo-advisors. Prior to CAASA, James was the Chief Operating Officer of AIMA Canada where his team of three worked with 12 committees to produce 50-60 events per annum across Canada, organized 100+ committee meetings, and increase member numbers over his 7-year tenue from 66 to 164 corporate entities. CAASA currently has more than 350 members. James currently sits on the Canadian Investment Funds Standards Committee (CIFSC), which categorizes mutual funds and alternative mutual funds (aka liquid alternatives) for the retail space in Canada. He is also called upon by membership and industry groups to speak to risk ratings and portfolio placement of all types of alternative investments. James also has experience in research and writing for the CAIA Association (holding the designation since 2006) as well as serving on CAIA’s exam council and as a well as other duties. He had roles in institutional sales and FoHF structuring in Seoul, South Korea, as a Product Manager at ICICI Wealth Management, and as an Investment Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities. James graduated from Simon Fraser University with a BBA (Finance).

Managing Director of Investor Relations – Apex Invest, Apex Invest Strategic Advisory Board Member

Lana Callahan is the Head of Investor Relations with Apex Invest. She currently serves as Chairman of the Apex Invest Advisory Group and a Steering Committee Member for The Women’s Accelerator New York. Lana organizes global events for investors. As a Senior Finance Leader with more than 20 years of experience, Lana was responsible for the strategic growth and expansion of multiple businesses with global banks and asset managers. Lana attained her master’s degree from Northwestern University in one year. She currently serves on multiple financial and philanthropic boards.

Chief Investment Officer, Misha Investments

Mary is the Chief Investment Officer of Misha Investments, a Single-Family Office. She is also a Strategic Portfolio Partner at Star Mountain Capital and a board member of Southern Ag and Community Access. She is on the Executive Committee of WorkingNation. She is a Film Producer of “Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion”, “Always at The Carlyle” and “Alan Pakula: Going for Truth”. She has extensive experience in investing and capital markets. Ms D’Souza has 20+ years of private credit, equity, real-estate, fund investing, commercial and investing banking and C-level operational experience through various senior roles at GE Capital, Dresdner Kleinwort Benson, and Four M Investments.

Founder & CEO, Apex Group

Peter Hughes founded Apex Group in 2003 with a vision to create a business that could offer an end-to-end service to clients, delivered by local experts on a global scale. Through this vision, Apex Group has continually disrupted the asset serving industry by evolving its capabilities and delivering a unique single-source solution to asset managers, allocators, family offices and financial institutions which supports the entire value chain across the financial services ecosystem. The Group harnesses leading innovative and transformative technology and benefits from cross-jurisdictional expertise delivered by a highly integrated global team of 13,000 people across 50 countries. Peter’s desire to drive positive change extends beyond asset servicing. In 2022, he provided a cornerstone donation to the Apex Foundation, a not-for-profit entity, which supports the environment and climate change; women’s empowerment and economic independence; and education & social mobility.

Independent Advisor and Non Executive, Former Board Member - APG Asset Management

Gert J. Dijkstra is independent Advisor and non-Executive. Until his retirement, mid 2023, he was Senior Managing Director at APG Asset Management, responsible for Global Networks and Peers, for Investing in the Netherlands and Special Projects. Formerly he was Chief Strategy & Communication and Member of the Board at APG Asset Management, from January 2010 until March 2017. He joined ABP Investment in 2000 and subsequently APG Asset Management in 2008. At APG Asset Management he fulfilled several positions such as Manager Business Development, Legal & Tax and Program Manager for the implementation of a new Multi-client fund structure. Prior to working for APG Asset Management, he made his career in Management Consulting and Interim Management, specialized in Strategic Marketing and Corporate Strategy & Finance. Most of his experience lies in the Financial Sector and the Food Sector. Gert studied Business Management at the State University of Groningen and followed several management courses at INSEAD and Harvard Business School. He has frequently given lectures at universities, Seminars, Round Tables.

MD, PhD,  Partner - 01Lab Health

Dirk Richter, MD, PhD is Director “Health Sector Innovation” with the Abu Dhabi Depart-ment of Health (DoH) and associate professor of surgery. Throughout his career in Abu Dhabi for the last decade Dr. Richter has been supporting entrepreneurs, SME as well as corporate life sciences companies from all over the world to develop and commercialize innovative solutions in Abu Dhabi and the region. Before joining DoH, Dirk Richter worked in the top management of different healthcare pro-viders, with A.T. Kearney Management Consultants and in the beginning of his career as a trauma surgeon and researcher Dirk Richter is a board-certified surgeon as well as a health economist and co-founder of the German think tank ConceptHealth.

Head of Asset Management - Entrust Capital

Ali brings an extensive two-decade tenure in the asset management industry, specializing in investment management, portfolio management, and structuring of products and mutual funds. Before his role at Entrust Capital, Ali served as the Chief Investment Officer at Aditium Investment Management Limited. In this capacity, he managed the Public Markets, Structured Finance, and Venture Capital divisions. Prior to joining Aditium, Ali spearheaded the Asset Management business at Daman Investments. There, he played a pivotal role in creating a robust asset management infrastructure, which included an extensive suite of multi-asset class mutual funds offerings, investment products, and strategies. These products were distributed across a vast network of institutional investors and regional and local banks, thereby amplifying the firm's presence in the asset management landscape. Before his tenure at Daman Investments, Ali dedicated over twelve years at The National Investor, managing long-only and absolute return mutual funds strategies, with a focus on the MENA region and Emerging markets. Ali holds an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business in Durham, North Carolina and a Bachelor's degree from the Lebanese American University in Beirut, Lebanon.

Managing Director - Quantum Impact Investing

Experienced Executive and Management Director with over 25 years of leadership roles in the banking and financial services sectors. Expertise spans Corporate Investment Banking, Global Markets, Asset Management, and Sustainable Finance, with a recent focus on private equity, mezzanine investments, and impact investing aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Proven track record of delivering complex financial solutions, driving business development, and managing high-stakes client relationships.

Former Ambassador TT to USA, Mexico, Secretary for Development - OAS Senior Advisor Dentons

Dr. Parsan presently serves as Senior Advisor at Dentons – the World’s Largest Law Firm, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Parsan Cross, a Global Strategic Advisory firm located in Washington DC and served as Special Advisor to The World Bank Group. He is the Chairman Emeritus of the Board or the Global Alliance for Surgical, Obstetric, Trauma, and Anesthetic Care (The G4 Alliance) and a Board Trustee of the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), an Inter-American system organization reaching millions in the Western Hemisphere. Ambassador Parsan has many years of international business experience executing many projects globally with a focus in the Caribbean and Latin America. Dr. Parsan assumed the position of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States of America, nonresident Ambassador to the United Mexican States, and Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the Organization of American States (OAS) in 2011. He also held the Cabinet position of Executive Secretary for Integral Development at the Organization of American States (OAS). As Cabinet Secretary overseeing 350 employees and a $100 million budget, he managed over $1 Billion in project financing delivering services to 34 countries of the Western Hemisphere. He also managed a Inter-American Development Cooperation Fund (DCF) that provided seed funding for Country initiatives that promote Triangular and South-South cooperation. Dr. Parsan also had direct responsibility to oversee the management and execution of over 1200 projects related to Hemispheric Development in the areas of sustainable cities, sustainable energy, integrated water resources management, adherence to environmental law, competitiveness, micro- small and medium-size enterprise development, culture and tourism, development cooperation, labor and employment, human development and education. He also successfully fund raised annually for execution of various projects. He earned his Undergraduate Medical Degree at the University of the West Indies, Faculty of Medical Sciences, where he graduated with Distinction. After spending eight (8) years as a Lecturer/Tutor at the Faculty of Medical Sciences (UWI), he pursued a Master of Business Administration (MBA), where he graduated as Top Student with Distinction. He also holds a Registered Financial Consultant (RFC) Degree, a CACM from Harvard University School of Public Health, and a World Trade Professional Degree from ITM Worldwide in Sweden. Dr. Parsan was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate for Education, Culture, and Humanitarian work from the Americana University, registered with Cambridge University (UK) and the Congress of Mexico. He served as Chairman of the Global Gas Council; Chairman of the International Gas Union (IGU) Global Ambassadors Network and a Director of the Young Americas Business Trust (YABT). He previously served as Chair of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI) and Chair of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States. He was also the Chief Executive Officer of HealthNet Limited. He has also been given the following recognition: Conferred the title of Colonel Honorable Neil Parsan by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, U.S.A.; Award for Leadership by the City of Philadelphia and the Africa and Caribbean Business Council; Proclamation of Ambassador Dr. Neil Parsan Day in the Cities of Boston, Hartford, Doral, and Miami; Statesman Award from Memorial of Congressman Payne; and the key to the City of Broward County, Florida. He is an Honorary Member of the International Committee on HIV/AIDS on Capitol Hill, the Women's Foreign Policy Group, the American Association of People with Disabilities, and the Americas Society. Ambassador Parsan is also on the Board of Advisors of the National Student Leadership Foundation of the USA. He was a Director at several Companies and has consulted on several special projects locally and internationally.

Cofounder and executive chairman - Juvenescence

Dr. Greg Bailey is the cofounder, executive chairman and former CEO of Juvenescence, a biopharma developing therapeutics to modify diseases of ageing. Juvenescence has aggregated an ecosystem of some of the top scientists and drug developers to create therapeutics to prevent aging and increase healthspan. The range of therapeutics varies from conventional pharmaceuticals, natural products to the regeneration of tissue and organs. Dr. Bailey is a serial entrepreneur, founder and financier of biotech companies since 1995. His companies have been traded on NASDAQ, AIM, AMEX and the NYSE, reaching over $31 billion in market capitalization. They include Ascent Health Care, which was sold to Stryker for $521 million, Medivation Inc., (MDVN: NASDAQ) which was acquired by Pfizer in September 2016 for $14.3 billion and Biohaven (BHVN:NYSE) which sold one of its drugs for $11.8 billion to Pfizer. Dr. Bailey continues to be on the board of directors of Biohaven. His other directorships include Serina, Portage and Manx Financial. He has a medical doctorate from University of Western Ontario.

Founder and Managing Partner - Athena Capital

Isabelle Freidheim is the founder and managing partner of Athena Capital. She is the youngest chairwomen of a publicly traded company in the U.S. In her role as managing partner of Athena Capital, Freidheim oversees the company's strategic direction and leads its efforts in identifying and investing in technology companies. Freidheim is an entrepreneur and investor with more than 15 years of experience in venture capital, private equity, SPACs and IPOs. She founded Athena in 2020. Athena Capital is raising a $500m fund focusing on the intersection of private companies preparing to go public or considering M&A exits. Athena’s teams include board members of Fortune 100 companies and CEOs, Fortune 500 companies, company founders and investors. Freidheim is one of Inc's 250 Female Founders in 2024, a member of The Council on Foreign Relations and an alumna of Fortune's Most Powerful Women.

Head of Investments - Burkhan World Investments Ltd.

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

Chairman - Mobius Emerging Opportunities Fund

"Dr. Mark Mobius is synonymous with emerging and frontier markets investing with a reputation as one of the most successful and influential money managers over the past 30 years. He is currently Chairman of Mobius Emerging Opportunities Fund. Dr. Mobius is widely known as a pioneer in emerging market investing. In 1987 he was appointed by Sir John Templeton to run one of the world’s first emerging market funds. Dr. Mobius went on to spend more than three decades at Franklin Templeton Investments, most recently as Executive Chairman of the Templeton Emerging Markets Group. Under his leadership, the group’s assets under management grew from US$100 million to a whopping US$50 billion with the successful launches of numerous investment funds focused on Asia, Latin America, Africa and Eastern Europe. Dr. Mobius has also contributed to developing international policies for emerging markets. He served on the World Bank's Global Corporate Governance Forum as a member of the Private Sector Advisory Group and as co-chairman of its Investor Responsibility Task Force in 1999. He earned his Ph.D in Economics and Political Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1964. He has also studied at Boston University, University of Wisconsin, Syracuse University, Kyoto University and the University of New Mexico. Dr Mobius has won numerous industry awards and has authored 13 books, includingThe Inflation Myth and The Wonderful World of Deflation, which has gained international acclaim. In October 2022, World Economic Forum selected the book as one of the five must-read books on inflation. List of published books: • The Book of Wealth: A Young Investor’s Guide to Wealth and Happiness (2024) • The Inflation Myth and the Wonderful World of Deflation (2020) • Invest for Good (with co-authors Carlos Hardenberg and Greg Konieczny, 2019) • The Little Book of Emerging Markets (2012) • Bonds - An Introduction to the Core Concepts (2012) • Foreign Exchange - An Introduction to the Core Concepts (2009) • Mark Mobius - An Illustrated Biography (2007) • Mutual Funds: An Introduction To The Core Concepts (2007) • Equities: An Introduction To The Core Concepts (2007) • Passport to Profits (1999/2012) • Mobius on Emerging Markets (1996) • The Investor's Guide to Emerging Markets (1994) • Trading with China (1973) List of industry awards: • Life Time Achievement Award in Asset Management (2017) Global Investor Magazine • 50 Most Influential People (2011) Bloomberg Markets Magazine • Africa Investor Index Series Awards (2010) African Investor • Top 100 Most Powerful and Influential People (2006) Asiamoney • Emerging Markets Equity Manager of the Year (2001) International Money Marketing • Ten Top Money Managers of the 20th Century (1999) Carson Group survey • Number One Global Emerging Market Fund (1998) Reuters Survey • First in Business Money Manager of the Year (1994) CNBC • Closed-End Fund Manager of the Year (1993) Morningstar • Investment Trust Manager of the Year (1992) Sunday Telegraph"

Director of Research Development - Department of Health Abu Dhabi

Dr. Shahrukh Hashmi is currently the Director of Research at the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi, UAE, and a Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine (Minnesota, US). He graduated from Baqai Medical University, Pakistan, as the top graduate receiving Gold Medal from the President of Pakistan. He received Master’s Degree (MPH) from Yale University, Connecticut, US. He is tripleboarded from the US, being Diplomat of the American Board of Preventive Medicine/Public Health, Internal Medicine, and Hematology. He has served as PI or Co-PI on many industry-sponsored and NIH-sponsored trials. His research interests include premature Aging Biology, Artificial Intelligence, and Cellular therapies (CAR-T cells and Gene Therapy). He is also involved in Stem Cell Therapeutics, particularly in regenerative hematology. He has authored >300 articles in peer-reviewed journals, including in JAMA Oncology, Lancet Hematology, and NEJM, and has >10,000 citations. He chairs many national or international professional committees/groups including being the Chair of the Worldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplant’s (WBMT) Global Emergencies Committee (Geneva, Switzerland), Founding Chair of the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Survivorship SIG (Chicago, Illinois, US), and Ex Co-Chair of the Center for International Blood & Marrow Transplant Registry’s (CIBMTR) Health Services Committee (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US). He is also a faculty at the Medical School of Khalifa University, UAE, and adjunct faculty at the Computer Vision Dept. at Mohamad Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Abu Dhabi, UAE. He was Medical Director of Research at SSMC/Mayo Clinic (Abu Dhabi, UAE), and the Chairman of the Dept. of Hematology/Oncology at SSMC/Mayo Clinic. His achievements include establishing the first BMT survivorship program of Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, establishing the first Clinical Trials Unit (Clinical Research Department) of Saudi Arabia at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center (KFSHRC) in Riyadh, KSA, and establishing the UAE’s first Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) at SSMC/Mayo Clinic in Abu Dhabi, UAE. He also utilized senolytics for First-in-Human Trials approved from the US-FDA and continues to serve as PI or Co-PI on Aging trials on Healthspan. As an established scientist in Cell and Gene Therapy, along with Aging Biology and Artificial Intelligence, Dr. Hashmi is frequently invited to international forums to deliver plenary talks and has delivered >80 invited lectures/presentations at national and international forums. Dr. Hashmi is also active as a Board/Advisory Board Member of many organizations including Member of JV Clinical Board SSMC, Make A Wish Foundation UAE, Cancer Patient Care Society (Rahma) UAE, Emirates Thalassemia Society UAE, besides being the Associate Editor of JTCT (highest impact factor journal in the field of Cellular Therapies), and on Editorial Board member of numerous peer-reviewed journals.

President & Head - Nuvama Capital Markets

In this role, Shiv provides leadership to one of India’s largest equity franchises and is responsible for the Capital Market businesses, including Institutional Equities (covering sales, research, and trading) and Asset Services. Shiv has worked in the investment management and financial services industry for more than two decades, the majority of which has been in emerging market funds in the pan-Asia markets. Prior to his current role, Shiv led the Goldman Sachs Institutional Sales Trading, Equity Capital Markets business in India, responsible for the firm's franchise relationships. Shiv was also appointed to the Goldman Sachs India board to oversee the day-to-day operations and provide executive leadership on various firm committees. Before joining Goldman Sachs, Shiv was CEO of Artha Capital, Singapore. Shiv is regularly featured in seminars and articles in Economic Times, ETnow, The Mint, Business standard and other financial journals. He is also a regular speaker and presenter at various India Financial Markets Conferences, Global Hedge Fund summits and a regular Jury member for the AIWMI’s 40 under 40 campaign for excellence in the field of alternative investments. Shiv has extensive experience of working in long-short emerging market hedge funds in Sydney and Singapore. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst from the CFA Institute, USA and holds a Masters in Banking and Finance from Griffith University, Brisbane.

Regional Sales Manager-Smart Spaces, Telco & Omniverse, Middle East, Turkiye and Africa - Nvidia

Regional Managing Director - Middle East, Apex Group

Christiane El Habre brings over two decades of experience in the MENA financial services industry. She joins Apex Group from international management consultancy Elkho Group where she was Partner, Chair of the Board and CEO of Middle East operations. Prior to this, Christiane was CEO and executive board member FFA Private Bank (Dubai) a specialized investment bank in Dubai International Financial Centre (“DIFC). Christiane held senior positions in Gap Corp in Dubai, and she spent 5 years at FFA Private Bank in Lebanon as the Head of Treasury and Operations. She is a member of the GCC business community, serving on the boards of several non-profits, where she is committed to mentoring and coaching young professionals in the finance industry. Christiane graduated from St Joseph University (USJ) in Beirut with a degree in Finance, she completed further education from IE business school in High Impact Leadership, and from the Oxford University in advanced Fintech

Owner & Founder - Doris Hangartner AG

Doris Hangartner loves gemstones. She is a Graduate Gemologist (GIA GG) with more than 30 years of experience. Her fine gem and jewelry salon (founded in 2014) is in the heart of Zurich. Specializing in colored stones, it is the more newly discovered gems that fascinate her the most, such as the aquatic and luminous Paraiba Tourmalines. Doris loves intuitively matching a gem with a person. Each Gem Personality has its own vibration. It is profoundly beautiful to experience this deep and heartfelt gem connection. Combining gems and watching a GemMandala unfold is a very individual and transformative experience, seeing ones crystalline refection. The value of gems is manyfold. Gems are rare and have an intrinsic value. Doris uses her extensive knowledge of the gem market for wealth creation and preservation. She offers individual and personalized GemWealth Portfolios, which is a direct investment in loose gemstones. Gems are long lasting and a wonderful gift for the young, Gems for Generations. In honor of her favorite gem, she published ‘Purely Paraiba’. In October 2024, Doris published her second book on Gem Personalities, dreamily wrapped in ‘Gem Love Letters’.

Chief Investment Officer - KBW ventures

"A credentialed and experienced investor with a successful track record, Ekta Tolani is the Chief Investment Officer of KBW Ventures. She has deployed over +$1B worldwide into direct deals during her career. Her investment work includes portfolio activity such as clean energy and sustainability, health care, education, technology, and innovation. Over her 15 years of experience, Ekta has driven investment strategy and process for sourcing, selecting, and winning direct Private Equity ($100M+) and Venture Capital ($1M – $5M) style deals across a variety of high-growth sectors. Ekta has cultivated a solid network of both family offices and institutional investors across the Middle East, North America, and Asia. She currently manages a broad network of such active relationships; a global network of LPs, Family Offices, and GPs recording top quartile returns. She brings in a plethora of great opportunities and co-investors with her. She holds an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business and is the ambassador for the school’s MBA program and Booth Women. She is a member of the Private Equity Women Investor Network, and an ardent champion for women empowerment."

Chief Strategy Officer - SDAX Exchange

Elaine drives the global commercial strategy at SDAX. She has been in finance for 28 years specialising in private equity and wealth management, recently spending 10 years at Merrill Lynch as Head of Sales EMEA in Wealth Management and covered family offices for Global Markets out of London and Paris. She began her career with Edmond Safra, advising some of the largest family offices on real estate private equity in the former Soviet Union and became COO of Macau casino tycoon, Stanley Ho’s online gaming business in 2000. She has also worked at McKinsey, Lehman Brothers and Wasserstein Perella, specializing in M&A and Restructuring. Elaine graduated with a degree in Economics cum laude from Harvard University and speaks 6 languages. She was a former Milken Young Leader 2014, trained as a chef at the French Culinary Institute and worked at Cipriani in New York in her free time.

Founder & CEO - Aliph Capital

Huda Al Lawati has over 22 years of experience in private equity, operations and investments across emerging markets. She is the Founder & CEO of Aliph Capital, a GCC based alternative asset manager enabling traditional businesses bridge the technology gap through active ownership and digital transformation. Prior to founding Aliph Capital, she has been Partner at Gateway Partners, Chief Investment Officer at Savola Group, and Partner and Chief Investment Officer for MENA at the Abraaj Group. She started her career with Schlumberger in 2002 after graduating from Brown University. Throughout her career, Huda has led over $2 billion of equity & over $1 billion of debt deals and has experience in growth capital, MBO’s, LBO’s, venture capital, equity markets and structured equity transactions across a broad range of sectors in emerging markets. She has played leading roles in strategic initiatives, corporate turnarounds, change management, organizational building and investor relations. Huda is currently a board member at Spinneys, Magrabi, BSF Capital and Abu Qir Fertilizer Company. She also chairs and/or serves on various nomination and remuneration, audit and committee and investment committees. She has previously served on multiple boards and committees across the region including, ADC Acquisition Corporation (the first ADX listed SPAC), Hala (ADGM and CMA regulated fintech company), Tim Hortons, Panda Retail Company, Herfy (Tadawul), AlKhabeer, Savola Foods Company, SMG, The Entertainer, Kudu and Al Ula Development Company (a subsidiary of PIF). As a keen contributor to the community, Huda has been a member of the board of directors of the Middle East Investor Relations Association and Young Arab Leaders and is currently a member of the Young Presidents Organization, Tumouh, Saudi Women Leaders Network and PEWIN. Huda holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Economics (Honors) from Brown University.

Partner - Kidd and Company, Co-Founder- Left Tackle Capital

James Benedict brings 25+ years of experience in venture capital and private equity. He is a family office investor, human capital partner, and entrepreneur. James is a Co-Founder of both Left Tackle Capital and the BeDoWin Institute, accelerators for high potential venture capital fund managers. Both accelerators offer structured programming focused on building trust between wealth holders (family offices and high net-worth individuals) and high potential venture fund managers. The 50+ family offices who have participated in both accelerators have catalyzed the flow of capital (both directly and through referrals) into manager participants, with individual LP checks up to $10M. At Left Tackle Capital, James partnered with Egon Zehnder International to develop a first-of-its-kind model which defines, quantifies, and benchmarks potential in asset managers. Over the past three years, James has interviewed over 400+ venture fund managers in the U.S. and abroad. Since 2005, James has been a partner with Kidd & Company (KCO), a family office investor focused on control private equity investments. Select investments include NextPhase Medical Devices (acquired by Arterex), Colerain Family RV (acquired by RV Retailers), Logistyx Technologies (acquired by E2Open) and Numet Precision Machining Techniques (acquired by Bromford Industries). James is founder member of Curing Women’s Cancer (CWC). CWC’s initial focus to transform the breast cancer treatment paradigm, using available technology to detect, diagnose and treat breast cancer in one patient visit at a price point that will be accessible to women all over the world. This innovative care model will reduce racial and regional inequities, expand to other cancer types and prove accessible, affordable and highly effective at saving women’s lives. James is also an investor in and advisor to Adria Dunn, Founder & CEO of The Vine/Zero-AI, a patented AI company whose mission is to be a safe and trusted space to help humanity grow closer together. Prior to joining KCO, James was Sr. Managing Director & Chief Talent Officer at Spencer Trask, a family office venture capital firm known for its investments in category-defining companies including Ciena, Myriad Genetics, Next Level Communications, and Prolor Biotech. While at Spencer Trask, James developed and implemented a talent assessment, selection, and development playbook, which was deployed across the Spencer Trask portfolio. James also served on Spencer Track company boards and advisory boards. James was a Co-Founder of RLM Associates (RLM) a boutique technology executive search firm. RLM did C-suite recruiting for leading financial services firms including ABS Ventures, American Express, Bankers Trust, Charles Schwab, JP Morgan, First Data Corporation, & PaineWebber. RLM Associates was acquired by Manpower/Diversified Search. James has been a founding advisor to and board member of leading impact organizations including Maverick Collective, Young Audiences, and Young Audiences Charter School New Orleans (the first arts-in-education charter school in America). James has a Ph.D. in international economics from Columbia University, a Certificate on Monetary & Fiscal Policy from the Japanese Ministry of Finance, and a B.A. from Baylor University. He is the author (with Thomas LeDet & Sebastian Harris) of “Rocka My Soul”, the story of the 1981 Houston Jack Yates Lions (George Floyd’s alma mater), the first all African American football team to break through and play for the Texas state championship.

Chief Investment Officer - RisCura

Jarred Glansbeek founded RisCura in 1999, a company built on the foundations of liability-driven investment (LDI) and effective institutional risk management. He possesses extensive expertise in quantitative portfolio techniques and complex financial instruments, alongside judgmental and active risk management. Jarred has honed this wealth of experience and skill in the asset management and retirement fund industries through previous roles as an Executive Director at two significant asset management companies and as a consultant to some of the largest institutional funds in emerging markets. As the current Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of RisCura, Jarred's primary focus is to ensure that RisCura's global institutional client base receives optimal portfolio performance. This is achieved through tailored investment asset class structuring that caters to their specific needs and by ensuring the best possible efforts and service from all their investment service providers. These efforts extend predominantly to emerging and frontier markets, encompassing all mandates, listed and private assets, and covering all areas of traditional equity, fixed income, and real estate. Equally important is the emphasis on transformational areas for these markets, such as venture capital and infrastructure.

Managing Director - Apex Investment Advisory

Joanne leads business strategy, manager selection, due diligence, and asset allocation, specialising in private markets and hedge funds. Before joining in 2012, she worked at Moody’s in London covering credit ratings and operational risk ratings of alternative investments. She began her career in Equity Research at ABN Amro (Asia) Securities. Joanne holds an MSc in Finance from Cass Business School and an LL.M in International Business Law from Queen Mary, University of London, and is a British Chevening Scholar.

Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga

Lord Fakafanua embarked early on his political career. At age 24 he became one of the youngest Members of Parliament in Tongan history. At age 27, Lord Fakafanua assumed the role of Speaker of Parliament as the youngest ever elected by parliament to that office in Tonga and, at the time, the youngest Speaker in the world. Over the course of his political career, Lord Fakafanua has been engaged with monumental changes in the Tongan Parliament, including presiding over major political reform, and passionately advocating for greater representation for women and youth in Parliament. During his term as Speaker, Lord Fakafanua entered the Tongan Parliament into the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) as the 164th member. In 2014 Lord Fakafanua took a break from politics to pursue further studies at the University of the South Pacific, Fiji and recently completed a Master of Arts in Diplomacy, Law and Business at the O.P. Jindal Global University, India. He has a passion for youth development, in the face of rising substance addiction, illicit drugs related issues and youth unemployment in Tonga. Beyond his political work in parliament, Lord Fakafanua is also the president of the Shooting Association of Tonga (SAT) and Chairman of Tonga Rugby League. As a technophile he seeks the development of a knowledge based economy to support and capitalize on Tonga’s young demography and low regulatory frameworks. He is a passionate advocate for the ocean, circular economies in islands, the Pacific Island Forum’s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific and decarbonising Tonga’s energy systems. Lord Fakafanua has since resumed his role as the incumbent Speaker of Parliament after being re-elected in the 2017 and subsequently 2021 general elections. In March, 2023 he was elected to serve for 2 years by the Asia-Pacific Geopolitical Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union as the first Pacific Island representative to the Board of the Forum of Young Parliamentarians.

Senior Executive Director - Supervision - Financial Services Regulatory Authority

MaryAnne Scicluna is the Senior Executive Director of Supervision Division at the Financial Services Authority in Abu Dhabi Global Market. Ms Scicluna has a long experience in regulation spanning more than 28 years. She has worked extensively in various aspects of the regulatory ambit covering authorisations, supervision, enforcement and policy in Malta Financial Services Authority, primarily within a European regulatory framework. Before joining the FSRA in ADGM, she sat on the Boards of the European Authorities (ESMA, EBA, EIOPA) and was actively involved with the European Central Bank Supervisory Teams.

Michael Reuter, Founder & CEO - NOMIX

Serial entrepreneur and longevity enthusiast Michael Reuter finds his personal work-life balance by using the experience and expertise of his software company Datarella in the areas of AI and Web3 to develop a holistic Longevity Ecosystem. Its basis is an AI-supported longevity algorithm that will have a significant impact on the future of the healthcare system: through preventive, predictive, personalized health analysis and recommendations, people will fall ill less often in the future, be significantly more productive and live a healthy life with a high quality of life

Founder - LUMIO Capital

Dr. Mohamad Hamade, founder of LUMIO Capital, stands at the forefront of strategic investments in emerging markets. With over 15 years of experience, he's renowned for his strategic planning, corporate governance, business development, and leadership expertise. LUMIO Capital, symbolic of innovation, trust, and high-impact investments in healthcare and education—mirrors Dr. Mohamad's unwavering commitment to harnessing technology, expertise, and progressive strategies. The launch of LUMIO Capital was culminated by the establishment of the first private healthcare platform in the Balkan region, including a state-of-the-art general hospital with 180 beds and a network of 12 polyclinics. Before founding LUMIO Capital, Dr. Mohamad was the former CEO of a Dubai-listed investment holding company approaching USD 1 billion in Assets Under Management (AUM). Under his leadership, the company witnessed monumental growth, achieving record-breaking operational and financial figures, with net profit skyrocketing 28-fold. Over his tenure, Dr. Mohamad has orchestrated more than 22 transactions, collectively valued at USD 2 billion. His investment acumen emphasizes boosting shareholder value and catalyzing meaningful socio economic advancements. Dr. Mohamad has led numerous cross-functional teams to achieve and often surpass their goals, focusing on proactive portfolio management strategy based on corporate finance, strategy and governance. Dr. Mohamad's influence echoes across various esteemed institutions. He has held several positions on boards and committees, such as Chairman of ASA Medica in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Middlesex University Dubai, Al Malaki Specialized Hospital in Bahrain, Vice Chairman roles at LVL Wellbeing, Human Development Company in KSA and International Extended Care Centre in KSA, Executive Committee Member at Amanat Holdings PJSC, and board memberships at organizations like Cambridge Medical and Rehabilitation Centre, Abu Dhabi University, NEMA Holdings, International Medical Center, Taaleem Holdings PJSC, and SABIS Alumni. His thought leadership is recognized industry-wide, earning him accolades like two-time Forbes Middle East's Top 50 Healthcare Leader, Top 100 Executives by Arabian Business, and affiliations with esteemed forums like the World Economic Forum's Education 4.0 Alliance. As a proud Young Presidents' Organization (YPO) member, he aligns with global leaders championing a brighter tomorrow. Dr. Mohamad Hamade's academic credentials further solidify his standing in the industry, holding an MD and BSc from the American University of Beirut, an MBA from Cornell University, and a Research Fellowship in ENT Surgery from Harvard Medical School

CIO - Marble Arch Investments

Nainish Bapna runs a single family office and advises several international family offices on topics including starting a family office, nextgen, ongoing portfolio allocation, investment strategies and direct deals. Previously, he was CIO of a large London-based SFO for over 10 years, where he invested across multiple asset classes globally, including direct investments, special situation opportunities, private equity funds, structured debt and a portfolio of real estate developments in the US, UK and UAE.

Founder & Chairman - Standard Land S.A.

Rainer Schorr is a distinguished real estate executive and graduated engineer with over four decades of experience in property development and fund management, having overseen €7bn in developments across more than 1,000 projects. As the founder of several major real estate companies including DLE Group, Europe's largest private land bank after the Catholic Church, he has successfully led multiple IPOs and major acquisitions in the German real estate market. Currently serving as co-founder, board chairman, and main shareholder of Standard Land S.A., Schorr's expertise spans managing closed-end real estate funds, commercial real estate operations, and major property development initiatives across Germany.

Managing Director, Middle East and Africa - Apeiron Investment Group

Salvatore Lavallo is an Abu Dhabi based future tech investor, world record setting traveler, and art collector. In 2017 he became the youngest person to visit every country, one of only ~250 to ever accomplish the feat. Professionally, he has worked for over 13 years in the UAE, focusing on economic development with experience across the private, public, and social sectors. In university Salvatore founded the NGO - Trail of Seeds, which promotes culturally inclusive development in agriculture communities around the world. He then worked as a strategy consultant with McKinsey and Company focused on development and education projects in the Middle East and Africa. After breaking his travel record he joined former UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair as a foreign policy advisor to rulers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Salvatore then joined the Abu Dhabi Investment Office as its first expat executive to serve as Head of FDI Attraction. He has supported 50+ companies to expand into the Emirate and allocated over USD 1 billion to those entities. Salvatore is currently the Managing Director of Middle East and Africa for the Apeiron Investment Group which focuses on investments in longevity, mental health, hospitality, and sustainability. Salvatore is an avid collector of Emirati and Tanzanian art and is a member of the Friends of Abu Dhabi Art, a founding member of the Young Patrons of Bayt Al Mamzar, and manages artist Tura Gyindo. He is a graduate of the United World College - USA as a Davis Scholar and New York University as a MLK Jr Scholar for Devotion to Service.

Director, EMEA Derivatives Sales - Cboe Global Markets

Sarju Gudka is Director, EMEA Derivatives Sales, at Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (Cboe). Based in London, Gudka is responsible for managing relationships with Cboe’s buy- and sell-side customers across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). In this role, Gudka identifies opportunities to raise awareness of Cboe’s products and marketplace by providing education and observations about European and U.S. listed derivatives markets. Additionally, Gudka helps develop new products and refine existing products. He is also responsible for developing coverage in new regional jurisdictions, whilst strengthening relationships with partners across the industry. Previously, Gudka built and managed a profitable emerging market delta-1 trading business at a Tier 1 investment bank, running the global EM and EMEA linear derivative books, with mandates on index, single stock and basket financing, cash/futures and listing arbitrage, special situations and proprietary risk taking. Gudka holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from University College London.

CEO - Stelia

As the visionary founder of Stelia, Tobias Hooton has carved out a reputation as a preeminent technologist and AI pioneer. His expertise spans an impressive array of sectors, including investment banking, defence, and international enterprises, along with strategic advisory roles for both UK and global government bodies. Over a distinguished 18-year career, Tobias has not only founded, scaled, and successfully exited multiple technology ventures including Centus (acquired by Enta Technologies), TSC (acquired by VMWare) and 01T (acquired by Palatine), but he has also been instrumental in establishing and expanding five global ISPs and scaling software businesses across three distinct markets. CEO turned investor, now Managing Partner at 7 Dials Capital, Tobias’ track record includes Magic AI, Stelia, Yaso, HyperCluster, Jove, Ova, OpenIX, EvaAI, Infranic and Jini. Tobias has invested in these business, or acts as board member/observer. Today, Tobias's entrepreneurial spirit, innovative designs, and deep understanding of the AI landscape have consistently driven the tech frontier forward. As a sought-after speaker and thought leader in the technology industry, he continues to shape the future of AI infrastructure and inspire the next generation of technologists.

Managing Director - TMC Shipping

Tony Dagher is the founder & Managing Director of TMC Shipping Group with +18 years of experience in the shipping industry. Α self-made entrepreneur based in Dubai with hands on expertise in Chartering and Sale & Purchase of dry bulk carriers and tankers and with a solid track record in shipping investments. He developed a passion for ships through a summer job while studying economics and continued working in the industry throughout college. As an operations and chartering manager, he gained valuable knowledge working with owners and trading houses. In 2012, he founded TMC, a successful international shipping company, which has grown from 22 chartered vessels to 60-70 ships per year with offices in the UAE, Greece, India, USA and Switzerland. TMC also owns and manages 15 ships (oil tankers & dry bulk carriers) thanks to the strong customer relationships and a stellar reputation established by Tony's leadership. Tony is the sponsor investor in Maritime Ventures Fund, a shipping fund to be launched in DIFC in Q4 2024. In addition to the shipping activities, Tony has been an active investor in other industries such as real estate and technology. Unquote

CEO - Mulan V Investment

Catherine Wang, the CEO and CIO of Mulan V Investment, a distinguished family office based in the UAE. Catherine has an extensive background in portfolio management and investment, having worked with several major family offices across Singapore, China, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and beyond. Her expertise in international M&A is notable, with successful collaborations with industry leaders such as BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, and KKR. In addition to her leadership at Mulan V Investment, Catherine is the Founder and Chairman of the World Family Office Institute (WFOI), a leading think tank headquartered in the UAE. WFOI is dedicated to bridging the GCC with the global community and includes members who are prominent politicians and allocators from Asia, the GCC, Europe, and the Americas. Catherine holds a bachelor’s degree from the China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing (CUMTB), and a Master degree in International Accounting and Financial Management from the University of Glasgow. Her academic and professional background, combined with her deep understanding of global markets, positions her as a key figure in the world of alternative investments.

Head of Global Multi-Manager Investments - Investec Investment Management

Ryan is the Head of Multi-manager Investments and is the Lead Fund Manager on the World Axis range of funds which he was instrumental in setting up in 2004 and has been managing ever since. Ryan is also a member of the Global Investment Strategy Group (GISG) and International Asset Allocation Committee (IAAC). He has 25 years’ experience in financial markets, over 20 of which have been spent performing due diligence on global investment managers. Prior to joining Investec in 2004, Ryan worked at Investment Solutions in the capacity of Manager Research Analyst, and later as a Portfolio Manager. Ryan obtained a B Comm. degree from the University of Witwatersrand and has been a CFA charter holder since 2002.

Senior Portfolio Manager, Global Private Debt - Allianz Global Investors

Kulbhushan is a seasoned business leader with over 19 years of experience in asset management, investment management, strategy, and M&A. Currently, he heads the Global Private Debt platform at Allianz Global Investors in Asia, where he is responsible for developing the platform, sourcing investments, and product development. Kulbhushan is passionate about sustainability in private markets and actively participates in various industry initiatives in Asia, including GFANZ, the Singapore Sustainable Finance Association (SSFA), and the ASEAN Taxonomy. Kulbhushan joined Allianz Global Investors at the beginning of 2023 from Allianz Investment Management, where he served as the Head of Private Debt, Asia, and Lead – Investment Strategy, Asia, overseeing an AuM of approximately EUR 35 billion. In his previous roles, Kulbhushan was a founding member of HSBC’s life insurance JV in India, Canara HSBC Life. He holds a Postgraduate degree in Management from K.J. Somaiya Institute of Management and Research and a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) degree from Delhi University. Allianz Global Investors is a global investment management firm with offices in over 20 locations worldwide. It is owned by the global financial services group Allianz. Employing nearly 3,000, it manages over EUR 500 billion in assets on behalf of institutional, retail clients and of Allianz itself.

Managing Partner, - 76Columbus & Head of MENA - Asian Family Legacy Foundation

Lixia Zhu, is the Managing Director of 76Columbus, a New York-based single family office specializing in technology and alternative investments. Lixia also represents the Asian Family Legacy Foundation in the MENA region, a nonprofit organization founded in Hong Kong that connects over 200 Asian and global families. In addition, Lixia serves as a board member of the Columbia Alumni Association UAE. Before transitioning to the investment world, Lixia had a distinguished career in banking and fintech, serving in senior executive roles at JPMorgan and Fiserv. She is also an Investor and Advisor-in-Residence at Columbia University's Venture Lab. Lixia founded her own AI and Web3 fintech company while completing her Executive MBA at Columbia Business School and London Business School.

CEO and Founder - APEX Global Forum

Kari Chaudhry is a celebrated serial entrepreneur, investor, and brand strategist renowned for her visionary leadership and commitment to diversity and inclusion. As the CEO of APEX Global Forum, a wealth building network specializing in co-investing in alternative markets, she leads a global business platform of sophisticated investors, thought leaders and entrepreneurs. Operating across the UK and USA, Kari collaborates with a diverse clientele including corporations, startups, celebrities, and royalty. Her strategic acumen and dedication to fostering global equity have established her as a trusted advisor and a formidable advocate for societal change. Kari's influence extends to her role as a keynote speaker where she champions diversity and actively drives women’s entrepreneurship and innovation. Featured in Forbes, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and GQ Magazine for her thought leadership and strategic excellence, Kari continues to shape the business landscape to enhance female advancement and inclusion. Through Kari C. Advisory, she works with disruptors to create compelling strategies, design powerful brand experiences, and innovate with new products and services.

Senior Managing Director - Avenue Capital Group

Mr. Greenbaum is a Senior Managing Director responsible for identifying, analyzing, and monitoring sports investment opportunities for the Avenue Sports Strategy. Prior to joining Avenue, Mr. Greenbaum was a Portfolio Manager at Cinctive Capital where he managed a market-neutral, long/short portfolio. Prior to that, he was a Portfolio Manager and Analyst at Aptigon Capital (Citadel), and was previously a Portfolio Manager at Visium Asset Management. Mr. Greenbaum graduated with a B.A. in Intellectual History from the University of Pennsylvania (2002) and an M.B.A. in Finance from Columbia Business School (2008). He was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 2005.

Founder & CEO - Apex

António Caçorino is the Founder and CEO of APEX, a company he established in December 2020. Under his leadership, APEX has been focused on investing with over 80 professional athletes across multiple sports, specializing in sports, media, and entertainment sectors. Their vision is to change the way these sectors are consumed, experienced, and participated in. António’s diverse background in finance and investment has equipped him with the skills and knowledge necessary to lead APEX successfully. His extensive experience in various roles across prominent financial institutions has been instrumental in shaping his strategic vision and leadership capabilities.

Director of Chapter Relations - CAIA

Founder & Chairperson - Bermuda Innovation & Technology Association (BITA)

Kevin Richards is a recognized thought leader in climate finance, the blue economy, and digital innovation. As Managing Director of Bermuda Asset Management, he advises family offices and investment funds on sustainable transitions. He also founded Bermuda Global Holdings, driving blue bond issuance and the Island SDG Impact Fund, supporting earlystage disruptive technologies aligned with Bermuda's economic diversification. A certified Director and member of the UK’s Institute of Directors, Kevin is actively shaping Bermuda’s innovation ecosystem. He serves on multiple boards, including the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Science and Zero Hash Worldwide. With a background at Chubb and GE, Kevin returned to Bermuda in 2015 to foster growth in international commerce and technology. A former professional athlete, he represented Bermuda in two World Cup football campaigns.

Partner - Head of Tactical Opportunities - Bridgefort, Senior Executive Officer - Maerifa Solutions -

Rahul is the Founder and Senior Executive Officer of Maerifa Solutions, a Tier-1 ecosystem for digital infrastructure with numerous OEM, ODM, Data Centre, Storage, Networking and Solutions partnerships. Separately he is also a Partner and Head of Tactical Opportunities for Bridgefort Maritime, an ADGM Asset Management company established following a carve-out from Apollo Global Management. Rahul's background spans 10 years in M&A with KPMG and various boutique advisory firms in London where he advised on USD 5bn in deals across multiple sectors.

Investor, Entrepreneur, Lifestyle Coach, Author

In the fast-paced world of network marketing and technology, I'm dedicated to helping individuals unlock their full potential and achieve success. My approach combines cutting-edge technology with innovative strategies to transform personal and business growth. I believe in the power of positive connections and the untapped potential within everyone. With a strong background in communication and team dynamics, I lead motivational and educational workshops aimed at empowering participants with the tools and knowledge necessary for thriving in the digital age. My goal is to mentor and build a community of leaders equipped to navigate the challenges and opportunities of network marketing, guiding them towards financial independence and success with the support of the latest technological advancements

Co-Founder and Partner - Telemachus Capital

Saloni Bhojwani is a Co-Founder and Partner at Telemachus Capital, a new multi-family office advisory firm focusing on next gen wealth management. Saloni has spent 9+ years investing in technology in private markets, through family offices, as an individual, and at London-based VC firms. She also works with a number of next gen women empowering them to step into allocator roles. At Telemachus, she works with families on the PE/VC allocations, Impact Investing, and Philanthropy.

Head of Evergreen Portfolio Management - Partners Group

Simon Baker-Munton is the Head of Evergreen Portfolio Management at Partners Group, based in London. He has been with Partners Group since 2015 and previously worked at KPMG Investment Advisory and UBS Global Asset Management. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Bath, UK, and is a CFA Charterholder.

Managing Director - Mark Masons Investments

I come from a Fashion industry background starting in retail leading to cofounding and launching several international brands in Europe/USA/Asia including Pepe Jeans . Leveraging my Brand management and development expertise with an extensive network led to my becoming an Angel investor to invest and help scale tech enabled companies. My early stage investment experience has now led to the inaugural launch of a Fund of Funds concept strategically investing in the next generation of emerging and diverse Venture investors from underrepresented backgrounds with strong operational backgrounds targeting Healthcare ,Climate technology ,education and consumer innovation utilising AI tools to achieve accelerated efficiency and growth.

Founder & CEO - Agritecture

Henry Gordon-Smith is a sustainability strategist focused on urban agriculture, water issues, and emerging technologies. Henry earned his BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, coursework in Food Security and Urban Agriculture from Ryerson University in Toronto, and an MSc in Sustainability Management from Columbia University. In 2014, Henry responded to a global need for technology-agnostic guidance on urban agriculture by launching the advisory firm Agritecture Consulting which has now consulted on over 250 urban agriculture projects in over 40 countries. He has also served as a Lecturer at Columbia University, where he taught the course "Smart Agriculture for a Changing Climate" in the 2024 semester.

Founder & CEO - The Wimpole Clinic / Harley Street Longevity Club / Hospital

GM - Khalifa University AGX Centre

Fadi Sbaiti is a seasoned leader with over 18 years of experience in project management, operations, and general management across multiple industries. He is currently the General Manager at Khalifa University AGX in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where he oversees the state-of-the-art research center focused on advancements in AgTech, plant sciences, and indoor vertical farming. His role involves driving innovative R&D in the AgTech ecosystem and fostering critical partnerships with local universities, research institutes, and private businesses to address agricultural challenges in desert and arid climates. Previously, Fadi served as the GM of AeroFarms, where he was responsible for setting up the company in the UAE, recruiting the operational team, and building and operating the AgX facility. Prior, he was the MD for Decision Sciences International in MENA region based in Abu Dhabi. Before coming to the UAE, he held several management positions at Al-Muhaidib Contracting Company in Saudi Arabia. These positions highlighted his capability to lead large teams and manage capital projects, achieving substantial growth and profitability. He holds an MBA from IMD Business School in Lausanne, and a Master of Engineering Management from the American University of Beirut. Fadi is fluent in English and Arabic. His career is marked by his commitment to sustainable practices and innovation in engineering and business management.

Head of Operations and Corporate Service, Hub71

Hashem is the Head of Operations and Corporate Services at Hub71, where he is responsible for its internal and external operations, including the finance, IT and compliance functions. Prior to joining Hub71, Hashem spent over 10 years at Mubadala’s UAE Clusters, working across different assets in the aerospace, and defense sectors. He began his career as an Analyst, looking after SRT Group, following which he spent time as the Asset Manager for Emirates Defence Industries Company (EDIC), Sanad and Strata a composite aero structures manufacturing facility based in the heart of Nibras Al Ain Aerospace. Within these roles, Hashem was critical in maximizing shareholder returns and establishing an enduring capital deployment process to drive long-term value creation. Hashem’s experience in Business Development saw him leading on three key initiatives at Strata, including engine manufacturing, prepreg material manufacturing and Strata’s Phase II of growth. Hashem hold a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and a master’s degree in Engineering Management from the University of Southern California. Hashem is currently a board member of Khalifa Innovation Center board (KIC), and the Aerospace and Research Innovation Center (ARIC).

Head - Investment Strategy - ADCB Asset Management

Kishore Muktinutalapati is Head - Investment Strategy at 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. His team’s work helps investment functions across the bank in 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.

Founder & CEO - Cohesion Asset Management Limited

Spike has 30+ years investment experience and has been directly responsible for raising assets over USD 15bn. He was one of the founders of the Skandia Investment Group and personally innovated several market- leading fund ranges, including the industry popular Best Ideas funds. He was the founding Managing Director of the discretionary and multi-manager businesses at FTSE 100 giant Hargreaves Lansdown and was also Strategic Adviser to the CEO of AXA, where he contributed to the launch of several market-leading propositions. Cohesion was founded by Spike and is chaired by James Caan CBE, one of the UK’s best-known entrepreneurs. Cohesion is a specialist investment management business with a focus on India through its exclusive partnership with renowned investor Madhu Kela. Madhu is one of the best-known and most celebrated investors in the Indian capital markets, with many accreditations and awards to his name having managed one of the most successful funds in India's history. Spike has many years of experience as a director on the board of funds and, also as a director of investment management businesses, with particular experience of India-focussed investments."

Managing Partner - ProInvest Group

Since the inception of the business, she was instrumental in establishing Pro-invest as one of the leading integrated real estate platforms within Europe and Australasia, covering all aspects of development, asset management as well as day-to-day operations. The Group is currently managing in excess of 3 billion AuM across hospitality and commercial assets in the form of closed-ended funds, managed accounts as well as co-investment programs. One of the biggest achievements is the positioning of Pro-invest as a leader when it comes to ESG proven by the fact that all the assets within the Pro-invest estate to date are achieving some of the highest environment ratings (including the very first carbon-neutral hotel according to NABERS ratings) Sabine’s career started more than 25 years ago and spans from looking after Private Equity investments at 3i into retail schemes, working on high-profile projects with McKinsey & Company focusing on Finance and Public Affairs in Europe, to working as Director of Investments at a GCC-based Private Equity firm responsible for setting up and managing Private Equity Funds and sourcing co-investment opportunities across the region. Sabine focused on Real Estate and established a Real Estate Development Fund in the GCC for newly built office buildings. Sabine holds a Master’s degree from Harvard University and PhD in Economics from Leopold Franzens University, Innsbruck, Austria.

Head, Equities - Nuvama Asset Management

Ajay leads the Listed Equities vertical at Nuvama Asset Management. Over the last 18 years, he has built a strong track record of generating significant alpha, across all market phases. Driven by the philosophy that one should marry their profits and not their stocks, he believes in seeking out opportunities where the risk reward balance is asymmetric. As manager of the Nuvama Enhanced Dynamic Growth Equity [EDGE] fund, Nuvama Equities eXpansion Target (NEXT) PMS, Nuvama Absolute Return Strategy PMS, Nuvama Multi-Asset Strategy Return Fund and LEAP Index, he leverages his deep domain expertise in fund management and fundamental research across asset classes. Prior to Nuvama, Ajay was one of the earliest members of the equity desk at the treasury of Reliance Industries Limited. He was the key architect behind developing and institutionalizing the investment process, operations, research capability, as well as scaling up the fund assets and portfolio. Under his stewardship, RIL scaled its equity asset base from USD 200 mn to USD 1 bn+ in just five years. Ajay began his career with Enam Asset Management, where he rapidly rose the ranks from an analyst to Head of Research and became the Co-fund Manager of a USD 1 bn fund in a short span of six years. Being a prolific researcher who’s always looking to get the big picture right, Ajay has this innate ability of spotting global and domestic market trends early on, while also identifying stocks that are backed by sound business models with a significant growth potential. His investment philosophy resonates with an active and target-based approach which has enabled him to consistently deliver superior risk adjusted returns. Ajay has an MBA in Finance. He is a voracious reader, a travel buff and enjoys challenging board games. When Ajay is not thinking markets, he loves spending quality time with his son.

Managing Director - SFO YS Capital, Managing Partner - Xentury Group Ltd.

• Managing Director of SFO YS Capital, Managing Partner of Xentury Group Ltd. • Co-founder and previous CEO of DLE Group AG, a German based real estate GP with EUR 2.5 bn AuM in land, logistics, senior living and real estate debt • real estate professional with more than 10 years experience and track record across real estate debt & real estate equity • focused on backing the next generation of emerging real estate GPs across Europe • studied at Humboldt University of Berlin

Director - Arcapita

Isa is a Director in the MENA real estate team. He is responsible for the origination, structuring and management of real estate investments in the MENA region. Isa has over 13 years of experience in investment banking, having previously worked with Mumtalakat Holding Company, the sovereign wealth fund of Bahrain, Arcapita, and Ithmaar Development Company. Isa holds an MBA from London Business School, a Master of Science in Administrative Studies with a concentration in Financial Economics from Boston University and a BSc in Corporate Finance & Accounting from Bentley University, USA.

Co Founder and CEO - G42

Ali Khedery is an American serial entrepreneur, technology and geopolitical strategist, and a venture investor. Until recently, he led AI for Nations, the UAE national AI champion’s global expansion partnership with Microsoft. Ali was previously Co-founder and CEO of AIQ, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s AI joint venture with G42, where he oversaw the assembly of the UAE’s first commercial supercomputer and the patenting of novel AI techniques. In 2024, AIQ earned the distinction of being the Middle East’s fastest-growing AI unicorn, achieving a $1.4 billion valuation after only three years. Prior to that, Ali was an advisor to ExxonMobil’s Management Committee, where he architected and negotiated the Fortune 1 corporation’s billion-dollar entry into Iraqi Kurdistan. Ali also served as senior advisor to former U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis, former U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and former CIA Director David Petraeus, as special assistant to five American ambassadors, and on the staffs of the Governor of Texas and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He holds a master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

Middle East & North Africa Lead - Shield AI

Rod Solaimani is OpenAI's Head of Policy & Partnerships for MENA and Central Asia.

Host - FinTech TV

Based in the Middle East since 2008, Rachel spent almost a decade at Mubadala Investment Company - one of the Middle East’s largest sovereign wealth funds - in their Capital Markets & Treasury team. She is currently a Managing Director at 3iQ Digital Assets, responsible for the EMEA region, and was previously a senior Advisor for SkyBridge Capital. A CFA Charterholder and chartered treasurer, in 2014 the Association of Corporate Treasurers named Rachel “The One to Watch”. Rachel originally trained as a journalist and spent 6 years with the BBC. She is a TV Anchor at FintechTV and acts as MC for selected international events such as the AIM Summit, SWFI Summit Series and the Middle East Investors’ Summit. Passionate about helping others become more confident public speakers, Rachel co-founded “The Speakeasy Club”, and is also a Founding member of Playbook – a leadership platform for women professionals to design their career and well-being. In 2009 Rachel published her first book and helped to establish a charity called Espoir so that sale proceeds could go towards supporting youth entrepreneurship in New Zealand. She is a member of Mensa and sits on the advisory board of cryptocurrency exchange MidChains and the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute.

Olympic Sailor - U.S. SailGP Team

Group CFO & CEO - Berkeley Middle East Holding & Berkeley Global Holding

Shaikh is a globally renowned British investment and financial strategist and advisor currently serving as Group CEO and actively seeking strategic investments across diverse industries. With over decades of experience in corporate finance, policy-making, and regulatory compliance, Shaikh has become a trusted advisor to Royal Families in the Middle East and other elite clients, helping shape long-term investment strategies and ensuring compliance with complex regulatory frameworks. Recognized for his contributions to business and finance, Shaikh has been awarded by AmCham Abu Dhabi and is highly connected with government officials, diplomats, and the global business community. His extensive network and influence in international finance have made him a key player in high-profile investment opportunities. A Certified Public Accountant and Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), UK, Shaikh holds multiple prestigious qualifications, including CGMA from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Information System Auditor (CISA), and Fellow Member of Securities and Investments from CISI, UK. His legal and financial expertise, coupled with degrees such as a Master of Laws from King’s College London, positions him uniquely to offer comprehensive investment advisory services. As Group CEO, Shaikh focuses on identifying lucrative investment opportunities, advising on mergers and acquisitions, and structuring investment portfolios for long-term growth. His expertise spans tax advisory, ESG standards, risk management, and corporate governance, making him a leading force in the financial industry.

2x World Champion Sailor, CEO, and Co-Owner U.S. SailGP Team

Mike Buckley, 2x World Champion Sailor, CEO, and Co-Owner of the U.S. SailGP Team, acquired the team last November alongside Ryan McKillen, the founding engineer at Uber. As both CEO and an athlete on the boat in the role of Strategist, Mike combines his competitive drive with a visionary approach to leadership. Under his direction, the team has secured the most diverse investor group in sailing history, including Issa Rae, DeAndre Hopkins, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Marc Lasry's Avenue Capital Group. With a goal to establish the U.S. SailGP Team as the “NY Rangers of professional sailing globally,” Mike is passionate about making sailing culturally relevant and accessible to new audiences.

Founder - Green Abu Dhabi

VP of partnerships - Sheikh Maktoum Neo Technologies

Dr. Emily Mogano is a dynamic leader, recognized for her role as Chief of Staff and Head of Investments in Africa at Royal Family office of HH Abdulhakim Al Maktoum. Driven by a passion for entrepreneurship and international leadership, she has cultivated a diverse career focused on fostering innovation and creating positive change. With a background in the corporate sector and technology, Dr. Mogano is highly skilled in strategic planning, business development, and project management. Her work is characterized by a global perspective and an emphasis on collaboration, where she consistently seeks to bridge gaps and create sustainable solutions to complex challenges. Dr. Mogano's contributions extend beyond her corporate responsibilities. She is a global peace ambassador, advocating for unity and cultural understanding. Her advocacy efforts focus on promoting peaceful dialogue and cooperation among diverse communities and nations. As a keynote speaker and advisor to various African heads of state, she has been instrumental in shaping discussions on economic growth, youth empowerment, and leadership development.

Chief Executive Officer, Rwanda Finance Limited

Nick BARIGYE is the Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Finance Limited, the agency promoting the development of Rwanda as a preferred Financial Centre for international investment in Africa. Nick is a finance and investments professional with a track record of managing successful companies in Africa over the last 20 years. Prior to joining Rwanda Finance, Nick was the Managing Partner of Karisimbi Business Partners, an Africa focused investment and advisory firm. From 2008 to 2014, he was a Senior Executive at Crystal Ventures, the largest investment company in Rwanda. Nick is a Board Chairman of Zigama Credit and Savings Bank, a Non-Executive Director of Green Hills Academy and a member of the Advisory Committee of Mastercard Foundation. Nick holds an MBA in Strategic Management from Strathmore Business School in Kenya and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the National University of Rwanda.

CEO & Founder, Shield AI

National Director, Knight Frank

25+ years of experience. At NiFCO, he has incorporated a Rs 450 Cr fund with several deals fully or partly exited and assisted several legacy funds exit valued at USD 100 Mn. He has led transactions valued at over USD 4 bn across Asia, Africa and Europe in various sectors including real estate and hospitality. As National Director – Knight Frank, he set up and led a rental yield fund. He was Founder MD at Essel Finance & Capstar and held senior roles with E&Y and Aditya Birla. Amit holds MBA(USA), BE (VJTI), MRICS (UK), MCF/MFM (USA). He is the key advisor to industry bodies like NAREDCO, CREDAI, FICCI, IMC, etc.

Since 2008, Alishia K. Sullivan has been a resident in the United Arab Emirates where she advises pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and other institutional investors in connection with their global investment activities across asset classes and regional and global investment managers in connection with fund formation and management in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC). Alishia advises institutional investors, focusing primarily on investments in private funds, including leveraged buyout, hedge, infrastructure and real estate funds, and direct and co-investments. She routinely drafts and negotiates the terms of limited partnership agreements, side letters, subscription agreements, and investment management and advisory agreements in relation to private equity, infrastructure, real estate, credit, venture capital and hedge funds, side cars, and co-investments. Alishia has negotiated numerous separately managed accounts on behalf of institutional investors, including discretionary managed accounts with investment strategies that extend to multiple asset classes and multiple managers. She also has experience in advising clients on structuring and maintaining their investment subsidiary platforms and negotiating bespoke investment advisory arrangements. Alishia advises clients on operational matters, including market opening documents worldwide (with the assistance of local counsel as needed), custody agreements, securities lending agreements, and non-disclosure agreements. Alishia is a former member of the board of directors of two non-profit organizations whose missions focus on the care, empowerment, and education of women and children. Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, Alishia was a partner at another global law firm. She previously worked as in- house counsel for a state-owned petroleum company in the Middle East and was a member of the global projects group of the Washington, DC, office of an international law firm.

VP, Solutions - Supermicro

Sim Upadhyayula is VP of Solutions at Supermicro. With over two decades of experience in the IT Infrastructure market, Sim is a goals driven leader helping global teams in engineering, sales, marketing and customer advocacy organizations. In his role, Sim collaborates with various enterprise and service providers in understanding their next-generation data center needs and identifying the right solutions to maximize their business outcomes..