PAST SPEAKERS

Beverly Rider

CCO, Tonomus & CEO, Portfolio T, a Tonomus Company

NEOM Tech & Digital Co

Saudi Arabia

Ajman Police is the first police force in the UAE and the first government organisation in the Emirate of Ajman to offer services in the Metaverse. As part of Ajman Police's efforts to enhance collaboration with its customers and engage them in service improvement.

Mohammed Alsuwaidi

Head of Al Nuaimiya Comprehensive Police Station,

Ajman Police General Headquarters

United Arab Emirates

A senior Advisor to the Director General, Dr. Ramadan AlBlooshi is currently managing Public Health in DHA too. Prior to joining DHA, he was the Chief Regulatory Officer (CRO), Dubai Healthcare City Authority from 2014-2021. He heads Dubai Healthcare City Authority - Regulatory (DHCR), the independent regulator of the Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) free zone.

Dr. Ramadan Alblooshi

Advisor & Acting Director of Public Health Protection Dept,

Dubai Health Authority (DHA)

United Arab Emirates

John Lacey joined Tencent in January 2020. As Level Infinite’s Country Manager for MENA, John oversees the publishing and operations of the mobile game-publishing business in the region, where Level Infinite is growing and publishes or owns some of the sector’s most valuable IP.

John Lacey

CM, MENA,

Level Infinite

United Arab Emirates

Benedetta Ghione holds a BA in History of Art and MA in Contemporary Art Theory, and has over 15 years of experience in art businesses. She joined Art Dubai in 2015 as the Executive Director, and is responsible for the fair’s strategic development, innovation and year-round programming, including institutional and public engagement, developing the fair’s new digital section, and nurturing artistic practices.

Benedetta Ghione

Executive Director,

Art Dubai

United Arab Emirates

Nick Vinckier is Head of Corporate Innovation at Chalhoub Group, the largest luxury retailer in the Middle East. Nick moved to Dubai to establish the MENA office of Duval Union Consulting (now Scopernia), and later joined Chalhoub Group as Head of Growth in 2019.

Nick Vinckier

Head of Corporate Innovation,

Chalhoub Group

UAE

Technology Generalist, and a Serial Inventor at heart, with 25+ years of international experience in MNCs like IBM and GE, among others. He is the author of several US and international granted patents on electronic gadgets.

Pablo Olivera Brizzio

Director- Corporate Innovation,

Abu Dhabi Ports Group

United Arab Emirates

Top 500 Forbes Entrepreneur, Best selling Author, ex Shark Tank investor for central European tv show

Cristian Onetiu

ex Shark Tank Investor, European TV Show,

Founder - Unicorp Ventures

United Arab Emirates

Our digital lives are continuously changing; new technologies, platforms, and approaches are adopted at a significant rate by society. Incumbent banks generally struggle to keep abreast of these changes - often seen as the dinosaurs of industry. My mission is to change that; to help banks realize their digital ambitions. Avoiding the "pretty wrapper" approach, preferably helping banks evolve their entire landscape digitally while keeping the lights on.

Craig Hughes

Vice President of Architecture,

Emirates NBD.

United Arab Emiartes

Briar Prestidge is the CEO of executive branding and PR agency, Prestidge Group, and luxury power suit collection, BRIAR PRESTIDGE - The Label. Briar has an NFT fashion label for avatars on Decentraland, and she sits on the Metaverse Fashion Council and is a Strategic Advisor for Scopernia, helping companies prepare for a future in Web3.

Briar Prestidge

Founder and CEO,

Prestidge Group

United Arab Emirates

Sam Lai is Founder and CEO of MetaIncubator , a first-of-its-kind project for the virtual economy in the UAE. An HP Tech Ventures veteran who has worked with hundreds of startups, Sam is known as a sought-after expert in product market-fit and fundraising who has helped incubating startups raise millions of dollars in capital.

Sam Lai

CEO,

MetaIncubator

United Arab Emirates

PAUL DAWALIBI

CEO,

Holodeck Ventures

UAE

Co-founder Bizverse World, 13+ years as CEO of International Leading Technology Firms: Microsoft - Vietnam & Emerging Markets; Qualcomm International - Indochina & Thailand; Yahoo! Indochina; Sony Ericsson Inndochina

Tri Vu

Co-founder,

Bizverse World

Vietnam

Glen is a Senior Executive with extensive experience successfully delivering strategic leadership, cyber security risk and general business management and technology transformation, across Commercial and Government sectors at national and regional levels in the Indo-Pac, America’s and Middle East Regions.

Glen Thomas

Partner - Head of Technology and Cyber,

Grant Thornton UAE

United Arab Emirates

A seasoned CEO, CTO, CISO, Advisor, and author of the book “La Face Cachée du Crédit”, with experience in Blockchain, DeFi, NFT, Cyber Security, AI, IoT, 5G, Digital Twin (Meta Verse) Cloud, Disaster Recovery, Bigdata, he created the powerful framework A6 of security: Assess, Assess, Apply, Administer, Awareness & Agility.

JORGE SEBASTIÃO

Co-Founder Global Blockchain Organization, Co-Founder EcoX,

CISSP

UAE

Tanja Magas is a thought leadership speaker, writer, and innovator for all things NFTs and the Metaverse. She is also the Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Democrance, a UAE-founded InsureTech with the mission to digitalize the insurance value chain for insurers, brokers, and distribution partners.

Tanja Magas

Chief Data & Analytics Officer,

Democrance

United Arab Emirates

Transformational leader in the data-driven Marcomms industry, Cumai is the co-founder of Biennale.io, a global, community-driven art and culture metaverse, an ecosystem for artists and art enthusiasts that leverage the power of future blockchain and distributed computing technologies.

Cumai A. Housn

Co-founder,

Biennale.io

United Arab Emirates

With over 25 years of experience in the field of digital transformation, Mr. Ellis has worked for Mashreq Bank, Mckinsey, W Motors, Alibaba, Google, Asustek, Intel, and three owned Startups in various roles creating strategies and deploying technology roadmaps to boost business growth.

Ellis Wang

Board of The Executive & Advisory team,

The Private Office of Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum

United Arab Emirates

With 12+ years of experience in emerging tech, open data, and digital transformation, she is a project manager in the Digital Transformation Empowerment Unit in the Ministry of Oman leading some of the top national projects.

THURAYA AL-HARTHI

Senior Specialist- Innovation & Emerging technology development,

Ministry of Transport, Communication & Information Technology

Oman

French Serial Entrepreneur leading startup for the last 15 years around the globe. Throughout his career, he has set up and led marketing & operation teams, run 2 startups , and managed budgets up to USD 500k per month. His 360° marketing experience, love of data & pragmatic approach enables him to drive growth through innovative solutions, constant experimentation, learning & optimization.

FLORIAN UGHETTO

Co-Founder & Head of Digital Growth,

Easy Wedding

A German Award-Winning Entrepreneur, former Chief Strategist at Block Gemini helping Enterprises to implement Blockchain Technology, Smart Contracts, and AI into their traditional Systems. He's on to building the World's first Celebrity & Brand Token Launchpad/Ecosystem.

MATTHIAS MENDE

Founder,

Bonuz

United Arab Emirates

Intellectual Property, Innovation & Technology Transfer, Entrepreneurship, Blockchain & Metaverse ‎Expert.‎

Dr. Mohamed Al Hemairy

Director TTO,

University of Sharjah

United Arab Emirates

Ahmad has served several critical high-level positions topped with serving the Irish Government Trade Agency “Enterprise Ireland” as a Senior Market Adviser achieving verifiable metrics of over 180 Million Euros worth of Contracts, assisting 68 Irish Companies to set Global Strategies across the Middle East and Africa.

Ahmad Altarawneh

Senior Strategic Consultant,

Dubai Police General HQ

United Arab Emirates

With + 15 years of experience in marketing and a background in IP law, Sahar is an active proponent of metaverse marketing. As the Founder and Creative Marketing Director of Sorshaa , she specialises in future-proof creative brand strategies and communication.

SAHAR MILANI

Founder & Creative Marketing Director,

Sorshaa Marketing

United Kingdom

Computer Scientist, and Smart Technology Expert with degrees in Computer Science, Telecom and Computer Engineering, Dr. El Barachi is an Associate Dean of Research & Head of Industry Outreach and Executive Learning at the University of Wollongong Dubai.

DR. MAY EL BARACHI

Associate Dean of Research & Head of Industry Outreach and Executive Learning,

University of Wollongong

United Arab Emirates

Nelson Mandela Noble Peace awardee, Dr. Arshi has a vast experience in sub-structuring of strategic initiations, economic & political management, business & financial aid for the MENA & Asia Pacific organizations and family offices.

DR. ARSHI AYUB MOHAMED ZAVERI

CEO – TrustWithTrade Group, Senior advisor to Royal Family offices,

Founder & CEO Oxygenate Global

United Arab Emirates

Founder and Chief Metaverse Officer at VNCCII; a multi-media Metaverse creative studio. Her protagonist character ‘VNCCII’ is a 3D Super Sentient Heroine fictional character and virtual influencer of the metaverse that covers music, gaming, audio-visual, film, technology and fashion.

Sami Tauber

Founder & Chief Metaverse officer,

VNCCII- Metaverse Creative Studio

Australia

Hany has +18 years of Technology + Digital Tranformation Consultation & Training & IT Business across vendors and global service providers. He is a Microsoft and Amazon Certified Trainer since 2007 taught more than 350 Courses and + 4000 students in Egypt, USA, Libya, Kuwait, Qatar, KSA, Oman, Jordan, UAE and Ireland.

Hany Sayed

Director Of Innovation,

D & B Properties

United Arab Emirates

RASHID ALNUAIMI

Director of the Criminal Investigation and Research Branch and Deputy Head of the Services Development Team at Al Nuaimiya Comprehensive Police Station,

Ajman Police General Headquarters

United Arab Emirates

Aaryan Kapur is an experienced Digital Marketer having over 10 years experience in Healthcare, Tech and Ecommerce Industries. He was awarded Digital Marketer of the Year by CMO Global and was listed in Top 100 Marketers by World Marketing Congress

Aaryan Kapur

Head - Digital Marketing,

Aster DM Healthcare

United Arab Emirates

I am an artist - designer with a brand called Dream big world. Our purpose is to inspire people to follow their dreams. Currently I license the brand, design exclusively for some well known tourist destinations and are building the metaverse which will include experience between the physical, digital and space.

Juan De lascurain

Chief dreamer,

Dream big world

United Arab Emirates

Dubai is in the thick of a metaverse revolution as it aims to be at the forefront of this game-changing digital frontier. A country that always puts itself at the crossroads of evolving technologies and sets a precedent for others globally, Dubai becomes a fitting place for proponents of the metaverse. This congregation brings together the thought leaders and pioneers in this digital transformation. Happy to be a part of this!

Tanuj Shori

Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Square Yards,

Square Yards

United Arab Emirates

Hoda has 17 years of experience in industrialization and economic development projects. She has led and motivated several tech-based industrial investments in the UAE and internationally. She worked on several turnaround projects that were aimed to achieve strategic, financial and operational synergies of industrial and business prospects. She has a specific interest in SDG based investments as well as her current background.

Hoda Alkhzaimi

Director of research and development and advisor on emerging technologies and markets,

Nyuad

United Arab Emirates

Rohan is our Resident Blockchain Consultant and a Communications expert with nearly two decades of Brand development and Activations behind him also a deep understanding of Blockchains and an Ethos of Decentralization we are crafting inroads for Blockchain Tech into multiple sectors.

Rohan Kulshreshtha

AVP,

Blockchain Council

India

Stéphanie is a passionate changemaker set on developing a new generation of business in the Beauty, Fashion, and Luxury Industry leveraging new Web3.0 technologies.

Stephanie BRETONNIERE

CEO,

POWR3.io

United Arab Emirates

Rico is a serial entrepreneur, global venture builder who has over 20 years of experience in emerging markets across Supply Chain Management, Fintech & E-commerce. He co-founded Sanctum Global Ventures (SGV ) which contributes towards the development of the Global Digital Economy, Web3 & Metaverse.

Rico Pang

CEO,

Sanctum Global Ventures

United Arab Emirates

Dr. Zayed Al Hemairy has 15 years’ experience in Blockchain, Project Management, NGO's, Innovation & Information Technology in many government sectors.

Dr Zayed Al Hemairy

IT Principal Engineer,

MOCD

United Arab Emirates

I came, I saw, I met myself all over again…Innovator that believes in the future and through the positive use of technology we can empower humanity to be free.

Wees Abraham

Managing Partner,

Elekron Ventures

United Arab Emirates

A seasoned Information security professional, Taha has a post graduate degree in Computer and Systems Security from University of Greenwich, London. He has earned many reputed industry certifications and has lead his professional career architecting and leading information security projects.

Taha Hussain

Specialist - Information Security,

Moro Hub - A digital DEWA company

United Arab Emirates

Motivated, dynamic business leader with a passion for creating value, innovation and delivering technologies that have a positive impact.

Rikesh Raja

Sales Director,

PicoXR

United Kingdom

A Dubai-based supporter of the impact entrepreneurship ecosystem across the Middle East and Africa region.

Kevin Holliday

Managing Partner,

C3 - Companies Creating Change

United Arab Emirates

Obediah Ayton is a Managing Partner of Synaptech Capital. A UAE based technology fund. Mr Ayton has done over $750m worth of investments and advisory during his career. Recently launching a coding school with the Abu Dhabi Government.

Obediah Ayton

Managing Partner,

Synaptech Capital

United Arab Emirates

Gayathri Devi Jayan heads the Global Metaverse Business Unit at L&T Tech, where she brings together a diverse team of technologists and engineering experts, to enable customers get Metaverse ready.

Gayathri Devi Jayan

Global BU Head, Metaverse BU,

L & T Technology Services

India

A forward thinker, Paul is a passionate entrepreneur and established himself as a successful investor very early on in his career. During his career, Paul has built a solid network and was instrumental in securing the partnership between Solidus Technologies and Soft Galaxy international.

PAUL FARHI

Founder & Head of UK Operations,

Solidus Ai Tech

An award-winning campaigning Editor in Chief, passionate mental health advocate and founder, Scott brings more than three decades of content creation, engaging audiences and building communities to his vision - mentl. This new platform is determined to tackle the stigma of mental health through the power of inspiring content.

Scott Armstrong

Founder,

Mentl

United Arab Emirates

Sonali is a full-cycle, multi-stage investor, operator and business-builder with over 15 years of experience across emerging markets (Middle East, North Africa, Southeast Asia and India). She has also directly managed portfolios of a few family offices, out of which two have been of Royal Family investors from UAE.

Sonali Goila

Head – Venture Capital & Private Equity,

Panthera Capital Investments

United Arab Emirates

Dirk is a serial entrepreneur and an early adopter of blockchain and related technologies, based in Silicon Valley. In addition to being the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Uplandme, Inc., Dirk co-founded the Open Metaverse Alliance (OMA3) alongside the leaders of Web 3.0 companies.

Dirk Lueth

Co-Founder & Co-CEO,

Uplandme, Inc.

Vincent has been involved in the development of this WEB3 gaming project from ideation, and conceptualization, to design through to development and launch. Vincent is also a metaverse designer for companies thanks to his game design background.

Vincent Must

CEO,

AstroMust

United Arab Emirates

A Dubai-based journalist and English editor who has experience in creating and editing content for various channels. With over 12 years of copywriting, social media and editing experience, she is your go-to person for all things content. Having worked for TV, newspaper, radio and magazines, versatility is one of her strong points.

Nasreen Abdulla

Happiness Editor,

Khaleej Times

United Arab Emirates

Minos joined Silicon Valley-based Plug and Play to help launch the Misk Accelerator powered by Plug and Play, the first Plug and Play accelerator program in Saudi Arabia, in partnership with the Misk Foundation.

Minos Minas

Deputy Program Manager,

Plug and Play

United Arab Emirates

the digital creator and collector who is also a thought leader and influencer in the NFT space.

MODERATOR

Evgeniia K

Founder of EK Digital, Artist, NFT Expert, Women Empowerment advocate,

United Arab Emirates

Dr. Eng. Suaad graduated from American Academic for special studies with a DBA in aviation management as well as from Coventry University with MBA in aviation management and holding a degree in Aerospace Engineering from Hertfordshire University along with Bachelor’s degree in aviation management. She has honored an honorary Doctorate for the role of women in leadership in aeronautical engineering.

MODERATOR

DR. ENG. SUAAD ALSHAMSI

First UAE female aircraft engineer,

Executive director - L2L consultant company, Senior advisor - Women in aviation Middle East

United Arab Emirates

Susan is an Unconventional Strategist, a Wordsmith, and a Conversation Facilitator, dexterous in Web2 and Web3, known for her intuitive, subtle ability to guide the room in meaningful exchange capturing the energy , knowledge and experience of 'everyone' present.

MODERATOR

Susan Furness

CEO,

Strategic Solutions

United Arab Emirates

Sheldon is an Educational Supervisor at GEMS Modern Academy, Dubai. He is an examiner for several boards such as the IBDP and CICSE and was on the India Panel, for the Trinity College, London Graded Examinations in Spoken English. A budding technophile, he has an affinity for theatre and writing.

MODERATOR

Sheldon John Dias

Educational Supervisor,

GEMS Modern Academy, Dubai

United Arab Emirates

Dr Anish Shivdasani is CEO of BNS MENAT. BNS is one of India’s largest crypto exchanges that is now expanding globally. Anish has been actively involved in the blockchain space for several years and has written widely on the subject.

MODERATOR

Anish Shivdasani

CEO,

BNS MENAT

United Arab Emirates

Graf André Popov is a Managing Partner and the Head of the Blockchain Incubator at Princeton & Company (https://www.princetonandcompany.com). He specializes in all things digital transformation, blockchain and AI and is currently incubating three ventures in the web3 space.

MODERATOR

Graf André Popov

Managing Partner & Head of Blockchain Incubator,

Princeton & Company

United Arab Emirates

Founder of Luna Media Corporation, umbrella company of Luna PR, Luna VC and Cointelegraph MENA, and host of CNBC Arabia's first ever crypto show, On the Chain.

MODERATOR

Nikita Sachdev

CEO and Founder,

Luna PR

United Arab Emirates

Natasha Carella is Head of Sustainability at Landmark Group, one of the largest retail and hospitality organisations in S.W.A.N.A, driving the group’s sustainability and community investments. She also leads philanthropy at Jagtiani Foundation, committed to delivering social impact.

MODERATOR

Natasha Carella

Head - Sustainability,

Landmark Group

United Arab Emirates

Host

Isha Farha Quraishy

Mrs. Universe 2019 – Solidarity, Practice Head – Technologies,

United Arab Emirates