I am a senior operations and governance leader with 25+ years spanning FTSE 250 retail and one of the GCC's largest diversified groups. Pairs deep enterprise-risk and asset-protection expertise with a track record of running operations in internationally recognised companies, delivering the rare combination of a risk lens and genuine commercial and operational ownership to the board table. As Group Director of Risk & Asset Protection at Alshaya Group for 16 years, I've built and led governance, resilience, and loss-prevention functions across a multi-market portfolio, protecting margin while enabling growth. Previously in the UK, at Wickes (Travis Perkins) and Sainsbury's, gathered experience in high-volume operational leadership and commercial performance. Currently advises boards and executive teams on operational governance, enterprise risk, and the commercial trade-offs that create scale and value. MBA; SIRM-certified; based in Dubai.

Martin Wenzel is a senior executive with over 25 years of C-level leadership across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East, spanning security printing, industrial robotics, and large-scale ERP/SAP implementation. His career includes senior finance and board roles at Giesecke & Devrient in Malaysia's banknote printing operations, CEO mandates across ASEAN and Australia for KUKA Robotics (including interim CEO roles in Korea and Taiwan), and six years as General Manager of Oumolat Security Printing in the UAE, where he scaled revenue from approximately $30M to $40M and developed a $24M African export line. He currently serves as a non-executive board director at Oumolat, alongside roles as Partner at West Asia Investment Partners and Managing Director of Ibdatech Ventures, its Dubai-based GCC execution arm. Martin holds certifications in corporate governance and AI governance, and focuses on board mandates bridging European operational expertise with GCC and ASEAN markets.

Sandesh Shetty is a serial entrepreneur and growth strategist with over 20 years of experience in Education, Technology, Marketing, and Business Growth. He is currently building two global brand a UK-based game-based learning company tackling maths anxiety and an event tech platform in Dubai while serving on the boards of Experimind (Education) and Finaquity (FinTech). Previously, he founded Explico in Singapore, scaling it from idea stage to pre-series funding with a 5X valuation, impacting learners across Southeast Asia and Africa. Recognised among the Top 100 Education Influential People in Africa (TAFFD)

Ammandeep brings with her over two decades of strategic, performance driven and tech-oriented experience in multiple aspects of the business, such as sales, marketing and human resources. Having worked in several multinational organizations such as Bose, Samsung, Olympus, to name a few — she brings to the table multidimensional expertise from varied industries. She also boasts of a distinguished track record of steering transformative efforts across human resource functions at these world-renowned organizations. Her principal strengths lie in all ‘people’ topics — more specifically in the areas of Strategy Development and Management, Transformation, Engagement, Workforce Development, Organizational Enhancement, Performance Measurement and Internal Communications. Having served on multiple leadership teams in the past, she regards herself as a committed Business Partner whose mission is to enable CEOs and Business Owners implement forward thinking Talent management strategies for breakthrough achievement of business objectives. It is with this same thought she founded HTrust — an Advisory firm solely geared towards enabling the success of all its clients, current and future, in managing every aspect of Human Capital Strategy through building a culture of trust and performance. Ammandeep holds the following certifications: Certified Facilitator from Development Dimensions International - USA SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) Certificate in Compensation & Rewards Management from CIPD - UK Certified Coach for Executives and Teams from Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Centered Coaching - USA

CB Bowman-Ottomanelli, MCEC, MBA, is CEO of Courage Consulting and the Association of Corporate Executive Coaches (ACEC). A two-time Amazon #1 bestselling author, international keynote speaker, and Thinkers360 Top Voice, she helps C-suite leaders and boards make clear decisions in uncertainty through the No-Playbook Decision System.

Fractional COO | AI-Driven E-commerce & Operations Leader | Digital Transformation | Building AI-Powered Business Solutions (LLMs, RAG, Automation) | Retail, Logistics & Growth ( Psychology | Strategy | Execution )

Corporate finance and relationship management professional focused on business funding, strategic partnerships, and delivering exceptional client experiences. Committed to driving growth through trust, collaboration, and innovative financial solutions.

I advise on capital, policy, and cross-border growth across Southeast Asia and the Middle East I work at the intersection of government, investment, and cross-border growth, advising on how policy and capital can be aligned to deliver practical economic outcomes. Over the past 15+ years, I’ve worked across the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Australia, supporting governments, investment platforms, and organisations on economic strategy, trade, and investment. My work has focused on: ✔Economic and investment strategy at a national and institutional level ✔Structuring and enabling capital deployment across markets ✔Cross-border expansion between ASEAN and the Middle East I’ve been involved in high-level engagements, including within G20-related contexts, and have worked closely with public sector leaders, investors, and industry stakeholders. This has shaped a practical understanding of how policy, capital, and execution come together in complex environments. I take a systems-led approach — connecting strategy with delivery, and ensuring outcomes move beyond policy into implementation. Currently, I focus on advisory work and partnerships across the Middle East and Southeast Asia, particularly where there is an opportunity to strengthen investment flows, build platforms, and support long-term economic development.

d

Steven is the founder and Managing Partner at Evolution Consulting with over 20 years of progressive experience predominantly in the areas of M&A and international taxation. An award-winning tax adviser and FTA Certified Tax Agent (Corporate Tax and Indirect Tax), he holds international tax qualifications and brings over 15 years of Big Four experience. Steven advises on complex M&A transactions, cross-border structuring, transfer pricing, free zone regimes, and VAT for leading regional organisations, including work for Saudi Aramco. He is a proud member of the FTA Business Advisory Group, contributing to thought leadership and advisory initiatives on UAE tax and regulatory matters, and is a former Director of the British Chamber of Commerce. After qualifying in 2002, Steven joined a Big 4 UK tax practice in 2006 specialising in providing international tax planning advice. He moved to the M&A tax team in 2007 and relocated to the Middle East in 2010. He continued to work in the M&A and International tax teams of the Big 4 in the UAE, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and was Head of International Tax at Grant Thornton prior to founding Evolution Consulting in 2023. Since Steven began advising on transactions in 2007, he has been involved in a range of deals on behalf of international and regional clients ranging from owner-managed businesses to listed companies (including the world’s biggest initial public offering). He has undertaken in excess of 200 due diligence projects (both buy side and vendor due diligence) and structuring assignments. https://evolutiongcc.com/our-team/

Fractional CHRO, leadership advisor, and organizational transformation specialist with 20+ years of experience advising boards, CEOs, and executive teams across the Middle East. Founder of Lopez Khoury & Associates, helping organizations strengthen leadership, culture, talent, change, and organizational effectiveness to accelerate business performance and sustainable growth.

Fractional CHRO, leadership advisor, and organizational transformation specialist with 20+ years of experience advising boards, CEOs, and executive teams across the Middle East. Founder of Lopez Khoury & Associates, helping organizations strengthen leadership, culture, talent, change, and organizational effectiveness to accelerate business performance and sustainable growth.

I am a maritime professional with a lifelong passion for the sea, rooted in my early experiences as a navy skipper in Stockholm. After earning my MSc in Naval Architecture in 1989, I began my career with Swedish American Cruises, where I contributed to significant new building projects. My journey took a pivotal turn when I joined GAC, first as Director of GAC India in Mumbai, and later as Commercial Manager for GAC Marine. I played a key role in establishing our presence in the Caspian region, successfully mobilizing a diverse fleet that grew to 28 offshore vessels by 2006. As Group Vice President from 2006, I led operations across Europe, the Mediterranean, and Africa, and later focused on Africa, Russia, and Central Asia from our Cairo office. In 2013, I strategically relocated our regional office to Cape Town to enhance our operational effectiveness. In September 2016, I moved to the UAE to head the Group’s Marine business, and in 2022, I expanded my responsibilities to include the Group’s Energy portf

I Build Brands Through Genuine Connections • Real Voice. Real Value

I am a maritime professional with a lifelong passion for the sea, rooted in my early experiences as a navy skipper in Stockholm. After earning my MSc in Naval Architecture in 1989, I began my career with Swedish American Cruises, where I contributed to significant new building projects. My journey took a pivotal turn when I joined GAC, first as Director of GAC India in Mumbai, and later as Commercial Manager for GAC Marine. I played a key role in establishing our presence in the Caspian region, successfully mobilizing a diverse fleet that grew to 28 offshore vessels by 2006. As Group Vice President from 2006, I led operations across Europe, the Mediterranean, and Africa, and later focused on Africa, Russia, and Central Asia from our Cairo office. In 2013, I strategically relocated our regional office to Cape Town to enhance our operational effectiveness. In September 2016, I moved to the UAE to head the Group’s Marine business, and in 2022, I expanded my responsibilities to include the Group’s Energy portf

I am a maritime professional with a lifelong passion for the sea, rooted in my early experiences as a navy skipper in Stockholm. After earning my MSc in Naval Architecture in 1989, I began my career with Swedish American Cruises, where I contributed to significant new building projects. My journey took a pivotal turn when I joined GAC, first as Director of GAC India in Mumbai, and later as Commercial Manager for GAC Marine. I played a key role in establishing our presence in the Caspian region, successfully mobilizing a diverse fleet that grew to 28 offshore vessels by 2006. As Group Vice President from 2006, I led operations across Europe, the Mediterranean, and Africa, and later focused on Africa, Russia, and Central Asia from our Cairo office. In 2013, I strategically relocated our regional office to Cape Town to enhance our operational effectiveness. In September 2016, I moved to the UAE to head the Group’s Marine business, and in 2022, I expanded my responsibilities to include the Group’s Energy portf

52YO

asfasf

asfasf

asfasf

asfasf

asfasf