Chitra Venkatesh

Senior Manager  Environmental,
Social and Governance  APAC
Hilton Hotels & Resorts

Chitra Venkatesh is an experienced sustainability educator, programme strategist, and youth development leader with two decades of work across education, corporate, and non-profit sectors in Singapore and internationally. 

Her work bridges sustainability, education, and systems change - designing impactful programmes for youth, mentoring young professionals, and advancing climate communication as part of the Climate Action SG Network Executive committee.

Chitra has held leadership roles at WWF-Singapore, the ArtScience Museum, Hilton. She led high-level engagement programmes with corporate leaders, youth, and policymakers to accelerate business sustainability.

She is the founder of Cyberspotters SEA, a Citizen science programme to identify illegal wildlife trade online, and co-founder of WeGotThis. She contributed to global youth platforms like WOSM, FEE and UNGC, by co-developing environmental education programmes reaching +50 million young people worldwide. 

Chitra brings a strong foundation in curriculum design, applied learning, and behavioural change communications, supported by her academic background. She is passionate about nurturing change makers and believes in the power of mentorship to inspire purpose-driven leadership.

Daxita Rajcoomar

Chief Sustainability Officer
Asia Middle East Africa

With over 18 years of experience Daxita has established herself as a thought leader and an influencer in the sustainability sector. Recognized as one of Forbes Middle East’s Top 100 Sustainability Leaders in 2024 & 2025, she is an advocate for environmental protection and climate change with a keen interest in developing real world strategies that balance the economy, society and the environment. Daxita has leveraged the unique lessons she learned from Africa, Europe and the Middle East to drive change and improve sustainable growth.

Her role as Chief Sustainability Officer at ENGIE AMEA, is aligned to implementing and driving solutions that promotes ENGIE’s Carbon Neutral vision as well as ensuring ENGIE’s active engagement with its local stakeholders on its ESG frameworks whilst lobbying for climate action.

Elena Sinel

Founder & CEO
Acorn Aspirations
Teens in AI

Elena Sinel is a multi-award-winning social impact entrepreneur, AI ethicist and Founder of Teens in AI, launched at the AI for Good Global Summit in 2018. She is recognised for advancing AI literacy and ethical AI education, equipping young people with the skills to tackle real-world challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

With over a decade of experience in international development, Elena has worked with organisations including the British Council, United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank, delivering initiatives focused on sustainable growth, digital inclusion and future workforce readiness.

A Microsoft Regional Director and a Mentor at Microsoft for Startups, she has advised on AI education and policy through her contribution to the Education Task Force of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Artificial Intelligence. Elena is a global speaker on responsible AI, inclusive innovation and the future of skills, with a focus on empowering the next generation of sustainability and technology leaders.

Dr. John E. Katsos

Geopolitical Risk Advisor and Professor of Management,
Strategy, and Entrepreneurship at American University of Sharjah

Dr. John E. Katsos is a globally recognized expert on crisis management, business resilience, and operating under extreme pressure. He is Professor of Management, Strategy, and Entrepreneurship at the American University of Sharjah. His thinking has shaped how organizations approach resilience at the highest levels. Katsos has been featured in the Financial Times, Harvard Business Review, and the Washington Post, and he regularly advises senior executives and policymakers navigating geopolitical disruption, reputational risk, and institutional volatility. His work on showing businesses the connection between crisis resilience and peace has been recognized with two Nobel Peace Prize nominations. He is the author of CRISIS: A Global Case Primer, an FT ‘must-read’, and has consulted with Fortune 100 companies on crisis preparedness and business resilience, stakeholder strategies in crisis, and leadership under pressure.

Liane Thompson

Founder & CEO
Aquaai

Liane Thompson is founder and CEO of Aquaai, a deep-tech company providing data insights from waterways using AI and robotic fish platforms. Aquaai detection services target subsurface infrastructure, water quality and disaster management for entities such as insurance, hospitality, real-estate, ports, aquaculture, governments and conservation projects. Prior to founding Aquaai, Liane was a global journalist and New York Times executive producer delivering hundreds of hours of current affairs and reality television to major broadcasters. Liane has received 3-time PrimeTime Emmy nominations and co- created the premier television series of acclaimed late chef Anthony Bourdain. Liane has been named in 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology, World's Top 50 Innovators, 20 Women Driving the Future of ClimateTech, 30 Women in Robotics to Know, and Innovative Women in AI / Blockchain to Follow (Forbes). Liane's been a speaker, keynote and/or moderator at numerous events, including TEDx, COP28, NYCW, RoboUniverse and OurOcean.

Maryam Al Mazrouei

Head, Business Development
CIS
Masdar

Prof. Maurizio Sobrero

Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Director of the Emirates Center for Entrepreneurship Research
College of Business and Economics
United Arab Emirates University

Prof. Maurizio Sobrero (Ph.D., MIT) is Full Professor of Entrepreneurship at United Arab Emirates University and Director of the Emirates Center for Entrepreneurship Research. He previously served at the University of Bologna, Italy, where he held major leadership roles, founding the Business School, the Incubator, and the first University Business Plan Competition, a model for the country and is now running in over 70 institutions.

Between 2012 and 2016, he was a Founding Faculty Fellow at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology in Moscow, contributing to the institution's birth and the establishment of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Prof. Sobrero served as a reviewer for the European Research Council, contributed to national evaluations of universities and public research centers, supported policy and strategy initiatives at ministerial and regional levels (including roles linked to the EU research and innovation strategy), and acted as the Italian G7 Sherpa for the Open Science group. He also brings substantial experience through board and advisory roles, including leadership positions at major research and innovation foundations and participation in university-based entrepreneurship initiatives and incubators.

Pooja Dhingra

Regional Sustainability Manager
UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Oman
Ikea

I currently Lead End to End sustainability efforts across IKEA UAE, Qatar, & Oman. In this role, I am an orchestrator of initiatives that drive meaningful change across value chains by leveraging my cross-disciplinary background in both retail and manufacturing for impactful, systems-level transformation. I am passionate about building a future where business and environmental stewardship unite.

My learning journey includes certificate courses from Harvard University and the University of Cambridge, and I am a proud alum of the Technological Institute of Textile Sciences, which laid the foundation for my technical and sustainable expertise. I’ve also shaped the next generation of professionals through teaching roles at the prestigious National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), India, and Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dubai. These experiences have enriched my perspective, allowing me to merge academic insights with real-world sustainability challenges.

Beyond my professional life, I am an avid traveler and passionate gardener. A lifelong learner and vegetarian by choice, I strive to live my values through mindful, planet-first habits—inspiring others to join the journey toward a more sustainable world.

Ruaa Al Shehhi

Sustainable Development Goals
Project Management Office
Ministry of Cabinet Affairs

Ruaa is part of the UAE SDGs Secretariat at the UAE Government Experience Exchange Office, where she supports national efforts to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals through stakeholder engagement, progress reporting, and collaborative partnerships. She contributes to key initiatives such as the Global Councils on SDGs, the XDGs 2045, and the SDGs in Action Forum at the WGS, with a focus on enabling cross-border and cross-sector knowledge exchange, fostering partnerships, and shaping forward-looking approaches to sustainability beyond 2030.

Previously, Ruaa worked as a Data Analyst at the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre where she supported the advancement of the UAE’s open data and data science portfolios, as well as broader statistical digital transformation efforts. Her work included managing the UN Big Data Hub hosted in the UAE and contributing to national data innovation efforts.

She holds a BA (Hons) in International Media and Communications Studies from the University of Nottingham and is a graduate of the MBZUAI Executive Program (2022) and the Frontiers in Sustainability Program (2024) by First Abu Dhabi Bank and IMD.

Sophia Nadur

Investment Committee Chair of Catalyst and NED

Sophia Nadur is a globally experienced board director, strategic advisor, and former venture capital leader with more than two decades shaping innovation, technology, and organisational transformation across the UK, Europe, India, China, and the Middle East. Before joining bp Ventures as Managing Director—where she led investments in breakthrough energy, mobility, and digital technologies—Sophia held senior innovation, brand, and commercial leadership roles across six Fortune 500 companies, building and scaling products and businesses that reached millions of consumers worldwide.

Today, Sophia builds a portfolio career as a Non Executive Director and advisor to high growth and mission driven organisations. She also chairs the Investment Committee of Catalyst, a leading UAE cleantech accelerator, guiding founders on strategy, governance, and responsible innovation.

A qualified solicitor with an MBA and multiple governance credentials, Sophia is passionate about empowering the next generation of innovators. Her mentoring style blends strategic clarity, encouragement, and a belief that bold ideas—backed by purpose—can create lasting impact.

Suhrid Chaudhuri

Co Chief People & Culture Officer
Al Ghurair

Suhrid Chaudhuri is the Co-Chief People & Culture Officer at Al Ghurair, a UAE-based multi-sector conglomerate employing over 29,000 people across multiple countries. As part of the Group’s Executive Leadership Team, Suhrid leads the People & Culture strategy, covering Total Rewards, Talent Management, Organisation Development, Culture, Performance, Emiratisation, Engagement, and HR Digital Transformation.

Suhrid brings over 20 years of deep and diverse experience in HR leadership and strategic advisory roles. Prior to Al Ghurair, he served as Head of Rewards and Performance at Noor Bank and held leadership roles at Tata Strategic Management Group (part of the Tata Group), PwC’s People & Change Practice, Indus Towers, and ICICI Bank.

He specialises in building performance-driven organisations, driving business-aligned culture transformation, and leading organisation design and workforce change programmes. His background spans financial services, infrastructure, industrials, and consulting, with a consistent focus on enabling business impact through people strategy.

Suhrid holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources and Organisation Development from the Delhi School of Economics. He is a Chartered Fellow of CIPD (FCIPD), SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), and SPHRi-certified by HRCI.

Known for his sharp strategic insight and strong execution mindset, Suhrid is a regular speaker at leadership summits and HR forums in the region. He actively contributes to shaping future-of-work discussions and shares his perspectives on agile workforce planning, digital HR, and talent transformation.

Thomas Soulas

VP Technology Development, Innovation Center Abu Dhabi
Siemens-Energy

Thomas Soulas serves as the head of Technology Development at the Innovation Center Abu Dhabi for Siemens Energy. With a career spanning over 25 years, Thomas is a senior leader renowned for his contributions to the development and commercialization of industrial applications within the energy industry.

Thomas’ ability to leverage both business acumen and engineering expertise has proven to transform early-stage technology ventures into commercially viable products. His strategic approach includes fostering innovation through internal development as well as external partnerships and acquisitions.

Originally from France with engineering degrees from Ecole Centrale and ISAE-SUPAERO, Thomas has played a pivotal role in various capacities with Dresser-Rand, Siemens, and now Siemens Energy. He has authored and co-authored numerous technical papers and patents, particularly in the fields of turbomachinery and system dynamics.

Thomas also holds a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University and an Executive MBA from Rice University, both in the United States.

Dr. Vriko Yu

Co-Founder & CEO
Archireef

Dr. Vriko Yu is the Co-Founder and CEO of Archireef, a nature-tech company restoring degraded marine ecosystems across Hong Kong, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. A marine scientist by training, she is the co-inventor of the Reef Tile — a terracotta-based substrate that accelerates coral recruitment and reef restoration.

She bridges ecological science and scalable eco-engineering, deploying nature-positive coastal infrastructure across the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. Under her leadership, Archireef has advanced AI-powered ecological monitoring and regulatory-grade biodiversity reporting as practical tools for climate adaptation. Archireef has been recognised as a Forbes Asia 100 to Watch company, a World Economic Forum UpLink Top Innovator, and a Bloomberg New Economy Catalyst.

Vriko was named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and serves on Hong Kong government committees for green technology and finance.

In mentoring, she focuses on helping early-career professionals translate scientific and technical expertise into commercial impact, navigate the leap from institutional settings into entrepreneurship, and build the strategic clarity needed to lead in climate and sustainability.

Yasin KASIRGA

Decarbonization Leader-Middle East & Africa
Carbon Solutions-Gas Power
GE Vernova

Yasin Kasirga leads GE Vernova's Decarbonization business covering Middle East & Africa. Yasin and his team are closely collaborating with GE Vernova's customers a and partners to achieve their individual decarbonization/Net Zero targets, while keeping an eye on economic viability and supporting them in strengthening their position for a decarbonized energy future. The collaborative decarbonization solutions span over a wide range of ready-to-deploy as well as emerging/innovative solutions; from pre-combustion decarbonization through low-carbon/no carbon fuels to post-combustion carbon capture technologies.

Yasin has 19+ years of technical and commercial experience in strategy, business development, execution, marketing and sales, with a strong track developing/selling/buildimarketing and sales, with a strong record of developing/selling/building more and more than 6 GW Renewables (hydro, solar, geothermal and 25+ Wind Power Plants) within Europe, Middle East and Africa.

He has been in leadership roles with increasing responsibilities within GE, leading Sales for Wind and Hydro, leading Market Development for the Hybrids Business, and leading Project Execution for Wind projects covering the MENAT region.

In 2023, Yasin has served as a Senior Energy Advisor and Member of the Energy Transition Team leading the initiatives under COP28 Climate Conference at the Office of the UAE Presidency Climate Change Special Envoy, where he led the "Tripling Renewable Energy and Doubling Energy Efficiency pledge, along with supporting the Oil & Gas Decarbonization Charter, Industrial Decarbonization Alliance. He was one of the co-authors of the report "TRIPLING RENEWABLE POWER AND DOUBLING ENERGY EFFICIENCY BY 2030 CRUCIAL STEPS TOWARDS 1.5°C issued by the COP28 Presidency, IRENA, and the Global Renewables Alliance.

Prior to joining GE, Yasin worked as Business Development and Sales Manager in charge of Gas, Hydro, Wind, Nuclear, Geothermal and Renewable Steam Plants Businesses in Alstom Turkey, following 8 years of Project Management and EPC experience with Gama Power and Calik Enerji, building industrial and power plants across Europe and Middle East.

Yasin holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering with an Executive MBA from Middle East Technical University. He is also a graduate of GE's signature leadership development program (XLP).

Zeeshan Omar Inamdar

Group Sustainability Manager
Al-Futtaim Group

Zeeshan Omar Inamdar is a dedicated sustainability professional with a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering and an M.S. in Renewable Energy Engineering.

With over a decade of experience in the HVAC and building industry, Zeeshan is a Group Sustainability Manager at Al-Futtaim and also a CEM® certified Energy Manager and LEED AP. Since 2015, He has been a key figure at Al-Futtaim, leading sustainability projects, reducing CO2 emissions, and promoting sustainable practices.

His expertise includes conducting Carbon Accounting for GHG inventory emissions, upskilling departments in climate literacy and carbon accounting basics, waste reduction approaches, energy audits, managing sustainability projects, and implementing AI-based sustainable solutions and rooftop Solar PV projects.